Good morning my friends,
It's been awhile since my last post.  
So much life and so many events... they sure keep you busy.

Question:  Will racism ever die or are we stuck with it until all humans become "homogenized"?  The physical differences are very real and our visual dominance in our lifestyles is undeniable.  We operate so much on what we see - recent events around the world show us that we will still depend on what we see as our primary means of evaluating someone else.  
Asians have the eyes and darker skin, African (and African Americans) have their dark skin and features, Caucasians have their variety, and there are many, many more variations in our species.  Survival and bonding are primary motivators for identifying friends from foes.  Certainly it was valid for many millenia.  But, do we still have to use Race as the source for personal judgements and hate, fear and apprehension?  
Someday perhaps we can get past all this, but I think it will be many years from now.

 

Friday June 22, 2012

Happy Friday! 
I pray that you and yours are well, happy, healthy, full of God's Joy and Peace.  
I am about to embark on a long drive back to see my three wonderful children.  Unfortunately, this trip is to get things ready to close out a big chapter of our lives, to sell our family restaurant.  
It is fraught with dangers and traps.  I can't do this alone, but I do believe and have full faith and hope in my God who has promised me to not abandon me and to uplift me.  


Consider today's promise in F. B. Meyer's daily devotions:



June 22


ANSWERED PRAYER
"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you."-- Joh_15:7.


OUR LORD expected answers to His prayers, and in all His teaching He leads us to feel that we shall be able to obtain, through prayer, what otherwise would not come to our hand. He knew all that was to be known of natural law; but notwithstanding His perfect acquaintance with the mysteries of His Father's government, He said: "If ye shall ask anything of the Father, He will give it you in My Name."
When we consider the lives of some who have wrought mightily for God, it is clear that they learned a secret which eludes many of us. This is from the biography of Dr. Burns Thomson: "When much together as students," writes his friend, "we agreed on special petitions, and the Lord encouraged us by giving us answers, so early and so definite, as could only have come from Himself, so that no room was left for the shadow of doubt that God was the Hearer and Answerer of prayer. Once the answer came the same day, and at another time whilst we were yet speaking. My friend often spoke of our agreement, to the glory of Him who fulfilled to us His promise; and I refer to it to encourage others." This is but one leaf out of the great library of prayers, intercessions, and supplications, which stand recorded before God.
Prayer which is to prevail must be: For the glory of the Father. Whatever petition we offer must be tested by this thought: will it be for the glory of God? It is for this that our Saviour lives and pleads (Joh_14:13).
It must be in Christ's Name, which stands for Nature. In other words, when we pray it must not be as our self-nature but as the Christ-nature indicates. It is not enough to mention His Name at the end of our prayer: His Spirit must pervade every petition.
We must bear fruit (Joh_15:16). Answers to prayer largely depend on our ministry to others. If we are living for the accomplishment of God's purpose and the coming of His Kingdom, we may ask whatever is necessary for the achievement of our endeavour.
We must abide in Christ; then the sap of the Holy Spirit rising from the hidden root will produce desires and petitions like those which Christ ever presents to His Father (Joh_15:7).


PRAYER
All our desire is known unto Thee, therefore perfect what Thou hast begun, and what Thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek Thy face, show us Thy glory. AMEN.

God Bless you and all of us in fulfilling His Will for our lives.  In Jesus's Holy Name, Amen.

Thursday June 21, 2012

How are you doing with this game of life?  Are you happy? Are you satisfied with your life and where you are headed?  Do you have a job, a career, a love, a mission, a goal, a vision?  What do you want in life?  
These are all vital questions. 
May I strongly recommend that you read the Holy Bible - go to www.e-sword.net  for many free downloads of Bibles, commentaries and other wonderful helps.  


God is waiting for you to come back to HIM!


Read His words and then you will find all you want and are seeking in life.  Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Redeemer and your life will never be the same again!  


Do it today!


Consider today's meditation from James Ryle who explains the process:



June 21


The Gospel in a Single Sentence
"A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return." (Luke 19:12).


Jesus began a story with this brief sentence; a sentence, which in its brevity spans the entire fullness of the Gospel. Let me explain. The word certain means "unique and distinct", as in "only begotten Son." There has never been, nor will there ever be any other man like Jesus of Nazareth. He was born of a Virgin, without sin in any way. This is certain.
The Bible says, "God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
Jesus is God's only Son. Therefore, Jesus is man's only Savior. As one preacher said,
"Christ is not one of many ways to God, nor is he the best of several ways. He is the only way." Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me." 
Christ is the way unchanging; He is the truth infallible; He is the life everlasting. Jesus is the way that you might be saved. He is the truth that you might be sure. He is the life that you might be satisfied.
The word nobleman speaks of the sinless life this certain man lived among us. He was tempted in all points like us, yet without sin. Never once — in thought, word, or deed — did Jesus ever sin. This uniquely qualifies Him to be the perfect sacrifice for sinners. Having no sins of His own to die for, His death on the cross now covers all of our sins!
His death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven are all included in the words "went to a distant country" — for that is how the Nobleman passed from this earth into Heaven.
Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." He is there in heaven even now doing just that. And while there He "ever lives to make intercession" (Heb.7:25). In other words, He loves to pray for you as He sits at His Father's right hand. Let me ask you, when was the last time you asked Jesus to pray for you? Why not ask Him now!


