TWO MEN WENT UP INTO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY

"Two men went up into the temple to pray;

the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican ...

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,

God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, ...

And the publican, standing afar off, would not

lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote

upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me,

a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house

justified rather than the other: for every one

that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he

that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

(Selections from Luke 18:10 -14 KJV)  

K.P. Yohannan said it so well when he said;

"Lack of humility is the proof of counterfeit

spirituality."

Which one are we??

TODAY'S PROMISE

"The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;

The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;

The LORD loves the righteous;"

(Psalms 146:8 NASB) 

THE TEST

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Many years ago, about the time you were born, I had a

boss who was the old bull in the china shop type.  He 

was an opinionated character, but did know his business.

I had moved in from out of state.  That made me an 

outsider instead of one of "the boys".  In time I was put

in charge of the shop.  I could not do anything to please

that man.  If I had a schedule of work, that was wrong.

I should not have a schedule.  If (I had to have a schedule)

I hid the schedule so he could not see it, then I was supposed

to have a schedule.

Life at work for a year or two was miserable.  I had to 

go hide at lunch just to get away from it.  BUT, in time

it was like going over a hump.  At some point I suddenly

was an O.K. guy.

Really I think he was testing me.  And after a period

of testing and passing to his satisfaction, I was in.

Our life is like that, even when trying to live for God.

Now God is not like that old codger but he does have

to test us.  If God is trying to get your attention through

the problems of life, listen up.  He may be trying to show

you the way to go, pay attention.  He may be trying to 

strengthen you.  But in any case those trials and problems

have a purpose.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial;

for once he has been approved, he will receive

the crown of life which the Lord has promised

to those who love Him."

(James 1:12 NASB)    

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"Groanings that can't be uttered are 

often prayers than can't be refused."

-Phillips Brooks

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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"There were some shepherds in

that part of the country who were

spending the night in the fields,

taking care of their flocks.  An

angel of the Lord appeared to 

them, and the glory of the Lord

shone over them.  They were terri-

bly afraid, but the angel said to

them, 'Don't be afraid!  I am here

with good news for you, which

will bring great joy to all the people.

This very day in David's

town your Savior was born -

Christ the Lord!  And this is

what will prove it to you: you will

find a baby wrapped in cloths and 

lying in a manger.'

Suddenly a great army of

heaven's angels appeared with 

the angel, singing praises to God:

'Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with 

whom he is pleased!'"

(Luke 2:8-14 GNT)  

HOW TO GET GOD'S ATTENTION

People have different ways of getting attention.

If I were to use Facebook as a guide, it would 

appear that to get attention girls expose too much

of them selves and guys do stupid stuff.

In the real world a lot of other tricks are used to

get the attention of other people.  

But how about getting God's attention.

Yes, being mean, vulgar, selfish, etc gets God's

attention.  But be assured - that is not the kind of

attention you want from God.

Do you want God's attention?  The kind that 

gives his favor and blessing?  Here it is straight

from God's own mouth.

"But to this  one I will look,

To him who is humble and contrite of spirit,

and who trembles at My word."

(Isaiah 66:2 NASB)  

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our

outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being

renewed day by day.  For momentary, light

affliction is producing for us an eternal weight

of glory far beyond all comparison, while we

look not at the things which are seen, but at the

things which are not seen; for the things which

are seen are temporal, but the things which are

not seen are eternal."

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NASB)

YOUR BURDEN OR CARE

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by

that Carpenter can mankind be remade"

- Desiderius Erasmus

HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST?????????

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HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST?

I mean, really counted the cost?

The best thing on earth a person can do is turn

to Jesus Christ and accept him as one's LORD

and savior.  Become his disciple and follow Christ.

The results are out of this world, and forever.

BUT,

it is astounding the promises being made by

many in an effort to draw people to the very

God who made them.  They are promised health,

wealth and wisdom.  You know, instant prosperity

or healing.  Money in the mail and all wishes fulfilled.

The people who make these wild promises most likely

are after a following so they can become popular, or

your money.  But what ever the case, they are either

misinformed by not believing what God himself said,

or out right lying.

What did Jesus himself say about it?

Jesus taught us that as followers of him we will be

hated and have persecution.

See how you like his statement in Luke 14:33

"So then, none of you can be My disciple

who does not give up all his own possessions."

Is it worth it?

Yes, of course, every dime and every pain.

Turn off the stupid TV or Facebook or put

down the latest "Christian" book and see what

the cost is and the reward that Christ promises,

 in his word - the Holy Bible -not what someone 

after your money says.

PATH TO REST

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Rest.  Real rest for my body, mind and soul.

