In just a few short days, it will be the time that all children hate and moms eagerly await …the start of another school year. The time to begin or to resume the lifelong journey to acquire knowledge and understanding is once again close at hand …and that got me thinking about children and their place in our lives and the kingdom of God.
You see today, my wife and I will be taking our only child, our lovely daughter, off to college …and we will join that ever-expanding group of “empty-nesters”. I must say that we face this momentous occasion with conflicted emotions; however, we know that the time has come to push her ever so gently from the nest so that she might truly spread her wings and soar…and for that grace that God has given us, we are eternally thankful. We have been truly blessed with an intelligent and loving daughter that is a joy to her mother and I…and a bright and shining star in the firmament of her Heavenly Father. It is for our daughter and her 10 year birthday as a Christian that I am sharing this previous communication from Salt & Light; one that I believe instructs all who will heed its lesson and will diligently seek to know the one true God…..read on and be blessed!
In Matthew 18: 1-4, we read, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.”
Are you humble in your drive to be the greatest? Do you know what it means to have child-like faith in the Father and follow Jesus unconditionally? Are you headed for the kingdom of heaven? Can you explain your faith and your relationship with your heavenly Father as this young boy? I pray that you can!!!!!
The following was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to "explain God." I wonder if any of us could do as well if we were required to give our EXPLANATION OF GOD:
"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."
"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off."
"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."
"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church."
"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him; but he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."
"His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."
"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."
"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!
Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong….and besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."
"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."
"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.
And that's why I believe in God."
I trust that today you won’t focus on just what God can do for you, but rather what YOU CAN DO FOR GOD…..AS A CHILD OF THE KING!
Blessed and believing,
WPQ
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Are you a 007 Christian?
I don’t know about you, but I am a diehard James Bond fan. In fact, I practically grew up watching and re-watching the James Bond films… and to this day, I will gladly plunk down in front of the old boob tube and catch a Bond thriller or weekend extravaganza of Bond classics.
I guess the mystery and excitement of James dashing around the world as a servant in Her Majesty’s Secret Service was the juice that would quench the thirst of young mind’s wanderlust and allow me to step out of the problems and tribulations of a young adolescent, even if just for a few hours. I seemed to always marvel that James was so adept at hiding his true identity and pretending to be so many different people with such diverse and intriguing backgrounds.
The same can be said for so many Christians in this day and age….they profess to follow Jesus as they pass down dark halls and gather in church vestibules on Sundays; but, on Mondays, they move through the corporate world incognito ….stripped of anything that may give away their secret identity ….a son or daughter of the Most High ….a member of the family of God.
But they are not the first to travel such a path of deception as they conceal their Christian identity; just look in the Scriptures in John 12:42-43: “Nevertheless many, even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
Even in the day of Jesus, when many had seen with their own eyes the miracles he performed, they could not be persuaded to believe in Jesus; however, there were many that did believe, but rather than confess Him as Lord and Savior, they kept their faith in Him a secret….they became a silent follower with a secret identity for fear of the cost.
Today, unfortunately, there are too many Christians living as 007…an agent for Jesus with a secret identity. They will profess Him to their close circle of fellow believers but they are not willing to publicly announce their allegiance and loyalty to the King of Kings for fear of the cost….the cost of ridicule, weak-mindedness or sarcasm…the cost of power or prestige or put downs….the cost of glory or praise from others that see Christ as a crutch and not as a conqueror.
How are you living in this world today…are you out in the open as a true believer that values the opinion of God over the fleeting fancies of the “in” crowd….or are you living as a “secret agent’ that is pretending to be what the world values rather than living the values taught to us by the Savior.
As always, THE CHOICE IS YOURS ….AND YOURS ALONE!!!! God will not hold your feet to the fire until you confess Him as Lord and Savior in your life; but, He is watching …and often withholding His abundant blessings until we are stripped of our secret identity and fully functioning as a child of the King.
So go ahead and drop the pretense that you can be an 007 Christian…. Step out in faith to tell others that Jesus is INDEED the one you adore and the one to whom you answer ….and in that matter, YOU WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!!
