make

AS SOLOMON SAID, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NKJV)...

Man's behavior scarcely changes over time. When something gets too close or personal, we lose  the proper perspective and begin to change our views to accommodate this new familiarity.  Reuters reports, "People with gay friends or family members are far more likely to accept their  sexual orientation than those who don't, according to a U.S. survey released on Wednesday by  the Pew Research Center." 

When people's beliefs meet flesh and blood they reorient what they believe to meet their new  reality. Their new enlightened perspective seems more real and enduring because their eyes have been opened to a new world view. Homosexuals are no   longer "them" but "one of us."  After all, their heads don't spin around and they don't have antennae or anything. They are just "good people" who live differently.

This further exemplifies the lengths at which the human mind will rationalize and deny truth in order to "be happy." We will lie to ourselves and feign blindness and deafness in order to be at peace in our hearts. There are no limits to which people will go in order to accomplish this delusional goal. 

Parents will proclaim the truth on marriage, divorce and remarriage or cohabitation until their child finds themselves in a bad situation and overnight their minds will begin to reorient their beliefs so the child will be justified. 

The article says, "An analysis of survey results suggests that familiarity is closely linked to tolerance," Pew said in a statement. Overall, those who say they have a family member or close friend who is gay are more than twice as likely to support gay marriage as those who don't -- 55 percent to 25 percent."

G. K. Chesterson said, "Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions ." Our convictions  become casualties as the goal of our minds becomes peace at all costs. Even God's Word must  be lost if it interferes.

In order to accommodate those who are changing their minds on this issue (because they know a  homosexual or because they are afraid of being called a bigot), so-called scholars are trying  to change interpretations of all the passages that condemn homosexuality. For example, Sodom  and Gomorrah were destroyed because of a lack of hospitality, which is ridiculous (Genesis 1;  Jude 7). 

Gods Word is abundantly clear that homosexuality is sin (Leviticus 18:22). Tolerance or rationalization does not remove this fact from God's Word. Scripture predates opinion, culture and "our friends and family" (Psalm 119:89). 

Romans 1:26-27 says, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women  exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural  use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful,  and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." 

"Exchanged" means they placed one thing in the place of another; God's plan for a man and a  woman joined sexually in marriage with sinful sexual unions. "Nature" is translated as the "forces or laws which govern the world and its inhabitants."  This is how God designed things to be in the very beginning (Genesis 2:18-25).

Homosexual and lesbian sexual relationships are "against nature." No manner of wishes, familiarities, friendships or rationalizations will change God's mind on this sin. 

We cannot change our beliefs based on our relationships or situations and think God will comply. He is not subject to our whims. His law is pure and unchanging. He is the God of love and he is waiting for man to repent (Luke 13:3-5). 

-richard mansel

forgive

After a long sermon, he asked how many were willing to forgive their enemies. About half held up their hands. Not satisfied he harangued for another twenty minutes and repeated his question. This time he received a response of eighty percent. Still unsatisfied, he lectured for fifteen minutes and repeated his question. With all thoughts now on Sunday dinner, all responded except one elderly lady in the rear.

"Ms.Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"

"I don't have any."

"Ms. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?"

"Ninety-three."

"Ms. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how a person can live to ninety-three and not have an enemy in the world."

The little sweetheart of a lady teetered down the aisle, very slowly turned around & said: "It's easy. I just outlived them all!"

remind

Remind me, God

When I am lonely and
Perhaps I feel despair,
Let not my ailing heart forget
That YOU hear every prayer...

Remind me that no matter what
I do or fail to do,
There still is hope for as long 
as I have FAITH in YOU...

Let not my eyes be blinded by
Some folly I commit,
But help me to regret my wrong
And make amends for it.

Inspire me to put my fears
Upon a hidden shelf,
And in the future try not to 
Feel sorry for myself.

Give me the restful sleep I need
Before another dawn,
And bless me in the morning with
THE COURAGE TO GO ON.-carry-lin liebenberg

...position

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? 

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. 

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. 

1 Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 

2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!" 

