I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.
Martha Washington (1731-1802, American First Lady)
Phil 4:11-13
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. NASU
Where does learning begin? It usually begins with a desire to know, to be informed on a subject that we are interested in. Well, one subject I would think would be worth investigating is the subject of happiness. Martha Washington seems to have been a reader of The Word of God, for her words fall along the lines of scripture.
Martha made it a desire in her life to be inclined to happiness and contentment, and found that it wasn’t the circumstances of her life that determined her mood or disposition, it was her attitude. She learned this from Paul. Paul said I have been hungry and full, in abundance and in need, but I have found a secret that strengthens me and keeps me on track.
We can be content, if we really want to learn to be that way, or we can be one that never seems to be satisfied. I like that old song, “I Am Satisfied” its words ring true today, and they give us a clue. The words to this old song say this, “I am satisfied with Jesus, but the question comes to me, when I think of Calvary, is my Jesus satisfied with me…now that will cut an earthly appetite…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
It's The Little Things That Count
One of the most essential things you need to do for yourself is to choose a goal that is important to you. Perfection does not exist -- you can always do better and you can always grow.
Les Brown (1945-, American speaker, author, trainer, motivator,)
Eph 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. NASU
We are to grow, but growth for growth sake is not fruitful. Just because something is big, it doesn’t make it better. A big crowd doesn’t make it right, as we have seen in many overnight spiritual sensations, and big names fall don’t they. What causes all of this confusion? People do. They do not look at what they are standing on until it begins to sink, and then comes disappointment and hurt.
Actually it is the small things that count. Each of us individually, makes up the “we” of the church, and not the “me” mentality of a country club. We individually are to help one another stay focused on the goal of growth in Christ, and keep each other out of the tossing and changing waves of the sinking boat that the world is in.
When we let Christ be our “Head,” He will fit us together properly, and hold us together spiritually. Now listen to what Paul say’s in Ephesians 4:16, he says that God will supply what each individual part, or what each of us needs, to grow. Hallelujah and the best part is what we each are being built into, the precious and everlasting Love of Christ our Lord, a boat that will never sink, guaranteed…God Bless.
Pastor William
Les Brown (1945-, American speaker, author, trainer, motivator,)
Eph 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. NASU
We are to grow, but growth for growth sake is not fruitful. Just because something is big, it doesn’t make it better. A big crowd doesn’t make it right, as we have seen in many overnight spiritual sensations, and big names fall don’t they. What causes all of this confusion? People do. They do not look at what they are standing on until it begins to sink, and then comes disappointment and hurt.
Actually it is the small things that count. Each of us individually, makes up the “we” of the church, and not the “me” mentality of a country club. We individually are to help one another stay focused on the goal of growth in Christ, and keep each other out of the tossing and changing waves of the sinking boat that the world is in.
When we let Christ be our “Head,” He will fit us together properly, and hold us together spiritually. Now listen to what Paul say’s in Ephesians 4:16, he says that God will supply what each individual part, or what each of us needs, to grow. Hallelujah and the best part is what we each are being built into, the precious and everlasting Love of Christ our Lord, a boat that will never sink, guaranteed…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Heaven, Imagine That!
All prosperity begins in the mind and is dependent only upon the full use of our creative imagination.
Ruth Ross
Col 3:1-4
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. NASU
Gerald Barzan, wrote this little poem, “Ten ancient commandments lousing up the fun. Along came prosperity, and then there was none.” What is it about prosperity that causes us to lose sight of God? We start out good, we have grand intentions to do right, and to live right, but it seems when God allows us a little rope, we, as natural sinners, tend to hang ourselves.
Well, the world around us is visual stimulation, and the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, is definitely true. Then you have other old sayings like this one, “seeing is believing.” We could go on, but you get the picture. Life for us here is sensual. The wonderful creation of the eye, and the other senses that God gave us, are our tools of interpretation, and the inlets to our inner being.
Now if a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words will it take for us to maintain our focus? Well, the word of God is much more powerful than regular words, and we will only maintain our focus on the unseen things while we are here, by reading, remembering, and dreaming, and looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises to us. The Return of Christ, the Streets of Glory, Eternal peace…wonderful pictures that God said would be more than our minds could hold…God Bless.
Pastor William
Ruth Ross
Col 3:1-4
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. NASU
Gerald Barzan, wrote this little poem, “Ten ancient commandments lousing up the fun. Along came prosperity, and then there was none.” What is it about prosperity that causes us to lose sight of God? We start out good, we have grand intentions to do right, and to live right, but it seems when God allows us a little rope, we, as natural sinners, tend to hang ourselves.
Well, the world around us is visual stimulation, and the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, is definitely true. Then you have other old sayings like this one, “seeing is believing.” We could go on, but you get the picture. Life for us here is sensual. The wonderful creation of the eye, and the other senses that God gave us, are our tools of interpretation, and the inlets to our inner being.
