To live confidently in a chaotic world would be impossible if not for the gracious nature of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It would prove too great a task for each of us to endure the slings and arrows of our adversary, the Devil, if not for the compassion of God.
Yes, we can live confidently in this chaotic world because GOD IS COMPASSIONATE!
In Psalms 116:5 we read, “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” Or, we would find the following in Romans 5:8 that reads, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Even in the book of Lamentations (which signifies “to cry out with a loud voice”) in the 3rd chapter we read these words: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
But what does all that really mean and how does that help us live confidently in this day and age?
Simply put, we can find great comfort and courage for whatever lies ahead of us because of God’s promises to us….
He has promised that he will not allow us to be burdened with more than we can bear.
He has promised that he is with us and that NOTHING can EVER separated us from him and the power of his everlasting love.
He has promised that nothing can ever come against that we can not cast off through his power and his love.
He has promised that he has gone to prepare a place for us and that one day soon he is coming back for us.
He has promised that he that is in us is FAR GREATER than he that is in the world.
He has promised that he is a compassionate heavenly Father who will never leave us or forsake us….
And most of all, He has promised us Himself….through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Yes, our God is a God of Compassion and he will never let the things of this chaotic world overwhelm us if we only trust and obey. But,in order for us to live confidently, we must learn to see the tapestry of our lives as a completed and magnificent picture and not as a mere collection of random brushstrokes. God is the master artist and He alone sees the mural of your life…complete and resplendent with both the good and happy times...as well as those times of turmoil and tribulation….Trust the God of compassion to complete the good and perfect work that He has begun in you and this world will seem to be a lot less chaotic….one day at a time!
Trusting the Artist of Eternity…….A Masterpiece in the Making,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
When life’s storm clouds gather
And you see the threat of coming rain;
Just place you hope in Jesus
And He’ll take away your pain.
He never will forsake you;
He’s with you each step of the way…
To a bright and glorious morning
For His compassions are new each day.
WPQ@2001
________________________________
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Living Confidently in a Chaotic World
As we begin a new week, I pause to ask this question….What does it take to live CONFIDENTLY in a CHAOTIC WORLD.
As I mentioned in my last writing, I am now comfortably re-established at home with my list of “honey-do’s” well within reach of completion; therefore, I would like to embark on a 5-part series that I hope will help us answer the question I posed above.
If you are like so many of the people in this world, it is hard some days to put your feet on the floor to get out of bed…I mean, why bother with the state of world affairs. And unfortunately, this same attitude seems to be held by many of us who call ourselves Christians.
For the next few days, I want us to search the Scriptures and hear from our Heavenly Father as to how we can live confidently in these chaotic days.
First and foremost, we can live confidently for GOD IS IN CONTROL.
In Genesis 1:1-3a, 4a, 6a, we read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and darkness was over the surface of the deep and Spirit of God was hovering above the waters. AND GOD SAID, Let there be light……AND GOD SAID, let there be an expanse….AND GOD SAID, Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky….”
God was in CONTROL and He spoke EVERYTHING into existence….GOD SAID IT …and IT WAS SO!!!!!!!!
The entirety of God’s Word tells us in no uncertain terms that God is in control. It speaks with great authority concerning God’s omniscience and his omnipresence and it tells us time and time again that nothing in this world happens without the Father’s knowledge….that fact alone should bring us solace in times of distress.
However, though God is in control, He must also be IN CHARGE if He is to produce a calm spirit when we stand on the precipice of being swallowed up in the chaos of a sinful world. Since the beginning of time our great, awesome and all-powerful God has never forced His will on us; rather He has waited for us to invite him into our lives and he has patiently courted us to give him our hearts.
Jesus said it best in Luke 9:23, “Then he said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Do you want to know that the creator of the universe is in control and that NOTHING that happens in your life is beyond His control…then, YOU MUST SURRENDER YOUR WILL TO HIM….and YOU MUST SEEK TO MAKE HIS WILL, YOURS!!!
It’s really just that simple…..Let God be in control because He is in charge in your life.
Do it today and your will experience a peace you have never known….
FOR WHEN GOD IS FOR US…WHO CAN POSSIBLY STAND AGAINST US?
Surrendering to Him…One Moment at a Time,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
If the trials of life should weigh you down
And your burdens seem too great to bear.
