Friday, September 28, 2018

WHAT IS YOUR VALUE?

It started of by my making the mistake of trying
to think.  You know, thinking is hard work and it
hurts to think.  That is why so few of us bother to
think.

But while thinking the thought went through my 
mind how I am not compassionate like God is.  I
want to be a help and kind to people etc.  But also
I tend to not want to be bothered.  [You are not that
way, I'll admit.]

Then when thinking of my lack of compassion, I
could just see some poor homeless person or a 
begger in their need.  You know, a cast off from
society or a parasite just getting in the way.

But, which is the most valuable or important?
A poor homeless person or perhaps a bagger?


Images courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com.   

Or an invalid totally incapable of taking care of 
him or her self.



Or perhaps a highly decorated person in an important
position?


Or, maybe even a successful business person
or investor?


Well, none.
We as people only see the outside of a person and that is
what helps us form our opinions.

But God looks at it differently.  Consider when God was
speaking to Samuel he said;

 "Do not look at his appearance or his stature,
because I have rejected him.  Man does not
see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is
visible, but the Lord sees the heart." 
(1Samuel 16:7 CSB)   

The truth of the matter is that in God's sight
that poor cast off person is just as valuable as
some one who is rich or perhaps famous.

Even the disciples of Jesus Christ fell into the
trap we do.  They began to argue among themselves
as to which one was the greatest.

He attempted to correct their thinking by pointing
out that the most important person in the Kingdom
of God was the one who was the youngest, like a
child, or the humble person, a servant.  And that
he himself [Jesus Christ] came as a servant to us.

"But God proves His own love for us in that
while we were still sinners Christ died for us!
(Romans 5:8 CSB)

Yes, we nothings are just as important to God
as a rich person or a celebrity.   Just as important
to God as a president or a king.

It is your heart that God treasures.  Not your
body, money or prestige.  Give him your whole
heart, strength and mind.  Then in truth you will
be away ahead of the rest of the world, even if
you are a nothing to everybody else.





Thursday, September 27, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE



Jesus Christ said,

  "These things I have spoken to you, 
so that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage; I have overcome
the world." 
(John 16:33 NASB)


Wednesday, September 26, 2018

HAPPINESS IS...


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HAPPINESS IS...

in pleasure
"Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure and ease.
He wrote:
'The worm, the canker and grief are mine alone.'"

Well perhaps in political Power.
"William Tweed became the brilliant boss
of Tammany Hall and ruled New York City,
He said: 'My life has been a failure in everything.'"

Possibly in military strength.
"Alexander the Great conquered the known
world of his day.  Then he wept:
'There are no more worlds to conquer.'"

How about atheism and a total disregard
for God Almighty?
"Voltaire was a world-class unbeliever.
He wrote:
'I wish I had never been born.'"

Well, then Fame and Position.
"Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than
his share of both.  He wrote:
"Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle;
old age a regret.'

Then happiness certainly must be in money.
"Jay Gould, the American millionaire,
had an enormous fortune.  When dying,
he said, 'I suppose I am the most miserable
man on earth.'"


But Jesus Christ said,

"Happy are those whose
greatest desire is to do
what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!"
(Matthew 5:6 GNT)  
  






Tuesday, September 25, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"All that God has said is plain, satisfactory, and just.
As God in His Word calls us to seek Him, so He
never denied believing prayers, nor disappointed
believing expectations.  He gives grace sufficient and
comfort and satisfaction of soul."   
-Matthew Henry








Friday, September 21, 2018

WORK: A DEVOTIONAL EXPERIENCE



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WORK: A DEVOTIONAL EXPERIENCE

"What ever your task, work heartily, as serving
the Lord and not men, knowing that from the 
Lord you will receive the inheritance as your
reward; you are serving the Lord Christ."
(Colossians 3:23,24 RSV)   

Is your work dull, boring and meaningless?
Is your work tiring and getting you down?
It doesn't have to.  Your work can be transformed 
into a joyful, refreshing situation with purpose
and meaning.

How can my work be changed from a weary
routine to an invigorating opportunity?  Very
simply.  Take Jesus to work with you.  It works
for me, and it will work for you.  When we do 
our work enthusiastically as unto the Lord it
becomes a holy thing.  We are to do it for God,
and not man.

When we work heartily as serving the Lord, 
with "hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody to the Lord with all your hearts."
(Ephesians 5:19 RSV)  Then the drab routine task
we are doing becomes pure joy.

MY WORK CAN BE A SACRED TASK.  


Thursday, September 20, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE



Jesus Christ said;

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so 
that the Father may be glorified in the Son, if you 
ask Me anything in My name I will do it."  
(John 14:13,14 NASB)  



Wednesday, September 19, 2018

DON'T LIKE YOUR LOOKS?


Do you like your looks?  I don't like mine.
And I would bet you don't like your looks
either, unless you are an ego maniac.

Years ago I read how even most actors are
not satisfied with the way they look.  They
would change some little thing or other.
And after all these years I have found
nothing to make me think differently.


It seems to be a problem to all human
beings.  Consider the these statistics.

In the year 2016 world wide there was
61.5  billion U.S. dollars spent on
color cosmetics.   You know, paint,
putty, wood filler or what ever it is
that women use trying to look like
something different.

And we fellows did not do much better.
We spent 48.5 billon dollars on men's
grooming products trying to look better. 




But I noticed something IMPORTANT.