Now if a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words will it take for us to maintain our focus? Well, the word of God is much more powerful than regular words, and we will only maintain our focus on the unseen things while we are here, by reading, remembering, and dreaming, and looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises to us. The Return of Christ, the Streets of Glory, Eternal peace…wonderful pictures that God said would be more than our minds could hold…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, October 27, 2008
Dealing with Feeling
Seeing is believing, but feeling's the truth.
Thomas Fuller (1608-1661, British clergyman, )
Ps 79:11-13
Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die. And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
the reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture Will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise.
NASU
We are children of God with great feelings. People all have different ways of treating their feelings. Some hide them, some deny them, and some make excuses for them, but the best way for us to handle our feelings is to deal with them. Not stopping to ask yourself, “why do I feel this way” is a tragic mistake that many make, for it an important question to ask.
Burying your feelings, ignoring or hiding them, will lead to a moment, at sometime in your life, when these feelings will emerge at inopportune times. They will lie dormant within us, like a cancer, eating away at our joy and keeping us from trusting God fully and having right relationships with those around us.
What helps us get past this is a stronger feeling, the feeling that God is near, and can help me with these feelings. I can talk to Him freely about them, and He will hear my groaning and give me a righteous way to deal with these feelings. He will explain to me what is right or wrong about the way I feel, and preserve peace in my bosom, according to His Great Power, talk to Him about your feelings, He understands, He made us this way…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thomas Fuller (1608-1661, British clergyman, )
Ps 79:11-13
Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die. And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
the reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture Will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise.
NASU
We are children of God with great feelings. People all have different ways of treating their feelings. Some hide them, some deny them, and some make excuses for them, but the best way for us to handle our feelings is to deal with them. Not stopping to ask yourself, “why do I feel this way” is a tragic mistake that many make, for it an important question to ask.
Burying your feelings, ignoring or hiding them, will lead to a moment, at sometime in your life, when these feelings will emerge at inopportune times. They will lie dormant within us, like a cancer, eating away at our joy and keeping us from trusting God fully and having right relationships with those around us.
What helps us get past this is a stronger feeling, the feeling that God is near, and can help me with these feelings. I can talk to Him freely about them, and He will hear my groaning and give me a righteous way to deal with these feelings. He will explain to me what is right or wrong about the way I feel, and preserve peace in my bosom, according to His Great Power, talk to Him about your feelings, He understands, He made us this way…God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, October 24, 2008
Revealed Desire
Every human mind is a great slumbering power until awakened by a keen desire and by definite resolution to do.
Edgar F. Roberts
Acts 11:23-26
Then when he arrived (speaking of Barabus) and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NASU
A wonderful thing happened here that is something we should always keep in mind, especially in today’s political atmosphere. It was due to persecution and hardship that the church grew. It grew because people who were of a made up mind determined that they would remain true to the Lord.
When the church of the Jews set out to Antioch, they found that the Hellenists or the Gentiles were also being saved. It was persecution that revealed growth and showed Christian values, even from outside what was considered religious circles. This was a considerable step for the church, and one that would finish what God had in mind all along.
It was here; in Antioch that disciples were first called Christians. It was not inside what was called the church, but from outside what is called the Church. Today is a good time to look around again. God may have something going on, He may be reaching out one more time, before that last time, outside of what we call “church” to finish what He had in Mind all along…God Bless
Pastor William
Edgar F. Roberts
Acts 11:23-26
Then when he arrived (speaking of Barabus) and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NASU
A wonderful thing happened here that is something we should always keep in mind, especially in today’s political atmosphere. It was due to persecution and hardship that the church grew. It grew because people who were of a made up mind determined that they would remain true to the Lord.
When the church of the Jews set out to Antioch, they found that the Hellenists or the Gentiles were also being saved. It was persecution that revealed growth and showed Christian values, even from outside what was considered religious circles. This was a considerable step for the church, and one that would finish what God had in mind all along.
It was here; in Antioch that disciples were first called Christians. It was not inside what was called the church, but from outside what is called the Church. Today is a good time to look around again. God may have something going on, He may be reaching out one more time, before that last time, outside of what we call “church” to finish what He had in Mind all along…God Bless
Pastor William
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Under His Watchful Eye
All men, if they work not as in the great taskmaster's eye, will work wrong, and work unhappily for themselves and for you.
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881, Scottish philosopher, author)
Col 1:21-23
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach -- if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. NASU
So in fact all work that we do now must be done with our mind engaged and our hearts united with our Lord. We are to be constantly aware that our Great Taskmaster’s Eye is upon us. Now a hostile and alienated mind does not like that thought, mostly because they like to reserve a hidden spot in their lives for evil deeds.
It is not faith and belief to maintain within us a place for rebellion and that is what it is, a refuge for hostility and evil deeds. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, it is without reservation, without hostile intentions of future rebellion. We don’t give God a line in the sand and say we will only go this far, we give Him our all.
Jesus has reconciled us with His precious blood in holiness, to make us blameless and beyond reproach, but that relationship can only happen between us if we allow Him to grow within us unrestrained and without limits. Then we can walk under His constant love and care, and become established and steadfast, always moving forward in the most important mission ever proclaimed in all creation…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881, Scottish philosopher, author)
Col 1:21-23
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach -- if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. NASU
So in fact all work that we do now must be done with our mind engaged and our hearts united with our Lord. We are to be constantly aware that our Great Taskmaster’s Eye is upon us. Now a hostile and alienated mind does not like that thought, mostly because they like to reserve a hidden spot in their lives for evil deeds.
