TODAY'S PROMISE

"If anyone gives you even a cup of water

because  you belong to the Messiah, I

tell you the truth, that person will surely

 be rewarded."

(Mark 9:41 NLT)

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USELESS, UTTERLY USELESS

If I were as young as you, my prospective would be 

entirely different.  But, mine is different for this reason.

I had lived out a full life span, then got sick and should

have died.  That would only have been the normal routine.

BUT GOD.  When he enters the picture, everything changes.

But God in his mercy choose to restore a measure of health

to me.  So a number of years latter I am still "plugging" along.

Now when you are living on "borrowed" time things look a 

lot different.  And nearly everything is now viewed from a 

different prospective.  The prospective that everything I do,

think, or use is something that I use for my "eternal reward" 

and will have to give an account of, or it will be squandered.

This causes me to be overwhelmed by the squandering of 

time and resources I see by people who should know better.

Present time and resources that could be used for their own

eternal benefit, but instead squandered for the fun or pleasure

of the moment.  The reality is, that makes their time and 

resources - useless, utterly useless - when it could have been

better for them used other ways.

A little different thought.  But over a full life time of seeing

many people receiving "inheritances" I have notice that 

nearly all of them get squandered.  Dad and mom should have

used the inheritance on themselves because the kids are just

going to throw them away anyway.

God gives everyone of us; life, time and some resources,

no matter how meager.  Am I using them for God's purposes

and my eternal benefit or for the moment?

If I am using them only for the present time I am turning 

them into something that will be "useless, utterly useless.

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.

MEASURING SUCCESS

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I had just completed a project that did not work out the

way I wanted.  It seemed that all the time and effort

put into it was wasted.  I just told God that I had done

it for him, so it was up to him to use it however he wanted.

Shortly God brought something to my mind.  He does not

look at success like we do.  He then brought "the widow

and her "two mites" to my mind .   In Luke chapter 21 we 

are told how a poor widow put her "two cents" into the

offering at the temple.  And many rich people put in large

sums.  But Christ said she put in the most.

Why was her's the most?

The rich people put in what was surplus to them.  It may

have been large sums, but they could do without it.  But 

the poor widow put in everything she had.

God looks at what our gift or our effort costs us.  How

hard was it to give or do it?  It is the degree of sacrifice

on our part that he rewards.

If we have been living for God, when the time of our

rewarding comes -it is possible that some poor little

old feeble person might receive a far greater reward

than some of us who think we are doing something.

HOW TO GIVE MORE THAN THE RICH

Over the years I have noticed a number of streets named after

specific individuals in this area.   When around the university 

I find more names on stadiums, buildings, gates etc. And when 

you go around the regional hospital there are even more

 buildings, named after people.

Yet most of these names mean absolutely nothing - to most people.

It might just as well be a number.  That is, unless you knew the person.  

Or you are from their area and generation.

What does it cost to get your name put up before the public that way?

Lot's and lot's and lot's of money.

All to no avail in time to come.

Want a reward that will last you forever?

"'Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public

so that people will see what you do.  If you do these things publicly,

you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven.

'So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big

show of it as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the

streets.  They do it so that people will praise them.  I assure you,

they have already been paid in full.  But when you help a needy

person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not 

know about it.  Then it will be a private matter.  And your Father,

who sees what you do in private, will reward you.'"

(Matthew 6:1-4 TEV)

WHAT'S THE DONATION MOTIVATION? 

"Jesus looked around and saw rich people dropping their

gifts in the Temple treasury, and he also saw a very poor

widow dropping in two little copper coins.  He said, 'I tell

you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.

For the others offered their gifts from what they had to 

spare of their riches; but she poor as she is, gave all she

had to live on'".

(Luke21:1-4 TEV)

"'You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water

to one of the least of these my followers because he is my 

follower, will certainly receive a reward.'"

(Matthew 10:42 TEV)

"The greatest humbug in the world is the idea

that money can make a man happy.  I never 

had any satisfaction with mine until I began to

do good with it."

C. Pratt

A SURE HOPE

"I said, 

'I have worked, 

but how hopeless it is!

I have used up my strength,

but have accomplished nothing.'

Yet I can trust the LORD

to defend my cause;

he will reward me for what I do."

(Isaiah 49:4 TEV)

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Updated King James Version.

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THAT'S JUST LIKE LIFE

What is it?

That is a gate the granddaughter made out of "stuff"

that was laying around.

A gate to where?  Well, no where.

Then, what for?  Oh!  Keep the boggy man out,

I guess.  You would have to ask her, if she knows.

She wanted to make a gate.

You can be sure though, 

that it took her and grandpa some effort.

It cost her and grandpa some time.

Let's face it.  She was bored and wanted to do something.

How much of life is just like that.  We do something just

because we want to.  But the reality of it is that it,

does not do us any good.

It does not help anyone else.

And it sure does not do anything to help God's work.

"For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and 

only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid.

Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in

building on the foundation;

others will use wood or grass or straw.

And the quality of each person's work will be seen

when the Day of Christ exposes it.  For on that Day

fire will reveal everyone's work; the fire will test it

and show its real quality.

If what was built on the foundation survives the fire,

the builder will receive a reward.

But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it;..."

(1 Corinthians 3:11-15 TEV)