“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal” is a quote from the #1 best seller on the New York Times Bestseller List, entitled, THE SHACK, by William P. Young. Several weeks ago, I came in contact with a woman that was reading this book as she sat in the waiting room at our dentist’s office. She began to share with me the story line of this fictional novel and I must confess it piqued my interest. So, while shopping at Sam’s, I picked the book up and once I began to read it, I could not put it down until I had finished it. It was truly captivating in its subject matter; in fact, the byline after the title is …..WHERE TRAGEDY MEETS ETERNITY. …and that my friend is something we all struggle with…trying to understand why bad things happen to God’s people.
This book, though a fictional account of a tragic murder of a young girl and her father’s anguish in dealing with this great loss, will stir every heart string and touch you in the deep crevasses of your soul. You will be moved to examine your heart and the heart of your relationship with your Heavenly Father…and as you do, you will once again be reminded of the Father’s love for you.
Who, in this great big world, has not been touched by some seemingly senseless tragedy and not ask God….WHY? This book and its story line make a valiant effort to help us understand the heart of God and the work of the Godhead in our lives when we face insurmountable sorrow. Each page seems to offer hope and encouragement that we are not alone in our grief….rather the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit are there to walk with us through the darkest valleys and to love us in the midst of unspeakable horror.
Though this is a work of fiction, the author is solid in his portrayal of a loving God who DOES NOT DO EVIL, BUT WILL USE EVIL FOR HIS ( and our) GOOD. Here is a quote from one who has been touched by this little book:
“THE SHACK” is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been transformed by the tender mercy with which Wm. P Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do’s and don’ts that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood the Father, Son and Spirit for the first time in my life.”
Patrick M. Roddy, Emmy Award winning producer for ABC News
The accolades go on and on; but let me say from one who loves to write and adores the written word, this book will have a profound effect on your outlook as well as helping you to trust your UPLOOK…..God is in control ….even if you can’t see His hand at work, trust that He cares for you. You may never understand why bad things happen in this world of sin and strife, but you can always know that God is with you and is working EVERYTHING OUT FOR YOUR GOOD…..HE LOVES YOU AND ME THAT MUCH!!!!!
If you can ….get this book, read it and pass it on. Someone you know needs to know that the God we love and serve is hurting with them. He is waiting to help them to deal with the pain, the grief and the sorrow if they will only do what the Scriptures say….“Casting all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.”
2 Peter 5:7
Healed by the infinite love of the Father,
WPQ
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
A FEW BAD APPLES…
We left off yesterday with 10 of the spies stirring up the Israelites with the tales of the giants that inhabited the land of Canaan…let’s continue in Numbers 14.
“That night all the people in the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly said, “If only we had died in Egypt or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14: 11-2, 4
Why did the Israelites consider returning to Egypt? Well, for one reason, it was not that far removed from them. Though it had been a time of great suffering, how quickly they had forgotten the hardships that had been their affliction. Their lack of faith and trust in the Lord brought them to the quick conclusion that they would rather return to Egypt than trust the Lord to deliver them as conquerors over the inhabitants of Canaan.
Secondly, it only took a few “bad apples to spoil the entire bunch”….to stir the crowd into such a frenzy that they wanted to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb. The bad report of these leaders blinded the Israelites to the power of their God and wiped away the memories of past victories that had been theirs. God had continually cared for them and had already given them his assurance that He would be with them and provide them a homeland that was “flowing with milk and honey.”
As you can imagine, God was NOT PLEASED. He told Moses that He would send a plague that would destroy them; however, once again, that great man of God, Moses, fell on his face before the Lord and begged for mercy….and once again, God forgave the Israelites for their disobedience and lack of faith.
The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs that I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me 10 times (there’s that number of times God forgave) …not one of them will ever see the land I promised on an oath to their forefathers. No one who has ever treated me with contempt will ever see it.” Numbers 14:20-23
So, God granted their grumblings and let them wander in the desert for 40 years… until every one that had complained and wept aloud received their desire…to die in that desert!
And the same holds true for you and me when we gripe, complain and moan about the unfairness of life or the lack of God’s faithfulness. It is in these times; God leaves us to our own designs and allows us to wallow in our own grumblings. He may forgives us, but there will be consequences to our lack of faith and our poor vision of God’s infinite provision.
We are to remain steadfast and trust in Him to make us the over comers He has called us to be….for He is faithful, steadfast and unchanging…and if you think back, you can ALWAYS recall a time of God’s divine intervention in your life and the blessing that followed.
But there’s still a question that remains unanswered …what happened to those “few bad apples’ that sent the Jewish nation into such an uproar?
Numbers 14:36-38 give us that answer; “So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it; these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. Of the men who went to explore, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.”
So remember, when God places you in a position of leadership, you have one of two choices….you can be a “bad apple that spoils the entire bushel” or you can be “the pinch of leaven that makes the entire loaf rise”….the choice is yours…. and the results of your decision can have heavenly, as well as, eternal consequences.
Striving to be an encourager,
WPQ
“That night all the people in the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly said, “If only we had died in Egypt or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14: 11-2, 4
Why did the Israelites consider returning to Egypt? Well, for one reason, it was not that far removed from them. Though it had been a time of great suffering, how quickly they had forgotten the hardships that had been their affliction. Their lack of faith and trust in the Lord brought them to the quick conclusion that they would rather return to Egypt than trust the Lord to deliver them as conquerors over the inhabitants of Canaan.
Secondly, it only took a few “bad apples to spoil the entire bunch”….to stir the crowd into such a frenzy that they wanted to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb. The bad report of these leaders blinded the Israelites to the power of their God and wiped away the memories of past victories that had been theirs. God had continually cared for them and had already given them his assurance that He would be with them and provide them a homeland that was “flowing with milk and honey.”
As you can imagine, God was NOT PLEASED. He told Moses that He would send a plague that would destroy them; however, once again, that great man of God, Moses, fell on his face before the Lord and begged for mercy….and once again, God forgave the Israelites for their disobedience and lack of faith.
The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs that I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me 10 times (there’s that number of times God forgave) …not one of them will ever see the land I promised on an oath to their forefathers. No one who has ever treated me with contempt will ever see it.” Numbers 14:20-23
So, God granted their grumblings and let them wander in the desert for 40 years… until every one that had complained and wept aloud received their desire…to die in that desert!
And the same holds true for you and me when we gripe, complain and moan about the unfairness of life or the lack of God’s faithfulness. It is in these times; God leaves us to our own designs and allows us to wallow in our own grumblings. He may forgives us, but there will be consequences to our lack of faith and our poor vision of God’s infinite provision.
We are to remain steadfast and trust in Him to make us the over comers He has called us to be….for He is faithful, steadfast and unchanging…and if you think back, you can ALWAYS recall a time of God’s divine intervention in your life and the blessing that followed.
But there’s still a question that remains unanswered …what happened to those “few bad apples’ that sent the Jewish nation into such an uproar?
Numbers 14:36-38 give us that answer; “So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it; these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. Of the men who went to explore, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.”
