Thursday, December 25, 2008
Jealous
Wife and I went over to see our newest grandchild "Sophie" the other day. She is so beautiful. I can't figure out who she looks more like though.Anyway we were holding her and squeezing her, and all the things grandparents do. All the while, her 2 year old brother who is "no longer the baby" was running from person to person getting up in our laps and hugging us. When that didn't work, he started making all kinds of noises. He was trying to get our attention. He was saying "Hey, have you forgotten me"?And I'm thinking, how many times has God done that in my life? How many times have I let things, people, or just stuff get between us. how many times has he become "no longer God".I've been a Christian since '77, so you count the years. I am not superchristian, so there have been more than a few times when God has run to me, and even made noises in my ear "hey, have you forgotten me"?Exodus 34:14 says that God is a jealous God. He wants to be God. He doesn't want to be second best in our lives. The challenge today, in this Christmas season, and all the time, is to let him be God in your life.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Throwin Rocks
An estimated 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage to Mina, Saudi Arabia this year to take part in the "Stoning of Satan". This ritual is part of the Hajj, one of the 5 pillars of Islam which every believer must carry out at least once in their lives.
In Mina, there are 3 pillars, each one 82 feet tall. Believers must throw 21 pebbles at each one of the pillars during the ritual. The thing is, hundreds of people have been trampled to death as the pilgrims rush to throw their rocks at the pillars. Satan's probably getting a good laugh at that.
Several years ago a young man bowed at an altar and asked God to forgive his sin. Jesus came into his heart and he was saved. There were no pebbles thrown, nobody got trampled to death. Just a sinner beginning a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Folks, you can't beat Satan by throwing rocks at pillars or going through some ritual. You beat Satan when you accept Jesus as your savior.
Anyway, it's God's job to take care of Satan. Revelation 20: 10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Amen
In Mina, there are 3 pillars, each one 82 feet tall. Believers must throw 21 pebbles at each one of the pillars during the ritual. The thing is, hundreds of people have been trampled to death as the pilgrims rush to throw their rocks at the pillars. Satan's probably getting a good laugh at that.
Several years ago a young man bowed at an altar and asked God to forgive his sin. Jesus came into his heart and he was saved. There were no pebbles thrown, nobody got trampled to death. Just a sinner beginning a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Folks, you can't beat Satan by throwing rocks at pillars or going through some ritual. You beat Satan when you accept Jesus as your savior.
Anyway, it's God's job to take care of Satan. Revelation 20: 10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Amen
Thursday, December 4, 2008
UNCOMPLICATED
Went to the movies with my grand son EP yesterday. Had a good time. Ate some popcorn and stuff. One of those James Bond 007 movies. Car chases, crashing, bang bang, destroying everything in sight. The movie kept going back and forth between two or three different scenes. You know "multi-plotting". EP had that puzzled look on his face, so I leaned over and asked him if he knew what was going on. He said "stuffs blowing up". I knew right then that I was not the only one in the theatre that was lost.
If there is one word you could use to describe things theses days it's complicated. Movies are complicated, politics are complicated, families are complicated. I wanted to enter a contest to win $1,000,000 from Dr. Pepper. Ripped the label off the bottle to read the instructions "rocket science". The technology that is suppose to make life easier is complicated too. It takes me forever to get anywhere on the computer.
But I'm so glad that the most important thing in life is not complicated at all. Acts 19, the Phillipian jailer asked the Apostle Paul "what must I do to be saved". Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ". The most important yet most uncomplicated thing in the world is to be saved from sin and made a child of God. Believe that Jesus is God's son, that he died on the cross for your sin, and that he rose the third day. That's all
If there is one word you could use to describe things theses days it's complicated. Movies are complicated, politics are complicated, families are complicated. I wanted to enter a contest to win $1,000,000 from Dr. Pepper. Ripped the label off the bottle to read the instructions "rocket science". The technology that is suppose to make life easier is complicated too. It takes me forever to get anywhere on the computer.
