Daily Thought for Thursday, September 1st

September 1, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part Four – Writing

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“The purpose of education is to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”  – Albert Einstein

Today’s Quotes:

“Education should convert the mind into a living fountain and not a reservoir.” – John M. Mason

 

“What is important – what lasts – in another language is not what is said but what is written. For the essence of an age, we look to its poetry and its prose, not its talk shows.” – Peter Brodie

Today’s Question

“Could ‘Hamlet’ have been written by a committee, or the Mona Lisa pained by a club? Could the New Testament have been composed as a conference report?”  –   A. Whitney Griswold

Consider this: “Creative ideas do not spring from groups.  They spring from individuals.  The divine spark leaps from the finger of God to the finger of Adam.”  –   A. Whitney Griswold

Today’s Bible Verses:                Hebrews 13:15-17 & Hebrews 8:10-11

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“One writes to teach, to move or to delight.” –  Rodolphus Agricola

“Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.” – The Bible (Jeremiah 30:2)

Writing is the act of expressing inner thoughts, feelings, ambitions and desires in a format that can be shared and experienced by others.

From a spiritual perspective the writing of the story of our lives in Christ, should be more of an animated, active telling than maybe a literal recorded writing: nevertheless it is a story that must and should be told.

While applying the concept of writing to our spiritual thoughts, desires, beliefs, motivations and activities, can be done with pen and ink; often the spiritual tale of our spiritual journey is better told by how we live and what we do.

Michael Wood wrote, “We Are What We Write.”  From a spiritual point-of-view: we are only as spiritual and Godly as we act and serve.  Our daily choices, actions, reactions and behaviors become the story of who we are and what we are all about.

Frank Kafka wrote, “Writing [is} a form of prayer.”  Should our daily lives be a perpetual prayer of praise, thanksgiving and worship for our God?

“All writing comes by the grace of God.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 And in fact, any story our lives can tell as a Christian is because of God’s grace joined by our faith and sealed in His love.

“One writes out of one thing only – one’s own experience. Everything depends on how relentlessly one forces from this experience the last drop, sweet or bitter, it can possibly give.” – James Baldwin

“I love to tell the story

of unseen things above,

of Jesus and his glory,

of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story,

because I know 'tis true;

it satisfies my longings

as nothing else can do.” - Arabella K. Hankey (lyrics from ‘I Love To Tell The Story’) 

May our lives tell the wondrous story, over and over, in such a way that it will encourage, inspire, motivate and change the lives of others.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father may the things I say and the things I do write a story of a life that is well pleasing to you.

Daily Thought for Wednesday, August 31st

August 31, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part Three – Reading

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory.  It’s knowing where to go to find out what you need to know, and it’s knowing how to use the information you get.”  – William Feather

Today’s Quotes:

“Education takes place in the combination of the home, the community, the school, and the receptive mind.” – Harry Edwards

 

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the nurseries of life.” – Somerset Maugham

Today’s Question

Did you know that: “The best effect of any book is that it excites the reader to self-activity?” –  Thomas Carlyle

Today’s Bible Verses:        Psalms 119:103-106, Psalms 119:10-12 & Revelation 1:3

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“A good book is opened with expectation and closed with profit.” –  Bronson Alcott

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” – The Bible (1 Timothy 4:13)

Paramount to any education is a foundation that equips the student with the ability to read and to foster skills that allow for comprehension.

“The elementary school must assume as its sublime and most solemn responsibility the task of teaching every child in it to read.  Any school that does not accomplish that has failed.” – Jacques Barsum

On some level the same principal of truth can be applied to any church or Sunday School charged with the responsibility of teaching and training souls to be equipped to live Godly lives.  We must teach God’s disciples, those He has bought with His Son’s blood, to search scriptures for themselves.  While teaching and preaching are vital to spiritual growth: learning to search the scriptures for one’s self and acquiring the ability to discern right teaching from wrong teaching: good Godly preaching for heresy and false doctrine; rests in the ability of each individual Christian to posses the skills that will allow them to read, glean from and comprehend what God is saying to their hearts, by His spirit, through His Word.

Henry David Thoreau said, “Books are the fit inheritance of generations and nations.”  There is no greater book that God’s book, ‘The Bible’.

Henry Ward Beecher said, “Books are the windows through which the souls look out.”

Truly God’s Book is the window our souls have to look through to see God’s plan, His purposes, His design and His way for us to live.

And it is incumbent on each and every one of us to encourage, help and facilitate each other in reading and understanding God’s word, corporately and individually.