Stepping out of the Shadows….Living in His Glorious Light,
WPQ
I guess the mystery and excitement of James dashing around the world as a servant in Her Majesty’s Secret Service was the juice that would quench the thirst of young mind’s wanderlust and allow me to step out of the problems and tribulations of a young adolescent, even if just for a few hours. I seemed to always marvel that James was so adept at hiding his true identity and pretending to be so many different people with such diverse and intriguing backgrounds.
The same can be said for so many Christians in this day and age….they profess to follow Jesus as they pass down dark halls and gather in church vestibules on Sundays; but, on Mondays, they move through the corporate world incognito ….stripped of anything that may give away their secret identity ….a son or daughter of the Most High ….a member of the family of God.
But they are not the first to travel such a path of deception as they conceal their Christian identity; just look in the Scriptures in John 12:42-43: “Nevertheless many, even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
Even in the day of Jesus, when many had seen with their own eyes the miracles he performed, they could not be persuaded to believe in Jesus; however, there were many that did believe, but rather than confess Him as Lord and Savior, they kept their faith in Him a secret….they became a silent follower with a secret identity for fear of the cost.
Today, unfortunately, there are too many Christians living as 007…an agent for Jesus with a secret identity. They will profess Him to their close circle of fellow believers but they are not willing to publicly announce their allegiance and loyalty to the King of Kings for fear of the cost….the cost of ridicule, weak-mindedness or sarcasm…the cost of power or prestige or put downs….the cost of glory or praise from others that see Christ as a crutch and not as a conqueror.
How are you living in this world today…are you out in the open as a true believer that values the opinion of God over the fleeting fancies of the “in” crowd….or are you living as a “secret agent’ that is pretending to be what the world values rather than living the values taught to us by the Savior.
As always, THE CHOICE IS YOURS ….AND YOURS ALONE!!!! God will not hold your feet to the fire until you confess Him as Lord and Savior in your life; but, He is watching …and often withholding His abundant blessings until we are stripped of our secret identity and fully functioning as a child of the King.
So go ahead and drop the pretense that you can be an 007 Christian…. Step out in faith to tell others that Jesus is INDEED the one you adore and the one to whom you answer ….and in that matter, YOU WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!!
Stepping out of the Shadows….Living in His Glorious Light,
WPQ
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
To Be Like Christ....Practice!
There’s an old saying that “Practice makes perfect”, but as a former PGA golf professional, I’ve learned that is not exactly true. What my students have taught me through my many years of instruction is that PRACTICE, however, DOES MAKES PERMANENT!
In teaching the great game of golf, I have often used imitation to instill in my students the correct way to swing the club. They watch me …then, they try to imitate what they have seen me do. When their imitation is right, I encourage them to practice, Practice, PRACTICE…to make it PERMANENT!
Paul sought to encourage the Christians at Philipi to practice humility…to model themselves after Christ. He wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus….Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, BUT MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man….HE HUMBLED HIMSELF....and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:3-8
Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe, became a servant who humbled himself to reach each of us and to teach each of us that we should become like him….empty of ourselves, in order that we might serve. We are to imitate Christ!
We are to become servants of the Most High God and a servant to every one that we encounter. What would happen in our world today if we all began to look out for the welfare of others first; even before our own needs or wants were met? How would the world view those of us that call ourselves Christians if we were not motivated by self ambition or vain conceit…but rather, we truly modeled ourselves after our Savior?
Why not make a promise today to practice humility. First step, humble yourself before the Lord; then, deny yourself and follow Christ’s example to meet the needs of others. Your practice may not be perfect…but it will take you one step closer to making it PERMANENT…..and that’s what moves the heart of God…. HUMILITY!!!
WALKING HUMBLY,
WPQ
In teaching the great game of golf, I have often used imitation to instill in my students the correct way to swing the club. They watch me …then, they try to imitate what they have seen me do. When their imitation is right, I encourage them to practice, Practice, PRACTICE…to make it PERMANENT!
Paul sought to encourage the Christians at Philipi to practice humility…to model themselves after Christ. He wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus….Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, BUT MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man….HE HUMBLED HIMSELF....and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:3-8
Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe, became a servant who humbled himself to reach each of us and to teach each of us that we should become like him….empty of ourselves, in order that we might serve. We are to imitate Christ!
We are to become servants of the Most High God and a servant to every one that we encounter. What would happen in our world today if we all began to look out for the welfare of others first; even before our own needs or wants were met? How would the world view those of us that call ourselves Christians if we were not motivated by self ambition or vain conceit…but rather, we truly modeled ourselves after our Savior?
