Family Friday: Tomorrow is Another Day!

Sometimes you just have to make yourself remember that tomorrow is another day, and God's in control of that one, too! A year from now those thoughts that are rushing through your mind, and those circumstances that keep the tears right there ready to spill, and those sleepless nights you are enduring will all be a distant memory...a shadowy memory that's lost all the glaring detail. For now--how wonderful it is to have a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother!

"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”  Psalm 18:1-2

Our lives can include some REALLY tough days, can't they?  One thing that I know for sure is that no matter how tough the day may be there are still many more blessings in the life of a child of God than there are hurts, struggles, fears, disappointments, etc. It just can't be any other way! God is our Father, and He's REALLY good at fulfilling His role in our lives! One of the ways I have used to put my troubles in perspective is by comparing what I'm going through against a worst case scenario, and my, how quickly my view becomes corrected! I may ask myself..."Would I rather be facing this or the death of a loved one?" "Would I rather have this serious financial problem to dig myself out of or would I rather my child have a serious life altering disease?" Looking around us, we can see that people do struggle with these worse case scenarios, and I have never failed to feel grateful for the circumstances that ARE at hand instead of the possible ones!! God knows what we can bear, and He only allows in our lives what He is able "to mean for good!" Thank You, Jesus! I love you so!

Thoughtful Thursday: He Must Increase

 

John 3:30-31 “He must increase, but I must decrease.  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

This was John the Baptist referring to Jesus.  John recognized that He was the Son of God.  He also recognized that for him to be effective in his earthly ministry, he had to proclaim Jesus more and himself less.  This is most definitely applies to us today.  In order to be effective in our earthly ministry, we must humble ourselves and lift up Jesus. 

In John 12:32, Jesus says “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto

me.” 

We may never be as effective as John the Baptist was during his ministry, but by following his formula, we most definitely have the opportunity to be used by God just as much as he was.

We Pray Wednesday: Tips on praying

For many people, praying is like breathing.  They get up, have prayer time with God, and continue on through the rest of their day.  If you ask them, "Did you pray today?" They look at you as if you have asked them the most ridiculous question ever.  For the majority of us, praying is like exercising, eating healthy, and getting in awesome shape.  We want to do it; we need to do it; but we just don't find the time to do it.  To a Christian it is as important as breathing; however, we seem to put it lowest on our priority list.  If you asked Peyton Manning how to throw a football, he would probably say, "Just throw it."  We all probably could, but not like him.  We would need to get some tips on how to do it better than we do now.  With that in mind, here are a few tips on a better prayer time with God. 

1.  Choose a specific place to pray.

            Everyone is different.  Some people like to walk outside, some like to kneel, and some like to sit or stand.  No matter the position, pick a place and just do it.

2.  Choose a time to pray.

            If you want to get a hold of God on a daily basis, you must have a scheduled time that you pray every day.  If you pray when you have time, you will never have time.

3.  Pray out loud.

            I have found that whenever I pray in my head, I begin to daydream, fall asleep, or start thinking about other things that have to get done that day.  If you pray out loud, you will think and pray together.  It is much harder to daydream while quite literally talking to God.

4.  Keep a prayer list.

            The best way to pray is to have an idea about what to pray for and about.  Everyone has a different opinion about a prayer list.  You can right everything down specifically.  You can have general topics like the following: church, family, unsaved, government, and sick.  Another way is to pray for things by the day of the week by praying for one specific category every day of the week.  My father-in-law has each day of the week alliterated to help him remember how to pray.

            Missions Monday-he would pray for missionaries around the world

            Task Tuesday-he would pray for the jobs that the family and ministry had to accomplish             that week

            Workers Wednesday-he would pray for the people who worked in their ministry and      church

            Thanksgiving Thursday-he would thank God for everything that God had given him.

            Family and Friends Friday-he would pray for them and their need

            Salvations Saturday-he would pray for lost loved ones and lost souls

            Saints and Sinners Sunday-he would pray for the saved to attend church and if any        were lost they would be saved.

5.  Keep a journal of answered prayers

            The journal will be a way to keep track of what you prayed for and when you prayed for it. Leave a space to jot down the answer when it comes. This will help you to keep alert to God's answer so you can thank Him promptly. You can also use it to show others how God answered your prayers when they are discouraged.