It is not faith and belief to maintain within us a place for rebellion and that is what it is, a refuge for hostility and evil deeds. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, it is without reservation, without hostile intentions of future rebellion. We don’t give God a line in the sand and say we will only go this far, we give Him our all.
Jesus has reconciled us with His precious blood in holiness, to make us blameless and beyond reproach, but that relationship can only happen between us if we allow Him to grow within us unrestrained and without limits. Then we can walk under His constant love and care, and become established and steadfast, always moving forward in the most important mission ever proclaimed in all creation…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Confused Desire
Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.
Amy Carmichael (1867-1951, Irish missionary)
Rom 8:6-8
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NASU.
Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and author of "Man's Search for Meaning,” had this to say in his book, “Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.” This is a busy world we live in, but some days we can be busy all day and look back and wonder if we really accomplished anything that really mattered.
The flesh is a merry-go-round of activity which centers on various interests of different people driven by different desires, but many do not take the time to discover what these things really circle around. Everyone wants to fit in, but trying to fit into today’s complicated society driven by desire, can be dangerous and confusing.
Peace of mind is not found when we are driven by pleasing ourselves, but when we are found trying to please our God. Peace and fulfillment comes from this relationship, and we become single minded and unhurried, making right decisions for ourselves and our family. Mind set is everything, and God has eternally set His loving Mind and heart on us…God Bless.
Pastor William
Amy Carmichael (1867-1951, Irish missionary)
Rom 8:6-8
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NASU.
Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and author of "Man's Search for Meaning,” had this to say in his book, “Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.” This is a busy world we live in, but some days we can be busy all day and look back and wonder if we really accomplished anything that really mattered.
The flesh is a merry-go-round of activity which centers on various interests of different people driven by different desires, but many do not take the time to discover what these things really circle around. Everyone wants to fit in, but trying to fit into today’s complicated society driven by desire, can be dangerous and confusing.
Peace of mind is not found when we are driven by pleasing ourselves, but when we are found trying to please our God. Peace and fulfillment comes from this relationship, and we become single minded and unhurried, making right decisions for ourselves and our family. Mind set is everything, and God has eternally set His loving Mind and heart on us…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Unashamed Commitment
The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven.
Martin Luther (1483-1546, German leader of the protestant reformation)
John 12 : 42
Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Indecision, is no decision, no decision…is no commitment, no commitment, is no reward. In the case of the rulers in Jesus’ day their lack of commitment to a sound theology affected their very important eschatology, or their end time result. Their great problem was fear, a fear of being condemned or ridiculed by the status quo of their day, the group who stated what was or wasn’t cool.
The Greek word for fear that is used here is a word that indicated a conclusion to an event. An event that happened in the leaders of Jesus’ day, they were too afraid to step up and make a decision that would have a great effect on their eternity. They refused to accept who Jesus was because of what other might say about them, a fear of condemnation or disapproval from their peers.
So, in the long run people, not God made their final decision for them on what was good, or acceptable, and chose for them the eventual eternal reward for their life, and in their case, it was hell itself. What do you owe the world? Nothing! What do you owe God? Your very life itself, for He gave it to you, never be ashamed of who you are in Christ…God Bless.
Pastor William
Martin Luther (1483-1546, German leader of the protestant reformation)
John 12 : 42
Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Indecision, is no decision, no decision…is no commitment, no commitment, is no reward. In the case of the rulers in Jesus’ day their lack of commitment to a sound theology affected their very important eschatology, or their end time result. Their great problem was fear, a fear of being condemned or ridiculed by the status quo of their day, the group who stated what was or wasn’t cool.
The Greek word for fear that is used here is a word that indicated a conclusion to an event. An event that happened in the leaders of Jesus’ day, they were too afraid to step up and make a decision that would have a great effect on their eternity. They refused to accept who Jesus was because of what other might say about them, a fear of condemnation or disapproval from their peers.
So, in the long run people, not God made their final decision for them on what was good, or acceptable, and chose for them the eventual eternal reward for their life, and in their case, it was hell itself. What do you owe the world? Nothing! What do you owe God? Your very life itself, for He gave it to you, never be ashamed of who you are in Christ…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, October 20, 2008
Duty over Desire
Let others laugh when you sacrifice desire to duty, if they will. You have time and eternity to rejoice in.
Theodore Parker (1810-1860, American minister)
Ezra 10:11-12
"Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "That's right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do. NASU
Duty, as defined by Webster: obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one’s position (as in life or in a group.) One of the most important duties that we have as Christians is to maintain our identity and to preserve our heritage. Our lives must be testimony and witness to our God.
Many Christians today do not regard their spiritual obligations as duties, but as things that they will do if they get time, Many times their will modifies their duties to fit their lifestyle, which they put above God, as the people of Israel had done at this time. They had married foreign wives, who brought foreign gods and practices into the midst of the congregation, and threatened their testimony and witness.