Why not make a promise today to practice humility. First step, humble yourself before the Lord; then, deny yourself and follow Christ’s example to meet the needs of others. Your practice may not be perfect…but it will take you one step closer to making it PERMANENT…..and that’s what moves the heart of God…. HUMILITY!!!
WALKING HUMBLY,
WPQ
Monday, July 26, 2010
Focused on His Own
Have you ever caught yourself looking at something so beautiful…so inspiring... so awesome that in a mater of seconds you knew you were staring, yet you could not contain yourself….like the first moment you saw your bride as she walked down the aisle on your wedding day or the ten fingers, ten toes and the beautiful face of your first child. What about the smile on your son or daughter’s face as they received their diploma or that look on your husband’s handsome face as you both gazed at that spectacular sunset on your 20th anniversary….each and every moment you stared intently at the focus of your affection, hoping to capture that vision in your mind’s eye for all eternity.
Our Heavenly Father looks at each of us, His children, with that same look of love and intense focus. Scripture tells us in I Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ear is attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Yes, God is watching….intently, with purpose and with love.
He is looking not only at us, but after us….He is not waiting to catch us doing something wrong; rather, He is watching to see us doing His will and accomplishing His “good.” God’s vision is NEVER obstructed or obscure nor does He sleep nor slumber. His gaze is focused on His own…those called by His name, set apart to be humble and holy. He is writing your life’s story, moment by moment, keeping track of your good works and your short comings….for all these things will be judged at the Bema seat.
But, thanks be to God that He forgives our mistakes and continually smiles upon us. His loving eyes are intently focused on us and His ear is turned toward us so that He might hear the prayers of His people….and lovingly respond.
Even in the midst of Job’s great journey of faith, he was reminded by his friend, Elihu, in Job 36:7, “He does NOT take his eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.” Job had reason to doubt, to cast aside his faith, to renounce his God…but he knew that God’s eyes were upon him and he would not break the continual gaze of the Most High by forsaking him. He remained a righteous man and God’s favor returned to him twice his losses.
Where are you today in your righteous walk with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ? Have you turned the focus of God’s eyes away …is His face set against you as you seek the foolish riches of a sinful and sick world? Have you abandoned the joy of your first love and lost His loving gaze….then, be restored by seeking His righteousness!
Commit today to seek the Lord and all His righteousness…let His focus be your focus! See others as God sees them…love unconditionally and without repayment….practice random acts of kindness ….give until it hurts, either your pride or your pocketbook.
But most of all, remember…..God loves you with an EVERLASTING LOVE ….and He is focused on you.
In the gaze of my Father,
WPQ
Our Heavenly Father looks at each of us, His children, with that same look of love and intense focus. Scripture tells us in I Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ear is attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Yes, God is watching….intently, with purpose and with love.
He is looking not only at us, but after us….He is not waiting to catch us doing something wrong; rather, He is watching to see us doing His will and accomplishing His “good.” God’s vision is NEVER obstructed or obscure nor does He sleep nor slumber. His gaze is focused on His own…those called by His name, set apart to be humble and holy. He is writing your life’s story, moment by moment, keeping track of your good works and your short comings….for all these things will be judged at the Bema seat.
But, thanks be to God that He forgives our mistakes and continually smiles upon us. His loving eyes are intently focused on us and His ear is turned toward us so that He might hear the prayers of His people….and lovingly respond.
Even in the midst of Job’s great journey of faith, he was reminded by his friend, Elihu, in Job 36:7, “He does NOT take his eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.” Job had reason to doubt, to cast aside his faith, to renounce his God…but he knew that God’s eyes were upon him and he would not break the continual gaze of the Most High by forsaking him. He remained a righteous man and God’s favor returned to him twice his losses.
Where are you today in your righteous walk with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ? Have you turned the focus of God’s eyes away …is His face set against you as you seek the foolish riches of a sinful and sick world? Have you abandoned the joy of your first love and lost His loving gaze….then, be restored by seeking His righteousness!
Commit today to seek the Lord and all His righteousness…let His focus be your focus! See others as God sees them…love unconditionally and without repayment….practice random acts of kindness ….give until it hurts, either your pride or your pocketbook.