Jesus, the Nobleman, went to a far country "to receive a kingdom for himself." This is clearly referring to the exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord. For "God has given Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (see Phil.2:9-11).
And, last but not least, the phrase "and then return" assures us of the hope of all Ages—the Second Coming of Christ!
The gospel in a single sentence — "A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return." Commit this sentence to memory and use it as a mental outline for sharing your faith with your friends and family members.
Here, in the simplest of words, is the Gospel that we preach. Jesus was born without sin, and He lived without sinning. When He died on the cross, having no sins of His own to pay for, He paid the price for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day God raised Him from the dead—since Death had no rightful claim upon a sinless man. He was then taken into heaven and declared to be the Lord of all, the evidence of which is the Holy Spirit poured forth in our world establishing the influence of Christ's Kingdom in the hearts and lives of men and women from every tribe and nation. One day, at a time known only to God, Christ will return to this earth and abolish sin and death by creating a new heaven and a new earth, filled with the glory of God.


That's it. So simple even a child can understand it. Those who believe this and turn from their sins, trusting Christ for salvation, will be born again by the Spirit of God and brought into God's purpose for their lives here on earth.

Tuesday June 19, 2012

Hello my friend,
How are you?  How's life treating you?  
May I ask?  What do you want from life?  What do you expect?  What are your hopes, dreams, wishes?  


Surely we have all gone through the cycles of life: growth, maturity, getting, giving, courting, mating, raising, releasing, relishing, relinquishing, and now hopefully, rest.  
In this wonderful journey, for me, to live is Jesus Christ, my Savior and my God.  God gives meaning to life, His will brings about all the events of life, and you live a good life when you submit and surrender your life to God's Will.


Consider today's meditation from F. B. Meyer:



June 19


A SHELTER FROM THE TEMPEST
"And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest...as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."-- Isaiah 32:2.


WE ARE reminded that this prophecy was uttered in a time of great unrest. The clouds of war were gathering dark on the horizon, and Israel was looking for help from the arm of flesh. In this emergency the voice of the prophet was heard, saying: "Look not to Egypt, but to God" (Isa_31:1). The kingdom depends on the king: "Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes rule in judgment." 


When all politics and commerce, social and domestic life are under the sway and guidance of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God will come, and the Will of God shall be done on earth, as in heaven. The Lord Jesus is many-sided enough to meet all the varied needs of His people. Some need a covert from the tempest, others rivers of water to quench their thirst, others the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. But He is all and equal to all. 


When a man or woman owns the sway of Christ, eyes and ears are cleansed, there is no longer the hesitation of stammering confession, the judgment becomes rectified and the heart opened to a new generosity. First righteousness, then peace--such is heaven's eternal order.
This is a marvellous chapter! Note the words of warning to the women of Jerusalem. After all, the religious and political life of a nation is very much what the women make it, and there can never be a widespread deepening of religious life unless the women, who have such great capacity for God, turn to Him in repentance and faith.


Are our conditions similar? Surely they are! For if in the days of Solomon it was true that all things were full of labour and stress, how much more true is it in our time! The tides of human life are high and stormy, and there is no sense of security. We may surely plead that we need the quiet resting-places and sure dwellings, in which our souls may shelter! The promise is made to "'My people"--to those who have heard and obeyed the voice of the Good Shepherd. If you are one of the weakest and lowliest of these, you may draw comfort here (Isa_32:18).


PRAYER
Bring us, O Lord, through the troubled waters of life into a haven of repose. Hide us secretly in Thy pavilion from the strife of tongues and the fiery darts of the wicked one. May we be at peace with Thee, with ourselves, and with all. AMEN.