Ezra was God’s man for that day. Seventeen priests, ten Levites, and eighty-six men of the congregation of Israel were found guilty, and each put away his foreign wife, after offering a ram for his trespass. I am sure it wasn’t a popular decision, for some had children by these wives, but it was necessary. Now what things do you think God would ask you and I to put aside today? …God Bless.
Pastor William
Theodore Parker (1810-1860, American minister)
Ezra 10:11-12
"Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "That's right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do. NASU
Duty, as defined by Webster: obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one’s position (as in life or in a group.) One of the most important duties that we have as Christians is to maintain our identity and to preserve our heritage. Our lives must be testimony and witness to our God.
Many Christians today do not regard their spiritual obligations as duties, but as things that they will do if they get time, Many times their will modifies their duties to fit their lifestyle, which they put above God, as the people of Israel had done at this time. They had married foreign wives, who brought foreign gods and practices into the midst of the congregation, and threatened their testimony and witness.
Ezra was God’s man for that day. Seventeen priests, ten Levites, and eighty-six men of the congregation of Israel were found guilty, and each put away his foreign wife, after offering a ram for his trespass. I am sure it wasn’t a popular decision, for some had children by these wives, but it was necessary. Now what things do you think God would ask you and I to put aside today? …God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, October 17, 2008
Fearless Desire
The more wild and incredible your desire, the more willing and prompt God is in fulfilling it, if you will have it so.
Coventry Patmore, British Poet
2 Thess 1:11-12
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. NASU
Now here is a secret overlooked many times in the church! We are to dream big for The Lord. He is a great big God, and He desires great things for us, and for “His Glory.” He wants us to succeed in saving many souls, the more the merrier, but so many times we shrink back in fear from fulfilling God’s desire for us.
Baltasar Gracian, an old Spanish philosopher said this of desire; “when desire dies, fear is born.” Now if we have incredible desires and strong feelings for our God, we will desire to do great things for Him. It is not wrong to dream big, and think out of the box for our Lord, and we should not let fear of failure stop us.
So what is Paul saying to us in Thessalonians, he is saying to us if we desire to lift up the name of Jesus that God will fulfill our every desire for goodness, and our work of faith. It’s not about us it’s all about Jesus, and if we focus on Him and desire that “His” Name is Glorified, we will be supplied all that we need, according to His matchless grace…God Bless.
Pastor William
Coventry Patmore, British Poet
2 Thess 1:11-12
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. NASU
Now here is a secret overlooked many times in the church! We are to dream big for The Lord. He is a great big God, and He desires great things for us, and for “His Glory.” He wants us to succeed in saving many souls, the more the merrier, but so many times we shrink back in fear from fulfilling God’s desire for us.
Baltasar Gracian, an old Spanish philosopher said this of desire; “when desire dies, fear is born.” Now if we have incredible desires and strong feelings for our God, we will desire to do great things for Him. It is not wrong to dream big, and think out of the box for our Lord, and we should not let fear of failure stop us.
So what is Paul saying to us in Thessalonians, he is saying to us if we desire to lift up the name of Jesus that God will fulfill our every desire for goodness, and our work of faith. It’s not about us it’s all about Jesus, and if we focus on Him and desire that “His” Name is Glorified, we will be supplied all that we need, according to His matchless grace…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Disappointed Desire
The discipline of desire is the background of character
John Locke, British Philosopher
Gen 4:6-7
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." NASU
In the case of Cain, we can learn an important thing about ourselves. Failure of desire can lead to destruction. Why? It’s because we desire to succeed, and the feeling of failure is never a pleasant one, but it is one that we all must shake hands with, for we will not win all of our battles. This is true isn’t it? One of the strongest emotional storms that we go through in life is to strive to please and fail.
Listen to God’s conversation with Cain. First He asks a question; “Why has your countenance fallen? He then gives Cain the facts of life; 1. When you do well, you feel good, 2. When you do badly, you feel bad. God then gives Cain an important fact, when you do badly, the devil is crouched and ready to leap upon a disappointed heart.
Many Christians have lost their spiritual well being on this battleground, the remnants of many lives are scattered here. It is one of the Devils favorite haunts, and he surprises many hapless victims on this ground. So how to you escape? You run to Jesus, He knows exactly how you feel. He came to save us, and we crucified Him with our sins…God Bless.
Pastor William
John Locke, British Philosopher
Gen 4:6-7
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." NASU
In the case of Cain, we can learn an important thing about ourselves. Failure of desire can lead to destruction. Why? It’s because we desire to succeed, and the feeling of failure is never a pleasant one, but it is one that we all must shake hands with, for we will not win all of our battles. This is true isn’t it? One of the strongest emotional storms that we go through in life is to strive to please and fail.
Listen to God’s conversation with Cain. First He asks a question; “Why has your countenance fallen? He then gives Cain the facts of life; 1. When you do well, you feel good, 2. When you do badly, you feel bad. God then gives Cain an important fact, when you do badly, the devil is crouched and ready to leap upon a disappointed heart.
