But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Matthew 25:18
What we do with the gifts we have is what God is concerned about. The servant with one talent had the same opportunity as the one with five talents, but this worker chose to bury his talent in the ground. That is the worst thing we can do with any gift God has given us.
I remember reading a story of a woman named Nancy who was confined to a wheelchair who developed a unique ministry to people who are lonely and hurting. Nancy ran ads in the personals section of the newspaper that read: "If you are lonely or have a problem call me. I am in a wheelchair and seldom get out. We can share our problems with each other. Just call. I'd love to talk."
From that simple ad the results were truly amazing. Nancy claims that she receives at least thirty calls each week from people who need someone to talk to and listen to their pain. Nancy spends most of her day comforting and counseling people. She has become someone for hundreds of people with problems to lean on.
Nancy was asked how she became disabled. Nancy's answer was a surprise. "By trying to commit suicide," she said. Nancy went on to explain, "I was living alone. I had no friends. I hated my job, and I was constantly depressed. "Nancy decided to jump from the window of her apartment--to end it all. But instead of being killed, she ended up in the hospital paralyzed from the waist down. While she was in the hospital, Nancy said, "Jesus appeared to me and told me that I'd had a healthy body and a crippled soul but from then on I would have a crippled body and a healthy soul. I gave my life to Christ right there and then," she said. "When I got out of the hospital, I tried to think of how a woman like me could do some good, and I came up with the idea of putting the ad in the newspaper."
Faith Confession: Father I will use my gifts to serve you.
Assignment for the week: Write down 5 things you have done to serve God by serving others.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Stop blaming the devil!
Stop blaming the devil!
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14
I remember a story about a little girl who got mad at her younger brother. She pushed him down, called him a name, and then spat on him. Her father yelled her and said, "Honey, I think the devil made you do that." The little girl answered, "The devil might have made me push him down and call him names, but I thought of spitting on him all by myself!"
With some of our actions, we wonder why we did them. Paul even struggled with this problem. He said, "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do." Then there are the things we know why we did them. We thought them up all by ourselves. As the Psalmist says, "See how they conceive evil, and are pregnant with mischief, and bring forth lies."
This is why Jesus came to be our redeemer. "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds".
Faith Confession: Father, I will take responsibility for my own actions for I am in control of my destiny and my actions.
Assignment for the week: Examine what you think are failures in your life. Find the ones that you specifically attribute to the “devil” as the culprit for its failure.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14
I remember a story about a little girl who got mad at her younger brother. She pushed him down, called him a name, and then spat on him. Her father yelled her and said, "Honey, I think the devil made you do that." The little girl answered, "The devil might have made me push him down and call him names, but I thought of spitting on him all by myself!"
With some of our actions, we wonder why we did them. Paul even struggled with this problem. He said, "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do." Then there are the things we know why we did them. We thought them up all by ourselves. As the Psalmist says, "See how they conceive evil, and are pregnant with mischief, and bring forth lies."
This is why Jesus came to be our redeemer. "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds".
Faith Confession: Father, I will take responsibility for my own actions for I am in control of my destiny and my actions.
Assignment for the week: Examine what you think are failures in your life. Find the ones that you specifically attribute to the “devil” as the culprit for its failure.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
God will take care of you
God will take care of you
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:27-29
A new kind of modern airplane was on an experimental flight. It was full of reporters and journalists. A few minutes after the takeoff the captain's voice was heard from the loudspeakers: "I'm delighted to be your pilot, and the captain of this airplane on its first historical flight. I can tell you that the flight is going well. Nevertheless, I still have to tell you about a minor inconvenience that has occurred. The passengers that are sitting on the right side can, if they look through the window, see that the closest engine is slightly vibrating. That shouldn't worry you, because there are four engines, so you can feel perfectly safe. And, we are at the unbelievable altitude of 62,000 feet, flying at a speed of 1,050 mph as planned . . . But, if you're looking at that engine, maybe you can notice that the second engine is glowing, or more precisely one could say that it's burning. That shouldn't worry you either, since there are two more engines on the left side, and the altitude and speed are still as planned.
"Those of you that are sitting on the left side shouldn't worry if you notice that one engine that is supposed to be on the left side has been missing for about ten minutes. But, I must ask for your attention of one thing that seems to be a little more serious. Along the aisle, all the way through the plane, a crack has appeared. Some of you are, I suppose, looking through the crack and seeing the waves of the Atlantic. Those of you that have very good eyes can notice a small life boat on those waves that has been thrown out of the plane. Well, ladies and gentlemen, your captain is speaking from that life boat."
There are some situations, I suppose, about which we shouldn't even joke. And yet when I first heard that little piece of humor, I couldn't help thinking how descriptive it is of so many people's lives. Their plane is falling apart and they fear their captain is as remote as the one on that raft in the Atlantic 62,000 feet below.
If that is your situation, I suggest you reread Jesus' words in our scripture reading today, because God is greater.
Faith Confession: Dear God, thank you once again for taking care of me.
Assignment for the week: Write down how God has taken care of you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:27-29
A new kind of modern airplane was on an experimental flight. It was full of reporters and journalists. A few minutes after the takeoff the captain's voice was heard from the loudspeakers: "I'm delighted to be your pilot, and the captain of this airplane on its first historical flight. I can tell you that the flight is going well. Nevertheless, I still have to tell you about a minor inconvenience that has occurred. The passengers that are sitting on the right side can, if they look through the window, see that the closest engine is slightly vibrating. That shouldn't worry you, because there are four engines, so you can feel perfectly safe. And, we are at the unbelievable altitude of 62,000 feet, flying at a speed of 1,050 mph as planned . . . But, if you're looking at that engine, maybe you can notice that the second engine is glowing, or more precisely one could say that it's burning. That shouldn't worry you either, since there are two more engines on the left side, and the altitude and speed are still as planned.