3 Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. 

4 The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. 

5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. 

6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,  

7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. 

  Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! 

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted  it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. 

Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table.  For in those days, the wadded napkin  meant, "I'm done". 

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!" 

HE IS COMING BACK! 

-blanche thompson and bonnie ross

today

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I  will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble… . I will get up. It’s OK to fail… . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

opposition

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the rulers of the darkness

of this world. . . ." Ephesians 6:12

There is a ruthless, cruel underworld system that wars against you. The crime bosses are but

amateurs compared to this syndicate, ruled by the Master of Deception. He's called the "destroyer,""liar," "accuser," "tempter," and "prince." Satan is indescribably wicked, brilliantly stupid, and hideously beautiful. If he can't convince you that he does not exist, then he tries to spread the lie that he is only in hell. He is not in hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, but he is not there yet! 

Satan comes against you to obsess, depress, and possess. But, be encouraged: Jesus has

purchased your victory by His blood!

Satan is portrayed as a roaring lion in 1 Peter 5:8. Put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) 

and claim the victory that only faith in King Jesus can achieve.

-keith overtuff

...yourself

You try to hide from God

"Adam, where art thou? and he said. I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself." Gen 3:9-10.

There is no hiding place! "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" Heb 4:13. "He that covers his sin shall not prosper" Pro 28:13. Don't play the fool. God

knows all about it. You must confess and forsake it. Don't you know that "Every good and perfect 

gift is from above" from GOD James 1:17. Run to Him not from Him.

You stop reading the Bible

"God wrote you a letter. You ought to read your mail." "Desire the sincere milk of the word that 

ye may grow thereby" 1 Pet. 2:2. You would be extremely concerned if your son stopped eating. God is concerned when you stopped reading His word. You get weak and prey to every spiritual disease there is. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word" Ps 119:9. Read it and heed it.

You prayer life gets shot

There is a hotline to heaven. It is never busy. "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver 

thee and thou shalt glorify me" Ps 50:15. Turn to the Lord, not from Him. Judge yourself, confess 

that sin and get forgiven, cleansed and remember that sin is forgotten by God "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" Heb 8:12. Don't let Satan bring them up.

"I have come that they might have life" don't just get half a loaf but all of it "and have it (life) 

more adamantly" than the lost and most of the found (saved ones). Jn 10:10.

MY PASSION is that YOU reach YOUR maximum potential for God...

-abc sumner

...favor

The following testimony exhibits God's hand of favor. The incident occurred in Russia, right after the wall had fallen but where the doors were already being closed to the Gospel that was simply being preached and not lived out in the lives of those who claim to know it - just as it is happening here in America.

The leader of a national ministry was invited to Russia by some very high government officials who wanted to know which principles of the Bible could be of help to them. Upon arriving, it became very apparent that the lack of love and wisdom, plus the demonstration of pride, arrogance and un-Christ-like behavior on the part of United States "missionaries" that had preceded this minister's group, had all but closed the doors to a certain powerful high official. They were told it

would be months before they could gain an audience, but that they should register and they would be put on a waiting list.

On a cold winter's morning upon arriving at the place of registry, the minister and his group found the office empty. Because no one was there to take their coats, the minister in charge stepped to the other side of the railing near the coat rack and had the coats handed to him. He, in turn, hung them up one by one, so that the group would be ready when called upon.

Unknown to them, this small event was being observed by a secretary to the high official that they needed to see in order to proceed with their work there. When the secretary reported that, "There is a leader downstairs who is serving his people," the official immediately granted the representative of Jesus Christ an audience; and the doors that had previously been closed and locked tight were now graciously opened. Because of this single, seemingly small incident, the Gospel is, at present, being proclaimed with God's power behind it. The observation of the life of Christ lived openly from the heart is a glaring testimony of difference in contrast to the way  a world that has no answers lives.

II Cor. 5:20 states: "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us, we [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you, for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God." (Amplified) Christ's personal representatives! Think of the astounding implications that statement makes. To the world, we are the only representatives of Jesus Christ that they will see, so that they might accept Him and not spend eternity in hell. How have we used this honor?