Many Christians have lost their spiritual well being on this battleground, the remnants of many lives are scattered here. It is one of the Devils favorite haunts, and he surprises many hapless victims on this ground. So how to you escape? You run to Jesus, He knows exactly how you feel. He came to save us, and we crucified Him with our sins…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Focused Desire
It sometimes seems that we have only to love a thing greatly to get it.
Robert Collier, American Writer, publisher
Luke 7:47-50
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." NASU
William Book once stated that a man must “earnestly want.” To me again it is a statement of desire, for to earnestly want is to greatly desire something. To greatly desire something is to place our full and unflinching attention on acquiring on attaining something. It occupies our every thought and overcomes every other desire that would get in the way of us attaining our goal.
So, from this we can begin to understand why we are not getting all of God that we can enjoy, it is because we do not “greatly desire Him.” We allow our full attention to be diverted to other things, and we are not willing to fully commit ourselves to Christ regardless of the cost, we have not fully invested and focused all of our desires, or our life in Him.
In this story in Luke, a plain village woman takes everything she has and invests it wisely on her Saviors feet. They say this ointment was of great price, and not only did she take of what she had, but of who she was, and she invested it all, ignoring the self-righteous comments of all those around her. She focused her desires and found forgiveness and great love at the feet of her Savior…let’s follow her…God Bless.
Pastor William
Robert Collier, American Writer, publisher
Luke 7:47-50
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." NASU
William Book once stated that a man must “earnestly want.” To me again it is a statement of desire, for to earnestly want is to greatly desire something. To greatly desire something is to place our full and unflinching attention on acquiring on attaining something. It occupies our every thought and overcomes every other desire that would get in the way of us attaining our goal.
So, from this we can begin to understand why we are not getting all of God that we can enjoy, it is because we do not “greatly desire Him.” We allow our full attention to be diverted to other things, and we are not willing to fully commit ourselves to Christ regardless of the cost, we have not fully invested and focused all of our desires, or our life in Him.
In this story in Luke, a plain village woman takes everything she has and invests it wisely on her Saviors feet. They say this ointment was of great price, and not only did she take of what she had, but of who she was, and she invested it all, ignoring the self-righteous comments of all those around her. She focused her desires and found forgiveness and great love at the feet of her Savior…let’s follow her…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Changing Desires
It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the opposite is true; will is the product of desire.
Denis Diderot, French Philosopher
Matt 6:20-23
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! NASU
Where is your treasure? Many are looking for a safe place to keep their treasures today, and it doesn’t look like they are going to find any guaranteed safe places on this side of glory. What is at risk for them? The fulfillment of their lifelong dreams and desires is at risk. There is nothing wrong with security, but the real truth is that there is not security outside of Christ.
One of the things wrong with this world today is that they have placed their desires upon the treasures of the world and they place no value on the treasures of heaven. The reason for this is that because they are led by desire, and not by The Lord, they are led into deception. It can happen to anyone, the deceiver is good at what he does, which makes it important for us to maintain checks on our desires.
When you are led by the “Will of God,” you will begin to find that you will not try to change everything according to what your desires are, but your desire for things will change. Your decision to follow the Word of God will create in you a desire to please Him, and will place treasures and value in things that will last you an eternity…God Bless.
Pastor William
Denis Diderot, French Philosopher
Matt 6:20-23
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! NASU
Where is your treasure? Many are looking for a safe place to keep their treasures today, and it doesn’t look like they are going to find any guaranteed safe places on this side of glory. What is at risk for them? The fulfillment of their lifelong dreams and desires is at risk. There is nothing wrong with security, but the real truth is that there is not security outside of Christ.
One of the things wrong with this world today is that they have placed their desires upon the treasures of the world and they place no value on the treasures of heaven. The reason for this is that because they are led by desire, and not by The Lord, they are led into deception. It can happen to anyone, the deceiver is good at what he does, which makes it important for us to maintain checks on our desires.
When you are led by the “Will of God,” you will begin to find that you will not try to change everything according to what your desires are, but your desire for things will change. Your decision to follow the Word of God will create in you a desire to please Him, and will place treasures and value in things that will last you an eternity…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, October 13, 2008
Rested Desires
Something must be done when you find an opposing set of desires of this kind well to the fore in your category of strong desires. You must set in operation a process of competition, from which one must emerge a victor and the other set be defeated.
Robert Collier (1885-1950, American writer, publisher)
2 Sam 23:5
5 "Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; for all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow? NASU
Do you trust God with your desires? What do I mean by that? I am asking you today if you could lay your life down in God’s hands and trust Him for all that He brings you, not what you could take. John Ruskin, a British social theorist, says it this way, “Tell me what you like and I'll tell you what you are.”
David believed a promise made to him by God Himself that made his life ordered, and secured. Ordered because he trusts God to put it in order, and secure because he trusted God’s desire to bless him greatly. David trusted God with his life and salvation, and also with his life’s goals, as he said, “all of my desires.”