But I'm so glad that the most important thing in life is not complicated at all. Acts 19, the Phillipian jailer asked the Apostle Paul "what must I do to be saved". Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ". The most important yet most uncomplicated thing in the world is to be saved from sin and made a child of God. Believe that Jesus is God's son, that he died on the cross for your sin, and that he rose the third day. That's all
Friday, November 28, 2008
What's On Your Shoe?
Our lovely daughter-in-law brought 3 of our wonderful grandchildren over to the house one evening this week. She made us a spaghetti supper. It was wonderful. We spent time together, and had a great time.
Later, as I was headed down the hall for the bedroom, I felt something squish between my toes. At this moment I'm thinking "we do have a 2 year old". As I turned my foot to look, I saw strings of spaghetti. Now I'm thinking "a gift, a little reminder of time spent with little people".
The children are not the only ones who leave reminders of their visits. All of us remember what other people leave us in life. Some very good memories, some bad, some physical, some leave emotional scars that last a lifetime. We all leave little gifts behind.
Acts 4 says that Peter and John were taken into custody by the Sanhedrin for preaching the Gospel. And the next day the rulers and scribes gathered to hear their defense. Peter full of the Holy Ghost, spake boldly of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. He said there is none other name whereby we must be saved. When the rulers and scribes could not withstand Peter's defense, they let them go.
The Bible says when Peter and John left the place of hearing, they left a little gift behind. Verse 13 says "the rulers took knowledge that these men had been with Jesus".
We all leave something behind wherever we go. Sometimes we leave wisdom and knowledge. Sometimes we leave gossip and backbiting. Some of the stuff we leave behind can squish between people's toes. I have left that kind of reminder way too many times.
What are we leaving behind? God help us to leave love, compassion, grace, mercy, and all those things that Jesus taught us, so people can smile when they step in it.
Later, as I was headed down the hall for the bedroom, I felt something squish between my toes. At this moment I'm thinking "we do have a 2 year old". As I turned my foot to look, I saw strings of spaghetti. Now I'm thinking "a gift, a little reminder of time spent with little people".
The children are not the only ones who leave reminders of their visits. All of us remember what other people leave us in life. Some very good memories, some bad, some physical, some leave emotional scars that last a lifetime. We all leave little gifts behind.
Acts 4 says that Peter and John were taken into custody by the Sanhedrin for preaching the Gospel. And the next day the rulers and scribes gathered to hear their defense. Peter full of the Holy Ghost, spake boldly of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. He said there is none other name whereby we must be saved. When the rulers and scribes could not withstand Peter's defense, they let them go.
The Bible says when Peter and John left the place of hearing, they left a little gift behind. Verse 13 says "the rulers took knowledge that these men had been with Jesus".
We all leave something behind wherever we go. Sometimes we leave wisdom and knowledge. Sometimes we leave gossip and backbiting. Some of the stuff we leave behind can squish between people's toes. I have left that kind of reminder way too many times.
What are we leaving behind? God help us to leave love, compassion, grace, mercy, and all those things that Jesus taught us, so people can smile when they step in it.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Pray for the President-Elect
I have a new blog, and I hope you will all take the time to read it. I don't claim to know everything or to be a spiritual superman, but I do live in the Favor of God and He shares His wisdom with me when I take the time to listen!
President-Elect Obama has spent the last few days introducing his new economic team; along with that, he has named a few of his staff members and some cabinet members. Some of these people are new faces to most of us, and some of them carry baggage from other administrations. Already the criticisms and the complaining has begun. Folks I didn't vote for the man. I'm probably not going to agree with everything he does, but I have made up my mind to do this. I am going to pray for him and the people he chooses to lead with him. The book of 1 Timothy (2:1-2) directs us to pray for those set in authority over us.
President-Elect Obama has spent the last few days introducing his new economic team; along with that, he has named a few of his staff members and some cabinet members. Some of these people are new faces to most of us, and some of them carry baggage from other administrations. Already the criticisms and the complaining has begun. Folks I didn't vote for the man. I'm probably not going to agree with everything he does, but I have made up my mind to do this. I am going to pray for him and the people he chooses to lead with him. The book of 1 Timothy (2:1-2) directs us to pray for those set in authority over us.
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