Mark Twain said, “Training is everything.”

We are charged to ‘train up our children’ and to ‘make disciples’: and part of the duties and obligations we have in doing this is to teach them to read God’s Word. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father, enlighten my heart, my soul and my mind as I read your word: reveal yourself to me as I study it’s pages and help me to encourage, assist and enable others to seek you for themselves in the pages of your book – The Bible.

Daily Thought for Tuesday, August 30th

August 30, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part Two – Basic Fundamentals

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead.”  – Aristotle

Today’s Quotes:

“Education is a chest of tools.” – Herbert Kaufman

 

Today’s Question

“What office is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications and which ought, therefore, to be more honorable than that of teaching?” –  Harriet Martineau

Today’s Bible Verses:                     1 Peter 2:2-5 & Proverbs 1:2-5

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Knowledge is not simply another commodity. To the contrary, knowledge is never used up.  It increases by diffusion and grows by dispersion.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

I believe, in the good old days, when times may have been hard, that education was probably better: the three fundamentals of a good education were referred to as the ‘Three R’s’: Reading, Riting [Writing] and Rithmatic [Arithmetic].

At one time in our educational system there was a prevailing philosophy that if a student could grasp the basics they would then be capable of using those basics to grasp more complex ideas and concepts.

Robert Frost said, “Education is hanging on until you’ve caught on.”

This concept of grasping the fundamentals and building upon them would be a good approach for us to take in our spiritual lives.

The first and for most concept we need to understand is that: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – The Bible (Romans 3:26)

Secondly we need to understand that: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” - The Bible (Hebrews 9:22 & 28)

Thirdly we need to comprehend that: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – The Bible (Romans 10:13)

Maybe we could simplify this and call it the ‘ABC’s’ of faith.  We must Admit we are sinners; Believe Jesus died for our sins: And then Confess, repent and ask Him to be our personal Lord and Savior.

For those who are already Christians, I believe there is one fundamental concept we must learn, embrace and live and if we do I believe we will garner other spiritual truths as a result.  This one critically vital foundation to our spiritual education is this: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” – The Bible (Mark 12:30-40)

To accomplish this we must learn to trust in the Lord, walking by faith, not by sight and we need to realize we can’t rely on our own understanding but we must totally rely on Him.

.

James Truslow Adams said, “There are two educations.  One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.”  In order to have the best of both we need to get down to the basic fundamentals, embrace those and build everything else from there.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I get back to the basics both in faith and knowledge and may I build my life on the truths of your love, your word and your will.

Daily Thought for Monday, August 29th

August 29, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part One – Basic Education

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.”  – Daniel J. Boorstin

Today’s Quotes:

“A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated.” – Horace Mann

 

Today’s Question

Have you considered it an imperative to: “Develop a passion for learning? If you do, you will never cease to grow.” –  Anthony J. D’Angelo

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Isaiah 1:17-20 & Proverbs 22:6

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“We don’t need no education. ” – Roger Waters (lyrics from ‘The Wall’)

This very statement by virtue of it’s bad grammatical structure, it’s use of double negatives and the sheer idiocy of it’s meaning serves to prove how desperately we need education and how imperative it is to our development and well being.  This is true not only intellectually speaking but spiritually speaking, as well.

One of the many problems we face in our world today is the breakdown, lack of and poor quality of the basic education that our children receive: Not only at school but in the homes too.  This is true of things like reading, writing and math; and equally true of character, virtue, morality and ethics.  Sadly, by in large, it seems we are failing the hope of our future by not providing them a sound and viable education, spiritually or intellectually.  (I understand this is not true in every situation and the degree of actual educations varies from child to child: but I don’t think any of us would doubt that overall something is missing somewhere.)

Sadly, this same truth transfers over into our churches too.  Far to many of God’s children are not being taught and trained in the truths and wisdoms of God’s word, for fear that we may offend their sensibilities or hinder their support of our endeavors.

In short, Education in America in the schools, the homes and the churches is not what it should be.

Jesus spent the majority of His ministry teaching.  That should be an indicator to us of just how important education is.

“  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” – The Bible (Matthew 11:29)

Learning cannot occur if no one is teaching.  And teaching is more than spouting facts or figures; it requires sharing experiences and personal examples; it requires demonstrating truth and modeling what is right, good and acceptable.

It has been said, “To teach is to touch a life forever.” – Anonymous 

We need people to touch our lives and we need to touch the lives of others with truth, with wisdom and with knowledge.