That is a big step for a Christian. A step that says to God, these are my life’s dreams and these are my wants, but I will trust and rest in Your desires for me. In order for us to succeed we must start this process within us that will make His desires for us greater than our own. It will come when we trust in Him fully, and lean not on our own understanding, and then He “Will” direct our path…God Bless.
Pastor William
Robert Collier (1885-1950, American writer, publisher)
2 Sam 23:5
5 "Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; for all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow? NASU
Do you trust God with your desires? What do I mean by that? I am asking you today if you could lay your life down in God’s hands and trust Him for all that He brings you, not what you could take. John Ruskin, a British social theorist, says it this way, “Tell me what you like and I'll tell you what you are.”
David believed a promise made to him by God Himself that made his life ordered, and secured. Ordered because he trusts God to put it in order, and secure because he trusted God’s desire to bless him greatly. David trusted God with his life and salvation, and also with his life’s goals, as he said, “all of my desires.”
That is a big step for a Christian. A step that says to God, these are my life’s dreams and these are my wants, but I will trust and rest in Your desires for me. In order for us to succeed we must start this process within us that will make His desires for us greater than our own. It will come when we trust in Him fully, and lean not on our own understanding, and then He “Will” direct our path…God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, October 10, 2008
Where Virtue Lives
The better you understand yourself the less cause you will find to love yourself.
Thomas ã Kempis 1379-1471, German Monk, Mystic, Religious Writer
Phil 4:8-9
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. NASU
Paul this day presents us with a challenge. It is the challenge to dwell. A dwelling is a place where someone chooses to live. It is their residence, or a place they live of their free choosing, and everyone can go to find them there. Virtue is much like this, it is a place we choose, Joseph Newton said it this way “Not what we have, but what we use, not what we see, but what we choose -- these are the things that mar or bless human happiness.”
What is it that you dwell on every day? Is it your problems, or things that are pressing on you in your life? Is it your plans for the day, or your dreams for your life, or maybe your children, or tomorrow’s appointments? What is it that you are dreaming of, or most consumes your thoughts every day, for these are the things that you will do, or will steer your next moment’s direction.
That’s why Paul suggests to us that our best choices are to dwell on what is honorable, right, and pure and of good repute. Paul bids us this morning to think, or to major on these things, and more importantly, to dwell on the testimony of what he practiced in his life. It was not what he just spoke about, it was a virtuous place he lived, and you could always find him there…God Bless
Pastor William
Thomas ã Kempis 1379-1471, German Monk, Mystic, Religious Writer
Phil 4:8-9
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. NASU
Paul this day presents us with a challenge. It is the challenge to dwell. A dwelling is a place where someone chooses to live. It is their residence, or a place they live of their free choosing, and everyone can go to find them there. Virtue is much like this, it is a place we choose, Joseph Newton said it this way “Not what we have, but what we use, not what we see, but what we choose -- these are the things that mar or bless human happiness.”
What is it that you dwell on every day? Is it your problems, or things that are pressing on you in your life? Is it your plans for the day, or your dreams for your life, or maybe your children, or tomorrow’s appointments? What is it that you are dreaming of, or most consumes your thoughts every day, for these are the things that you will do, or will steer your next moment’s direction.
That’s why Paul suggests to us that our best choices are to dwell on what is honorable, right, and pure and of good repute. Paul bids us this morning to think, or to major on these things, and more importantly, to dwell on the testimony of what he practiced in his life. It was not what he just spoke about, it was a virtuous place he lived, and you could always find him there…God Bless
Pastor William
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Power of Virtue
The glory that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.
Sallust (BC 86-34, Roman historian)
2 Peter 1:8-11
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you NASU
Why should we seek to be virtuous? It is because virtue is power! Is it pride? No, pride is a weakness and a falling short. It is a humble knowledge and acceptance of who we truly are, and treating others with the worth they also deserve. It is holding fast to an unwavering standard and bringing it constantly to the forefront of your heart and mind.
Virtue must be held tightly, and securely. In this world it is slippery, and it will leave your grasp in a fleeting moment of wanton selfishness. Virtue causes you to frame yourself within the confines of God’s Word and Wisdom. An old Chinese proverb says that wisdom and virtue are like the two wheels of a cart, they depend upon each other.
Wickedness always seeks a shortcut, but the qualities of virtue, given to us by the Holy Spirit of God, will give us increasing powers, and not allow wickedness to render us useless in the Lord’s service. Virtue is necessary in a Christian; it is quality that must answer our heart’s door, every time temptation knocks…God Bless
Pastor William
Sallust (BC 86-34, Roman historian)
2 Peter 1:8-11
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you NASU
Why should we seek to be virtuous? It is because virtue is power! Is it pride? No, pride is a weakness and a falling short. It is a humble knowledge and acceptance of who we truly are, and treating others with the worth they also deserve. It is holding fast to an unwavering standard and bringing it constantly to the forefront of your heart and mind.
Virtue must be held tightly, and securely. In this world it is slippery, and it will leave your grasp in a fleeting moment of wanton selfishness. Virtue causes you to frame yourself within the confines of God’s Word and Wisdom. An old Chinese proverb says that wisdom and virtue are like the two wheels of a cart, they depend upon each other.