Just carry them to your Father’s throne
And prayerfully leave them there.
For God is always on your side,
In Him, you will find rest.
When you seek to do the Father’s will…
By Him, you will be blest.
Nov. 2010
As I mentioned in my last writing, I am now comfortably re-established at home with my list of “honey-do’s” well within reach of completion; therefore, I would like to embark on a 5-part series that I hope will help us answer the question I posed above.
If you are like so many of the people in this world, it is hard some days to put your feet on the floor to get out of bed…I mean, why bother with the state of world affairs. And unfortunately, this same attitude seems to be held by many of us who call ourselves Christians.
For the next few days, I want us to search the Scriptures and hear from our Heavenly Father as to how we can live confidently in these chaotic days.
First and foremost, we can live confidently for GOD IS IN CONTROL.
In Genesis 1:1-3a, 4a, 6a, we read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and darkness was over the surface of the deep and Spirit of God was hovering above the waters. AND GOD SAID, Let there be light……AND GOD SAID, let there be an expanse….AND GOD SAID, Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky….”
God was in CONTROL and He spoke EVERYTHING into existence….GOD SAID IT …and IT WAS SO!!!!!!!!
The entirety of God’s Word tells us in no uncertain terms that God is in control. It speaks with great authority concerning God’s omniscience and his omnipresence and it tells us time and time again that nothing in this world happens without the Father’s knowledge….that fact alone should bring us solace in times of distress.
However, though God is in control, He must also be IN CHARGE if He is to produce a calm spirit when we stand on the precipice of being swallowed up in the chaos of a sinful world. Since the beginning of time our great, awesome and all-powerful God has never forced His will on us; rather He has waited for us to invite him into our lives and he has patiently courted us to give him our hearts.
Jesus said it best in Luke 9:23, “Then he said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Do you want to know that the creator of the universe is in control and that NOTHING that happens in your life is beyond His control…then, YOU MUST SURRENDER YOUR WILL TO HIM….and YOU MUST SEEK TO MAKE HIS WILL, YOURS!!!
It’s really just that simple…..Let God be in control because He is in charge in your life.
Do it today and your will experience a peace you have never known….
FOR WHEN GOD IS FOR US…WHO CAN POSSIBLY STAND AGAINST US?
Surrendering to Him…One Moment at a Time,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
If the trials of life should weigh you down
And your burdens seem too great to bear.
Just carry them to your Father’s throne
And prayerfully leave them there.
For God is always on your side,
In Him, you will find rest.
When you seek to do the Father’s will…
By Him, you will be blest.
Nov. 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
What Scares You?
In just a few short days, my seasonal job as the lead assistant golf professional at the Cullasaja Club in Highlands, NC will come to an end and I will be returning home ….and to unemployment.
Now, part of me wants to rejoice since I will get to see my beautiful wife each day and sleep in my own bed each night; however, part of me is remorseful as I leave new friends and a caring membership behind…and did I mention, UNEMPLOYMENT!!!!!
During the entire year of 2009, I was unemployed and I got to spend time taking care of my family, writing my blog and other special pieces and preparing to teach my Sunday School class each week. It was indeed a blessing that I did not take for granted. But, now that I have been gainfully employed for the past seven months and receiving a steady, albeit, small paycheck, I will admit to being a little “frightened” with the possibilities that lie ahead.
Maybe, you find yourself in a similar predicament and might admit to the same feelings that have been aroused in me. So, in the spirit of this Halloween season, I am drawn to ask this simple question…..WHAT SCARES YOU?
Now, I don’t mean ghosts and goblins and ghouls…rather, what is happening in this world and in your world that has you feeling inadequate and possibly frightened with what lies ahead in the days to come?
Is it unemployment….stock market crash…terrorists….war….famine….nuclear weapons that fall into the hands of Islamic extremists……divorce….broken family ties…..death and the life after…..I could go on and on; but, you get my point.
There is much that can upset us and frighten us …..Much that can make us want to lock ourselves behind strong doors and wait for the Lord’s return; but Scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Next week, upon my return to the ranks of the unemployed, I will be writing a series of devotions based on the best-selling book of Dr. David Jeremiah entitled, “How to Live Confidently in a Chaotic World.” In this 5 part series, we will look at the things in life that might cause us consternation and then see what God’s word has to say regarding our ability to move out and into this world as confident Christians….I hope you will join me as we begin to refute those things that would scare us and replace that fear with power that comes from knowing the God of the Universe….