Every person has much to learn in a lifetime: but I also believe every person has much to teach in a lifetime too.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father, teach me and then empower and enable me to teach what I have learned to others.

Daily Thought for Friday, August 26th

August 26, 2011

‘The B.I.B.L.E.’

Today’s Thought:

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.”  – Mark Twain

Today’s Quotes:

“Sin will keep you from this book. This Book will keep you from sin.” – Dwight L. Moody

 

Today’s Question

Did you know that: “The reason most people are down on the Bible is that they’re not up on the Bible?” –  William Ward Ayer

Today’s Bible Verses:                     2 Timothy 3:15-17

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Oh! The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes that's the book for me.
I stand alone on the word of God,
the B-I-B-L-E! ” – Author Unknown (lyrics from ‘The B.I.B.L.E.’)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” – The Bible (John 1:1-5)

God’s Word – The Bible is God’s guidebook to life for you and me.  Everything that we need to know to live a life pleasing to Him is detailed in the pages of its text.

We are admonished to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - The Bible (2 Timothy 2:15)

Often Christians complain that they don’t know what God wants them to do.

My question back to them would have to be, when is the last time you picked up your Bible and read it?

The Bible says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” – The Bible (Psalms 119:105)   But that light cannot illuminate our way if we don’t pick it up and make use of the resource it is affording us.

“The B-I-B-L-E
I'll take it along with me,
I'll read and pray,
and then obey,
the B-I-B-L-E.” – Author Unknown (lyrics from ‘The B.I.B.L.E.’)

“Be careful how you live: you may be the only Bible some person ever reads.” - Anonymous

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be faithful and diligent to hide your words in my heart so that I can have the tools I need to avoid disappointing and disobeying you.

Daily Thought for Thursday, August 25th

August 25, 2011

‘Forever Young’

Today’s Thought:

“Children are open, like open books. They stand in front of us with wide-open eyes; they let us look freely into their little souls. As long as we let them be children, they will tell us right away what they feel: what they like and what they do not like.”  – Arnold Eberhard

Today’s Quote:

“When I grow up I want to be a little boy.” – Joseph Heller

 

Today’s Question

Have you ever noticed that: “It seems like once people grow up, they have no idea what's cool.” –  Bill Watterson   (from Calvin & Hobbes),

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Mark 10:13-16

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

There is something so pure, innocent and wonderful about the youthful virtues and essence of a child; that we should all want to be like one: at least from a spiritual perspective.

“May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong,
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.” – Jim Cregan, Bob Dylan, Kevin Savigar & Rod Stewart (lyrics from ‘Forever Young’)

To grow spiritually and to be able to mature in faith we must remain childlike in our innocence and we must maintain the ability to believe anything and everything is possible with God.  We must figuratively speaking stay ‘forever young’.

And, regardless of how old we are or how many years we have been a Christian we must realize that in God’s eyes we will always be His children and we will always be ‘forever young’.

“I was there
When you drew the breath of life
And I could hear your voice
The first time that you cried
And though you couldn't see Me
I was very near
And there's something now
That I want you to hear
You will always be a child
In my eyes
And when you need some love
My arms are open wide
And even when you're growing old
I hope you realize
You will always be a child
In my eyes
I was there the first time
That you prayed
And I heard
All the promises you made
And when you fell before Me
Crying, Father, I have sinned
I picked you up
And held you close again.” – Ray Boltz & Steve Millikan (lyrics from ‘You Will Always Be A Child’)

In spirit and in truth may we always stay ‘forever young’!

Today’s Prayer:

Father, as I grow in grace and faith, help me to stay forever young in attitude, gratitude and heart towards all the thing of your kingdom.

Daily Thought for Wednesday, August 24th

August 24, 2011

Brother or Sisterhood and You

Today’s Thought:

“It’s not enough to just be born a brother [sister] – you have to act like one too.”  – Lionel Shriver (from ‘A Perfectly Good Family’)

Today’s Quotes:

“He ain’t heavy - he’s my brother.”  – Father Edward J. Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town.

 

Today’s Question

Did you know if you were to trace your family tree back, as far as it could go, you would find we are all related to each other?  After all didn’t humankind start with Adam and Eve in the Garden?

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Galatians 6:2 & Romans 12:4-5

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Sister Sledge sang. “We are family…” and there is a lot of truth to this proclamation.