Wickedness always seeks a shortcut, but the qualities of virtue, given to us by the Holy Spirit of God, will give us increasing powers, and not allow wickedness to render us useless in the Lord’s service. Virtue is necessary in a Christian; it is quality that must answer our heart’s door, every time temptation knocks…God Bless
Pastor William
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Virtues Diligence
The moral virtues, then, are produced in us neither by nature nor against nature. Nature, indeed, prepares in us the ground for their reception, but their complete formation is the product of habit.
Aristotle (BC 384-322, Greek philosopher)
2 Peter 1:5-9
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. NASU
Jean Rousseau, an old Swiss political philosopher, said this of Virtue, “Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it, we have always to do combat with ourselves.” Now I don’t want to upset anyone’s applecart, but I agree with Rousseau, and no matter your last name, you will always be drawn to baseness, or the human’s natural bend to sin.
Another secret to virtue is found in diligence, what kind of diligence, diligence to your faith, which will supply you with moral excellence. Another word for diligence is habit, which is an involuntary reaction, and moral excellence should be what we do automatically. Moral excellence is the foundation of virtue, and it comes with many extras. It comes with knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.
How dedicated or virtuous should the Christian be? Listen to Paul in Eph 5:3, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” What I take from this is that you and I are to be above even the suggestion of immorality. The habit of our lives should be so trained by the Word of God, and diligence to the Body of Christ that even the suggestion of sin could not attach itself to us in any way…God Bless
Pastor William
Aristotle (BC 384-322, Greek philosopher)
2 Peter 1:5-9
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. NASU
Jean Rousseau, an old Swiss political philosopher, said this of Virtue, “Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it, we have always to do combat with ourselves.” Now I don’t want to upset anyone’s applecart, but I agree with Rousseau, and no matter your last name, you will always be drawn to baseness, or the human’s natural bend to sin.
Another secret to virtue is found in diligence, what kind of diligence, diligence to your faith, which will supply you with moral excellence. Another word for diligence is habit, which is an involuntary reaction, and moral excellence should be what we do automatically. Moral excellence is the foundation of virtue, and it comes with many extras. It comes with knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.
How dedicated or virtuous should the Christian be? Listen to Paul in Eph 5:3, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” What I take from this is that you and I are to be above even the suggestion of immorality. The habit of our lives should be so trained by the Word of God, and diligence to the Body of Christ that even the suggestion of sin could not attach itself to us in any way…God Bless
Pastor William
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Uncommon Virtue
Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950, Irish-born British dramatist)
2 Peter 1:4
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
NASU
Virtue can be described as the wisdom to escape. Our problem in this world though is that we do not see the real and imminent danger, or recognize the enemy. If all could see the end of the constant desires that our enemy throws at us at each turn in our lives, we would better follow the advice of Peter, for he has really given us the secret to victory over the lust and desires in this world.
What is this secret? Peter says that for him it is God’s precious and magnificent promises. It's the great privilege of partaking in a different nature here, God’s divine nature, and not our sinful and worldly nature that we were born with. God has given us an avenue of escape, and we are to run from our desires to his promises, we are to keep in mind daily what is the goal of our short sojourn here.
Paul says in 1 Cor 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” Paul is saying we are to rise above the common things of man, and journey upward towards toward the precious promises given to us in Christ Jesus, true Christians, are not common people…God Bless.
Pastor William
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950, Irish-born British dramatist)
2 Peter 1:4
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
NASU
Virtue can be described as the wisdom to escape. Our problem in this world though is that we do not see the real and imminent danger, or recognize the enemy. If all could see the end of the constant desires that our enemy throws at us at each turn in our lives, we would better follow the advice of Peter, for he has really given us the secret to victory over the lust and desires in this world.
What is this secret? Peter says that for him it is God’s precious and magnificent promises. It's the great privilege of partaking in a different nature here, God’s divine nature, and not our sinful and worldly nature that we were born with. God has given us an avenue of escape, and we are to run from our desires to his promises, we are to keep in mind daily what is the goal of our short sojourn here.
Paul says in 1 Cor 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” Paul is saying we are to rise above the common things of man, and journey upward towards toward the precious promises given to us in Christ Jesus, true Christians, are not common people…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, October 6, 2008
An Air of Virtue
The chief assertion of religious morality is that white is a color. Virtue is not the absence of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate thing, like pain or a particular smell.
Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874-1936, British author)
2 Peter 1:2-3
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. NASU
I couldn’t say anything but “Amen” when I read the words of Chesterson this morning, for what he says is absolutely true. We as Christians do identify so many times the color white, but we identify this brilliance to God Himself, and not to how it applies to our daily lives. We know God is pure and holy and without stain or blemish, but we do not like the idea of striving to duplicate His Holiness to others.
Virtue for the most part is dead today. What is virtue? It is a trusted and honored handshake, a keeping of your word. It is the living outwardly of what is happening inwardly in you as God’s Holy Spirit works, in you and me daily. I do mean daily, for that is virtue, it is not a color, it is a belief, an honored and treasured idea that we are to live out our lives with a defined separation between us and a self-centered world.