Looking confidently forward …forgetting the forgiven past,
WPQ
Now, part of me wants to rejoice since I will get to see my beautiful wife each day and sleep in my own bed each night; however, part of me is remorseful as I leave new friends and a caring membership behind…and did I mention, UNEMPLOYMENT!!!!!
During the entire year of 2009, I was unemployed and I got to spend time taking care of my family, writing my blog and other special pieces and preparing to teach my Sunday School class each week. It was indeed a blessing that I did not take for granted. But, now that I have been gainfully employed for the past seven months and receiving a steady, albeit, small paycheck, I will admit to being a little “frightened” with the possibilities that lie ahead.
Maybe, you find yourself in a similar predicament and might admit to the same feelings that have been aroused in me. So, in the spirit of this Halloween season, I am drawn to ask this simple question…..WHAT SCARES YOU?
Now, I don’t mean ghosts and goblins and ghouls…rather, what is happening in this world and in your world that has you feeling inadequate and possibly frightened with what lies ahead in the days to come?
Is it unemployment….stock market crash…terrorists….war….famine….nuclear weapons that fall into the hands of Islamic extremists……divorce….broken family ties…..death and the life after…..I could go on and on; but, you get my point.
There is much that can upset us and frighten us …..Much that can make us want to lock ourselves behind strong doors and wait for the Lord’s return; but Scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Next week, upon my return to the ranks of the unemployed, I will be writing a series of devotions based on the best-selling book of Dr. David Jeremiah entitled, “How to Live Confidently in a Chaotic World.” In this 5 part series, we will look at the things in life that might cause us consternation and then see what God’s word has to say regarding our ability to move out and into this world as confident Christians….I hope you will join me as we begin to refute those things that would scare us and replace that fear with power that comes from knowing the God of the Universe….
Looking confidently forward …forgetting the forgiven past,
WPQ
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A Call to Action
I had the day off yesterday, so I decided to treat myself to a big breakfast at my favorite morning place in downtown Greenville. After a very filling and satisfying meal, I cranked up my car and made my way into morning traffic to begin my errands. I had driven only a few feet out of the parking lot when my attention was diverted to a small white van, unloading boxes of fruit at the homeless shelter next door to the Ham House.
In front of me, in tattered and worn clothing, was a man of about 40. His was so tiny in stature, so frail and thin that when he turned sideways, he seemed to disappear. I found that in that next moment, my thoughts turned to pity as I wondered what might have led to his unfortunate circumstances ….I quickly uttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving that but for the grace of God that could have been me; then, the light changed and I moved along with the flow of traffic as I began my busy day.
But all morning long, the thought keep coming back…. was my pity enough?
You see in many instances in the Scriptures, the Bible tells us that our Lord felt pity…..He felt pity in Matthew 9:36,“And what pity He felt for the crowds that came because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.” (The Living Bible)
Jesus felt pity for the people in Mark 8:2, “One day as another great crowd gathered, the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples together and said, “I pity these people for they have been here three days and have nothing left to eat.” (TLB)….or in Luke 7:12-13, “As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (English Standard Version)
In each of these situations, our Lord felt pity….But, oh my friend, HE FELT SO MUCH MORE!!!!
If he had only felt pity or sympathy for these people, he would have checked his emotions and just moved on…. like I did yesterday…..but our Lord felt so much more and with His growing feelings of sympathy and empathy, His compassion became action.
Yes, Jesus took pity….but more than that, JESUS TOOK ACTION!!!!!!
To the multitude of the lost and aimless, he led them from despair to eternal hope and became our Shepherd….To the hungry, he fed them and became our Bread of Life….to the broken-hearted and forlorn, he became their comfort and our Resurrection to Life Eternal.
And now, where does that leave you and me and our feelings of pity? Are we to feel pity, sympathy and compassion for those that Christ sets in our path…or are we just to observe that pain and sufferings, thank God that it is not us and pass by on the other side ….OF COURSE NOT!!!!
