Archive for the ‘Weekly Blog’ Category
He Said…She Said
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: believe, He said, John 11:25-27, she said
Comments (2) A drama is playing out in Washington, D.C.: He said (Brett Kavanaugh) and she said (Christine Blasey Ford) scenario at its worst.
Another drama took place 2000 years ago: He (Jesus) said, “Believe in me and you will live forever” and she (Martha) said, ” I believe” – the scenario at its best.
Jesus says to you, “Do you believe in me?” What do you say to Jesus? This is the “he said – you said” scenario that will affect your standing before the Great, Eternal Judge.
John 11:L25-27 (NASB)
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.'”
Self-Pity Pie
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: anger, Jonah 4:L9, self pity
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Normally, I prefer cake to pie. Every once in a while I will eat pie – if it is cherry. However, I despise biting into a slice only to chomp down on a cherry pit. Ouch!
Recently, I was sitting in my study enjoying a huge slice of “self-pity” pie. I felt like it was a case of righteous-indignation until the Holy Spirit convicted me it was self pity. Talk about pits. The next time I’ll try the pie with two scoops of Yarnell’s Homemade Style vanilla ice cream.
When the Holy Spirit asks, “Do you do well to be angry?” I have to respond, “No.” If I can change the situation then I need to change it. If I can’t, I must get over it and move on. It doesn’t do any good to pout.
Jonah 4:9 (KJV)
And God said to Jonah, “Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?” And he said, “I do well to be angry, even unto death.”
What’s in the Glass?
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: abundant life, John 10:10, life, life in Christ
Comments (2) A recent beer commercial stated that it’s not whether your glass is half full or half empty, it’s whether you can get anymore. However, what really matters is not whether the glass is half full or half empty, but what what matters is what is in the glass.
For many Christians, they are satisfied that they have Christ in their life. For others, they want to have the full and meaningful life of Christ – they are “maxed-out.” But the tragedy is that we are not living the overflowing life of Christ.
Jesus said he came that we might have life “abundantly.” That word “abundantly” is “perissos”in the Greek New Testament and means overflowing. Jesus wants not only to fill us with life, but to have that life overflowing to others. Can you say with the Psalmist, “my cup runneth over?” (Psalm 23:5). Do others enjoy the blessings that overflow from your life with Jesus? What is overflowing from your life?
John 10:10 (NASB)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
Monotasking
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: Matthew 6:6, monotasking, multitasking;, prayer
Comments (1) The other day I saw a person of what appeared to be the female gender. She was stopped at a traffic light and had a cup of coffee ( I suppose) in her left hand and was applying makeup with her right hand and looking in her visor mirror. She was either singing to her radio or using a speakerphone. They call it multitasking. I got off the road as quickly as I could.
Multitasking may work for many people as they approach this hectic life we all seem to live. However, there is one area where we must remember to monotask — when praying to the Lord. A person might be able to multitask when talking to the Lord, but if we want or expect to talk with (communicate with) the Lord we will have to monotask. God wants our undivided attention.
Matthew 6:6 (NASB)
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
My Speed
I’m glad I can still do a “four-minute mile.” (I’d try to do it faster, but my Toyota might not make it.) Ambulance services and fire and police departments often state their RT (“response time” in reference to how quickly they are on the scene to help once called).
No one can beat the Lord’s response time. We may get frustrated when we don’t see any visible evidence of His answering when we call. He is faster than the speed of sound, faster than the speed of light. He is even faster than the speed of thought.
What’s your response time to the Holy Spirit? How much time lapses before you answer His call?
Isaiah 65:24 (NASB)
“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
The Biggest Button
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: Matthew 26:36-46, Proverbs 24:33-34, snooze
Leave a comment “My button is bigger than your button!” No. I’m not referring to the texting battle between President Trump and Kim Jong-Un. My snooze button is larger than your snooze button. Even if it is not, that button can sure do a lot of damage to an otherwise productive day. Yes, you snooze, you lose – and so does everyone else.
The problem with Peter, James and John was not only that they took naps while on guard duty instead of praying for themselves and for Jesus (see Matthew 26:36-46). They also missed the opportunity to do something personal for Jesus who did everything for them. An opportunity they would never get again.
How big is your snooze button?
Proverbs 24:33-34 (NIV)
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.”
Horsepower and Wordpower
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: 1 Corinthians 1:18;, horsepower, power, Word of God
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We often measure an automobile’s strength in horsepower. One horsepower equals the amount of work a horse can do in one second (James Watt) or 746 watts or 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. A horse is capable of a maximum of 15 horsepower and an athletic man might reach a maximum of 5 horsepower. However you measure it, a car with 0 horsepower is virtually ineffective.
Similarly, a believer’s strength can be measured in WORDpower. The Holy Spirit works in our lives and through us in this world through the Word of God. Just as God used His own words to form this universe, the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word today. It is the Word that is the power of God unto salvation. Raise your strength by immersing yourself in the Word of God.
Similar to the car, a believer without the Word is virtually ineffective.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB)
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it ts the power of God.”
Resolved to Please God
Filed under: Weekly Blog | Tags: 2 Corinthians 5:9, Philippians 3:13-14, Pleasing God, resolutions
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How many resolutions (New Years and others) have you made that you are still keeping today?
John Norcross said in the Journal of Clinical Psychology that only 50% of the populations make resolutions each New Year. Dan Diamond writing in Forbes said that only 8% of these keep their resolutions. Not good odds, huh? Only four people in 100 do what they commit themselves to do.
Long ago I made one resolution. I joined the Apostle Paul in saying, “So we make it our goal to please Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9). Also like Paul, I’m not perfect; but I do find it much easier trying to please only one person all the time. Try asking yourself at each decision, “Will this please God?” Don’t give up; just give in to the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 3:13-14 (NASB)
“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Fer It or Agin’ It
“The visiting pastor had an eloquent message about sin this morning. He even told a few humorous stories,” the long-time church member observed. “The trouble is: I couldn’t tell if he was fer it or agin’ it (for sin or against sin.)”
When Jesus spoke about sin, you could always tell that He was against it. In these times of “political correctness” we must always be clear where God stands. Since we are His ambassadors, we must always be sure that others know where we stand by what we say and how we stand.
Hebrews 12:4 (NIV)
“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
On the Bottle
A woman was talking about the joys and pitfalls of being a mother when she mentioned her child of five who was still drinking milk from a baby bottle. With a frustrating sigh she ended saying, “Well, at least he fixes his own bottles.”
Apparently, many Christians haven’t reach this level of maturity. Not only are they still on a diet of milk only, but they can’t even fix their own bottles. They insist their pastors and teachers do this for them.
Either we need to get into the meat of the Word of God or, at least, learn to make our own bottles.
Hebrews 5:12 (NIV)
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”
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