So remember, when God places you in a position of leadership, you have one of two choices….you can be a “bad apple that spoils the entire bushel” or you can be “the pinch of leaven that makes the entire loaf rise”….the choice is yours…. and the results of your decision can have heavenly, as well as, eternal consequences.
Striving to be an encourager,
WPQ
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
POOR VISION OR HEAVENLY SIGHT?
My quiet times, recently, have me studying in the Old Testament book of Numbers. Now I have often wondered why this book was named Numbers…. Was it because of the number of times the Israelites tried the Lord’s patience or the number of times He forgave them their transgressions. There is an answer to that question…but let’s save that for another time.
Today, I want to focus on the return of the spies from their scouting duties in the land of Canaan. If you remember the story in Numbers 13:1-25, Moses hand-picked twelve men to journey into the land of Canaan to scope out this “land promised to the Israelites by the hand of God.” Moses gave them a query of things they were to assess on their mission and told them to bring back a sample of the fruit of the land…after all, it was time for the grape harvest!
So, off they went to explore the entire region; and, at the end of forty days, with a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes that hung on a pole being carried by two men….they returned. Here’s the rest of the story…
“They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account. “We went into the land to which you sent us and it does INDEED flow with milk and honey. Here is its fruit. BUT….(Numbers 13:26-27)
And that’s where the trouble began…right after the BUT. If they would have just continued to trust in the word of the Lord; in the leadership of his chosen spokesman, Moses; in the promise of a God that had never failed them or abandoned them in their time of distress or need….instead, they trusted what they could see…as we continue to read in verse 28, “But the people who live there are powerful and their cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.”
They continued to lament how it would be impossible to overtake the Amalekites, Jebusites, Amorites and Canaannites who inhabited the land. But one of the explorers, Caleb, stepped forward to silence the people and proclaimed, “We should go up and take possession of this land, for we can certainly do it. But, the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than us.”
And that’s the difference …both the naysayers and Caleb saw the same things. Both stood with a large pole of a single cluster of grapes before them….both saw the size of the people living in the land…however; one was using heavenly vision and the others only saw the weakness of themselves as no match for the giants in the land.
What about you? When God as given you a mission or has set before you a test of faith…how do you see it? Are you empowered by your Heavenly Father to accomplish His will for your life or are you weak and powerless as you face the giants of inadequacies, confusion and despair?
You can’t move the mountain on your own…BUT (there’s that little word again) …NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR GOD….for when He is for us, who can possibly stand against us? No One …NO WAY….NO HOW!!!!!
IT’S ALL A MATTER OF VISION….Seeing before you what God can and will accomplish when you surrender to Him and trust His word….Heavenly Vision ….ask for it by name…..and come back tomorrow for the rest of this heart-breaking story.
Looking through my faith to catch a glimpse of Him,
WPQ
Today, I want to focus on the return of the spies from their scouting duties in the land of Canaan. If you remember the story in Numbers 13:1-25, Moses hand-picked twelve men to journey into the land of Canaan to scope out this “land promised to the Israelites by the hand of God.” Moses gave them a query of things they were to assess on their mission and told them to bring back a sample of the fruit of the land…after all, it was time for the grape harvest!
So, off they went to explore the entire region; and, at the end of forty days, with a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes that hung on a pole being carried by two men….they returned. Here’s the rest of the story…
“They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account. “We went into the land to which you sent us and it does INDEED flow with milk and honey. Here is its fruit. BUT….(Numbers 13:26-27)
And that’s where the trouble began…right after the BUT. If they would have just continued to trust in the word of the Lord; in the leadership of his chosen spokesman, Moses; in the promise of a God that had never failed them or abandoned them in their time of distress or need….instead, they trusted what they could see…as we continue to read in verse 28, “But the people who live there are powerful and their cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.”
They continued to lament how it would be impossible to overtake the Amalekites, Jebusites, Amorites and Canaannites who inhabited the land. But one of the explorers, Caleb, stepped forward to silence the people and proclaimed, “We should go up and take possession of this land, for we can certainly do it. But, the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than us.”
And that’s the difference …both the naysayers and Caleb saw the same things. Both stood with a large pole of a single cluster of grapes before them….both saw the size of the people living in the land…however; one was using heavenly vision and the others only saw the weakness of themselves as no match for the giants in the land.
What about you? When God as given you a mission or has set before you a test of faith…how do you see it? Are you empowered by your Heavenly Father to accomplish His will for your life or are you weak and powerless as you face the giants of inadequacies, confusion and despair?
You can’t move the mountain on your own…BUT (there’s that little word again) …NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR GOD….for when He is for us, who can possibly stand against us? No One …NO WAY….NO HOW!!!!!
IT’S ALL A MATTER OF VISION….Seeing before you what God can and will accomplish when you surrender to Him and trust His word….Heavenly Vision ….ask for it by name…..and come back tomorrow for the rest of this heart-breaking story.
Looking through my faith to catch a glimpse of Him,
WPQ
Monday, March 23, 2009
Eye on the Prize
Living in the now is hard for a lot of God’s people …what with our world’s infatuation with gathering and storing and saving for our old age. It seems that hoarding has become part of the standard thinking of the rich and the “wanna be” rich. Now, I for one can empathize with this thought process, being one of the “baby boomers” who has been suckled with the idea that if I am going to live a long and satisfying life, I better stockpile lots of “goodies’ to see me through my senior years.
But, let’s look at this from a Biblical perspective. This life is really just a dress rehearsal for the eternity that I will spend with my Heavenly Father …at home in the New Jerusalem. In fact, my entire purpose for living is to prepare me for eternity …to have me practice on earth what I will perfect in heaven. Now eternity, that’s a LOOOONNGGGG TIME according to 2 Peter 3:8 which says, “But do not overlook this one fact, Beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." God’s calendar is different than yours and mine…I may live to be a hundred here on earth, but I’m going to spend a trillion years in eternity and that requires that I get my eye on the prize while I’m here.
Each of us was made by God….and for God. God did not put us here to make us happy, but to make us HOLY…and that’s the struggle of life. Until we get that thought at the center of our consciousness, we’re probably going to spend our time and efforts in pursuing the wrong things of this world….and those “things” lead to our destruction. Sure, we all want to be successful, fulfilled and comfortable both now and in our “retirement” years; but God is more interested in your CHARACTER than in your comfort.
So, where does that leave us? Do we listen attentively to the noise from the crowd that tells us to “grab all we can” since we only “go around once in life”…or do we heed the Savior’s call to “take up our cross and follow him.” If your life is not facing some sort of difficulty, then maybe it’s time to check your Christian pulse and see if your really have a heartbeat for the Savior? Truly, it’s okay to want to be reasonably happy here on earth; to face a minimal amount of desperation or despair….but, remember, God is more interested in your growth in Christ than the size of your home or the value of your IRA. If you’re working for the Kingdom then trust me, opposition is near-at-hand….but that’s okay! 1 John 4:4 says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He that is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
So start living for the eternity that God has promised you and leave behind the cares and troubles that so easily beset us….Today is the first day of the rest of your eternity ….at home with Jesus and our Father of Love.
