Sunday, July 31, 2022

EXCESS WEIGHT



"Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a huge crowd of witnesses to
the life of faith, let us strip off every
weight that slows us down, especially
the sin that so easily trips us up.  And
let us run with endurance the race
God has set before us."
(Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

This is approximately forty years of 
scrap metal on it's way to the recycler.

At one time or another very bit of it was
being used for something around here.

But, it ended up just being junk in the way.

I have to stop and think.  How many habits,
attitudes, routines, beliefs and actions,  not
to count the material accumulations, do I 
have that need to be trashed?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me an know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting
life."
(Psalms 139:23,24 NLT)






Thursday, July 28, 2022

TODAY'S PROMISE



"He give power to the weak
and strength to the powerless."
(Isaiah 40:29 NLT)


 

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

FOCUSED


"Jack of all trades and master of none."
is an expression I used to hear as a kid.
In essence it means a person can do a lot
of "stuff", but none of it real well.

As I live and move among Christians I get
much the same feeling.  We are a lot of fine
people, but no one would know we are
Christians, unless we had a name tag on
marking us as Christians.

I fear most of us are like the seed the sower
Jesus told us about that fell among the 
thorns;

"The seed that fell among the thorns
represents others who hear God's
word, but all too quickly the message
is crowded out by the worries of this 
life, the lure of wealth, and the desire
for other things, so no fruit is produced"
(Mark 4:18,19 NLT)

I do not know about you, but with all
that is going on around me, even good
stuff I am trying to do for God, I am 
easily distracted from the race I am
supposed to be running.

I need the apostle Paul's attitude regarding
life;
"I don't mean to say that I have
already achieved these things or
that I have already reached perfection.
But I press on to possess that perfection
for which Christ Jesus first possessed
me.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I
have not achieved it, but I focus on this
one thing: Forgetting the past and looking
forward to what lies ahead, I press on to
reach the end of the race and receive the
heavenly prize for which God, through
Christ Jesus, is calling us."
(Philippians 3:12-14 NLT)


"


Tuesday, July 26, 2022

TODAY'S QUOTE




“There is no better way to 

get healed than being near

to Jesus.”

- A.G. Valdez -



 

 

Sunday, July 24, 2022

JESUS HAS A FIX IT SHOP



DO YOU NEED NEW LIFE?
"This means that anyone who belongs
to Christ has become a newsperson. 
The old life is gone a new life has begun!"
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

DO YOU NEED A REST
"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me,
all of you who are weary and carry
heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let
me teach you, because I am humble
and gentle at heart, and you will
find rest for your souls.  For my 
yoke is easy to bear, and the burden
I give you is light."
(Matthew 11:28 - 30 NLT)

DO YOU NEED WISDOM
"If you need wisdom, ask our 
generous God, and he will give it to 
you.  He will not rebuke you for
asking.  But when you ask him, be
sure that your faith is in God alone.
Do not waver, for a person with divided
loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the 
sea that is blown and tossed by the
wind.  Such people should not expect
to receive anything from the Lord.
Their loyalty is divided between
God and the world, and they are
unstable in every thing they do."
(James 1:5 9 NL)

DO YOU HAVE A NEED?
"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in
me will do the same works I have done, and
even greater works, because I am going to 
be with the Father.  You can ask for anything
in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son
can bring glory to the Father.  Yes, ask me for
anything in my name and I will do it.
(John 14:12 - 14 NLT)





Thursday, July 21, 2022

TODAY'S PROMISE





"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord 
and believe in your heart that God raised 
him from the dead, you will be saved."
(Romans 10:9 NLT)


 

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

WELL ROOTED



Yes, that's a rose bush.
I do not know how many years the bush has
been there.  It belonged to my wife who passed
away a couple of years ago.

Way too late in the spring I saw that the rose
bush was getting way too large.  It was like it
was trying to take over the yard.  And in all the 
years she had it, it had never been trimmed back.

So, dummy here got some clippers and cut it
back to a size I wanted - too late in the season.