Especially this time of the year.

The merchants are hounding you to get your money.

Your family is pushing you to keep up with the season.

And the politicians are screaming at you because they

want you to help them in their folly.

And all we want is real rest through and through.

I don't know about you, but I am sick of new fangled,

complicated gadgets that are more difficult to use and

less reliable in addition.  It seems that anytime I let

my computer be "updated" I'm further behind.

Location and peace and quiet help.  But we need

something that goes deeper than that.  Yet most of

us have turned aside from the real source of rest.

Like the nation of Israel of old, we have gone our

own ways, and we are paying the price for it.

God's recommendation to them is valid for us today.

"Thus says the LORD,

'Stand by the ways and see and ask for

the ancient paths,  Where the good way is,

and walk in it;

And you will find rest for your souls."

(Jeremiah 6:16 NASB)  

Do you want REST, real REST.

Turn from the way you are going now and 

go to Jesus Christ.  He said,

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,

and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you

and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble

in heart, and YOU WILL FINED REST FOR YOUR

SOULS.  for My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

(Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)  

TODAY'S PROMISE

"My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever."

(Psalms 73:26 NASB)   

WHY GOD? WHY?

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My son was an outstanding Christian.

He helped build the church he attended.

He taught one of the Sunday school classes.

He had helped many of the the people in 

his community.  In fact, they were considering

naming the street he lived on after him.

But, in the prime of life he was killed in

an auto accident.

Linda was a personal friend.  She had not

always lived for God.  But when she did 

turn to the living God she went all out in 

living for him.

But when Linda was around forty years old,

cancer got her, despite all the praying we 

did.

WHY GOD?  WHY?

I do not pretend to know the answer,

but perhaps there is a clue in

ISAIAH 57:1,2

"The righteous man perishes, and no man
takes it to heart;
And devout men are taken away, while 
no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from 
evil, He enters into peace;"

God knows the future just as well as the
present.  Is it possible that God in his
mercy some times takes a way a righteous
person because he sees that in some way
the Devil might destroy that person later
in life?

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"When I came to see that Jesus Christ had died

for me, it didn't seem hard to give up all for Him.

It seemed just common, ordinary honesty."

- C.T. Studd

LACKING PEACE?

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"But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

For it cannot be quiet,

And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

There is no peace, 'says my God, for the wicked."

(Isaiah 57:20,21 NASB)  

The "righteous" often have trials and tests.

But God gives them peace in the midst of 

the problems.

But if we are faced with the storms of life,

and have no peace, it is time to examine our

relationship to God almighty.

GOD DOES NOT DWELL WITH PEACOCKS

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God does not dwell with peacocks,

or for that matter, banty roosters either.

You have met them, people who are as proud

as a peacock or as cocky as a banty rooster.

Most of us do not even like being around someone

like that.  Guess what.  God does not either.

"GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT

GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

(James 4:6 NASB)    

Do you want God to work in your life?

Then consider His attitude about people.

"For thus says the high and exalted One

Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,

I dwell on a high and holy place,

And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit

In order to revive the spirit of the lowly

And to revive the heart of the contrite."

(Isaiah 57:15 NASB)   

 Our attitude is a good starting point

to allowing God to work with us.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"And you shall seek me, and find me, when you

shall search for me with all your heart."

(Jeremiah 29:13)

LIMITED TIME OFFER

It is true that God loves everyone in the world.

It is true that God does not want anyone to die

and go to the Devil's hell.  It is true that God has

provided a way of escape from an eternal death

through Jesus Christ's atoning death for us.  IF

WE WILL TURN TO HIM AND ACCEPT IT.

It is also true that God tries to draw us to him

time after time after time through one means

or another through out most of our life.  BUT

EVEN GOD HAS A LIMIT.

He said;

                   

"My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, ..."

(Genesis 6:3 NASB)

God further said;

"Seek the LORD while He may be found;

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

An let him return to the LORD,

And He will have compassion on him,

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon."

(Isaiah 55:6,7 NASB)   

"I the LORD GOD,  don't like to see

wicked people die.  I enjoy seeing them

turn from their sins and live."

(Ezekiel 18:23 GNT)  

Have you taken advantage of His offer?

Or are you still ignoring it?

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"I never made a sacrifice.  We ought not to talk of

'sacrifice' when we remember the great sacrifice

which He made who left His Father's throne on

high to give Himself up for us."

- David Livingstone

THE POWERLESS CHURCH

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Have you ever wondered why the Church of 

Jesus Christ in this country has lost it's power?

"An appalling and horrible thing

Has happened in the land:

The prophets prophesy falsely,

And the priests rule on their own authority;

And My people love it so!

