Monday, November 30, 2020
Receiving His Treasure
If we do not receive and treasure the love of God, there is in each of us an innate recognition telling us life is hopeless. Many people have a sense of hopelessness about themselves and their life. Most of these people confront their hopelessness in life by running away from the hopelessness. People run away from their hopelessness by trying to drink it away, drug it away, play it away, watch TV it away, or try to escape their hopelessness by any means possible. Tragically, there is no escape. Wonderfully, there is a fix to this problem. For in Christ Jesus, we find the hope of the world, for all people, all the time, for all the generations, for all the multitudes or the past and all the multitudes of the future. In Christ, we find hope for life beyond death and hope in this life in the here and now. In Christ Jesus, there is hope until the very end, and at the very end, we find there is no end but an eternal new beginning.
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Reaching Out
Reaching out to others requires us not to be too comfortable. Today, too many Christians are too often in a spiritual place of not wanting to grow. Too often, we are content with where we are. We are content to put our wants and needs before anyone else. Today, in our faith, perhaps we do not have the passion to grow. Unfortunately, today, in the bone and marrow of our service to Christ, we are content. Unfortunately, today, in our faith, perhaps we feel we are big enough and we don't care to be bigger. Unfortunately, today, we are satisfied. We are happy. We are fat. We are lazy. We are rich. Everything is OK. Nothing is wrong. Unfortunately, today, everything is peachy keen and we have little passion. In the faith, we are too often consumed with ourselves, and with our little problems. For many of us who are capable of reaching out, reaching out is OK. However, reaching out is just too risky, so we don't reach out. In our faith, we want to be kept. We want to be secure. In our faith, we want to be tended to. We do not want to be uncomfortable, uneasy, or nervous. We do not want to take risks. We are like fish in an aquarium, where all of our needs, wants, and desires are met. Paul Harvey noted, "Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium."
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Quietness for A Troubled Soul
The fear of pain is often worse than the pain itself. The fear of future pain often aggravates the present pain and makes the present pain even worse. Fear makes us tense. Fear disables our immune system. Fear activates our body to run when running may not be necessary. To conquer your fear, place your fear in the palm of God's hand. To conquer your fear, place what makes you afraid in the palm of God's hand. By making these overt acts of placing your pain in God's hands, you begin to take charge of your pain instead of letting your pain take charge of you. To conquer your fear, identify the fear and summon the courage. Learn from your recent minutes in the past you can face your pain. Remember you have faced your pain just a few minutes ago and you are now like you have always been. Because you have faced your pain in the past and remained as you have always been, you can find the courage to face your pain again and again and again without fear.
Friday, November 27, 2020
QUESTIONS
I asked God to take away my pain. God said, no. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, no. Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience. God said, no. Patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned. I asked God to give me happiness. God said, no. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said, no. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, no. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, no. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things. I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me. God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
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