Christian Living
LORD, WHERE ARE YOU?
Lord I heard of a sick child yesterday, Please go and be with him. And God said to me, "If you go, I'll be there." And there is a sick man depressed. Lord, do something for him. And God said, "If you help him, I'll help him." Look Lord, there's death in the air. Please go and comfort that family. And God said, "If you go, I'll go." Lord, one of your children is discouraged. Can't you do something to...Continue reading "LORD, WHERE ARE YOU?"
THREE WOULD BE DISCIPLES
Often, in the excitement of the moment, many people will offer their services and commit to doing things not realizing the cost in time, energy and effort. This excitement soon fades away, and the monotonous toil during heat of day or cold of night will soon cause them to quit. After teaching, Jesus was confronted by three different men who wanted to follow Jesus. While Jesus journeyed to a place where he could receive some rest and renewal, one came...Continue reading "THREE WOULD BE DISCIPLES"
THE INS AND OUTS OF IT
"In it, not of it," the statement was made As Christian One faced the world, much afraid. "In it, not of it," the call was made clear, But Christian One got something stuck in his ear. "Not in it, or of it," was the things that he heard. And knowing the world was painfully absurd, He welcomed the safety of pious retreat, And went to the potluck for something to eat. Now Christian Two, he knew what to do. He'd...Continue reading "THE INS AND OUTS OF IT"
LET'S HEAR IT FOR RESPONSIBILITY
"I quit attending church because I was going out of a sense of responsibility." "I'm not going to stay in this marriage just out of duty." "I quit giving because I felt obligated. It should be more than just duty." I'm not going to stay in this job if I don't like it." For many people the words "responsibility" and "duty" have lost their value. One of the major reasons for this is that we have convinced ourselves that life...Continue reading "LET'S HEAR IT FOR RESPONSIBILITY"
I WAS BUSY HERE AND THERE
1n 1 Kings 20 we read a story that fits so many of us that we have to admit to that fact that "That's me." Ahab, king of Israel, was commanded by God to destroy Ben-Hadad and his army because of the Syrians lack of understanding about how great God is (1 Kings 20:28). Instead, Ahab made a covenant with Ben-Hadad and spared his life. God then sent a prophet who had someone injure him, and the prophet then told...Continue reading "I WAS BUSY HERE AND THERE"
BLESSED ARE THE DIFFERENT
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. NKJV Most of us are very familiar with the Beatitudes, or the first few verses of the Sermon...Continue reading "BLESSED ARE THE DIFFERENT"
Doing the Important Things
Doing the Important Things By Greg Tidwell One of the clichés plaguing the church is "spiritual giftedness," the idea that God has uniquely equipped each Christian to excel in performing certain tasks in the kingdom. "Spiritual giftedness," as popularly put forward, has spiritual snob appeal. We spend time considering how we can distinguish ourselves. We long for an opportunity to offer those exceptional things to God. This mindset enshrines spiritual arrogance in the self-absorbed pursuit of the extraordinary. As with...Continue reading "Doing the Important Things"
LEARNING FROM HISTORY
LEARNING FROM HISTORY Ps 78:34-39 When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. 35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue; 37 For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And...Continue reading "LEARNING FROM HISTORY"
ALL WE LIKE SHEEP ...
Time and time again, GOD uses the example or reference of sheep, to refer to, or indicate his people. In the Old and New Testaments GOD uses the illustration of sheep to refer to his people. So I took a look at this to see what it all means. Sheep are not the smartest animals in the world; when it comes to intelligence, sheep would be at the bottom of the scale. Sheep cannot be trained; they have no sense...Continue reading "ALL WE LIKE SHEEP ..."
JUST HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE?
James 4:14-16 “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.� NKJV Most people think that they will live to a ripe old age, never considering the fact that this day...Continue reading "JUST HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE?"
CONFIDENCE
It was the Thursday edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in which the headline read “Obama: Don’t Lose Confidence.� The article goes on to discuss the President elect’s third briefing on the economy and his encouragement to the American people not to lose confidence in the economic situation. I was struck by this headline, because it put me in mind of where our confidence should really lie. Notice the following verse and what they say – and ask your self –...Continue reading "CONFIDENCE"
THANKSGIVING
Often when we go through hard times, especially the kind of hard times this country has been going through lately, it is hard to remember just how richly blessed we really are. We concentrate on the bad things that happen, and we fail to consider that Americans are still the richest people on the face of the planet. For the Christian everyday should be thanksgiving. Notice some passages that emphasize that thanksgiving for the Christian is not just a one...Continue reading "THANKSGIVING"
THANK YOU
Yesterday about 30 – 40 people met at the building and worked on everything from spreading pine straw to cleaning chairs and tables; to cleaning the kitchen and spreading flyers and circulars about the upcoming Gospel Meeting. Over 450 flyers were passed out, and much needed work was done in preparation for the meeting. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:5-8, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to...Continue reading "THANK YOU"
WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP?
1 John 1:3-7 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we...Continue reading "WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP?"
AS TO THE LORD
Col 3:22-25 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. NKJV Paul instructs...Continue reading "AS TO THE LORD"
THE DEVIL HAS BEEN BEATEN
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." NKJV In the Garden of Eden man sinned, and God promised that the seed of woman (Jesus) would bruise the head of Satan. The idea is that Jesus would crush Satan under his heel, and forever, fully and completely defeat Satan and his stranglehold on man. These events took place...Continue reading "THE DEVIL HAS BEEN BEATEN"
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Lev 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. NKJV This command given by God in the Old Testament to the children of Israel is referred to again in Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; and James 2:18. When a lawyer asked Jesus “What is the great commandment of the law,� Jesus asked him what his...Continue reading "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR"
