JURY DUTY

Last night God reminded me of one of many prayers

he has answered for me over the years.

Possibly thirty years ago I was summoned to jury duty.

At that period of time the family finances was real tight.

I plain and simply could not afford to miss work to be

doing jury duty.  It is true, they would pay a nominal fee

for showing up at the courthouse and pay a minimum

milage fee.  But that would not buy much groceries.

However, God said,

"Then call on me when you are in trouble,

and I will rescue you, and you will give 

me glory." 

(Psalms 50:15 NLT)

Knowing this I so well remember going up into the

field behind the house, getting down on my knees

in an old yellow Ford up there and praying about

the matter.

The outcome.

My employer decided to pay me full salary while 

on jury duty.  

And,

when the money come in to me from the county

for my time on jury duty I tried to give it to my 

employer because he had paid me full salary while

on jury duty.  He would not take it.

Praise God,

rather than being behind finically I came out ahead.

 

TODAY'S PROMISE

 

"The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me.

I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue and honor them.

I will reward them with long life

and give them my salvation."  

(Psalms 91:14 - 16 NLT)

TODAY'S QUOTE

“I’m convinced that the path of every

believer will sooner or later include

suffering.  The Lord gives us these

trials to keep us humble and dependent

on him for our sustenance.”

-Brother Yun in

The heavenly Man.

 

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTERISTIC?

What is your characteristic?

What image, or impression  do you portray

to other people whether natural or acquired?

Just what type of person are you?

I knew a woman very well for over twenty five years.

I finally formed the opinion that she was not happy 

unless she was going crazy planning something.

Or, I had a good friend years ago that worried about

everything.

You have seen them all over.  Some of them are real bikers

and most of them are just trying to give the image of being

a biker.

One time I was talking with a customer at work.  I was 

showing her my "leathers". [Yes, I rode year around for

many years.  But you can be sure I did not try to look 

like a biker.]  Anyway, she told me how when her husband

go on his motorcycle he became a completely different man.

You know what kind of characteristic he wanted to portray.

Or perhaps a hot rodder.

You know, every time they pull up to a stop they have to 

race their motors so people will know what a powerful

car or pickup they have.

Smart, intelligent.

You run into this type very often.  You learn that they are

careful how they express themselves about anything so 

that it is not obvious that there might be something 

they don't know.

I am getting to old to worry about making an impression

on other people.  Franky, it is all futile and silly.  I am 

getting too close to that time when I will be standing before

God and giving an account of myself.

But, God gives us some clear instructions through the

Apostle Paul how we are to live and react in this life.

And, I WANT TO BE THAT WAY, I want it to be

the characteristic of my life.

"Don't worry about anything;

instead,

pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God's peace,

which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds

as you live in Christ Jesus." 

(Philippians 4:6,7 NLT)   

I want my characteristics to be:

1.  I don't worry about anything.  I leave it all

in God's hands.

2. I pray about everything and tell God what I need.

["everything".  I cannot get over the magnitude of

that.  You know, even a sore toe, how to comb my

hair, what to think, etc.]

3. I thank God for everything.

TODAY'S PROMISE

 

"If you make the LORD your refuge,

if you make the MOST High your shelter,

no evil will conquer you;

no plague will come near your home.

For he will order his angels to 

protect you wherever you go."  

(Psalms 91:9 -11 NLT). 

TODAY'S QUOTE

 

“It is not he that reads the most,

but he that meditates the most,

that will prove the choicest,

sweetest, wisest and strongest

Christian.”

 

- T. Brooks

 

THE REBEL FORGIVEN

I know, you and I are not rebels.

Well, we don't think we are.

But, look at one of the several definitions

of "rebel" from the dictionary.

"2 a person who resists any authority 

or controls"

We don't resist authority or controls do we,

except speed limits and a few other things.

But how about in our relationship to God

Himself???  How many times do we (I) do

things, think things, see things we know God

does not want us to do, think etc?

When we do it, think it or what ever,

and we know that is not what God would

want us to do.  WE ARE REBELLING

AGAINST GOD.

So we are rebels after all.

Consider Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

"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."

I am not as perfect as you are.  Some times

I mess up, again and again.  Then I know

that I am guilty of rebelling against God.

And as a child of God His Holy Spirit

convicts me of my wrong doing.  And 

that can, and should hurt.  So what should

I do."

"Finally, I confessed all my sins to you

and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, 'I will confess my

rebellion to the LORD.'  And you 

forgave me!  All my guilt is gone." 

(Psalms 32:5 NLT)

Praise God, I confess to Him.

God forgives me.

And my guilt is gone.