In terms of humanity we are all related.  And though it may be cousins thousands of time removed: this fact is not diminished by its unquestionable reality.  By virtue of God creating man in his own image and placing him in the Garden of Eden and then taking Adam’s rib and making Eve – the reality is this, we are all descendents of Adam and Eve.  Even though Noah and his sons and daughter-in-laws were charged with repopulating the earth after the flood, their bloodline is still traceable back to Adam.  So though we are not all brothers and sisters, we are all family and have a duty, obligation and responsibility to each other.

However, as Christians, the family dynamic changes a bit.  Under the blood of Jesus we have all been adopted into the Family of God, and in God’s family we are not cousins, nephews, nieces, etc.: we are all brothers and sisters.  Jesus is our elder brother and then our place in the family lineage makes us all middle children, except for the most recent person to accept Christ as their personal Savior, and then they would be the baby in the family; but I’m sure that is a spot of honor that will be short lived until Jesus returns to call us home.

As brothers and sisters we need to be there for each other; loving one another and helping each other when and wherever we can.

“The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
If I'm laden at all
THEN I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.” – Bobby Scott and Bob Williams (lyrics from ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’)

And also remember this:

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother (sister), he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother (sister) whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother (sister) also.” - The Bible (1 John 4:20-21)

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I care as much about the good and well being of my brothers and sisters; as you care about me.

Daily Thought for Tuesday,August 23rd

August 23, 2011

‘Don’t Laugh At Me’

Today’s Thought:

“Respectability is the social status of people whose sins haven’t quite caught up with them.”  – Edmund H. Volkart

Today’s Quotes:

“Never criticize a man until you’ve walked a mile in his moccasins.”  – American Indian Proverb

 

Today’s Question

“But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?” – Mark Hall (lyrics from ‘If We Are the Body’)

Today’s Bible Verses:                     John 8:2-11

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,  They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“I'm a little boy with glasses
The one they call the geek
A little girl who never smiles
'Cause I've got braces on my teeth
And I know how it feels
To cry myself to sleep
I'm that kid on every playground
Who's always chosen last
A single teenage mother Tryin' to overcome my past
You don't have to be my friend
But is it too much to ask
I'm the cripple on the corner
You've passed me on the street
And I wouldn't be out here beggin'
If I had enough to eat
And don't think I don't notice
That our eyes never meet
I lost my wife and little boy when
Someone cross that yellow line
The day we laid them in the ground
Is the day I lost my mind
And right now I'm down to holdin'
This little cardboard sign...so
I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall
I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey, aren't we all.” – Mark Willis (lyrics from ‘Don’t Laugh At Me’)

Often times, many come through the doors of our churches and we look down on them because they don’t dress right or they don’t look appropriate.   Often we esteem them as unworthy of our fellowship because we think we know too much about their past or maybe even their present.

Aren’t you glad Jesus was blind to ethnicity, skin tone and life histories when He died for our sins?

Scripture says: “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” – The Bible (1 Peter 1:17-19)

We need to all remember that we, like every other soul, were nothing more than a sinner, in need of a Savior and we weren’t worthy either, but that didn’t stop God from inviting us into the family, when He offered the gift of His salvation to whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord.

Many are hurting, lost and in need: as the members of the body, if we will not embrace them and help them find their way, who will?

“Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me.” – Mark Willis (lyrics from ‘Don’t Laugh At Me’)

“Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come.” – Mark Hall (lyrics from ‘If We Are the Body’)

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I know you don’t accept me because I’m better than anyone else, in fact to you no sinner is any different from any other: we are all in need of grace.  May I be as free to give it as I am to receive it.

Daily Thought for Monday, August 22nd

August 22, 2011

‘Awestruck’

Today’s Thought:

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how you do it.”  – Lou Holtz

Today’s Quotes:

“Your attitude, not your aptitude will determine your altitude.”  – Zig Ziglar

Today’s Question

Have you ever stopped to consider that: “Our attitude towards life determines life’s attitude towards us?” – John Mitchell

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Psalms 4:3-5,  Psalms 33:8  & Revelation 4:11

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful of comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp you infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depth of your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above.” – Hillsong United (lyrics from ‘I Stand in Awe of You’)

When it comes to the Lord God Almighty, are you ‘awestruck’ for Him?

What does it mean to be ‘awestruck’?

Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘awestruck’ as. “Filled or struck with awe; awestricken.”  It defines ‘awe’ as, “Fear mingled with admiration or reverence; a feeling produced by something majestic, sublime, etc..”

Scripture says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” – The Bible (Psalms 111:10)

As Christians we would be wise to not only be ‘awestruck’ by the magnificence, power, glory and majestic, holy attributes of the Lord God, but we would be even wiser to allow our knowledge of how amazing and how glorious He is to affect our deeds and our speech.