We are called to serve …called to mirror our Savior and to give our feelings….FEET and HANDS and a VOICE that proclaims the love of Jesus in and through our ACTIONS.
So, resolve with me today that you will not fall victim to Satan’s ploy ….when you encounter those that need a helping hand …don’t just pity their plight and leave them for someone else to show them compassion….simply ask, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
JESUS WOULD TAKE ACTION TO ALLEVIATE…..AND SHOW TRUE COMPASSION FOR THOSE WITHOUT A SHEPHERD…..
Striving to Minister for Jesus,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
We should follow Christ’s example
With everyone we meet…
We should seek to show compassion
For we are His hands and feet.
For Christ would have us working
To care for those distraught;
To give ourselves unselfishly
Is what our Savior taught.
WPQ@ October 2010
In front of me, in tattered and worn clothing, was a man of about 40. His was so tiny in stature, so frail and thin that when he turned sideways, he seemed to disappear. I found that in that next moment, my thoughts turned to pity as I wondered what might have led to his unfortunate circumstances ….I quickly uttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving that but for the grace of God that could have been me; then, the light changed and I moved along with the flow of traffic as I began my busy day.
But all morning long, the thought keep coming back…. was my pity enough?
You see in many instances in the Scriptures, the Bible tells us that our Lord felt pity…..He felt pity in Matthew 9:36,“And what pity He felt for the crowds that came because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.” (The Living Bible)
Jesus felt pity for the people in Mark 8:2, “One day as another great crowd gathered, the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples together and said, “I pity these people for they have been here three days and have nothing left to eat.” (TLB)….or in Luke 7:12-13, “As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (English Standard Version)
In each of these situations, our Lord felt pity….But, oh my friend, HE FELT SO MUCH MORE!!!!
If he had only felt pity or sympathy for these people, he would have checked his emotions and just moved on…. like I did yesterday…..but our Lord felt so much more and with His growing feelings of sympathy and empathy, His compassion became action.
Yes, Jesus took pity….but more than that, JESUS TOOK ACTION!!!!!!
To the multitude of the lost and aimless, he led them from despair to eternal hope and became our Shepherd….To the hungry, he fed them and became our Bread of Life….to the broken-hearted and forlorn, he became their comfort and our Resurrection to Life Eternal.
And now, where does that leave you and me and our feelings of pity? Are we to feel pity, sympathy and compassion for those that Christ sets in our path…or are we just to observe that pain and sufferings, thank God that it is not us and pass by on the other side ….OF COURSE NOT!!!!
We are called to serve …called to mirror our Savior and to give our feelings….FEET and HANDS and a VOICE that proclaims the love of Jesus in and through our ACTIONS.
So, resolve with me today that you will not fall victim to Satan’s ploy ….when you encounter those that need a helping hand …don’t just pity their plight and leave them for someone else to show them compassion….simply ask, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
JESUS WOULD TAKE ACTION TO ALLEVIATE…..AND SHOW TRUE COMPASSION FOR THOSE WITHOUT A SHEPHERD…..
Striving to Minister for Jesus,
WPQ
Thought for the Day:
We should follow Christ’s example
With everyone we meet…
We should seek to show compassion
For we are His hands and feet.
For Christ would have us working
To care for those distraught;
To give ourselves unselfishly
Is what our Savior taught.
WPQ@ October 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Living in Troubled Times?
All of us, at one time or another, have heard the old saying that “Bad things happen to good people” and almost all of us would agree with that statement; however, many of us take issue with the idea that “Bad things happen to God’s people.”
For some reason, too many Christians have been misinformed or have become confused by the “prosperity” preachers of this age. Those “good time” prognosticators tell us that God wants us to prosper and have all the things of this world that our heart desires. They would lead us to believe that if bad things are happening in our lives and we are not prospering, we must be at fault.
And in some regards, this might be true! God does use hardships, trials, tribulations, afflictions and suffering to get our attention….especially when our focus has been on ourselves and our selfish agenda. Sometimes, God uses the pains of this world to punish and discipline us after sin has led us astray. Our pride and our desire to be in control of our lives is a constant source of consternation and concern for our Heavenly Father….when our focus is on us, it can’t be on Him and His will.