When God came down as a man - Jesus
Christ - so he could die in our place if
we will accept it.  You would think He
would come as the most outstanding person
of all time.  But He did not.  Notice the 
thing of the appearance of Jesus Christ 
in the prophecy given about Him.

"For before him he grew up like a young plant,
like a root out of dry ground.  He was not well-
formed or especially handsome; we saw him,
but his appearance did not attract us.
People despised and avoided him, a man of pains,
well acquainted with illness.  Like someone from
whom people turn their faces, he was despised;
we did not value him."
(Isaiah 53:2,3 CJB)

Did you catch that?
The very one who created the Universe and
gives life to you, when he came to be one of
us, He came as the plainest of the plane people.

Don't you think that we put way to much
emphasis on our outward appearance?

"God sees not as man sees,
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the LORD looks at the heart."
(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB) 








Tuesday, September 18, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"It is easier for me to have faith in the Bible
than to have faith in D. L. Moody, for Moody
has fooled me lots of times."
- D. L. Moody 







Friday, September 14, 2018

GOD KNOWS BEST


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GOD KNOWS BEST.

Last night as I was getting ready for bed God brought
a number of decisions and directions I have taken to 
mind and do you know what?   God knows best.

Bear in mind that now I am an old man looking back
over the past.  I think that some of these can be an 
encouragement to you.  There are two verses of Scripture 
that I have often had to think of and now see in a new
light.  Consider them before we proceed.

"The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps."

"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord,
How then can man understand his way?"
(Proverbs 16:9 & 20:24 NASB)

These plans or decisions will be listed more by
subject than by time or order.

As a much younger, single man I was obviously 
looking for a wife.  I remember in particular two
ladies that I thought the world revolved around.
(One at the time.) It hurt, but neither of them
worked out.

Now, many years latter as I have watched their
lives it is obvious that had I married either one of 
them, I would have been hurt real bad.

And better yet,  God clearly gave me direction
latter as who to marry.  Yep!  Time has proven
that I got the best wife in the world.

On the matter of property.
When I moved into this area I wanted out in the
country with at least 40 acres.

Well, it did not work out that way.
I ended up with God clearly indicating that I was
to get this little place.  It is only an acre and half.
At least it is out of town.

Do you know what?
Time has proven that it was the best thing for me
even thought it was not want I thought I wanted.

Again on property.
A number of years ago I wanted a hideout in the
country.  A place to go hide from the noise
and confusion in this area.  Things have built up
a great deal here since I bought it over forty years
ago.  So a patch of woods to go hide in for a few
hours or days.  Perhaps just camp in, but away 
people and noise.

I had decided to go after tax property, that is 
property the state had up for sale for taxes.

There were several that I had my heart set on.
As you can figure, I was out bid on every one.
But in desperation I went after one that no one
wanted.

Got it.  It was just a little run down place of 
only a little over three acres of woods, way 
out in the country.  But for several reasons I
have had reason to thank God many times that I
was allowed to get this one rather than the ones
I thought I wanted.

One more. Living conditions.
My living conditions are not what I would have
chosen.  I would have chose a different location,
different housing, and different relationships.

But, guess what?  God knew best.
I have had to spend several years getting use
to things being nicer than I would have chose.
And with advance age and sickness etc. it has
proven to be much more beneficial to me than
had I had my way.  And no, I am not in a
rest home in town.

PRAISE GOD.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight."
(Proverbs 3:5,6 NASB)



Thursday, September 13, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE




"Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts
shamefully."
(Proverbs 10:4,5 NASB)







Wednesday, September 12, 2018

CHASING THE MONEY


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OFF AFTER THE MONEY.

Many years ago the state I live in had a yearly vehicle
inspection.  It was only so they could get federal funding
for the roads.  I just happened to be one of the inspectors
at our dealership.

One day a man came in for an inspection for his old
pickup truck with a camper shell on the back.  We got
to talking and he told me that he was a machinist.  He
was on his way to another place of employment because
they paid more.  He shared with me how he always went
to where they paid the most.  The result was that he 
moved a lot.

As we talked I found out that his wife finally got tired
of all the moving around.  So now he was on his own.
Also, that everything he owned was in the back of 
the pickup.

Was all the chasing after money worth it????

"He who loves money will not be satisfied
with money, nor he who loves abundance
with its income.  This too is vanity."
(Ecclesiastes 5:10 NASB)






Tuesday, September 11, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"If you make a great deal of Christ,
He will make a great deal of you;
but if you make but little of Christ,
Christ will make but little of you."
-R. A. Torrey

Friday, September 7, 2018

THE BREATH OF LIFE


Images courtesy of:www.Pixabay.com   


It there were any validity at all to the theory of 
evolution,  how many millennia were necessary for
mammals to learn the necessity of breathing in
order to sustain life?










???????????





Sorry.
I just liked this little guy.



Thursday, September 6, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE




 But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God 
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 
(James 4:6 CSB)






Wednesday, September 5, 2018

BEWARE OF TEACHERS



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"Be on your guard against the teachers of 
the Law, who like to walk around in their 
long robes and love to be greeted with 
respect in the marketplace; who choose 
the reserved seats in the synagogues and 
the best places at feasts;"
(Luke 20:46 GNT)



Tuesday, September 4, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"The secret of peace within and power without,
is to be always and only occupied with Christ."
- E. Schuyler English