Remember!

Scripture tells us to remember such things as, the poor, the words of the Lord Jesus, Lot's wife, that Jesus was raised from the dead, them that have the rule over you, from whence though art fallen, etc. We should remember where God found us and what shape we were in, and give thanks forever.
This weekend is memorial day weekend. All across the US and around the world, folks will pause and remember those who have given their lives for their country's freedom. It is good to render honor where honor is due, and honor is due these fallen men and women. Remember to pray for their families and loved ones. Their cost was great and they should be greatly remembered.

Snared By Your Word!

Sam Findley decided it was time to retire from the garment business. So he called in his son Mervyn and gave him the news and a bit of advice: "Son, it's all yours. I've made a success of this business because of two principles: reliability and wisdom. First, take reliability. If you promise goods by the tenth of the month, no matter what happens, you must deliver by the tenth. Even if it costs you overtime, double time, golden time. You deliver what you promise."

Mervyn thought about this for a few moments and then asked. "But what about wisdom?" His father shot back: "Wisdom is never making such a stupid promise."

The wisdom here is to be careful not to snare yourself with your words and promise to do or deliver something that you can not. It is a painful lesson to learn, but all must learn it or find themselves in situations of great stress. Let's all be careful to choose our words carefully and wisely.

The Spirit Of Truth!

A new business went in close to our home recently. We watched as the building was cleaned up and painted some. We wondered what was going in that small building, and then the day came when a sign went up. It was a very undesirable business from our perspective, a psychic readings business. I said to my wife, "now that just isn't good," and we prayed that God would close it down. Well the short version is, God did close it down. It didn't happen overnight, but it soon happened, and we just want to thank the Lord for that closing.

God's word in Leviticus 19:31 says, "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God." This scripture makes it clear that we Christians are not to seek guidance from someone with a familiar spirit, such as Saul did in I Samuel 28. As we walk with God, he will make known his will to us. Jesus said in John 16 that the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) is come, and he will lead us into all truth.

The Greatest Is Love!

Many will say that they love someone, but looked at closely, they don't really love the person as love is meant to be. Perhaps they say they love a person, but only if the person loved is able to do something for them. True love is not that way, and true love never fails, and true love comes only from God. It is easily read about in the Bible in I Corinthians 13. The last verse of that chapter says, And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. The greatest is always love, when it is God's love!

A Happy Heart!

An invisible man married an invisible woman. Their kids weren't much to look at either. In the KJV, Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."In the Amplified Version it says it this way, "A happy heart is a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries the bones." I like this happy heart and cheerful mind stuff. It really is good for our health. I know that it is invisible to some, but don't worry be of good cheer, and go ahead and enjoy. Have a happy and merry weekend.

Let Your Moderation Be Known To All Men!

Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand." In this case moderation means, unselfishness, considerateness, and a forbearing spirit. To prefer someone over ourselves would surely show unselfishness and considerateness. In Romans 12:10 it reads in the KJV, "Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." In the Amplified Version it reads, "Love one another with brotherly affection -- as members of one family giving precedence and showing honor to one another."

To be forbearing might be summed up best in the Lords words in Matthew 5:39, "But I say unto you. That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Being known as having moderation is no small matter. It is only God who accomplishes this in our lives. Let's all yield our lives to God for the needed surgery to become known as brothers and sisters who walk in moderation.

Trust

Trust is like a piece of furniture. It can be broken. It can be repaired. But the question is, "will it ever be the same?" I know from experience, that it is always right to trust the Lord. He is always reliable and trustworthy. God desires restoration and forgiveness when trust has been broken. The forgiveness should happen instantly, but the restoring of the trust takes a time of faithfulness. And as someone once wisely said, "it could happen."