Recently in prayer, the Lord impressed this on my heart. "My people have humiliated Me before the world. Powerless prayers, selfish lives, a self-serving gospel and disloyalty have made My people saltless, to be trampled on by men." Over the subsequent weeks and months, the impact of who we are vs. who we as Christ's representatives are supposed to be, has caused me to examine my own life in the light of His Word; and has put a new fear of God in my heart.

If the above statement was truly the Father's heart, we need to examine it more carefully. Webster's dictionary defines "humiliate" as "to reduce to a lower position in one's own eyes or others' eyes." Think of that. The people God Himself has chosen to leave on this earth for the sole purpose of growing to know more of Him and to represent Him to a world so that they might know and be reconciled to Him, have made Him look reduced and smaller, instead of high and lifted up. How ludicrous!

Powerless prayers, selfish lives, a self-serving gospel and disloyalty are pretty self-explanatory. That statement makes the results of such representation very clear, so let's see if it's true, in general, of the body of Christ. Matt. 5:13 states: "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality) how can its saltiness be restored? It is not good for   anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men."

The loss of saltiness will be evidenced by men overcoming the salt-less ones and walking all over them - humiliating them. Powerless prayers -hundreds of "prayer warriors" taking cities for Jesus over many years, and our cities are living hells. Selfish lives - neighborhoods of people all over this nation who don't even know that a Christian lives in their midst. Self-serving gospel - prayer

times of "Help me, Lord" instead of weeping for those who will spend eternity in hell. Disloyalty our overall lives show to whom or what we are really loyal. Our actions and our lives indict us. And the result is that we have no power or respect, no matter how loud we shout, or how much we organize, or how hard we fight, or how strongly we demand our rights.

Hundreds of millions of dollars and hours are spent to attempt to maintain our rights; and more restrictions continue, more rights are lost, and more ridicule is openly expressed. Our power, or lack of it before the world, allows all that we do to be held in low esteem in the eyes of man, and put underfoot as of no value. So, where do we go? What do we do?

As representatives of God, the only place we can go to get forgiven for our disloyalty is back to the One we have humiliated. We must make sure, however, that our motives for going to Him are not the same selfish motives that we have used to misrepresent Him. James 4: 9-10 says: "[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve even weep [over your disloyalty.] Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins.] Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant.]

There is still time and there is yet great hope to have significant lives for God; but we must, once and for all, make sure that our lives are for Him. We are not our own, and must live to serve Him for His glory.

Where do you choose to stand in these closing minutes of God's timetable? Whom do you really choose to serve and represent? What kind of salt do you choose to be?

Live a life representing the Jesus of the Bible before the world, and your life (significant to God's plans, and in His eyes) will shine brightly in this dark world. All for the honor and glory of the One Who is worthy, Jesus Christ.  Starting here

-jim corbett

...words

He replied, 'Why do you ask my name?  It is beyond understanding.'  Then Menoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD.  And the LORD did an amazing thing while Menoah and his wife watched:  As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame.  Seeing this, Menoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground."

How low is low?  Only a few moments ago I heard on the radio that a mother has been charged with driving her son and several of his friends to a park where they killed a member of a rival gang.  Several years ago the front page of some newspapers announced that according to the research group, Public Agenda, we are rude, crude and getting worse.  Now why is it I feel that you are not shocked by this newsflash?!  It does not take a very discerning person to realize that day by day we are getting worse.

Some time ago, I alluded to the fact that the brilliant mind of Solomon was prone to foolishness.  He had human intelligence, but it was clouded and contaminated by the sins of the flesh.  He had allowed his human appetites to control his actions; hundreds of wives (many of them aliens and with their false gods).  He also possessed a huge number of chariots.  Both were specifically in direct opposition to God's commandments. 

Let me see if I can phrase this properly:  Solomon (like us) knew what he was to do, but like us, he often failed to do what he knew God wanted him to do.  Knowing and doing are often world's apart!