But what will you do at the end of it?"

(Jeremiah 5:30, 31 NASB)  

You don't think that is so.

Turn on your TV or look at Facebook.

See all the preaching about being healthy 

wealthy and wise.   How to be happy or 

feel good or the good plans for your life

ad infinitum.  And obviously people love 

it.  We as a Church are more concerned

about our own satisfaction than we are 

about having the power of God and His

kingdom.

GOD HELP US.

SPEND, SPEND, SPEND

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"Why do you spend money for what

is not bread, And your wages for what

does not satisfy?" 

(Isaiah 55:2 NASB)   

The joys and satisfaction of spending is very brief.

It may give you a house full of "stuff".  But you 

will not be satisfied with it.  Things do not fulfill

life and you will be spending again tomorrow trying

to be happy.  But it will not work. 

It was God himself who made the comment through

the prophet Isaiah.  He goes on to say:

"Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And delight yourself in abundance.

Incline your ear and come to Me.

Listen, that you may live;"

(isaiah 55:2b, 3 NASB)  

Our satisfaction needs to start with listening to

and paying attention to God's instructions.  That 

will be the only way we will get true satisfaction

in life.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"...The hand of our God is upon all them for good

that seek him; but his power and his wrath is

against all them that forsake him."

(Ezra 8:22)  

MY DELIGHT

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We delight over different things.  Often many things.

If I suggested "chocolate" many would join me in 

voting for it.  But what is it that is the deep controlling

delight that drives us?  The main delight that controls

our life and longings?

The delight(s) of our life effect the productiveness, wellbeing 

and especially our relationship to God himself.

Jesus Christ tells of some that had the Word of God,

but:

"As for what was sown among thorns, this

is he who hears the word, but the cares of

the world and the delight in riches choke the

word, and it proves unfruitful."

(Matthew 13:22 RSV)  

This very truth is the driving focus of many Churches

today.  We delight in the things God can provide for us.

And people love to hear about it.

However, it's end result is disaster.

But consider a man who is a hero to this day.

King Dave.  A man whom God himself said

was a man after God's on heart.

Where was his delight?

"I delight to do thy will, O my God;

thy law is within my heart."

(Psalms 40:8 RSV)

With the help of God I want to shift my

delight from the things of this world to 

doing the will of God.

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"God brings men into deep waters not to drown them,

but to cleanse them."

-John H. Aughey

TRUE SUCCESS

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I would bet that you are caught in the same trap

that I often am.  We are not satisfied with the results

of our service for God.  He has done so much for me

and I want to do more for him.

Consider this.

One time Jesus Christ sent out seventy "preachers".

Things went great for them.  They came back a happy

bunch.  We read:

"The seventy returned with joy saying, 'Lord, even

the demons are subject to us in Your name.'"

(Luke 10:12 NASB)     

   Can you top that?

Of course you can not or have not.  If you had you 

would have let the world know about it.

But how did Jesus respond?

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits

are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are

recorded in heaven."

(Luke 10:20 NASB)

Do you catch that?

Christ is more concerned about our relationship

with him than our service for him.

I need to spend more time loving him and

less "slaving" for him.

PERSPECTIVE

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This morning I again had to reflect on how facing death

can change a person's view point.

Up until we are faced with death, we only think of the

things we can acquire and our own comforts and pleasures.

But having faced death a few years ago I see that these things

are meaningless.

  What I face after death is far more important than the fame,

fortune or accumulations I might now acquire.

Is it any wonder that Solomon [The wisest man who ever lived.]

said:

"It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher.

Life is useless, all useless."

(Ecclesiastes 1;2 GNT)   

 And of course this is true of the "natural" or normal person.

But Solomon does come to the point when he concludes:

"After all this, there is only one thing to say:

Have reverence for God, and obey his commands,

because this is all that we were created for.  God

is going to judge everything we do, whether good

or bad, even things done in secret."

(Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 GNT)   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

(Psalms 107:1 NASB)  

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!"

(Psalms 107:15 NASB)   

DECEIVED

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"Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you;"

(Isaiah 47:10 NASB)  

These people he was talking to felt smart, secure and 

even had power in their spells.

But, they are roasting in the Devil's hell today.

I have to ask myself.  Is my wisdom something I have

figured out by myself?  Or, is it based on the revealed

Word of God, the Holy Bible?

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"Have you ever thought that our disappointments

are God's way of reminding us that there are idols

in our lives that must be dealt with?"

-Erwin Lutzer

THE ARGUMENT

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Did you ever argue with God over something?

"Woe to the one who quarrels with

his Maker -" 

(Isaiah 45:9 NASB)