"Those of you that are sitting on the left side shouldn't worry if you notice that one engine that is supposed to be on the left side has been missing for about ten minutes. But, I must ask for your attention of one thing that seems to be a little more serious. Along the aisle, all the way through the plane, a crack has appeared. Some of you are, I suppose, looking through the crack and seeing the waves of the Atlantic. Those of you that have very good eyes can notice a small life boat on those waves that has been thrown out of the plane. Well, ladies and gentlemen, your captain is speaking from that life boat."
There are some situations, I suppose, about which we shouldn't even joke. And yet when I first heard that little piece of humor, I couldn't help thinking how descriptive it is of so many people's lives. Their plane is falling apart and they fear their captain is as remote as the one on that raft in the Atlantic 62,000 feet below.
If that is your situation, I suggest you reread Jesus' words in our scripture reading today, because God is greater.
Faith Confession: Dear God, thank you once again for taking care of me.
Assignment for the week: Write down how God has taken care of you.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Victory verses Defeat
Victory verses Defeat
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Deuteronomy 28:7
The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
Deuteronomy 28:25
As the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land, God set before them a choice: Heed His voice, obey His commandments, and experience continued victory. Or turn from God, disobey His word, and experience repeated and resounding defeat. It was a simple choice. The choice they made would be evident by the results on the battlefield.
The assurance of victory did not mean that the Israelites would not have to strap on their armor and go to battle. It did not assure them of effortless victory. At times their enemies fought fiercely, and the battles raged back and forth. Nevertheless, as the Israelites walked closely with God, they knew that their efforts would always result in victory.
God gives us the same choice He gave the Israelites. If we walk with Him, obedient to His word, He will stand with us and ensure victory over our challenges. We must face the battle, but God promises us victory if we remain in His will. However, if we choose to disassociate from God, we surely will be overtaken by difficulties. As with the Israelites, our decision will be evident by the outcome. If you are continually being defeated by everything you face, your heart has departed from God.
If you have been experiencing defeat in the challenges you face, examine your heart. When you are buffeted by the crises of life, your heart may have shifted away from God. Choose to listen to God. Then obey what He tells you, no matter what you face, and you will experience victory.
Faith Confession: Father I thank you that I am a son/daughter and not a bastard who disobeys your will.
Assignment for the week: Write down where you have been disobedient and how you intend to change.
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Deuteronomy 28:7
The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
Deuteronomy 28:25
As the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land, God set before them a choice: Heed His voice, obey His commandments, and experience continued victory. Or turn from God, disobey His word, and experience repeated and resounding defeat. It was a simple choice. The choice they made would be evident by the results on the battlefield.
The assurance of victory did not mean that the Israelites would not have to strap on their armor and go to battle. It did not assure them of effortless victory. At times their enemies fought fiercely, and the battles raged back and forth. Nevertheless, as the Israelites walked closely with God, they knew that their efforts would always result in victory.
God gives us the same choice He gave the Israelites. If we walk with Him, obedient to His word, He will stand with us and ensure victory over our challenges. We must face the battle, but God promises us victory if we remain in His will. However, if we choose to disassociate from God, we surely will be overtaken by difficulties. As with the Israelites, our decision will be evident by the outcome. If you are continually being defeated by everything you face, your heart has departed from God.
If you have been experiencing defeat in the challenges you face, examine your heart. When you are buffeted by the crises of life, your heart may have shifted away from God. Choose to listen to God. Then obey what He tells you, no matter what you face, and you will experience victory.
Faith Confession: Father I thank you that I am a son/daughter and not a bastard who disobeys your will.
Assignment for the week: Write down where you have been disobedient and how you intend to change.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Don’t invite God the wrong way
Don’t invite God the wrong way
Paul Harvey tells a story about an attractive airline stewardess who was being hounded by two flirts – one at the front of the plane, the other at the back. She was obviously very put-off by the very forward advances being made by the two men, but she kept right on doing her job. Near the end of the flight one of the men became particularly bold and as the plane was about to land he handed her a key to his apartment and the address and said, "See you tonight." So she took them, then she walked to the back of the plane, handed them to the other flirt, winked and said, "Don’t be late." Later on that evening I bet there were two very disappointed men in some apartment somewhere.
Have you ever been disappointed when someone you were looking for didn’t show up? Maybe it was the way they were invited. That’s one reason God doesn’t show up. Sometimes God doesn’t come because He doesn’t appreciate the way He is invited. God isn’t going to show up as long as we want to Him to come so that we can use Him rather than serve Him.
Faith Confession: Father I never want you to not come. I will always be mindful what if I just worship you, my problems, situations, and concerns will automatically be addressed.
Assignment for the week: Invite God the correct way every day.
Paul Harvey tells a story about an attractive airline stewardess who was being hounded by two flirts – one at the front of the plane, the other at the back. She was obviously very put-off by the very forward advances being made by the two men, but she kept right on doing her job. Near the end of the flight one of the men became particularly bold and as the plane was about to land he handed her a key to his apartment and the address and said, "See you tonight." So she took them, then she walked to the back of the plane, handed them to the other flirt, winked and said, "Don’t be late." Later on that evening I bet there were two very disappointed men in some apartment somewhere.
Have you ever been disappointed when someone you were looking for didn’t show up? Maybe it was the way they were invited. That’s one reason God doesn’t show up. Sometimes God doesn’t come because He doesn’t appreciate the way He is invited. God isn’t going to show up as long as we want to Him to come so that we can use Him rather than serve Him.
Faith Confession: Father I never want you to not come. I will always be mindful what if I just worship you, my problems, situations, and concerns will automatically be addressed.
Assignment for the week: Invite God the correct way every day.
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