In studying the words in today's Scripture, which Solomon wrote, it is important to consider what he wrote; not the way he lived.  God's Word is far above the life and actions of even those who were inspired to write the words which God gave to them. 

If even a brilliant man such as Solomon could stray from the straight and narrow way, what does it say to us?  I think it teaches us that faith and trust are a moment-by-moment thing.  It is not something that we learn and then coast on through life.  It is an application which must be applied continually.

The nature of man is to rely upon our own perverted thinking process which is contrary to God's way.  If we are to learn anything, it is that God's Word is the ultimate truth. What we rationalize in our own thinking is a way that leads to death.

We live in a day touted to be an "age of enlightenment".  If that is the case, why do we see the chaos in our world in epidemic proportions?   The answer is that we depend upon our human reason for our actions.  When we do that, they will always lead us away from God and into a dead-end street.

The five verses cited in today's devotional, contrast the two methods of reasoning

-pastor cecil

...us

On February 15, 1921, there was a doctor who performed an appendectomy.  The doctor performing the surgery was Dr. Evan Kane who over his 37-year medical career had performed nearly 4,000  appendectomies, so this surgery was not at all unusual except for two things.

First of all, this was the first time that local anesthesia had ever been used in major surgery.  Dr. Kane believed that local anesthesia was safer than putting a patient completely to sleep. Most of his colleagues agreed with him in principle, but they wanted to see first if it would actually work.

So Dr. Kane searched for a volunteer, a patient who would be willing to undergo surgery while under local anesthesia. It wasn't easy to find one. Most people are squeamish at the thought of being awake during their own surgery. Others are fearful that the anesthesia might wear off too soon.

Finally, though, Dr. Kane found a volunteer, and on Tuesday morning, February 15th, the operation began. The patient was prepped and wheeled into the operating room. A local anesthetic was applied. And as Dr. Kane had done thousands of times before, he cut open the tissues and removed the appendix. The patient had only minor discomfort and recovered quickly, dismissed two days later.

Dr. Kane had proven his theory. Thanks to the willingness of a brave volunteer, Dr. Kane demonstrated that local anesthesia was an alternative, even a preferred alternative.

But I said there were two facts that made this surgery unusual. I've told you the first: the use of local anesthesia. The second unusual thing was the patient -- the patient was  Dr. Kane. You see, in order to prove his point, Dr. Kane operated on himself. The doctor  became a patient in order to convince the patients to trust the doctor.

As unbelievable as that may seem, it is insignificant compared with what Jesus Christ did for us. The Great  Physician voluntarily became one of us. He placed himself in our shoes. He left the glories of heaven to live on this earth as one of us -- to suffer our pains and feel our fears. Why? So that when you hurt, you will know that you have someone who understands -- your Great Physician -- and you will have confidence to go to him for

  healing.

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same...  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." (Hebrews 2:14a,18)

-mary ben

...strong

At the zoo, a man watched as an attendant entered a wildcat cage through a door on the opposite side.  He had nothing in his hands but a broom.  Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage.  The onlooker observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast.  In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom.  The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure.

He remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man."       "No I ain't brave," he replied as he continued to sweep.

"Well, then, that cat must be tame."       "No," came the reply, "he ain't tame."

"If you aren't brave and the wildcat isn't tame, then I can't understand why he doesn't attack you."

The man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he's old -- and he ain't got no teeth."

Some situations don't require much courage.  Others, however, require a great deal of courage.  Take, for example, 

• the choice Daniel was given -- stop praying to God or face the hungry lions (which weren't toothless!).  
• Moses -- live a life of luxury in the king's palace, or align himself with God's people.   
• Esther -- keep quiet and not cause a commotion, or stand up against evildoers at the risk of losing her life.

How we need such courage in our own lives!  

Courage to stand for the truth regardless of the consequences.  

Courage to live a life where Christ comes first regardless of what others might think.  

Courage to confess the name of God to a world which regards us as fools.