God declares this to us clearly in His Word, in 2 Cor 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Now this is virtue, it is a different way that someone looks at you, a different air that surrounds the Child of God, which carries with it the fragrance and feeling of Heaven…God Bless.
Pastor William
Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874-1936, British author)
2 Peter 1:2-3
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. NASU
I couldn’t say anything but “Amen” when I read the words of Chesterson this morning, for what he says is absolutely true. We as Christians do identify so many times the color white, but we identify this brilliance to God Himself, and not to how it applies to our daily lives. We know God is pure and holy and without stain or blemish, but we do not like the idea of striving to duplicate His Holiness to others.
Virtue for the most part is dead today. What is virtue? It is a trusted and honored handshake, a keeping of your word. It is the living outwardly of what is happening inwardly in you as God’s Holy Spirit works, in you and me daily. I do mean daily, for that is virtue, it is not a color, it is a belief, an honored and treasured idea that we are to live out our lives with a defined separation between us and a self-centered world.
God declares this to us clearly in His Word, in 2 Cor 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Now this is virtue, it is a different way that someone looks at you, a different air that surrounds the Child of God, which carries with it the fragrance and feeling of Heaven…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Choosing Wisely
Everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedom -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.
Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997, Austrian psychiatrist, author, "Man's Search for Meaning")
Ps 25:12-15
Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant. My eyes are continually toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net. NASU
Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th President said this, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.” Now that is an attitude that would greatly benefit us all. A recognition that sometimes all of my choices are lacking, and I must go to a reliable and proven source.
Seems to me that Abraham Lincoln knew his God, and knew that when all else around him did not make sense, there was still one more avenue of relief. Most likely the situations he was in, and the situations that we find ourselves in daily, are the result of not choosing to ask our most wise God’s advice in our undertakings.
We are given choices, and you cannot live a “choiceless life.” Every moment of every day, choices are made. Our only relief is to make sure the advice that we get for life is the very best. Well this morning I would like to recommend to you our Lord. His answers are guaranteed to give you the most desirable results. He will instruct you and me and keep our feet out of the entangling nets of this world…God Bless.
Pastor William
Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997, Austrian psychiatrist, author, "Man's Search for Meaning")
Ps 25:12-15
Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant. My eyes are continually toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net. NASU
Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th President said this, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.” Now that is an attitude that would greatly benefit us all. A recognition that sometimes all of my choices are lacking, and I must go to a reliable and proven source.
Seems to me that Abraham Lincoln knew his God, and knew that when all else around him did not make sense, there was still one more avenue of relief. Most likely the situations he was in, and the situations that we find ourselves in daily, are the result of not choosing to ask our most wise God’s advice in our undertakings.
We are given choices, and you cannot live a “choiceless life.” Every moment of every day, choices are made. Our only relief is to make sure the advice that we get for life is the very best. Well this morning I would like to recommend to you our Lord. His answers are guaranteed to give you the most desirable results. He will instruct you and me and keep our feet out of the entangling nets of this world…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Narrowing or Widening Your Choices
Every choice moves us closer to or farther away from something. Where are your choices taking your life? What do your behaviors demonstrate that you are saying yes or no to in life?
Eric Allenbaugh American Author of ''Wake-Up Calls''
Deut 30:19-20
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." NASU
You and I live our lives out before witnesses. One day Heaven and earth will give testimony of us, of our choices, and our daily decisions. Our choices and decisions say something about us. The things we surround ourselves with, the things we indulge in, all have a word to say about us to all that know us.
As Christians our daily choices can do one or two things. Our choices can lead our lives into a funnel that narrows or choices, or our choices can broaden our selections and lead to full and rewarding lives. Our choices will, as God has set forth, lead us into wonderful blessings, or make our lives a curse.
God has told us plainly that our choices determine our quality of life and length of days, we live while on this temporal earth. God is even so loving and kind as to give us the secret to bring this life to a successful conclusion. The secret formula is as easy as 1-2-3. We must choose, 1. To Love Him, 2. To Obey Him, and 3. To Hold fast to Him, and never let go. This is choosing life for you, and those you love…God Bless.
Pastor William
Eric Allenbaugh American Author of ''Wake-Up Calls''
Deut 30:19-20
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." NASU
You and I live our lives out before witnesses. One day Heaven and earth will give testimony of us, of our choices, and our daily decisions. Our choices and decisions say something about us. The things we surround ourselves with, the things we indulge in, all have a word to say about us to all that know us.
As Christians our daily choices can do one or two things. Our choices can lead our lives into a funnel that narrows or choices, or our choices can broaden our selections and lead to full and rewarding lives. Our choices will, as God has set forth, lead us into wonderful blessings, or make our lives a curse.
God has told us plainly that our choices determine our quality of life and length of days, we live while on this temporal earth. God is even so loving and kind as to give us the secret to bring this life to a successful conclusion. The secret formula is as easy as 1-2-3. We must choose, 1. To Love Him, 2. To Obey Him, and 3. To Hold fast to Him, and never let go. This is choosing life for you, and those you love…God Bless.
Pastor William
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