You know what happened.  After a couple of
weeks it was obvious I had killed it.  Well, it
looked like I had killed it.

A couple more weeks and it looked like the
image above.

But, the story don't stop there.  We are in 
the middle of a "dry spell" here.  And a couple
of times I noticed that all the neat little flowers
wilted away.  I guessed it was done for the 
season.

Nope.
A few more days and it was back with a 
new batch of flowers again even in this 
dry spell.   WHY?

It is well rooted.  The root system is for a
plant that is much bigger, and the system
has been growing for years going deeper
all the time.

As Christians that is the way we are suppose
to be in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul said:

"Then Christ will make his home in
your hearts as you trust in him.  Your
roots will grow down into God's love 
and keep you strong."
(Ephesians 3:17 NLT)
and;
"Let your roots grow down into him,
and let your lives be built on him.  Then
your faith will grow strong in the truth
you were taught, and you will overflow
with thankfulness."
(Colossians 2:7 NLT)

With the things that are coming on in this old
world we need to get our roots down deep,
deep, deep into Christ.

How do we do that?
Get your nourishment here.





 

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

TODAY'S QUOTE



"He rejected the distinction between
clergy and laity, and preached and
practiced the priesthood of all
believers."

- Brother Bakht Singh of India -




 

Sunday, July 17, 2022

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS.



Yes,
even now I am waiting for another
book in the mail.

I am one of those old guys who could not
pass up a good book, or tool.  I would any
day of the year rather have a good book
with written information, charts etc for me
to see than one of these new stupid videos
filled with empty talk.

The north wall of my office is pretty much
covered with technical books.  And the south
wall of my office [Which has the most books]
is covered with Christian or spiritual books.
And it is in this realm that I am most interested.

Over the last thirty years or so my prime interest
in the spiritual realm has been eschatology.  But
I have been picking up on something regarding 
most books, including "Christian" or "Spiritual"
books.

Most books are plain and simply written for
"fame" or "fortune".  In other words, to enhance
the reputation of the author, or the author's bank
account, and if it can be a help to you - fine.

But as an old, old, old - great, great 
grandfather I want to pass on a little advice.

In the "spiritual" realm most of the 
books are only passing on the party line of
their denomination, the newest teaching and
or a lot of conjecture.  In short, you will
probably be disappointed, but the author
will be richer.

Remember,
when you stand before Jesus Christ he is
not going to be asking you what:
Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. Church Swindoll,
Dr. Billy Graham or any other Dr.
said on the subject.

THE ONLY ONE THAT COUNTS
IS THE BOOK:



 "But my child, let me give you
some further advice: Be careful,
for writing books is endless, and 
much study wears you out."
(Ecclesiastes 12:12 NLT)

Thursday, July 14, 2022

TODAY'S PROMISE


"When people work, their wages
are not a gift, but something they
have earned.  But people are counted
as righteous, not because of their
work, but because of their faith in
God who forgives sinners."
(Romans 4:4,5 NLT)


 

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

BE STILL


"Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act."
(Psalms 37:7a NLT)

Sorry about the poor image.  I should have 
taken the picture a few hours earlier before
the sun caused such a glare.

After fighting COVID for a few weeks and 
having several problems facing me I just 
wanted to get away from it all for a while.
So, I took off to my little hide a way in the
woods.

Every one would not want to go to the woods,
the beach or somewhere else.  But the point is,
try to get away from it all - even if you have to 
hide under the bed - and get alone with God.

I want to be a man of prayer.  And I try -
but sometimes we need to shut up and listen
for the still small voice that God wants to 
speak to us in.  As it says another palace
in the King James, "be still and know that I
am God."

I tried to "be still" before God today and
it sure did refresh me.

Go hid with God somewhere and see if it
don't make a difference for you.


 

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

TODAY'S QUOTE




“It is astonishing, how many difficulties

clear up without any effort when the 

inner life gets straightened out.”

- A.W. Tozer -