I am reminded of Joshua who was given a huge responsibility to take over the role of leadership from Moses and lead the children of Israel into the land of Canaan to face a host of enemies.  Three times in Joshua 1, God said to Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage".  Those can be empty words spoken to a man who is trembling in his boots, but God gave Joshua a basis for his courage -- "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9). 

Joshua's strength and courage had to be found in God alone, because it was God who was going to do all the work. There was nothing that was going to take place in the life of Joshua or in the lives of the children of Israel that God would not be involved in.  Every step that Joshua took, every piece of land that he claimed, every battle that he won would be the direct result of God working for him.  Joshua could have courage for what was about to take place because as long as he was following God's will, God was there by his side.

What challenges are you facing today?  

What fears do you have?  

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD." (Psa. 31:24)

...course

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

I’ve never run a marathon but my self-proclaimed ‘couch potato’ friend is about to run her first race at the age of sixty. “It’s for a good cause,” she bubbled to me this morning. It’s never too late to embark on a new endeavor. Getting on-board with something is not always the challenge, though; it can be staying the course.

Heavy and hurtful had been words and actions directed towards a friend of ours at his workplace. How to deal with that? It can be frustrating and depressing, when you want to stay the course and do the right thing.

David is the only person in the Bible called “a man after God’s own heart.” (1Sam 13:14, Jer 3:15, Acts 13:22).  Over and over, in the songs he himself wrote, is the solution to situations such as this:

    Turn to God, trust in God to heal you and direct you,

    Have faith in God that He will vindicate you.

    God is the embodiment of truth.  You can have complete confidence He will do what he says:

    He will take care of you, His child.

So the answer to how to deal with staying the course is...

    Carry on, do the next right thing.

    Keep on doing what you’re doing.

    Retaliation and revenge only backfire.

    The Lord will fight on your behalf.

    Don’t cave, don’t waiver.

God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we think or ask. Know with certainty that God’s power is available and at work - in you - for you - now!

The battle is not yours, but God’s….stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. Do not be afraid or discouraged… for the Lord is with you!" (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17)

...place

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."  (Psalm 32:7)

"By day the LORD directs his [covenant] love, at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.(" Psalm 42:8) 

The God of your life sings over you as a mother soothes and comforts a child. In his arms, he surrounds you with songs of deliverance as you are led through strongholds of fear and anxiety to a place of safety, assurance, and confidence in him. 

In any trouble, you can sing under the wings of the Most High in harmony with his songs. 

You can tell others of your confidence in God's name and his faithfulness. Your name is ever before him in heaven on a scroll of remembrance. He acts on your behalf, just because you are his. He will rescue you as a compassionate father spares an obedient child. 

    

Live in the power and authority of his spiritual victory as the "God-of-Angel-Armies".  He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). You have abiding safety in the Commander of the armies of heaven. His love covers you completely. His defense of you is invulnerable and never ceases. He is your defended place. Run to him as your safe place. His nearness is your good. You have undisturbed fearlessness as you settle down and make your home in him. He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies. 

Believe and receive his unfailing perfect covenant love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Take this deep into your spirit and life-experience. You have his faithful promises that you are secure in his protecting presence. You can rest totally depending on the character of God. Be blessed to trust in the All-sufficient One who is enough. Be blessed to see what God is doing in your life that is a stepping stone to more of Jesus. 

Jesus is your shield of faith. 

In Jesus nothing can destroy your joy, your hope, your relationships, your witness, or God's purposes. And the God of peace will soon crush satan under his feet.

"Be blessed in the name of the one who will never forsake you, as he says to you:  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  (Isaiah 41:10,13)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:6,8)

-sylvia gunter

smell

Author Rita Snowden remembers sitting in a café late one afternoon in a small village near Dover, England.  As she was sipping her tea, she was suddenly overwhelmed by an astonishing fragrance. It was quite simply one of the most pleasant aromas she had ever smelled.

“Where is that coming from?” she asked her server.  He explained that it was being carried by the workers from a nearby perfume factory.  They had finished their shift and were walking down the street, on their way home.  Their clothing was permeated by the fragrances they had been working on all day.

 

Ultimately, it’s impossible to fool the people we meet every day. 