Now we can only imagine what it will be like when we stand before Him, face to face and I know we will be ‘awestruck’ then: but we must realize we are daily in His presence for He is omnipresent and with us each moment of everyday.

How can you be in the presence of one so mighty and wonderful and not be ‘awestruck’?

“And I stand, I stand in awe of you
I stand, I stand in awe of you
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of you.” – Hillsong United (lyrics from ‘I Stand in Awe of You’)

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be perpetually ‘awestruck’ in your presence in word, deed and attitude.  My it be my consistent and constant state of being.

Daily Thought for Friday, August 19th

August 19, 2011

A Hell To Shun

Today’s Thought:

“Hell is nothing other than complete separation from God.”  – Nicolas Berdyaev

Today’s Quotes:

“There are only two countries: heaven and hell; but two conditions of men: salvation and damnation.” – George Bernard Shaw

Today’s Question

Did you know that: “Hell is where no one has anything in common with anybody else except the fact that they all hate one another and cannot get away from one another and from themselves?” – Thomas Merton

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Luke 16:19-28

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Mankind today must either realize the Kingdom of God or perish.” – Albert Schweitzer

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.   And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.   And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:”  – The Bible (Mark 9:43-47)

Hell is real and it will be the final dwelling place for Satan and all those who have been deceived by his lies.

But it is not God’s will that any should go there but alas some will.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” – The Bible (2 Peter 3:9-11)

We need to be diligent messengers of the truth heralding the proclamation that there is ‘A Hell to shun and a Heaven to gain.’

“The Scriptures teach that there is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun !

We Preachers need to pass the Word,

for there are far too Many which have never heard.

The world mocks and says "all my friends shall be there",

The Lord says that there shall be "no parties for them to share".

The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus,

The Lord sent Jesus the best He had for us.

Today we think that "the rich man and the wealthy" are truly blest,

The Bible teaches that for all eternity without Jesus they will have no rest...

The beggar Lazarus did not enter Heaven because he ate crumbs and dogs

licked his soars nor because in this life he did suffer,

He entered paradise because he believed by faith what Moses and the Prophets

had offered !

Miracles cannot save nor people rising from the dead will change the hearts of

men,

It is the preaching of God's Word for faith in them to be heard the Spirit to

convince them.

The heat truly is extreme, dark as sackcloth shall be the sight, Mankind shall

scream:

No rest for them, their names forgotten, teeth shall they gnash, no room for them

to even dream...

Will you use your "wealth and lend us your health",

To get the message out for now is the time to "SHOUT" !

God save us all and give us all angels wings:

Help us to bring plenty of persons with us to those gates of pearl,

For we know that Thou doth Love this World !

So Preachers preach and Teachers teach:

For there are many that if they were to die shall receive eternal pain...

For they were never told the message to God RUN !

Because there is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to SHUN !” – William Tell

Truly there is a Heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

The question is this:  How will they know, unless we go and tell them?

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” -The Bible (Mark 16:15-16) 

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be more ambitious and more energized than the ‘Energizer Bunny’ in that I keep on going and telling until I see you face to face.

Daily Thought for Thursday, August 18h

August 18, 2011

Heavenly Places

Today’s Thought:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”  – The Bible (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Today’s Quotes:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – The Bible (John 3:3)

Today’s Question

Have you ever considered this notion: “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither?” – C. S. Lewis

Today’s Bible Verses:                     John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Crosses are Ladders to Heaven.” – Thomas Fuller

Heaven is a place of such grandeur that my feeble attempt at adjectives would fail to adequately describe it.  Yet the truth remains that regardless of how awestruck we might be at it’s grandiose qualities – there remains only one way to get there, and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and allowing His blood to wash away our sins.

Charles Stanford said, “Heaven must be in me before I can be in Heaven.”  How true this is, Christ must dwell in your heart or you will not be granted entrance at the Pearly Gates.

Heaven is a place of perfection where the unthinkable can happen.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.” – The Bible (Isaiah 11:6-8)

Heaven is a place of unfathomable beauty.

“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;  The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” -The Bible (Revelation 21:16-23) 

As ‘Wonderful as Heaven must be;’ ‘I can only imagine what it will be like;’ and I can’t understand why anyone would not want to be there for all eternity.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I look forward to my Heavenly home, but in my enthusiasm and excitement about getting there; may I not forget to labor to bring as many with me as I can by being bold, faithful and diligent in telling them how to get there.