Teen Tuesday: He's never even dropped a pizza!

Earlier this week I was drying my hands in an airport restroom when I overheard a conversation between a father and his two-year-old son. Dad was handling diaper duty and he had placed his son on one of those flimsy, plastic changing tables that fold down in public restrooms. The boy, being at the size limit for one of those tables, was nervously feeling the inherent instability of this device—which was producing some crying and anxiety.

Through moans of uncertainty and nervousness the boy hesitatingly said, “Ohhhhh… me not like this…” his tones were long and drawn, and then he continued, “I gonna fall…”

Dad was doing his absolute best. First, he was hurrying! He didn’t want this to take any longer than necessary. Second, he was speaking comfort.

“C’mon buddy, I’ve got you. I’m right here. It’s ok!”

The boy groaned again, “No… I gonna fall…”

Then the Father replied, “Hey, I have never, ever dropped one of my children off of one of these these things! In fact I’ve never dropped one of my children at all! I’VE NEVER EVEN DROPPED A PIZZA!”

With that, the misery came to an end. He lifted the boy off of his temporary table of torture, buttoned him up, and lowered him to the floor. Standing upright again, the boy’s anxiety disappeared and childish security flooded back into his heart. He bounded ahead of his dad and on with the good life.

I couldn’t help but think of the times I’ve been placed into discomfort by the will of the Heavenly Father—some of those times when I felt I was on a very unstable “changing table.” (Not too sure I like that metaphor!)

In those times I want to moan and complain. In those times I feel unsafe and vulnerable. I wonder if God is about to drop me! I feel like everything in life is about to fall out from under me.

It’s then that I’m reminded—God doesn’t do that. He doesn’t drop us.

No matter where you are, if you have Jesus as your Saviour, you can be assured He is in control. He isn’t going to drop you. And he most certainly will use these trying times to change you! Trust Him today!

HE’S NEVER EVEN DROPPED A PIZZA!

“My times are in thy hand…” (Psalms 31:15)

Written by Carey Schmidt, Shared with permission

Monday's Message: Receiving God's grace in vain

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ”We then, as workers together with him (Jesus), beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Chapter 6 is a continuation of the teaching in chapter 5:18-21. In 5:18 we are told that God, hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. In 5:19 God, committed unto us the word of reconciliation, and in 5:20 it says, we are ambassadors for Christ. Chapter 5 ends with a great verse describing how we are reconciled to God through the imputed righteousness of God for all those found in him (Christ).

2 Corinthians 6:1 says, We then, as workers together with him (Jesus), beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. This is a weighty and sobering exhortation from the apostle to not receive the grace of God in vain, in other words, our receiving grace and reconciliation from God is not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of others as well. God has a bigger purpose for you than simply sitting back and enjoying the amazing free gift of eternal life. He has called all of His children, man, woman, boy and girl to extend His loving invitation of everlasting life to the whole world. What an honor it is to be called of God for such an important mission, and not only that, but we have the privilege of working together with God as He is drawing sinners to Himself through us and through His Word.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This command to go is to all of us, we know this because Christ’s message of salvation would have ceased with the last apostle if were only for them. Also, the inspired apostle Paul is telling us again of our great commission to preach the gospel. In verse 2 Paul then quotes from part of Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee, and he adds, behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We are being reminded of the urgency of our message. Part of that holy message is a warning that the wrath of God is abiding on the unsaved, John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. We are not promised tomorrow and the day and time to place all one’s trust in Jesus Christ’s finished work is now. James 4:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, thatappeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 

God is calling us to make the most of each precious day, to warn sinners of the coming judgment and to show them the way of salvation. Otherwise, if we lack the compassion and boldness from the Holy Spirit to do so, we have received the grace of God in vain. It is not the Holy Spirit who is failing, it is us, when we are not walking in close fellowship with God. God’s Word is inspired and empowered by the Spirit, but if we are not also filled with the Spirit we will be lacking the boldness and charity needed to proclaim the Word with power.

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Of course, this isn’t the only way we can receive the grace of God in vain. Next week we will examine the following verses 3-10 to see how we must approve ourselves as servants of God, that the ministry be not blamed.

God’s power and love is manifest in us when we walk in Him, keeping His Word, and when we believe in the power of His Word!