But most of all, remember…..God loves you with an EVERLASTING LOVE ….and He is focused on you.
In the gaze of my Father,
WPQ
Sunday, June 20, 2010
ESSENCE OF MY DAD
Well, it's that time again; the fifth leading card sales day of the year....FATHER'S DAY! A day set aside to honor that guy that takes out the trash, looks under the bed to chase away the monsters and tells the best bedtime stories ever. He works hard to support his family and hardly ever complains....and when no one else will give you a lift, he's always there to pick you up or lend a shoulder to cry on...to hoist you high in the air in victory or take you for a "consolation" ice cream to ease the pain of defeat. He's your DAD....and if you were blessed as I was, this Sunday make sure that you let your Dad know how much you love, honor and respect him.
In high school and my first year in college, I had a morning paper route that involved delivering over 600 daily papers to the door of each of my customers. Every morning for over three years, my dad got up with me and helped me with my route. He never took a penny for it...and we used his car and gas; and during two summers that I was on tour with the Campus Americans, he hired a kid from the neighborhood to help him carry the route in my absence....that was the essence of my DAD. Tireless, selfless, humble....and always willing to do or go or help in any way that made a difference for the good of all. I know that not everyone had or has a Dad like mine, and even though he has been home in heaven for the past 26 years, there is not a day that I don't miss him and thank God for the influence he had on shaping me into the father I am today. I know that I have not been all that I could have been, but I know that my Dad would be proud of the man he raised me to be. I was fortunate that in 1977, I took the time to write a special poem for my Dad that I framed and gave to him for Father's Day that expressed my love and admiration for him. It was only 6 years later that he passed away. I will never forget that night at the funeral home when I tucked a copy of this poem in his breast pocket and sent him home to our Heavenly Father. I know he's been keeping tabs on me since then and I hope and pray that every now and then, he turns to one of the angels and says, "Did ya see that...THAT'S MY BOY ...I'M SO PROUD OF HIM!!!!"
I hope and pray that this weekend you'll take the time to tell your DAD just how much he means to you .....because there are no guarantees for tomorrow. In fact, here's the poem I wrote for my Dad....enjoy; and let it get the "ole grey matter" bubbling with the things that you need to say to your DAD...you'll both be glad you did!
B&B.
WPQ
ESSENCE OF MY DAD
Often, I have stopped
to think of times both good and bad;
And in each fleeting memory,
I reverence my Dad.
He stood both tall and straight, colossal in my mind.
He spoke in tones both harsh and firm,
Yet so gentle and so kind.
An unquenchable desire for life; a zest for its living;
He fought and scraped to provide for me
Through his unselfish giving.
A guiding hand he led my steps down paths I dared not tread,
A steady mind, a sturdy back were the
Essence of my Dad.
A willful man, his beliefs ran deep; he taught me to be good;
Yet, when times got rough or I failed my Dad,
He always understood.
So surely on the day he passes, I truly will be sad,
And never will I forget the man,
I loved and called...
My Dad
W. Patrick Queen @ 1977
In high school and my first year in college, I had a morning paper route that involved delivering over 600 daily papers to the door of each of my customers. Every morning for over three years, my dad got up with me and helped me with my route. He never took a penny for it...and we used his car and gas; and during two summers that I was on tour with the Campus Americans, he hired a kid from the neighborhood to help him carry the route in my absence....that was the essence of my DAD. Tireless, selfless, humble....and always willing to do or go or help in any way that made a difference for the good of all. I know that not everyone had or has a Dad like mine, and even though he has been home in heaven for the past 26 years, there is not a day that I don't miss him and thank God for the influence he had on shaping me into the father I am today. I know that I have not been all that I could have been, but I know that my Dad would be proud of the man he raised me to be. I was fortunate that in 1977, I took the time to write a special poem for my Dad that I framed and gave to him for Father's Day that expressed my love and admiration for him. It was only 6 years later that he passed away. I will never forget that night at the funeral home when I tucked a copy of this poem in his breast pocket and sent him home to our Heavenly Father. I know he's been keeping tabs on me since then and I hope and pray that every now and then, he turns to one of the angels and says, "Did ya see that...THAT'S MY BOY ...I'M SO PROUD OF HIM!!!!"
