Does One Letter Make a Difference?

While my wife and I sat in front of my desktop computer this morning to listen to the broadcast of our church's morning worship service, I was struck by our pastor's message about how God's grace was set to be bestowed on us before the beginning of time. He spoke about the Word and how that was used by God to draw us unto him and out of this World....and in that moment, I saw there was one letter between the two words that would make ALL THE DIFFERENCE in our relationship with our Savior. In fact, the WORD says it best in I John 2:15-17 which reads;  

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." New Living Translation (bolding, my emphasis)

And there is the difference between the two works...the "l". When we let the WORD into us, we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior and we have the Holy Spirit living within us, to direct us as we seek to do what pleases God; however, when we let the WORLD dwell in our hearts and minds, we seek to do what we want and not what God wants...which tells all those who view our life and the way that we live that the LOVE OF THE FATHER DOES NOT DWELL WITHIN US! We need to let the WORD of God dwell deep within our heart, mind and soul so that there is no room for the world to come in. World in spells Disaster in our lives for God is not truly with us. WORD in spells peace, love and the desire to do what pleases God and gives our lives a sweet aroma of surrender to the Father's will.

I believe I can best illustrate this by sharing a little of my history regarding my service in the US Navy…and some interesting parallels that will help us understand this concept of the Word versus the World.

Now, I was stationed aboard an old tin can destroyer, USS Strong DD-758, a World War II relic, if ever there was one. Our ship was tethered to the pier in our home port of Charleston, SC when it wasn’t in route overseas for a  Mediterranean cruise or sailing about the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean. I learned early as a seaman in the deck force that the ship needed to be in the water to do the most good…to perform its duties and function as a member of the Sixth Fleet. I also learned that though it was good for the ship to be in the water, it was extremely BAD for the water to get into the ship. When that happens, the ship is on its way to becoming a fish hotel on the bottom of the ocean...no longer fit for service and its intended purpose. The ship had to stay afloat in the water or it was just a large chunk of metal that had little value…it could not fulfill its true mission as a naval vessel unless it was in the water; however, it made for a very bad situation if the water got into the ship.

And that my friend is true for you and me regarding the WORD and the World. We have to live in this world and function as a servant of God until He calls us home to and for our glorious reward. But living in this world DOES NOT GIVE US CAUSE to let the World live in us. When that happens, James tells us in the fourth chapter of his book, verse 4;   ^"You are not faithful to God. Don’t you know that to be a friend of the world is to hate God? So anyone who chooses to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy." NLTR

So the question is quite simple....how has the one letter "l" affected your standing with God, your Heavenly Father? If the world is in you with all its lust, greed, power and pride, then YOU ARE AN ENEMY of  GOD....and the WORD tells us how that battle will end...YOU LOSE!!! But, if the WORD is in you, as you seek to do the Father's will, then keep on keeping on by letting His Word dwell in your heart as you listen to and following the leadings of the Holy Spirit....and YOU WILL KNOW LOVE, JOY, PEACE AND FELLOWSHIP THAT WILL LAST FOR ETERNITY...at home with the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit in ONE....and it can all be yours if you pay attention to that one little letter...L!

Living in the WORD...Leaving the world behind,

WPQ

 

Poem for the day...

 

If you choose to love the world

Then Life's  battle you will lose;

For living in the Word of God

Is the life that you should chose.

 

For God wants for each of us

To know Jesus, His only Son;

To embrace Him as our Savior

And accept what He has done.

 

For on the cross, He shed His blood;

Not a drop did He withhold.

So those who would accept Him

Could live life, brave and bold.

 

So don't give in to worldly things;

For these shall pass away.

But let His Word indwell deep within

As you walk with Him each day!

 

 

WPQ © January 2021

The Secret to a Happy New Year

 The following is an excerpt from the book, OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS!

The Secret to a Happy New Year…

 

Just about everyone starts off the New Year by making a few, well-thought out New Year’s resolutions. In fact, I would venture to guess that most of us reason that if we will remain true to our vision of a better “you” and will commit ourselves to the fulfillment of our resolutions…we will enjoy a truly HAPPY New Year…..The sad fact of the matter is that RARELY EVER HAPPENS.

 

So, in order to insure that you and my other faithful reader enjoy a blissful and extremely HAPPY New Year, I have decided to share my secret with you; although in truth, it really belongs to the apostle Paul. He wrote in Philippians 4:11-12 the following, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and EVERY circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

 

And there it is, my friend….in a few simple sentences, the great apostle Paul tells us the secret to happiness….for life, health, wealth and everything else. We need to learn contentment, whether in good times or bad, whether happy or sad, in plenty or want or abundance or need…..

LEARN TO BE CONTENT AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY!

 

Now, I know that sounds almost too simplistic and as you stand there scratching your head, think on this….We learn contentment when we abandon comparison….It is the constant use of comparison that leads to discontentment. If we buy a new car that meets our needs, we have reason to be happy…. until we compare our ride to that of our boss or neighbor or anyone else who has a newer, sleeker model. The bloom of comparison leads to the seeds of discontent and there goes the joy and happiness that was once ours.

 

Time after time after time, when we compare what others have with what we don’t have, we tear down our foundation to happiness. We need to see what we have as sufficient for our needs…as God’s measured blessing to insure our happiness and to keep us focused on doing His will.

 

Whenever you trade your contentment for discontentment, you become myopic in your vision for the Lord’s work and in His will for your life. You become so self-centered in looking at what you don’t have that you are rarely thankful for what God has given….this is more than just seeing the glass as half-empty or half-full….it is a greater truth that speaks to the heart of who you are and who you want to be in Jesus Christ.

 

Contentment is a learned response to the actions of a loving God….you can choose to be happy with little or with much…with great wealth or abject poverty….with exceptional wellness or poor health….the list is inexhaustible ….but the choice is always yours ….and the correct choice will lead to contentment and happiness that is often inexplicable to those who view your life from outside the faith.

 

So, learn this invaluable lesson that Paul sought to teach each of us….in EVERY SITUATION, in EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE….don’t look around to see if others have more or less than you…learn to be content in your situation….then you will be able to live in the fullness of verse 13 in Philippians 4 that says, “I can do all things through Him that gives me strength.”

 

Choose today to be a person that lives with a flexible cup that is always ready to expand or contract  based on the Lord’s provisions…it is a mindset that will lead to contentment and one step closer to living a life that will honor your Heavenly Father….get started today; and oh, by the way, this is a secret that is okay to share with those you love….I know that’s what I intend to do.

 

Go On…..Make it a Happy New Year,

 

WPQ

 

 

Poem of the day....

 

At the start of a brand New Year,

There is so much stuff to do;

Plans to make; goals to set

If there's to be a better you?

 

But this year why not take a break

 From resolutions and such things...

Just set your heart on obedience

As you follow the King of Kings!

 

Don't run after earthly things;

Don't fret...don't scream...don't vent.

For your Father will provide all your needs...

If you will just learn to be content!

 

 

  WPQ © January 2021