Letting go of today…Reaching for eternity,
WPQ
Thought for Today:
God brings life’s struggles not to impair us…but to improve us;
Life’s catastrophes not to impound us…but to EMPOWER us for HIS GLORY!
But, let’s look at this from a Biblical perspective. This life is really just a dress rehearsal for the eternity that I will spend with my Heavenly Father …at home in the New Jerusalem. In fact, my entire purpose for living is to prepare me for eternity …to have me practice on earth what I will perfect in heaven. Now eternity, that’s a LOOOONNGGGG TIME according to 2 Peter 3:8 which says, “But do not overlook this one fact, Beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." God’s calendar is different than yours and mine…I may live to be a hundred here on earth, but I’m going to spend a trillion years in eternity and that requires that I get my eye on the prize while I’m here.
Each of us was made by God….and for God. God did not put us here to make us happy, but to make us HOLY…and that’s the struggle of life. Until we get that thought at the center of our consciousness, we’re probably going to spend our time and efforts in pursuing the wrong things of this world….and those “things” lead to our destruction. Sure, we all want to be successful, fulfilled and comfortable both now and in our “retirement” years; but God is more interested in your CHARACTER than in your comfort.
So, where does that leave us? Do we listen attentively to the noise from the crowd that tells us to “grab all we can” since we only “go around once in life”…or do we heed the Savior’s call to “take up our cross and follow him.” If your life is not facing some sort of difficulty, then maybe it’s time to check your Christian pulse and see if your really have a heartbeat for the Savior? Truly, it’s okay to want to be reasonably happy here on earth; to face a minimal amount of desperation or despair….but, remember, God is more interested in your growth in Christ than the size of your home or the value of your IRA. If you’re working for the Kingdom then trust me, opposition is near-at-hand….but that’s okay! 1 John 4:4 says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He that is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
So start living for the eternity that God has promised you and leave behind the cares and troubles that so easily beset us….Today is the first day of the rest of your eternity ….at home with Jesus and our Father of Love.
Letting go of today…Reaching for eternity,
WPQ
Thought for Today:
God brings life’s struggles not to impair us…but to improve us;
Life’s catastrophes not to impound us…but to EMPOWER us for HIS GLORY!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Drought Resistant for Today's World
We live in a quiet neighborhood, right across the street from the community pool and playground. This area is meticulously groomed each week and is always in the best shape when it comes to the caliber of care that it receives. I guess that is why I was so surprised to see one of my favorite willow trees cut down and carted off last week. Now, to be sure it was dead, but what struck me as odd was its demise.
Now, there where two willow trees planted not fifteen feet apart and for the last five years, I have watched them grow and mature, ever spreading their lovely branches and providing a great place for young children to take shade from the hot summer sun….and that’s my point of consternation. One lived and one died; each, seemingly, planted in the same soil, given the same care and exposed to the same elements. But, upon closer examination, I found the difference ….one had been struck down by some insects while in a weakened condition from the drought…the other willow tree’s roots had found a greater source of water. You see, about six feet away, the sprinkler head had malfunctioned and had built a small pond in a low lying area. In fact, every time we get any rain, the water puddles there….so, this tree near the puddle got more water and nutrients and was able to remain strong while its next door neighbor succumbed to the drought, insects and other natural causes and died.
The lesson for us in all of this is found in Jeremiah 17:7-8,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of the drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
How’s your root system today? Are you trusting in the Lord …is your trust in the Lord and not in what you can do? Are you firmly planted in His word so that the barbs and darts and arrows from the Devil have no effect on your life? God has promised in His Son, Jesus Christ, to NEVER leave us or forsake us. No matter what you are facing today, God is here to see you through. Let you roots sink deep into the well of everlasting water and be refreshed. Know the joy of your salvation is something that is yours now and eternally. Don’t let the devil or circumstances or others rob you of the joy and peace that is yours as you continually grow in the Lord. Remember, WE BELONG TO HIM ….and we are to produce much fruit.
Today, give up the dry, barren way of following Christ…giving lip service and little else. Instead, look for a way to serve, offer a word of encouragement, do more than is required of you….Smile, tell someone you love them and back it up with your actions. God is the great gardener and He is watching to see if you are growing or if your roots have died and you should be cut down.
I pray that today you will be firmly planted, growing exponentially with roots that reach to the very soul of the Master and that your fruit will be bountiful for the Lord….”He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3
Planted together…prospering for the Kingdom,
WPQ
Now, there where two willow trees planted not fifteen feet apart and for the last five years, I have watched them grow and mature, ever spreading their lovely branches and providing a great place for young children to take shade from the hot summer sun….and that’s my point of consternation. One lived and one died; each, seemingly, planted in the same soil, given the same care and exposed to the same elements. But, upon closer examination, I found the difference ….one had been struck down by some insects while in a weakened condition from the drought…the other willow tree’s roots had found a greater source of water. You see, about six feet away, the sprinkler head had malfunctioned and had built a small pond in a low lying area. In fact, every time we get any rain, the water puddles there….so, this tree near the puddle got more water and nutrients and was able to remain strong while its next door neighbor succumbed to the drought, insects and other natural causes and died.
The lesson for us in all of this is found in Jeremiah 17:7-8,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of the drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
How’s your root system today? Are you trusting in the Lord …is your trust in the Lord and not in what you can do? Are you firmly planted in His word so that the barbs and darts and arrows from the Devil have no effect on your life? God has promised in His Son, Jesus Christ, to NEVER leave us or forsake us. No matter what you are facing today, God is here to see you through. Let you roots sink deep into the well of everlasting water and be refreshed. Know the joy of your salvation is something that is yours now and eternally. Don’t let the devil or circumstances or others rob you of the joy and peace that is yours as you continually grow in the Lord. Remember, WE BELONG TO HIM ….and we are to produce much fruit.
Today, give up the dry, barren way of following Christ…giving lip service and little else. Instead, look for a way to serve, offer a word of encouragement, do more than is required of you….Smile, tell someone you love them and back it up with your actions. God is the great gardener and He is watching to see if you are growing or if your roots have died and you should be cut down.
I pray that today you will be firmly planted, growing exponentially with roots that reach to the very soul of the Master and that your fruit will be bountiful for the Lord….”He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3
Planted together…prospering for the Kingdom,
WPQ
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
To Blessed to be Stressed
Remember when you where a small child, first learning to read and write and master the use of words. Your teacher began with the simplest of building blocks ….the alphabet. You and your classmates learned to recite the entire alphabet and made up games to spur you on to greater achievement….and before you knew it, you were stringing words together in fluid thought and cohesion.
Sometimes, when things go amuck, we simply need to get back to the basics. I don’t know how things are going in your life at this moment; but, if the reports that are coming at us from all of the media sources today are anywhere close to being accurate ( and I rather doubt they are)….life has its challenges!
So, let’s get back to the basics of trusting our Heavenly Father for our daily needs. A look at the Holy Alphabet may be just what you need. This was sent to me a few days ago in an email and I felt led to share this with each of you ….read on and be blessed.
And remember…..when you can’t see the hand of God at work …you can ALWAYS TRUST HIS HEART!!!!!