I hope and pray that this weekend you'll take the time to tell your DAD just how much he means to you .....because there are no guarantees for tomorrow. In fact, here's the poem I wrote for my Dad....enjoy; and let it get the "ole grey matter" bubbling with the things that you need to say to your DAD...you'll both be glad you did!
B&B.
WPQ
ESSENCE OF MY DAD
Often, I have stopped
to think of times both good and bad;
And in each fleeting memory,
I reverence my Dad.
He stood both tall and straight, colossal in my mind.
He spoke in tones both harsh and firm,
Yet so gentle and so kind.
An unquenchable desire for life; a zest for its living;
He fought and scraped to provide for me
Through his unselfish giving.
A guiding hand he led my steps down paths I dared not tread,
A steady mind, a sturdy back were the
Essence of my Dad.
A willful man, his beliefs ran deep; he taught me to be good;
Yet, when times got rough or I failed my Dad,
He always understood.
So surely on the day he passes, I truly will be sad,
And never will I forget the man,
I loved and called...
My Dad
W. Patrick Queen @ 1977
Monday, June 14, 2010
What’s in Your Wallet- 2?
In my last writing, I posed the question listed above and asked what it would mean to each of us to have the first picture in our wallet portfolio be a snapshot of Jesus?
Today, I would like to continue that thought and ask the following….How would we spend our money, if every time we opened our wallet, the first thing we saw was the picture of our Savior?????
Think on this scenario….you’re standing at the counter of your favorite store with loads of “goodies” piled high at the checkout register and you open your wallet to take out your cash or another credit card and you see the picture of Jesus…how do you proceed?
Scripture helps us in this situation as we read in Matthew 6:19-21, 24, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For no one can serve two masters, for he either will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Now God is not in the business of “ raining on our parade” but He has laid out certain guidelines that contribute to our overall health and well-being …and one of those is to live simply, so we can simply live and fulfill the plans that He has laid before us.
If every tine we reached for our credit cards, we had to go pass the picture of Jesus in our wallets, we might take the moment to ask ourselves, “Is this something I really need …Would Jesus be pleased with my purchase…in the advancement of God’s agenda on earth, will this be beneficial to me, to others and most importantly, will it advance the kingdom of God?”
Of course, this seems like a lot to go through just to purchase a new pair of shoes or a better riding lawn mower…and surely God doesn’t begrudge our fulfillment of our needs and our wants; but, the questions still remains….are we seeking to serve God or worshipping at the alter of WalMart with our buy now, pay later mentality.
Each of us needs to take stock of our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with money and the things it can buy….only an honest assessment of our willingness to be obedient and to follow the commands of our Heavenly Father will allow us to live with less as we seek to serve the Lord of heaven and earth …and to lay up for ourselves, treasures in heaven.
So I offer this challenge for the next several months…take a look at your check register or your credit card statement and see where you are spending the resources that God has freely given you….then, adjust accordingly! You will be surprised as you seek to obey the Father and serve Him in all things how He will open the floodgates of heaven with His supernatural outpouring of blessings.
Then you too will exclaim as I do each and every day…I am
BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE,
WPQ
Today, I would like to continue that thought and ask the following….How would we spend our money, if every time we opened our wallet, the first thing we saw was the picture of our Savior?????
Think on this scenario….you’re standing at the counter of your favorite store with loads of “goodies” piled high at the checkout register and you open your wallet to take out your cash or another credit card and you see the picture of Jesus…how do you proceed?
Scripture helps us in this situation as we read in Matthew 6:19-21, 24, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For no one can serve two masters, for he either will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Now God is not in the business of “ raining on our parade” but He has laid out certain guidelines that contribute to our overall health and well-being …and one of those is to live simply, so we can simply live and fulfill the plans that He has laid before us.
If every tine we reached for our credit cards, we had to go pass the picture of Jesus in our wallets, we might take the moment to ask ourselves, “Is this something I really need …Would Jesus be pleased with my purchase…in the advancement of God’s agenda on earth, will this be beneficial to me, to others and most importantly, will it advance the kingdom of God?”
Of course, this seems like a lot to go through just to purchase a new pair of shoes or a better riding lawn mower…and surely God doesn’t begrudge our fulfillment of our needs and our wants; but, the questions still remains….are we seeking to serve God or worshipping at the alter of WalMart with our buy now, pay later mentality.