Wednesday June 13, 2012

So, what does it mean to be a Christian.
There are many, many views on this.  But always rely on the Bible.  Study the Bible, for the Bible IS the Word of God.  You will come to your own personal understanding and relationship with God through your reading and study of God's word.
One of the best resources is at www.e-sword.net  God there and download everything our brother Rick Myers has made available. 
Study everything- there is so much.  At the minimum, read the daily devotions by Bob Hoekstra, F.B. Meyer, George Morrison, James Ryle and Charles Spurgeon.  They will give you great insight into how to live the Christian life and be a true Christian.  
For example, yesterday's and today's lessons from James Ryle:



June 12


Four Points of a Prevailing Life (Part 1)


"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1, KJV)


In the earliest days of my journey with Jesus a godly man came alongside me and taught me a truth with such unrelenting resolve that it has stayed with me to this very day. Indeed, not simply stayed with with — it has powerfully swayed me from turning the wrong way on many, many occasions and kept my feet from stumbling. Yes, there have been times when I ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit, and tumbled in a ditch — but even then, it was this truth that factored in my recovery. I want to pass this truth along to you.
Paul uses four key words in his masterful argument against sin, and for righteousness; and these four words give us the bullet points of a prevailing life. Know, reckon, yield, and obey. Let's look briefly at these over the following four days.
First, there is something we are to KNOW — "our old man was crucified with Christ" (Romans 6:6). The Messages puts it this way — "Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life — no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection."
Pass by any cemetery and you will see just what the Lord has done for you on the Cross. He brought you into His own death, and thereby rendered sin's power over you as ineffective as it is upon those buried there in the ground. Your enslavement to sin's power has ended, and through Christ's resurrection you now have been raised to a new way of living — free from always having to do what sin demanded.
You will never be able to walk victorious in faith without KNOWING this truth. This may be the primary reason why Satan is so set against the preaching of the Cross, and why so many churches have veered far off course in this happy-go-lucky-day of sentimental sensationalism in song and sermon.
Take your place in humble adoration at the foot of the cross my fellow pilgrim, and rise not from that place till you KNOW that all which is within you that once lived unto sin has been executed in your Savior's death.
"When I survey the wondrous cross, 
on which the Prince of glory died; 
my richest gain I count but loss, 
and pour contempt on all my pride. 
Forbid it Lord that I should boast, 
save in the cross of Christ my God. 
All the vain things that charm me most, 
I sacrifice them to His blood. 
Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
that were a present far too small! 
Love so amazing, so divine, 
demands my soul, my life, my all." 
(Isaac Watts 1748)

And,

June 13

Four Points of a Prevailing Life (Part 2)

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1, KJV)

 

Yesterday we focused on the first of four key words used by the Apostle Paul in his classic case for the Cross presented in the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans. Today, we want to look at the second word: RECKON.

More modern translations use words like count, consider, think, or regard. All share the same essential meaning — "to take into account." In other words, this is the conclusion you are to carry in your heart once you KNOW that your were indeed crucified with Christ: "I am dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus!"

Go ahead and give it a try — say it out loud just now as you read this. "I am dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus."

Now, later on in the day when temptation comes creeping round the corner and suddly backs you against the wall — pause, take a deep breath, and then speak the truth of these words in the face of Hell's assault. You will stand, and the enemy will flee! Remember the Sienfeld episode where Jerry's dad kept yelling, "Serenity Now!" That didn't seem to work too well for him, and it won't work for you either. But THIS does work — "I am dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus." Truth works!

Here is how The Message summarizes it — "From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. (Romans 6:11-14).

Because Jesus did it, you and I can now do it! He conquered sin and death, and ended their supremacy over our lives. We can now walk in freedom — and will do so only as we COUNT on it; reckoning ourselves dead indeed to sin, but alive to God!

"In the cross of Christ I glory,

 towering o'er the wrecks of time; 

all the light of sacred story 

gathers round its head sublime! 

When the woes of life o'ertake me, 

hopes deceive and fears annoy; 

never shall the cross forsake me — 

Lo! it glows with peace and joy. 

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, 

by the cross are sanctified; 

peace is there that knows no measure, 

joys that through all time abide." 

(John Bowering, 1872)

I reckon so.

Wednesday June 13, 2012

There comes a time when you sit down and wonder "What's this all about?" or the more common "Why ME?"  So many just exist, survive day to day and go through their routines, habits and motions.  But, don't you ever think that there must be more, that we have to have a reason for all this travail and troubles?  
Perhaps there isn't really, after all, if we are just a chemical happenstance, just a collection of water and chemical compounds, an evolutionary peak of adaptation, then why bother asking?  Just live, eat, conquer, destroy, and live at the most basic levels of motivation - eat, reproduce, conquer and amass, destroy enemies and foes, dominate and rule the kingdom.  After all, that life strategy works well for most life forms on earth.  
But, are we really different?  Are we special?  
YES!
We are the direct product of a loving and caring God.  He made us in His image - to love Him and obey God's laws and commandments.  
As human laws get displaced and replaced, so God's laws changed and adapted through human history.  The intent of the laws did not change, but the laws came to a fountain head in Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Jesus came to this world to reconnect man back to God on a personal level, where God could walk with man constantly.  God is waiting to hold you, love you, protect you, bless you, guide you, lead you, but most importantly redeem you from this animal world and make you His Spiritual son or daughter.  
All you have to do is accept His gift to you... Salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God who died for the sins of the world.  
That's it, it's that simple.  
Jesus died for your sins and my sins.  He died to reconnect you back to God.  And it's all for just asking God to save you through the price of His Son's death on the cross... 
All you have to do is:

•  confess your sins, that you are a mortal, materialistic creature - "Lord God, I confess that I am a sinner,"
• Accept Jesus as your Savior "Please save me through the blood redemption of your Son, Jesus."
• open your heart, mind, body and soul to the Holy Spirit "Lord, come into and over my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit and be part of me, walk with me constantly"
• then live the redeemed life, follow the example of Jesus Christ.
• Read the Bible daily for your food and spiritual sustenance.

That's it.  You are now a child of God, and He will walk with you and be your God.

May you be blessed to become God's child.

Friday June 8, 2012

Well, the day is here and for the next two months we have "summer vacation"!
The cycles of life roll on and life continues in its ever changing ways.  


In all of your activities and journeys of life did you ever wonder about why God lets evil happen, especially to you?


Well, God is God and has good reasons, as we want to call them, for leading us through our lives.  
Consider today's thoughts, first from F. B. Meyer:



June 8


A CURE FOR ANXIETY
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."-- Psa_37:5.


THIS PSALM from which our text is taken breathes the spirit of optimism. The Psalmist says: "Do not fret. Evil is transient, evil-doers shall be cut off in a little, while the wicked shall not be." You will not remove the evils of the world by all your anxiety, or by wrath. It is not worth while to lose your peace of mind. Be quiet in your heart, full of prayer, looking up to God that He would interpose to deliver.
In this Psalm there are excellent preservatives of the inward tranquillity of the soul when face to face with anxiety, or with high-handed wrong.
Trust in the Lord (Psa_37:3). Reckon on Him. Expect great things from your Almighty Guide and Friend. He cannot fail you.
Delight in the Lord (Psa_37:4). If your life twines about earthly things, of course you will be at the mercy of externals. Familiarise yourself with God's way of thinking and looking at things. If this is the bent of your life, you will lose your taste for things of the earth, while you will have great desires for the things of eternity, and God will give you perfect satisfaction in these, because He will give you Himself! The petitions of the heart (R.V. margin) are very sacred to God, and He never, never forgets them. "He shall give thee the petitions of thine heart."
Commit thy way unto the Lord (Psa_37:5). The margin suggests "Roll thy way upon the Lord." It is not enough to roll the responsibility of selecting our way on God in the great crises of our life. We must do so in the small decisions of every hour. Our lives are made up of trifles. To neglect these is to leave it to drift at haphazard. We need perpetually to look up to our Heavenly Friend, saying, "I cannot see over the hedge, I must leave with Thee the decision whether I should go this way or that."
Rest in the Lord (Psa_37:7). "Be silent to the Lord" (R.V. margin). There is so much clamour in the world, and often our heart becomes filled with its noise, so much so that we cannot hear His still small voice. But when every sound has died down into silence, we shall hear the voice of God telling us of things which will answer our questionings and still our doubts. Let your requests be made known unto God, and His peace shall sentinel your heart against all intruders.


PRAYER
My God and Father, enable me to roll my way upon Thee, to trust Thee, and to believe that when I stand with Thee in the perfect daylight I shall understand what now I take on trust. AMEN.

And this from James Ryle:

June 8

Disturb Us, Lord

"Since they didn't bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose" (Romans 1:28, The Message)

May it never be said of anyone of us that God quit bothering us!

Left to ourselves we will always settle for the least, not the best. Like a river unattended, we will take the path of least resistance, and suppose it had been the best route all along. We so easily set our lives on cruise control and zip along merrily, merrily — unaware that we are in fact drifting farther and farther away from God. Disturb us, Lord!

The famous prayer by Sir Francis Drake would find good use upon our lips in these indifferent days; I offer it with an encouragement that you pray it in earnest until the Lord sets your feet on the higher way, the nobler way, the better way — and that He never quits bothering you; never lets you run loose from His purpose for your life.

"Disturb us, Lord 

When we are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

"Disturb us, Lord, 

when, with the abundance of things we possess,

We have lost our thirst for the waters of life;

and, having fallen in love with life as we know it,

We have ceased to dream of eternity;

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

"Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

"We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push us into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love."

Sir Francis Drake -1577