Singing His praises…trusting His heart,
WPQ
The Holy Alphabet
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but....
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
"I AM Too blessed to be stressed!"
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
Love and peace be with you forever, Amen.
Sometimes, when things go amuck, we simply need to get back to the basics. I don’t know how things are going in your life at this moment; but, if the reports that are coming at us from all of the media sources today are anywhere close to being accurate ( and I rather doubt they are)….life has its challenges!
So, let’s get back to the basics of trusting our Heavenly Father for our daily needs. A look at the Holy Alphabet may be just what you need. This was sent to me a few days ago in an email and I felt led to share this with each of you ….read on and be blessed.
And remember…..when you can’t see the hand of God at work …you can ALWAYS TRUST HIS HEART!!!!!
Singing His praises…trusting His heart,
WPQ
The Holy Alphabet
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but....
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
"I AM Too blessed to be stressed!"
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
Love and peace be with you forever, Amen.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Patience Wearing Thin...Turn to Prayer!
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I encounter some people that really try my patience. In fact, in all honesty, they make me lose it completely. Now, I’m not one to name names…you know who you are; but in my studies the other night, Paul admonished me in Philippians 1 verse 3 to pray with joy. He said” I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Do I always pray with joy? Not on your life…but there it is, from one of the pillars of the early church….PRAY WITH JOY!!!!
Paul is telling us to begin our experience with others by remembering them and then, in our remembrance, to pray with joy. Unfortunately, it seems that I don’t always remember the good things of others …only the things that seem to make me lose my patience and too, too often, disrupt my walk with my Lord. What if I started using “spiritual eyes’ to view those that God brings into my life and as we unite in the partnership of the gospel, I won’t have to overlook their faults? Instead, I will be focused on the good work that God has begun in them and in our relationship.
Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He that began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ.” It is this very thought that should be my focus…if I must be myopic, let my focus be on the good work that God is accomplishing in each of us. Now I can take the easy way and wallow in the misery of the moment, past or present…..or I can look at those around me and see them as God does….A WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!
And then, I can pray for them and with them in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving...knowing that God is at work, bringing to completion this person of faith …my brother or sister in Christ. And that’s the eternal partnership that is available to each of us….we belong to Christ and we belong to each other. So, let the praise and prayer begin and let the JOY of Heaven rain down.
ABUNDANTLY BLESSED…PRAYING IN JOY,
WPQ
Do I always pray with joy? Not on your life…but there it is, from one of the pillars of the early church….PRAY WITH JOY!!!!
Paul is telling us to begin our experience with others by remembering them and then, in our remembrance, to pray with joy. Unfortunately, it seems that I don’t always remember the good things of others …only the things that seem to make me lose my patience and too, too often, disrupt my walk with my Lord. What if I started using “spiritual eyes’ to view those that God brings into my life and as we unite in the partnership of the gospel, I won’t have to overlook their faults? Instead, I will be focused on the good work that God has begun in them and in our relationship.
Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He that began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ.” It is this very thought that should be my focus…if I must be myopic, let my focus be on the good work that God is accomplishing in each of us. Now I can take the easy way and wallow in the misery of the moment, past or present…..or I can look at those around me and see them as God does….A WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!
And then, I can pray for them and with them in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving...knowing that God is at work, bringing to completion this person of faith …my brother or sister in Christ. And that’s the eternal partnership that is available to each of us….we belong to Christ and we belong to each other. So, let the praise and prayer begin and let the JOY of Heaven rain down.
ABUNDANTLY BLESSED…PRAYING IN JOY,
WPQ
Thursday, March 12, 2009
New Shoes
I sat down in my easy chair this morning and slipped my feet, one by one, into a new pair of shoes. I was instantly caught up in the smell of the leather and the suppleness of its touch as each shoe wrapped my foot in warmth and exquisite comfort.
Now, I didn’t particularly need a new pair of shoes, but I have had my eye on these for quite sometime and since they were on sale, I reasoned that now was the logical time to make such a purchase. I mean, after all, a well-dressed man needs more than one pair of black shoes; but, as I examined my closet, my eyes began to swell with tears as I realized how many shoes I have.
Now, I didn’t become emotional because I have numerous pairs of shoes, but rather, I was concerned about my cavalier attitude. I realized in that fleeting moment that God has truly blessed me and to have a closet full of shoes is just one immeasurable marker of His bounty and goodness. The list of his blessings to me and my family is endless and the reams of paper that it would take to write them all down, well, I couldn’t afford the cost of the paper.
Then, I asked myself, “Does God know how thankful I am? Have I taken even a moment to show Him how grateful I am for His goodness and provision?”
The answer truly saddens me …and if you would examine your heart, I am quite certain your conclusion would be the same as mine…I NEED TO HAVE A THANKFUL HEART.
I know that there are a lot of people in our country, as well as around the world, that are truly hurting and reeling from the economic turmoil that we are facing; however, that does not relieve us from our worship obligation to be thankful to our Heavenly Father.
Colossians 3:15-16 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were indeed called in one body. AND BE THANKFUL (my emphasis). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts.”
So today, why not sing a happy song, hum a lyrical tune, rejoice in the love and provision of the one who died to give you life everlasting….be thankful for your family, your church, your job (or the talents you have that will help you find another one), for a refrigerator with food or the refrigerator itself….whatever God has given you….BE THANKFUL AND BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS.
I know every step I take in these new shoes, Christ will receive my praise and adoration for his goodness ….and I will be thankful that his peace rules in my heart today.
I admonish you to do the same,
WPQ
Now, I didn’t particularly need a new pair of shoes, but I have had my eye on these for quite sometime and since they were on sale, I reasoned that now was the logical time to make such a purchase. I mean, after all, a well-dressed man needs more than one pair of black shoes; but, as I examined my closet, my eyes began to swell with tears as I realized how many shoes I have.
Now, I didn’t become emotional because I have numerous pairs of shoes, but rather, I was concerned about my cavalier attitude. I realized in that fleeting moment that God has truly blessed me and to have a closet full of shoes is just one immeasurable marker of His bounty and goodness. The list of his blessings to me and my family is endless and the reams of paper that it would take to write them all down, well, I couldn’t afford the cost of the paper.
Then, I asked myself, “Does God know how thankful I am? Have I taken even a moment to show Him how grateful I am for His goodness and provision?”
The answer truly saddens me …and if you would examine your heart, I am quite certain your conclusion would be the same as mine…I NEED TO HAVE A THANKFUL HEART.
I know that there are a lot of people in our country, as well as around the world, that are truly hurting and reeling from the economic turmoil that we are facing; however, that does not relieve us from our worship obligation to be thankful to our Heavenly Father.
Colossians 3:15-16 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were indeed called in one body. AND BE THANKFUL (my emphasis). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts.”
So today, why not sing a happy song, hum a lyrical tune, rejoice in the love and provision of the one who died to give you life everlasting….be thankful for your family, your church, your job (or the talents you have that will help you find another one), for a refrigerator with food or the refrigerator itself….whatever God has given you….BE THANKFUL AND BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS.
