When Is A Liar No Longer A Liar?

When is a liar no longer a liar? A liar is no longer a liar when he/she becomes a truth teller. (Ephesians 4:25) When is a thief no longer a thief? A thief is no longer a thief when he gets a job and works to help meet the needs of those who have needs. (Ephesians 4:28) The Apostle Paul speaking in Ephesians 4: 22, 24, talks about needed change in our lives. We are to put off the old man and put on the new man. If we were a liar, we must become a truth teller. If we were a thief, we must work so we will have to give to him that has need. In the life of a Christian, God wants to bring observable changes in the way we do things and the way we think about life. Ephesians chapter 4 lists a number of things that we need to look at to see if change is needed in our lives. Let's all take a peek at it and see if there isn't something to be changed in our lives. God in his great mercy loved us, saved us, and will change us as we yield to his word and way.

Do You Like Change?

This time of year always represents change for all of us. We have now gone through the winter season to the spring season, although someone forgot to get the message to several parts of the country. This is also the time when young people are graduating from High School and from College. These graduations represent great change for the individuals and families involved. Right in the midst of these human happenings, God continues to change us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you like change? I do sometimes, but on many occasions change can be a hard thing to face and embrace. May the Lord help us all to face what is before us, knowing that whatever it is, He will be right in the midst of it helping us, all along the way.

Mother's Living Faith!

The preacher G. Campbell Morgan had four sons, all of whom were preachers. The youngest son, Howard, considered a fine preacher, once took his father's place on this side of the Atlantic while Dr. Morgan preached in London. Some came into the drawing room when the family was there and, thinking to find out what Howard was made of, asked a question: "Howard, who is the greatest preacher in your family?" Without a moment's hesitation he answered, "My mother." Sometimes men and women who never stand at a pulpit preach the greatest sermons through living out the Word in their daily lives. I hope you mothers will keep on living out your faith before all mankind, especially your children, for they are watching and learning what a living faith is all about.
Happy Mother's Day and thank you!

Mother!

Someone has said, "I finally found a Mother's Day card that expressed my feelings for my mother in real terms." It said, "Now that we have a mature, adult relationship, there's something I'd like to tell you. You're still the first person I think of when I fall down and go boom!" Or did you hear the following story, On Mother's Day a minister gave this perfect tribute: "My mother practices what I preach."
I hope all of you mothers have a great Mother's Day.

Such A Friend!

One could not but be moved by the story of the soldier who asked his officer if he might go out in the "No Man's Land" between the trenches in WWI to bring in one of his friends who lay grievously wounded. "You can go," said the officer, "but it's not worth it. Your friend is probably killed, and you will throw your own life away." But the man went. Somehow he managed to get to his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and bring him back to the trenches. The two of them tumbled in together and lay in the trench bottom. The officer looked very tenderly on the would-be rescuer, and then he said, "I told you it wouldn't be worth it. Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded." "It was worth it, though, sir," he said. "How do you mean, 'worth it? I tell you your friend is dead." "Yes sir," the boy answered, "but it was worth it, because when I got to him he was still alive, and he said to me, 'Jim, I knew you'd come.'"

Do we have a friend such as this? The song writer wrote about our Lord Jesus Christ, "What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!" Jesus himself said in Hebrews 13:5b, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So I figure that we do have such a friend.

The Lord Knows The Way Through The Wilderness!

Speaking of how the children of Israel fell several ways while in the wilderness, the Apostle Paul warningly says in I Corinthians 10:12, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." It does seem like advice is least heeded when most needed. We have to walk with God according to his terms and conditions, not according to what we want or wish would happen. Some say that God's way is too hard, but it is really just God's way. When we yeild to his way, he helps us with what we view as hard. It is the Lord who knows the way through the wilderness, and not us. Shall we dare follow his steps and leading and venture out of our controlling comfort zones to get busy with the business that he has for each of us. He knows and we don't know, that is, until he tells us!

The Journey Of Life!

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Have you noticed that there is no itinerary for the journey of life, its a matter of trusting the Lord. God leads, guides, directs, corrects our paths. He loves to keep us on course for this journey of life. If we are having a difficult time figuring out what is going on in our lives, the answer is a prayer away. God answers yes, no, and wait. We probably aren't overly fond of the wait answer, and don't want to hear the no answer, but most always want the yes answer. We can go ahead and do anything we want, but the problem with doing what we always want is called rebellion and selfishness. Let's trust the Lord in our lives by acknowledging him in all our ways, then he will direct our paths and we will be safe on our life's journey. Remember rebellion and selfishness is the path to death, while trusting in the Lord is the path to life.