Friday, April 2, 2010

Why worry?

(taken from God's Little Devotional Book )

A military chaplain, who was curious about how sensible it was to worry, once drew up a "Worry Table" based upon the problems men and women had brought to him through his years of service. He found their worries fit into these categories:

• Worries about things that never happened, 40 percent
• Worries about past, unchangeable decisions, 30 percent
• Worries about illness that never happened, 12 percent
• Worries about adult children and friends (who could take care of themselves), 10 percent
• Worries about real problems, 8 percent

According to this chart, 52 percent of all worries are about things we can't control, concerns which are better left to God. And forty percent are things that never happen, whether they are things we can control or not. The truth is, most of our anxieties are rooted in a failure to trust God. We simply don't believe He is big enough or cares enough to handle our problems, give us the desires of our hearts, or keep us and our loved ones from harm.

One of the most effective things we can do to combat worry is to spend time in God's word, learning who He is. Knowing God's character, we can easily see how we worry for nothing most of the time!




For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7




I've suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened!



Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.



Saturday, February 27, 2010

Providence, Protection and Provision

When we choose to participate in activities that don't glorify God, we must realize that we are opening ourselves up to needless dangers. The book of Ruth in the Bible talks of the city of Moab. For me, Moab is a picture of the world. When Naomi left Bethlehem and went off to Moab with her family, her husband and two sons died. I look at that and think how we can lose our loved ones and ourselves to the "world". When we are in God's will there is providence, protection and provision. When we choose to stray the outcome is usually poverty, perplexity and pain. God's will sounds much more appealing doesn't it?

Let us not participate in the deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. We will will blessed if we do!




Romans 12:1-2
- Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.



Ephesians 5:11 - Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.


Read the story of Ruth

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Your Sphere of Influence

I read an article a while back about how the Good Samaritans Law came to be. A woman in New York City was attacked and pursued for miles by a man who was trying to kill her and ultimately did. The most disturbing part of this story was that 39 people witnessed it. 39 people!! When asked why they didn't respond to her cries for help, call the police, or do anything for that matter, was because there were 38 other witnesses.

Everyone thought that someone else would do something, effectively paralyzing themselves into watching a woman get pulled to her death. As horrible as that is, we as Christians, do the same thing everyday. We assume that we don't have to share the way of salvation to our neighbor, our coworker, fill in the blank... because someone else will.

Dear Lord,
Help us to err on the side of caution and assume that everyone you put in our path is our responsibility. What an awesome privilege. Help us to be Your mouthpiece, Your hands and feet.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Real Gold Fears No Fire

Years ago I read a book called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn about a persecuted Christian in China. Everytime circumstances were unbearable, he would remind himself that "real gold fears no fire". He knew that times of testing would come but it was necessary to prove what he was made of.

When you find yourself in one of the "fires" of life, whether it be financial, relational, or physical, If you belong to Christ, you can rest assured that you are not alone. God himself is with you. After you are delivered from the fire you will be refined. The only things burned off will be the chains that previously had you bound. As a refined instrument of God, you can now be used more effectively and your faith in God will increase. Hard, difficult times are the conditions needed for miracles and God is in the miracle making business. If you never had any problems then you would have no need for faith and you wouldn't know the awesome power of God to solve them.

REAL GOLD FEARS NO FIRE!




Read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were literally thrown into a furnace but found out they were not alone.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Your Mission Statement for life.

A mission statement is a formal short written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide decision-making. It provides "the framework or context within which the company´s strategies are formulated."

As important as it is for companies to have a mission statement, shouldn't we, as Christians, have a mission statement for life? Years ago, I sat down and thought about what the mission statement for my life would be and came up with the following:

"I want to make Jesus known to the world, and when I go to Heaven, I want to take as many people with me as I can."

It is wonderful to have a sense of purpose, a goal, a roadmap, and a plan. I highly encourage you to sit down and write out what you want the mission statement for your life to be. Good questions to ask yourself are:

1. What do you want to ?
2. How do you plan on doing it?
3. How do you plan on getting there?

Once you get serious about implementing your mission statement you will be amazed at the opportunities that will surround you to put it into action. I learned a long time ago that I when I get serious with God, He gets serious with me. You will feel peace and joy knowing that you are doing what you were created for.

2 Chronicles 16:9-
For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the whole earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.



ONLY ONE LIFE

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Author Unknown



Click her to find out what you must do to be saved.




Saturday, January 2, 2010

Joy in His presence

We have so much to be happy about when we are walking with God. Why? Because He is the creator of happiness! I love how Randy Alcorn puts it:

We must understand that all secondary joys are derivative in nature. They cannot be separated from God. Flowers are beautiful for one reason—God is beautiful. Rainbows are stunning because God is stunning. Puppies are delightful because God is delightful. Sports are fun because God is fun. Study is rewarding because God is rewarding. Work is fulfilling because God is fulfilling.

We can see in scripture that Jesus was a someone that you wanted to be around. Crowds flocked to Him and children wanted to be near Him. There is joy in His presence! I look forward to spending eternity with Him. Psalm 16:11 says it best - You will make known to me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forever."

Amen!


Think on this - Joy is the Barometer in our Faith in God

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Being faithful in the little things

Years ago there was a movie that had a scene where a cashier purposely gave too much change back to a young woman. She counted the changed, realized what he had done, thought about it, then put the money in her purse and left the store. The cashier then said to the man who had been behind her in line, "Did you see that? She just sold her character for $3.00".

The Bible tell us that if we are faithful in the little things we will be entrusted with greater things (Luke 16:10). One of the reasons being faithful in the little things in life is important is because it is a training ground. When you purpose to be a good steward of all that has been entrusted to you, no matter how small, when the bigger issues of life arise, you will be ready. You will have peace and even anticipation to do the right thing because God has already shown you His faithfulness in the little things. As you trust in Him, He will entrust more to you and your relationship to the Lord grows stronger.

Your character before God is priceless. Treat it as such and watch how your life will be blessed.



Luke 16:10 - He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

Luke 19:17 - "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'