I know every step I take in these new shoes, Christ will receive my praise and adoration for his goodness ….and I will be thankful that his peace rules in my heart today.
I admonish you to do the same,
WPQ
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A LOVE SONNET
I know that many of you that might be reading this are going through some very difficult and trying times…and I know that things might get worse before they get better. But, I also know this….our God is in COMPLETE CONTROL and we can trust Him for everything to work out according to His good purpose. So, today, I share with you this love sonnet written for our Father, who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Today …trust the Father and show him how much you love him so that all may be well with your soul.
A Love Sonnet
Simple words, elegant words,
So many I would to say
To express the feelings of my heart,
To help me count the ways.
To thank you for each sunrise
For each precious breath I’m given
To spend my eternity with you,
You prepared for me a heaven.
So, I thank you every day, my God
For the birds that soar in flight
And for the stars that fill my sky
And the moon that rules my nights.
You’ve given me a joyous heart
And laughter fills my days.
You’ve placed upon my very lips
your songs of endless praise.
I thank you that you listen, Lord
With an ear bent close to earth.
And that you sent your only Son
Through a Holy Virgin birth.
For it was there upon that cruel cross
Christ would die to take my place
I’m sure that as He breathed his last
The tears streamed down your face;
Not just for the loss of your precious son
But for the saving of my soul,
I offer my life as gratitude
For you love has made me whole.
Let me make my life an offering
To be laid at your throne above,
May all I do, always honor you
My Father....it’s you I Love!!!
W. Patrick Queen Copyright 2001
Loved and loving in His name,
WPQ
Today …trust the Father and show him how much you love him so that all may be well with your soul.
A Love Sonnet
Simple words, elegant words,
So many I would to say
To express the feelings of my heart,
To help me count the ways.
To thank you for each sunrise
For each precious breath I’m given
To spend my eternity with you,
You prepared for me a heaven.
So, I thank you every day, my God
For the birds that soar in flight
And for the stars that fill my sky
And the moon that rules my nights.
You’ve given me a joyous heart
And laughter fills my days.
You’ve placed upon my very lips
your songs of endless praise.
I thank you that you listen, Lord
With an ear bent close to earth.
And that you sent your only Son
Through a Holy Virgin birth.
For it was there upon that cruel cross
Christ would die to take my place
I’m sure that as He breathed his last
The tears streamed down your face;
Not just for the loss of your precious son
But for the saving of my soul,
I offer my life as gratitude
For you love has made me whole.
Let me make my life an offering
To be laid at your throne above,
May all I do, always honor you
My Father....it’s you I Love!!!
W. Patrick Queen Copyright 2001
Loved and loving in His name,
WPQ
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Birthright of a Sinner
There are a lot of sites on the internet where you can go to search for the members of your family; to find the roots of your ancestry. It takes little time and with the click of the mouse and the payment of a fee, you can see if your great-great-great granddad was a king or a chicken thief.
The results, however, are the same. Whether you were born to royalty or to a common man, you were born to sin….and in our day and time, that’s a topic that no one likes to discuss…..yet, with all that is going on in our country, it’s high time we began to call sin….SIN.
You know, it wasn’t that long ago when sin used to slink down the back alleys …now, it seems to parade down Main Street, head held high and too often, cheered by the crowd.
Where are we Christians as sin marches through our neighborhoods in the form of drug dealers and across our TV screens disguised as entertainment? Christ taught his disciples that we should hate the sin yet loved the sinner. I find that EXTREMELY hard to do...until I read the story of the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11.
The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus with the sins of this adulterous woman; yet his reply stopped them dead in their tracks and indeed caused them to turn and walk away when He said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
We are to abhor sin…to run, flee, expel and castrate sin from our lives. We are to be an example to others in all we say and do that we belong to Jesus…and that begins with the way we treat sinners.
In Romans 5:8, Paul writes, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” …and that is how we are to treat those caught in the trap of sin…with God’s unconditional love. We must see those that miss God’s holy mark as God sees us…with an aching heart that longs for their salvation.
Adrian Rogers, that great pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church near Memphis, Tennessee used to say in many of his radio broadcasts, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go…keep you longer than you want to stay …and cost you more than you want to pay.”
That statement was true for each of us before we heard God’s call to come and it is true for everyone we know that is ensnared by the glitz and glamour of sin. We are to love the sinner and point them to Jesus…we are to be salt & light to this wicked and vile generation ….and we are to love God with all our heart, body, mind and soul….that love, God’s love, is what we need to make a difference for Jesus today.
Loving Him…loving sinners through Him,
WPQ
The results, however, are the same. Whether you were born to royalty or to a common man, you were born to sin….and in our day and time, that’s a topic that no one likes to discuss…..yet, with all that is going on in our country, it’s high time we began to call sin….SIN.
You know, it wasn’t that long ago when sin used to slink down the back alleys …now, it seems to parade down Main Street, head held high and too often, cheered by the crowd.
Where are we Christians as sin marches through our neighborhoods in the form of drug dealers and across our TV screens disguised as entertainment? Christ taught his disciples that we should hate the sin yet loved the sinner. I find that EXTREMELY hard to do...until I read the story of the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11.
The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus with the sins of this adulterous woman; yet his reply stopped them dead in their tracks and indeed caused them to turn and walk away when He said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
We are to abhor sin…to run, flee, expel and castrate sin from our lives. We are to be an example to others in all we say and do that we belong to Jesus…and that begins with the way we treat sinners.
In Romans 5:8, Paul writes, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” …and that is how we are to treat those caught in the trap of sin…with God’s unconditional love. We must see those that miss God’s holy mark as God sees us…with an aching heart that longs for their salvation.
Adrian Rogers, that great pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church near Memphis, Tennessee used to say in many of his radio broadcasts, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go…keep you longer than you want to stay …and cost you more than you want to pay.”
That statement was true for each of us before we heard God’s call to come and it is true for everyone we know that is ensnared by the glitz and glamour of sin. We are to love the sinner and point them to Jesus…we are to be salt & light to this wicked and vile generation ….and we are to love God with all our heart, body, mind and soul….that love, God’s love, is what we need to make a difference for Jesus today.
Loving Him…loving sinners through Him,
WPQ
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sign of the Times
Signs are every where these days and you can’t always believe what you read. Check out the following examples:
In an office: TOILET OUT OF ORDER, PLEASE USE THE FLOOR BELOW!
In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES; PLEASE REMOVE YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT!
Outside a second hand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING- BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
Notice in a health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS!
Spotted in a Safari park: ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR!
Notice in a farmer’s field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES!
On a repair shop window: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING!!! (Please knock hard on the door- the bell doesn’t work).
Signs, signs and more signs ….they are everywhere; cluttering up the roadsides with their messages to eat here, buy this or that or go here or there for a better deal. We are bombarded with signs that are often set before us to lead us down the wrong path… a path that leads to self and eternal destruction.
Our adversary, the Devil, wants us to heed the signs he has placed before us. We are to follow their instructions, even if they fail to make sense or lead us to compromise our values. After all, he whispers, it will be okay in this particular situation…who’s it going to harm anyway… and as we believe lie after lie after lie….before we know it, we have lost our way because we paid attention to the wrong signs.