Each of us needs to take stock of our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with money and the things it can buy….only an honest assessment of our willingness to be obedient and to follow the commands of our Heavenly Father will allow us to live with less as we seek to serve the Lord of heaven and earth …and to lay up for ourselves, treasures in heaven.
So I offer this challenge for the next several months…take a look at your check register or your credit card statement and see where you are spending the resources that God has freely given you….then, adjust accordingly! You will be surprised as you seek to obey the Father and serve Him in all things how He will open the floodgates of heaven with His supernatural outpouring of blessings.
Then you too will exclaim as I do each and every day…I am
BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE,
WPQ
Thursday, June 10, 2010
What’s in Your Wallet?
I don’t know if you’re anything like me when it comes to opening your wallet…if so, then a plastic, cascading waterfall of family snapshots comes falling out… and there for all the world to see are those that you love most in this world…YOUR FAMILY!
Now, I know for all the high techies out there, you proudly display your family album on Facebook or Twitter or whatever else is the “web du’jour”…but for just a moment, I want each of us to stop and take a closer look at that family photo album and see if we have the most important picture in the most important place …a picture of Jesus.
For many of you that might seem a little absurd; I mean, no one really knows what Jesus looks like and so we have no actual picture of our Lord…but what if we could get a picture on a prayer card, or a bookmark, or a small photo-shopped color-rendition…. why should we carry it in our wallet?
Simply put …because we are part of the family of God and Jesus is the first-born.
What a difference it would make if every time we opened our wallet to show a picture of our daughter in her leotard or our son in his football uniform, we saw Jesus. How proud we could be as we opened our wallet to show our favorite picture of our granddaughter or our grandson, if the first picture that fell from that waterfall was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Scripture says it best in Ephesians 4: 4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Yes, we are all related family members by the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son…. for when we accept His free gift, we are grafted into the family tree… and if your like me, I like to show-off the people to whom I am related.
Besides, just to take a moment and look into the face of Jesus can bring sweet relief from the cares of this topsy-turvy world…. Just to meditate on His precepts can bring clarity out of calamity and will calm the troubled soul…Just to know that a picture of our blessed brother is in the first place in our wallet can keep in Him in first place in our hearts and minds.
And then there’s the added bonus of others who see our photos for the first time and ask, “Who in the world is that? And we say, “Why that’s my brother Jesus! He died to set me free so that I might spend eternity with Him. Let me tell you more about my family.”
And it all can start with just that one simple question….What’s in Your Wallet?
Sharing and Caring …Calling Others to Him,
WPQ
Now, I know for all the high techies out there, you proudly display your family album on Facebook or Twitter or whatever else is the “web du’jour”…but for just a moment, I want each of us to stop and take a closer look at that family photo album and see if we have the most important picture in the most important place …a picture of Jesus.
For many of you that might seem a little absurd; I mean, no one really knows what Jesus looks like and so we have no actual picture of our Lord…but what if we could get a picture on a prayer card, or a bookmark, or a small photo-shopped color-rendition…. why should we carry it in our wallet?
Simply put …because we are part of the family of God and Jesus is the first-born.
What a difference it would make if every time we opened our wallet to show a picture of our daughter in her leotard or our son in his football uniform, we saw Jesus. How proud we could be as we opened our wallet to show our favorite picture of our granddaughter or our grandson, if the first picture that fell from that waterfall was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Scripture says it best in Ephesians 4: 4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Yes, we are all related family members by the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son…. for when we accept His free gift, we are grafted into the family tree… and if your like me, I like to show-off the people to whom I am related.
Besides, just to take a moment and look into the face of Jesus can bring sweet relief from the cares of this topsy-turvy world…. Just to meditate on His precepts can bring clarity out of calamity and will calm the troubled soul…Just to know that a picture of our blessed brother is in the first place in our wallet can keep in Him in first place in our hearts and minds.
And then there’s the added bonus of others who see our photos for the first time and ask, “Who in the world is that? And we say, “Why that’s my brother Jesus! He died to set me free so that I might spend eternity with Him. Let me tell you more about my family.”
And it all can start with just that one simple question….What’s in Your Wallet?
Sharing and Caring …Calling Others to Him,
WPQ
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