Jonah was a perfect example of this….as he turned his back on the people of Ninevah, he disobeyed God’s instruction and he suffered the consequences of his disobedience. God reckoned with Jonah’s sin ….and the whale had a great lunch.
Then, there’s the other reason that suffering seems to afflict so many good and faithful Christians….they are good and faithful! Just like Job of the Old Testament, many Christians are held up to pain and suffering because God has allowed Satan to inflict the best of God’s people with what I like to call “fine-tuning”. Satan thinks that his afflictions will cause us to falter and turn from our faith in our Father; but in reality, God allows these trials to fine tune us for greater service and intimacy with Jesus, the one who suffered for you and me. When we share in the suffering of our Christ, we become more like Him…..we endure the frustrations of the flesh and are drawn closer to Christ….through the comfort that He alone can offer.
And that’s the other reason that we live in such “troubled” times….to offer comfort to others because we have been where they are now. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ, our comfort overflows.”
So, if today you are suffering and facing troubles that might seem insurmountable, you are faced with three choices…is it sin and self-centeredness….is it Satan’s seduction …or is it Christ-like suffering that brings intimacy with the Savior? Only you can know for sure… and that will require some self-diagnosis that might prove to be uncomfortable and disheartening.
The comfort of Christ awaits those that suffer through the trials and troubles of the flesh because the price of discomfort is worth the intimacy that awaits each of us. So, don’t turn away from the troubles that have beset you…don’t be like the captain that steers his ship back to the safety of the harbor when the seas become rough and choppy; rather, turn into the storm and know that the Father is waiting on the distant shore to welcome you with the comfort and compassion that only He can provide….no matter what you are going through at this time, Jesus knows and He cares for you…especially in these troubled times.
Sailing the stormy seas …with Jesus at the helm,
WPQ
For some reason, too many Christians have been misinformed or have become confused by the “prosperity” preachers of this age. Those “good time” prognosticators tell us that God wants us to prosper and have all the things of this world that our heart desires. They would lead us to believe that if bad things are happening in our lives and we are not prospering, we must be at fault.
And in some regards, this might be true! God does use hardships, trials, tribulations, afflictions and suffering to get our attention….especially when our focus has been on ourselves and our selfish agenda. Sometimes, God uses the pains of this world to punish and discipline us after sin has led us astray. Our pride and our desire to be in control of our lives is a constant source of consternation and concern for our Heavenly Father….when our focus is on us, it can’t be on Him and His will.
Jonah was a perfect example of this….as he turned his back on the people of Ninevah, he disobeyed God’s instruction and he suffered the consequences of his disobedience. God reckoned with Jonah’s sin ….and the whale had a great lunch.
Then, there’s the other reason that suffering seems to afflict so many good and faithful Christians….they are good and faithful! Just like Job of the Old Testament, many Christians are held up to pain and suffering because God has allowed Satan to inflict the best of God’s people with what I like to call “fine-tuning”. Satan thinks that his afflictions will cause us to falter and turn from our faith in our Father; but in reality, God allows these trials to fine tune us for greater service and intimacy with Jesus, the one who suffered for you and me. When we share in the suffering of our Christ, we become more like Him…..we endure the frustrations of the flesh and are drawn closer to Christ….through the comfort that He alone can offer.
And that’s the other reason that we live in such “troubled” times….to offer comfort to others because we have been where they are now. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ, our comfort overflows.”
So, if today you are suffering and facing troubles that might seem insurmountable, you are faced with three choices…is it sin and self-centeredness….is it Satan’s seduction …or is it Christ-like suffering that brings intimacy with the Savior? Only you can know for sure… and that will require some self-diagnosis that might prove to be uncomfortable and disheartening.
The comfort of Christ awaits those that suffer through the trials and troubles of the flesh because the price of discomfort is worth the intimacy that awaits each of us. So, don’t turn away from the troubles that have beset you…don’t be like the captain that steers his ship back to the safety of the harbor when the seas become rough and choppy; rather, turn into the storm and know that the Father is waiting on the distant shore to welcome you with the comfort and compassion that only He can provide….no matter what you are going through at this time, Jesus knows and He cares for you…especially in these troubled times.
Sailing the stormy seas …with Jesus at the helm,
WPQ
Thursday, August 12, 2010
It's That Blessed Time of Year
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
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
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
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