God’s word has something to say about signs. In Deuteronomy 6:5-9, God says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets before your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” So whether we are coming or going, there should be a sign for all to see that we belong to HIM.
Do you have his word written on your heart? What sign hangs on your doorpost or your gate that reminds you and tells others that you serve a risen Lord? What signs are you heeding in your daily walk with Jesus…and maybe even more importantly, is your life a sign of what God can and will do when someone surrenders completely to Him?
I just thought we should think about this today and determine to be a sign of the times…..so others may know that Jesus died to set men free and one day…very, very soon, He’s coming back to take us home….the heavens will open and the trumpets shall sound and we shall see Him in the eastern sky…
Now, that’s one sign I can’t wait to see!
Signing off ….Blessed Beyond Measure,
WPQ
In an office: TOILET OUT OF ORDER, PLEASE USE THE FLOOR BELOW!
In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES; PLEASE REMOVE YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT!
Outside a second hand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING- BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
Notice in a health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS!
Spotted in a Safari park: ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR!
Notice in a farmer’s field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES!
On a repair shop window: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING!!! (Please knock hard on the door- the bell doesn’t work).
Signs, signs and more signs ….they are everywhere; cluttering up the roadsides with their messages to eat here, buy this or that or go here or there for a better deal. We are bombarded with signs that are often set before us to lead us down the wrong path… a path that leads to self and eternal destruction.
Our adversary, the Devil, wants us to heed the signs he has placed before us. We are to follow their instructions, even if they fail to make sense or lead us to compromise our values. After all, he whispers, it will be okay in this particular situation…who’s it going to harm anyway… and as we believe lie after lie after lie….before we know it, we have lost our way because we paid attention to the wrong signs.
God’s word has something to say about signs. In Deuteronomy 6:5-9, God says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets before your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” So whether we are coming or going, there should be a sign for all to see that we belong to HIM.
Do you have his word written on your heart? What sign hangs on your doorpost or your gate that reminds you and tells others that you serve a risen Lord? What signs are you heeding in your daily walk with Jesus…and maybe even more importantly, is your life a sign of what God can and will do when someone surrenders completely to Him?
I just thought we should think about this today and determine to be a sign of the times…..so others may know that Jesus died to set men free and one day…very, very soon, He’s coming back to take us home….the heavens will open and the trumpets shall sound and we shall see Him in the eastern sky…
Now, that’s one sign I can’t wait to see!
Signing off ….Blessed Beyond Measure,
WPQ
Friday, March 6, 2009
A New Mind Set
Yesterday, we asked ourselves….what was the Apostle Paul talking about when he told us to “be transformed by the renewing of your minds?” Here’s my take on this topic of letting go of our earthly claims and taking hold of our heavenly gains.
First, we must have the mind of Christ, thus a new mind set is in order. We cannot just think differently on our own; we must take hold of the mind of Christ through surrender.
It was always the passion of Christ to be obedient to the will of God…to do all that the Father had set before him…to gladly bear our burdens and our sins and to rejoice in the plan of salvation that would provide each of us forgiveness and clothe us in His righteousness.That mind set is not acquired but given to those that empty themselves of worldly desires, goals and ambitions and concentrate on the will of the Father. It is that transformation of our mind that allows us to ‘test and approve” the will of God in our lives.
We begin that transformation by giving our bodies as a living sacrifice to God….our physical, fleshly desires are laid to rest on the alter of grace and we give up our “rights” to who we are or who we think we should be according to the standards of this world.
Paul says it best in Philippians 3:8-9a, “Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of ALL THINGS and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.”
Did you get that? It’s all RUBBISH…EVERYTHING….except knowing Christ…that is our earthly portion and it is counted as heavenly gain. Sure, you can struggle with trying to do the will of God or you can surrender your will to His will. Once you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, the battle is no longer for your soul…rather it is for the surrender of your will to the good, acceptable and perfect will of your heavenly Father.
So, make the clear choice today and begin with the surrender of your flesh, the acquisition of the mind of Christ and the mindset that it is all rubbish…unless it is for heavenly gain.
You should be able to ask yourself this question regarding your citizenship in heaven…If I do this today, will it make a difference on earth that will impact my future in heaven?
Stop living and planning just for the consequences of your actions today and start living a life of obedience to the Father’s will….you will be amazed at the peace and security that will invade your life as you live one day at a time for Him.
After all, we really don’t belong here…You and I are destined for better, Brighter and BIGGER Things. Remember, we’re just passing through on our way HOME ….and the only thing we can take with us….OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS.
Do they see Christ living in you ….or are you practicing dual citizenship?
ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
Praying that others see Christ in me,
WPQ
First, we must have the mind of Christ, thus a new mind set is in order. We cannot just think differently on our own; we must take hold of the mind of Christ through surrender.
It was always the passion of Christ to be obedient to the will of God…to do all that the Father had set before him…to gladly bear our burdens and our sins and to rejoice in the plan of salvation that would provide each of us forgiveness and clothe us in His righteousness.That mind set is not acquired but given to those that empty themselves of worldly desires, goals and ambitions and concentrate on the will of the Father. It is that transformation of our mind that allows us to ‘test and approve” the will of God in our lives.
We begin that transformation by giving our bodies as a living sacrifice to God….our physical, fleshly desires are laid to rest on the alter of grace and we give up our “rights” to who we are or who we think we should be according to the standards of this world.
Paul says it best in Philippians 3:8-9a, “Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of ALL THINGS and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.”
Did you get that? It’s all RUBBISH…EVERYTHING….except knowing Christ…that is our earthly portion and it is counted as heavenly gain. Sure, you can struggle with trying to do the will of God or you can surrender your will to His will. Once you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, the battle is no longer for your soul…rather it is for the surrender of your will to the good, acceptable and perfect will of your heavenly Father.
So, make the clear choice today and begin with the surrender of your flesh, the acquisition of the mind of Christ and the mindset that it is all rubbish…unless it is for heavenly gain.
You should be able to ask yourself this question regarding your citizenship in heaven…If I do this today, will it make a difference on earth that will impact my future in heaven?
Stop living and planning just for the consequences of your actions today and start living a life of obedience to the Father’s will….you will be amazed at the peace and security that will invade your life as you live one day at a time for Him.
After all, we really don’t belong here…You and I are destined for better, Brighter and BIGGER Things. Remember, we’re just passing through on our way HOME ….and the only thing we can take with us….OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS.
Do they see Christ living in you ….or are you practicing dual citizenship?
ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
Praying that others see Christ in me,
WPQ
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Dual Citizenship
In almost every country around our globe, you can choose to proclaim your allegiance to that country and, after meeting their citizenship requirements, declare that you are a citizen. However, for it to be a bona fide and recognized act of declaration, you must first denounce your citizenship from your previous homeland.
The same is true for us as Christians. We were born into this world as sinners and in our sins and citizenship of this world we would die…if not for the love of our Heavenly Father and the shed blood of His Son, Jesus.