    We smell like our work.

        And our priorities.

        And our choices.

        And our relationships.

        And our heartfelt commitments.

Everywhere we go, we carry around the aroma of who we truly are and what we genuinely believe.  And the world is either glad that we’re passing by, or hopeful that we’ll quicken our pace.

 

There’s an interesting text from the writings of the apostle Paul.  During the days of the Roman Empire, conquering troops would parade through their capitol, leading the prisoners they had captured. Conquerors and prisoners alike walked across flower petals strewn on the streets by the crowds.  The resulting fragrance was a reminder to everyone present:  Chalk up another victory for Rome.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15:  “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved…”

 

Our greatest aspiration should be that those we meet today might catch a scent of something beautiful, humble, and hopeful in our lives.  

And that they’d be glad of our presence.  

And sorry to see us go.  

And maybe even willing to conclude: Chalk up another victory for the God who transforms human hearts.

-glenn mcdonald

repetition

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:38-39)

It was a small hand that held the slice of bread while wielding a butter spreader in the other. My granddaughter was visiting, and she was resolutely determined to butter the toast herself. It was slow going, and we had to try another couple of pieces. She finally acquiesced to a little help because she eventually wanted to sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar and eat it!

Her steadfastness to the project interested me; I thought of how we learn by repetition. Do something over and over and you get better at it. Kids can drive you crazy singing the same little song over and over and over, but that is how we learn, all of us, by repetition.

If we had an earthly father who didn't  demonstrate love for us, we still have a heavenly father who repeatedly shows us how much He loves us. We can learn that we are loved, by the repetition of our Father's kindness towards us, His mercy towards us

The repetition of God's love towards us, time after time, day after day, is a way we can learn to feel greatly treasured and loved. If we focus not on our circumstances, and for sure not on our past, retraining our thoughts is do-able. Being aware of everyday gifts from God help re-program our thinking from negative to positive. Thankfulness, an attitude of gratitude, goes a long way here.

Nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Nothing. Not abandonment by a parent, verbal, emotional or physical abuse, rejection by a loved one, negative input or verbal curses. Not troubles, not joblessness, bullying threats, backstabbing. Not hunger, homelessness, hatred, or hard times.

-sally i. kennedy 

building

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain."  (Psalm 127:1)

What great plans! We were so excited to have come up with what we thought was going to be a really great plan.

When the first hitch happened, I thought, “Oh well, it’s just a little problem. We can get past that/” Not long after, another fly in the ointment, but we were not to be daunted. After all, we’d devised a super plan for the program.

As you have no doubt surmised, it was not long before another glitch, and then another. I felt as if we were treading water, or even worse, swimming upstream against the current.

At some point, one of us realized we had not consulted God prior to trying to implement this wonderful plan. We had asked Him to bless the project, and to bless us as we undertook it. However we had not asked Him in on the foundation and start of the venture.

The Bible says that if the Lord doesn’t ‘build the house, the laborers build in vain.’  That whole thing was a lesson to us, and hopefully one learned so as to not make the same mistake.

How awesome that God is willing and ready to help us, whenever we come back or turn around and seek Him.

know

"Knowledge of God can be fully given to man only in a Person, never in a doctrine. Faith is not the holding of correct doctrine, but personal fellowship with the living God." (William Temple)

Do you have a lot of knowledge about God but not much of a love relationship with Him? 

Has your head knowledge reached you heart so that it affects how you live? Where are you looking for your knowledge of God? to a radio/television personality? a pastor? a friend? a self-help book? How about trying the real thing. . . God! 

Go to His Word and You will find the Person, not just the doctrine.

-marji kruger

persistency

"I look at a stonecutter hammering away at a rock 100 times without so much as a crack showing in it.  Yet at the 101st blow, it splits in two. It was not the one blow that did it, but all that had gone before. So it is with persevering prayer."

-george muller

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"Time spent alone with God is not wasted. It changes us; it changes our surroundings; and every Christian who would live the life that counts and have power for service must take time to pray."

-m.e. andros