The Ultimate in Greatness

I like life. It is really great. What joy to experience grass growing, trees leaving, flowers blooming and most important of all, people living, growing and changing.

I hate death. It is really gross. How depressing to see the end of what God intended to go on forever. Man sinned, man fell, man died.

But thanks be to God, who gives to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. To live with Him, forever and ever, will be the ultimate in greatness. Are we ready? Christ is the only way!

Anyone in for dancing?

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
What time is it in our lives? We are all probably in different places, seasons, and times, but I believe it is important to know what place, season or time we are in. This is were the precious Holy Spirit leads in our lives. May the Lord help us all to hear and to respond accordingly. Anyone in for dancing?

Lights in darkness

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" Philippians 2:14-15. Doing things in love, without envy, strife, murmurings, and disputings, etc., marks us as unusual and different, which the world doesn't like nor does it tolerate. The world wants conformity, with no one allowed to be or to think differently. Our actions are expected to measure up to society's norm. If we don't laugh at dirty jokes, or lust after what the world defines as normal, we are considered unusual and will certainly be noticed.
Surely we can see that we stand out in this crooked and perverse world that we live in. Hopefully, we are standing out because of our righteous behavior. If so, we shine as lights in darkness in this present world. Now let us consider this, how bright is our light?

Kindness

I have heard it said "To be right satisfies the ego, to be kind satisfies God." Of the several virtues we are told to put on in Colossians 3:12-14, one that is good for us to check in our lives is kindness. Let me ask, are we kind people, or, are we proud, pushy, and pleasure loving folks? We have all seen the type, they are forever joining the world in it's march to acquire the most toys, treasures and titles. To be kind is a wonderful virtue, especially as it is manifest into everyday life. You know, kind to the waiter, the store clerk, the postal employee, our neighbors, our family, etc.
God really wants us to feast on the good things that He has made available to us, and kindness is one of the main ones. Check out the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 and depending on the translation, you will find gentleness or kindness.
How kind are we? I'm not sure that I know, but I think that we should be the kindest people on God's good earth. What do you think?

We Need Help

In Galatians 6:2 we are told to bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. In the same chapter, verse 5, it tells us that every man shall bear his own burden. We must carry our own load, and yet, there are times that we need help. Asking for help is a hard thing for most of us to do, but do it we must when our situation warrants it. When we are asked to help, it is an honor to help. If we spot someone that needs help we should step up and volunteer our help. How are we doing in both of these areas? As we love one another as we love ourselves, we will do these areas with great ease. It will become natural to step up and help, and to step up and ask for help when needed. The end of it all is love.

Where are the nine?

"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine"? Luke 17:17 There were ten lepers that Jesus healed, but only one returned to give thanks. For these nine to have been sick and put out of their homes and community for a long period of time, and then to get healed and not say thank you as the Samaritan did, is not easy to understand. All Christians should be instant at being thankful and grateful. We were destined to die for our sins, but Christ took them onto himself on our behalf. Now we are free, our sins forgiven, never to be brought up again by God. To show our gratitude for being included into God's family, we become spoiled kids expecting more and more but not being grateful for God's bounty. What are we thinking? God loves us, but will say about us if we are ungrateful "where are the nine"? I personally hope to be the one that says thank you, to God, for all he does in my life. Are you with me on this? Hopefully we all are!

What is causing us to miss a blessing?

Collectively they all said, "isn't this the carpenter and Mary's son". They had just listened as he taught in the synagogue, and were astonished at his wisdom and even referenced his mighty works. With that before them they were still offended with him, which caused Jesus to say "a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house." The final thought in this chapter says, he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53-58
It is a blessed thing to grow up in a Christian home with Christian parents and siblings. It is also wonderful to attend a sound Bible preaching Church. And yet, this familiarity with God and the things of God, causes us to miss blessings that are regularly being received by the new babe in Christ. You know him! He is the one who has been forgiven much, and takes nothing for granted. Some folks could live next door to Jesus and never receive a blessing because of their unbelief!