In fact in John 17, when Christ prayed for his disciples, He prayed…I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of this world any more than I am of this world. My prayer is not that you would take them out of this world but that you would protect them from the evil one. They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. (My emphasis)
Christ knew that our salvation made us a new creation in Him…that we would be adopted into His heavenly family and would indeed be the sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have new citizenship in a new homeland that He has gone to prepare….but the sad truth is that too many of us have failed to renounce and denounce our former ties to this worldly sphere. We are in truth practicing dual citizenship.
We have to take ourselves out of this world. Thomas Watson, a Puritan of the first magnitude, used this analogy to help us understand what happens when we fail to do this. He said, “A Christian in this world is like a ship in the ocean. It’s one thing for the ship to be in the water, but when the water gets in the ship, it begins to sink.”
Paul gave us the formula for removing ourselves from this world…for denouncing our citizenship and claiming our new birthright in God’s heavenly kingdom. “Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is…His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
So what’s the practical application of Paul’s advice to each of us in regards to claiming and proclaiming our new citizenship….what does he mean when he tells us to renew our minds….how can we know that we are no longer of this world; only passing through to our glorious homeland where our Savior awaits …..
Come back tomorrow and we’ll discover what’s written in the fine print of our citizenship papers.
Living in this world …longing for the next,
WPQ
Thought for the day:
You may attempt to persuade another to change their point of view
But nothing speaks more plainly than what Christ has done in you.
So if another’s lifestyle you are hoping to rearrange
Just testify how the Father’s love can make an everlasting change.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The same is true for us as Christians. We were born into this world as sinners and in our sins and citizenship of this world we would die…if not for the love of our Heavenly Father and the shed blood of His Son, Jesus.
In fact in John 17, when Christ prayed for his disciples, He prayed…I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of this world any more than I am of this world. My prayer is not that you would take them out of this world but that you would protect them from the evil one. They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. (My emphasis)
Christ knew that our salvation made us a new creation in Him…that we would be adopted into His heavenly family and would indeed be the sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have new citizenship in a new homeland that He has gone to prepare….but the sad truth is that too many of us have failed to renounce and denounce our former ties to this worldly sphere. We are in truth practicing dual citizenship.
We have to take ourselves out of this world. Thomas Watson, a Puritan of the first magnitude, used this analogy to help us understand what happens when we fail to do this. He said, “A Christian in this world is like a ship in the ocean. It’s one thing for the ship to be in the water, but when the water gets in the ship, it begins to sink.”
Paul gave us the formula for removing ourselves from this world…for denouncing our citizenship and claiming our new birthright in God’s heavenly kingdom. “Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is…His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
So what’s the practical application of Paul’s advice to each of us in regards to claiming and proclaiming our new citizenship….what does he mean when he tells us to renew our minds….how can we know that we are no longer of this world; only passing through to our glorious homeland where our Savior awaits …..
Come back tomorrow and we’ll discover what’s written in the fine print of our citizenship papers.
Living in this world …longing for the next,
WPQ
Thought for the day:
You may attempt to persuade another to change their point of view
But nothing speaks more plainly than what Christ has done in you.
So if another’s lifestyle you are hoping to rearrange
Just testify how the Father’s love can make an everlasting change.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Uniquely You
I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad there is only one of me(and I’m sure that there are several people I know that would agree with that statement).
What I am getting at is really quite simple…God uniquely made only one you (and me)….and then He threw away the mold….not because it was broken; but because He wanted each of us to be His unique creation.
Now, no one…no where…at no time is or has been or will ever be JUST LIKE YOU. Even twins or triplets or multiple babies from the same egg are different…in their personalities, their demeanors and their talents. God is not into prefab or mass production when it comes to his greatest creation.
You see, you can do something in a unique way that no one else can do…that no one else is wired to do. In fact, God’s Word speaks to that very fact in the following passage from Galatians 6:4
The Message translation says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”
Exploring and extracting the uniqueness that is you will accomplish much…it will excite and motivate you to become all that God wants you to be…it will honor God as your creator and the administrator of your life….and it will expand the work and the growth of God’s kingdom.
God has called you to be uniquely …YOU! So, don’t waste time and energy by comparing yourself to others….for there is no one quite like you…and in God’s eyes, that’s a VERY GOOD THING.
Take responsibility to be all that God wants you to be…study His word, talk with Him daily, seek godly counsel and most of all, listen to the voice of His Spirit as it directs your path and guides your footsteps.
God wants you to do the most what you do the best!!!! When you do that you can be sure that God is well pleased….
I can just see that smile on His face….how ‘bout you?
Living uniquely to make Him smile,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
The Lord has given you a task
That only you can fulfill;
To serve Him in love and faithfulness,
To seek to do His will.
What I am getting at is really quite simple…God uniquely made only one you (and me)….and then He threw away the mold….not because it was broken; but because He wanted each of us to be His unique creation.
Now, no one…no where…at no time is or has been or will ever be JUST LIKE YOU. Even twins or triplets or multiple babies from the same egg are different…in their personalities, their demeanors and their talents. God is not into prefab or mass production when it comes to his greatest creation.
You see, you can do something in a unique way that no one else can do…that no one else is wired to do. In fact, God’s Word speaks to that very fact in the following passage from Galatians 6:4
The Message translation says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”
Exploring and extracting the uniqueness that is you will accomplish much…it will excite and motivate you to become all that God wants you to be…it will honor God as your creator and the administrator of your life….and it will expand the work and the growth of God’s kingdom.
God has called you to be uniquely …YOU! So, don’t waste time and energy by comparing yourself to others….for there is no one quite like you…and in God’s eyes, that’s a VERY GOOD THING.
Take responsibility to be all that God wants you to be…study His word, talk with Him daily, seek godly counsel and most of all, listen to the voice of His Spirit as it directs your path and guides your footsteps.
God wants you to do the most what you do the best!!!! When you do that you can be sure that God is well pleased….
I can just see that smile on His face….how ‘bout you?
Living uniquely to make Him smile,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
The Lord has given you a task
That only you can fulfill;
To serve Him in love and faithfulness,
To seek to do His will.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Working in His Garden
How many workdays in a work week seems like a trick question, but what about how many Sundays in a week? Well, according to Heaven’s calendar, they are SEVEN…that’s right, Seven! You see, God sanctifies each day as a holy day to conduct His holy business... at all hours and in all places.
Somewhere, many of us got the notion that we work 5 or 6 days each week and then give God the day that He originally reserved for himself…the Sabbath or Sunday; but God owns each day, especially your workdays. He ordained your work as something good.
You see, God is the Author and originator of work. After He created Adam, but before He gave him a wife, a family or even a loin cloth….God gave Adam a JOB! Genesis 2:15 tells us that “The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
All that was to come was important and highly prized by God, so He created man to work and placed him in the garden. Surely God knew that idle hands were the Serpent’s playground…so He wasted no time in putting Adam to work.
Where is your garden and what calling has God placed before you? Are you laboring at the kitchen sink or chasing your children around at the park? Are you the CEO of a corporate entity or the mechanic at the local car dealer? Is your job one that brings you pleasure and God glory…..or are you just going through the motions, showing up, doing the minimum and waiting on pay day?
