Daily Archives: September 15, 2010

I am confident that I have the answer that everyone seeks.

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Many of us today are concerned about our future, with the changing faces of our economy we find that we are slipping deeper into a tragic state of affairs, one which is as easy to remove ourselves from by simply asking for it. “God can do anything, you know, far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all eternity! Oh, yes!” (EPHESIANS)
For those of you who are asking the question right now, “what planet is he living on” let me assure you that I am right here alongside you! Telling you that I have never experienced some sort of concern would be anything but the truth, however, I am confident that I have the answer that everyone seeks. “I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess, happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me, it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.” (PHILIPPIANS)
What is troubling you, I guess, is the fact that I appear to reflect no concerns for anything that is going on around me, well you would be wrong by drawing that conclusion. In fact I am very concerned, yet not for the same things that you are! What concerns me is the loss of souls that is becoming more and more evident to everyone who knows and is watching for that special day. “Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless, cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything, encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” (1 PETER)
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Do we really want to invite anger to get the better of us

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Unfortunately anger is such a serious problem in our society today, that lives are often lost because of it. It is not uncommon to read about or watch on the news the unfortunate result of an angry motorist who has just allowed his anger to get the better of him in a road rage incident. “The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret; the cold hearted get the cold shoulder.” (PROVERBS)
More often than not we rush to judgment and fail to allow enough time to think things through. I know, because I am just as guilty of such and act! In most instances if we had allowed ourselves the appropriate, “cooling down time” we would have been able to stop the moving train. A situation of “counting to ten” would have sufficed. “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.” (PROVERBS)
Some people believe that it is healthy to blow off some steam and  allow yourself to get angry from time to time. While that may be true, we should be careful to have those feelings removed from us as soon as possible to avoid them being used by Satan. “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry, but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.” (EPHESIANS)
Keeping all that in mind, do we really want to invite anger to get the better of us? Should we prime ourselves to have a daily visit from the one that we are trying to avoid. Should we not be more concerned with how we appear to others? “Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.” (JAMES)
Passionate words sow seeds that produce a bad crop which no one will care to garner. Our own words have an effect upon our character, but they act still more powerfully upon the characters of others. The infinite God can measure the mischief that is done by careless words. These words fall from our lips and we do not perhaps mean any harm; yet they are the index of our inward thoughts, and work on the side of evil. What unhappiness has been produced by the speaking of thoughtless, unkind words in the family circle! Harsh words rankle in the mind, it may be for years, and never lose their sting. As professed Christians, we should consider the influence our words have upon  those with whom we come into association, whether they are believers or unbelievers. Our words are watched and mischief is done by thoughtless utterances. No after association with believers or unbelievers will wholly counteract the unfavorable influence of thoughtless, foolish words. Our words evidence the manner of food upon which our soul feeds. (E.G.W. – Youth Instructor, June 27, 1895)
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Many can be deceived today, and will be.

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Have you ever wondered why it is that you are being subjected to what seems like an unfair amount of trials and tribulation? I know I have! Because of my dedication to the word of God and the life of Jesus Christ, I experience no end of complications. You would think that it would really make me angry wouldn’t you? “Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.” (PSALMS)
In every single situation I always find myself right up against an imaginary line, when all of a sudden I encounter the light at the end of the tunnel. I would be lying if I told you that at times I felt like throwing in the towel, (like many of my readers may be thinking right now) but I can safely say that, with his strength,  I made it with! “Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders, he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin. But you, God, will throw the others into a muddy bog, Cut the lifespan of assassins and traitors in half.  And I trust in you.” (PSALMS)
There is no such thing as a perfect disciple, Christian, human being or otherwise, we all fall short of the glory of God. What makes us His children is the fact that we keep getting back up to our feet and walking towards the light. “Be good to your servant, God; be as good as your Word. Train me in good common sense; I’m thoroughly committed to living your way. Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, But now I’m in step with your Word. You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness. The godless spread lies about me, but I focus my attention on what you are saying; They’re bland as a bucket of lard, while I dance to the tune of your revelation. My troubles turned out all for the best, they forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine.” (PSALMS)
Having said that, it is necessary for me to point out that many can be deceived today, and will be. With all the different religions today it is almost impossible for the average human being to decipher which is truth and which is fiction, or is it? “You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food, catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you, keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.” (2 TIMOTHY)
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