GOD HONORS WORK…..ALWAYS HAS AND HE ALWAYS WILL!
So, don’t shrink from that sink…. turn it into a shrine for God’s glory as you become the best home engineer/child psychologist/resident botantist in your neighborhood.
Running a multi- million dollar company….commit your best to making it successful by fully honoring the God of the Universe in all your dealings and your will make each 9 to 5 day an adventure in serving the Lord.
Not sure how to “tend and keep” the garden that God has entrusted to you….then, let’s talk or else, seek the advice of godly counsel. Either way, God has or is in the process of putting you to work for Him.
Don’t be caught asleep at the wheel…God expects you to be at work for Him and His Kingdom…no matter what the job, God has fully equipped you to accomplish His tasks.We have all heard the saying,"God does not guide where He does not provide." So know this...God has already wired you for the occupation that He has ordained and He has fully prepared and equipped you for the work that lies ahead...your job is to rejoice and be glad in it!
Remember, He has called all of the physically, able-bodied to work in His garden until He comes…so work as working for the Lord…..because that is a true act of worship.
GOD HONORS WORK …SO HONOR GOD IN YOUR WORK.
Working ‘til He comes…honoring Him daily,
WPQ
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Whatever task God has given you
Be filled with holy zest;
For when you’re working for the Lord,
He expects your very best.
Somewhere, many of us got the notion that we work 5 or 6 days each week and then give God the day that He originally reserved for himself…the Sabbath or Sunday; but God owns each day, especially your workdays. He ordained your work as something good.
You see, God is the Author and originator of work. After He created Adam, but before He gave him a wife, a family or even a loin cloth….God gave Adam a JOB! Genesis 2:15 tells us that “The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
All that was to come was important and highly prized by God, so He created man to work and placed him in the garden. Surely God knew that idle hands were the Serpent’s playground…so He wasted no time in putting Adam to work.
Where is your garden and what calling has God placed before you? Are you laboring at the kitchen sink or chasing your children around at the park? Are you the CEO of a corporate entity or the mechanic at the local car dealer? Is your job one that brings you pleasure and God glory…..or are you just going through the motions, showing up, doing the minimum and waiting on pay day?
GOD HONORS WORK…..ALWAYS HAS AND HE ALWAYS WILL!
So, don’t shrink from that sink…. turn it into a shrine for God’s glory as you become the best home engineer/child psychologist/resident botantist in your neighborhood.
Running a multi- million dollar company….commit your best to making it successful by fully honoring the God of the Universe in all your dealings and your will make each 9 to 5 day an adventure in serving the Lord.
Not sure how to “tend and keep” the garden that God has entrusted to you….then, let’s talk or else, seek the advice of godly counsel. Either way, God has or is in the process of putting you to work for Him.
Don’t be caught asleep at the wheel…God expects you to be at work for Him and His Kingdom…no matter what the job, God has fully equipped you to accomplish His tasks.We have all heard the saying,"God does not guide where He does not provide." So know this...God has already wired you for the occupation that He has ordained and He has fully prepared and equipped you for the work that lies ahead...your job is to rejoice and be glad in it!
Remember, He has called all of the physically, able-bodied to work in His garden until He comes…so work as working for the Lord…..because that is a true act of worship.
GOD HONORS WORK …SO HONOR GOD IN YOUR WORK.
Working ‘til He comes…honoring Him daily,
WPQ
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Whatever task God has given you
Be filled with holy zest;
For when you’re working for the Lord,
He expects your very best.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Worldly Wealth…How Much Is Enough?
We are indeed facing tough economic times; perhaps, the greatest for any generation of Americans, as well as for our neighbors around the world. What should be our course of action for these turbulent times? How should we consider worldly wealth and the question of how much is enough?
There is a story of an Arabian man who lived in a small cottage on a hill. Every week he would ride into the desert to a small stream so he could provide water for his camel….and every week, as the camel would drink, he would nose up pebbles to make a deeper place for the water to pool. Each week, the man would pick up some of the bright stones that his camel unearthed in the stream and take them home with him. One day, a visiting traveler told the man of the wonderful life and great riches that certain men in a nearby city enjoyed…the man’s heart was filled want and discontent; his eyes widen at the dream of worldly riches. So, he sold his small cottage and wandered the entire land looking for money and earthly riches; but finally, he died, alone and impoverished; buried in nothing but filthy rags. On the other hand, the man who bought the cottage found his collection of bright stones and preserved them.
One day a merchant, traveling through the region, stopped at the small cottage and was shone the bright stones. He informed the man that these stones were indeed diamonds and he became a millionaire immediately.
The first man had great wealth, but in his ignorance and foolishness sought the wealth of the world and died penniless. The second man held on to something that seemed insignificant, yet proved to be of great value.
How true is that today for so many of us? We strive and struggle and sweat to make ourselves rich by worldly standards; yet, we miss the greatest treasure of all…a full and exciting walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
Where is your heart today…and where is your head regarding wealth? It has been said that the problem for many of us is not that we want more…just that we want more than somebody else. It is that mentality that has led us to our current economic crisis here in America…. and it is a mentality that can only change as we surrender our will and our desires to the one who gave it all…. so that He could acquire you and me.
Are you interested in determining your worldly wealth today? Then, make a list to answer this question….add up everything you have that money can’t buy and death can’t take away….and that will tell you the condition of your heart and the wealth that is yours.
Rich Beyond Worldly Measure,
WPQ
There is a story of an Arabian man who lived in a small cottage on a hill. Every week he would ride into the desert to a small stream so he could provide water for his camel….and every week, as the camel would drink, he would nose up pebbles to make a deeper place for the water to pool. Each week, the man would pick up some of the bright stones that his camel unearthed in the stream and take them home with him. One day, a visiting traveler told the man of the wonderful life and great riches that certain men in a nearby city enjoyed…the man’s heart was filled want and discontent; his eyes widen at the dream of worldly riches. So, he sold his small cottage and wandered the entire land looking for money and earthly riches; but finally, he died, alone and impoverished; buried in nothing but filthy rags. On the other hand, the man who bought the cottage found his collection of bright stones and preserved them.
One day a merchant, traveling through the region, stopped at the small cottage and was shone the bright stones. He informed the man that these stones were indeed diamonds and he became a millionaire immediately.
The first man had great wealth, but in his ignorance and foolishness sought the wealth of the world and died penniless. The second man held on to something that seemed insignificant, yet proved to be of great value.
How true is that today for so many of us? We strive and struggle and sweat to make ourselves rich by worldly standards; yet, we miss the greatest treasure of all…a full and exciting walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
Where is your heart today…and where is your head regarding wealth? It has been said that the problem for many of us is not that we want more…just that we want more than somebody else. It is that mentality that has led us to our current economic crisis here in America…. and it is a mentality that can only change as we surrender our will and our desires to the one who gave it all…. so that He could acquire you and me.
Are you interested in determining your worldly wealth today? Then, make a list to answer this question….add up everything you have that money can’t buy and death can’t take away….and that will tell you the condition of your heart and the wealth that is yours.
Rich Beyond Worldly Measure,
WPQ
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