This Is The Day the Lord Has Made…SPLASH!
Last Saturday morning I jumped from the bed, excited about the day.
I made the bed quickly and threw my hands toward the ceiling as I walked to the bedroom door.
“Lord,” I declared, “I just want to thank you that I’m a child of the most high God this morning! This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad…”
SPLASH!
In mid-sentence, I had thrown open the door to my bedroom and stepped into a pool of water covering my living room carpet.
“..and be glad in it, Lord,” I finished, shaking my head.
The hot water heater had apparently gone out, and running water had been covering an entire bedroom and the living room…all night long.
I would have plenty of time to rejoice in the Lord as I vacuumed water and tore out carpet.
“I will bless the Lord at all times,” wrote David in the 34th Psalm. “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
I wonder if he wrote those words while fixing a flat tire on the freeway, or picking up a treat the dog left on the floor in the kitchen? David was human, wasn’t he? Could he really expect us to maintain an attitude of praise at all times?
I wrestled with God on this one. I found myself fighting to stay “happy.”
“Okay, Lord,” I reasoned, “In Romans 8:28, you said that in all things you work for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. I’m going to give you the opportunity to prove yourself this morning.
“Please show me how this inconvenient, uncomfortable, potentially expensive situation is going to work out for my good.”
Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on my door.
It was Jose, the water heater repair guy.
“It looks like you’re having a rough day,” he said, taking a look at the water heater connections.
“Yes,” I said, trying to remain positive. “But, it’s just a little water. It could be worse.”
“Oh yeah, it could,” Jose replied, walking out to his truck to retrieve tools.
His tone gave me the impression that he had seen much, much worse. When he returned, I asked him what he meant.
“I lost 30 years of what I had worked to build during Tropical Storm Allison three years ago,” he said. “I had five feet of water in my home. Everything was destroyed.”
I figured this was probably the point where I needed to start listening for the Lord…
He went on to say that his neighbor had put her first-born baby in her car trying to escape the rapidly rising waters, and found the automobile and her baby underwater after running back into the house to grab a few items to save.
“She’s still a wreck emotionally,” Jose said. “I don’t think she’ll ever get over it. And, my wife and kids just finished putting our place back together, finally.”
I looked down at my replaceable wet carpet and realized, like usual, God had shown up to teach me a valuable lesson.
Folks, our God is good all the time. We are abundantly blessed and have so much to be thankful for in every situation. He is just as worthy of our praise when a situation seems to turn sour as he is when everything is rosy.
I asked Jose what part of town he lived in, and he indicated it was in a neighborhood very close to my church.
“I spent the night in your church sanctuary, you all gave us food, a place to stay, shots for the kids,” he said. “You all were wonderful.”
I actually hadn’t even joined my church when Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston in June, 2001. Twenty-one people lost their lives, and scores of Houstonians lost their homes and all their possessions.
I would spend the remainder of that Saturday vacuuming wet carpet, thanking Jesus that I was not one of them.
Being blessed is a matter of perspective, isn’t it? Think about places in the world where the residents would see any one of us as living like a king.
Sometimes, we just need a little reminder of how good we have it.
Did you get out of bed this morning? Do you have eyes that allow you to read this page? Do you have a place to sleep tonight, and food to eat before you go to bed? Do you have family and friends that love you?
Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
If you can answer “yes” to any of the above questions, it sounds like someone is abundantly blessed by God!
Let’s all remember to maintain that attitude of praise and gratitude. I don’t know your situation or the challenges you face today, but I bet you could find something to thank him for right now.
About the Author
John Tyler is a Houston-based writer and public relations professional who publishes an online column on Christian living. Be Transformed! Vist http://www.JohnTylerMinistries.com
The Armorbearer Coach: The Character of Christ In You!
Our Father God is painstakingly involved in working character in us. Read this article and discover how to cooperate with Him through one good choice at a time…
And even though Jesus was God’s Son, He had to learn from experience what it was like to obey, when obeying meant problems and difficulties. -Hebrews 5:8 TLB paraphrased by author
Recently, an actor with a career spanning over half a century told of his humble beginnings and one of his character choices that changed his life forever, “I was newly married and a new father. We were barely making it; living off my waiting tables and doing a few acting jobs here and there.
A man called one day offering an assignment paying a lot of money (back then) to play a young rebellious man spewing out obscenities to his father. After thinking of the disrespect it would bring to my father, a good man, I turned it down and declared I would only play roles in which my family could be proud.
Almost a month later, the man called back with a respectable role and an offer to represent me as my agent. He said he could not stop thinking about me. He said, ‘If a man feeding his family off pennies could turn down an assignment offering this much money, there had to be something to him.’ He represented me as my agent for 30 years until his death.
The role he offered me was Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” That actor was Sidney Poitier, who went on to win for his work in the movie, Lilies of the Field, 1963; the only Oscar for Best Actor awarded to an African-American in a 40 year span of U.S. history. Mr. Poitier’s choice during that difficult time changed the course of his life.
Have you noticed that much of how we respond to life’s circumstances has to do with our character? God desires to build character within us. He desires to train (discipline) us as His children.1 Training and disciplining does not always feel good. In fact, it can be downright painful.
Ask any private in a military boot camp or any professional athlete during his training season. The Apostle Paul encouraged us about God’s training, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” 2
Many times, throughout Scripture we find God saying to man…I wanted to know what was in your heart. I tested you to know if you would keep My commands. After Abraham’s character test, God said, “Now I know that you love Me.” To the Israelites He said, “I tested you in the wilderness so that I would know what you would do.” 3
As with any test, the day or season of the test is not the time to develop and prepare. Therefore, I believe the time to cooperate with God to build character is the noweveryday. In the everyday processes of life, we have opportunity to develop character (moral strength). Choices create character.
Problems and adversity give us opportunity to develop character. The Apostle Paul (as incredible as it may sound) in one of his letters to the Roman church, encouraged them to rejoice when facing difficulties, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for usthey help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally, our hope and faith are strong and steady.” 4
We develop character every time we make a right choice. John C. Maxwell, America’s expert on leadership and successful executive says, “We create it (character) every time we make choicesto cop out or dig out of a hard situation, to bend the truth or stand under the weight of it, to take the easy money or pay the price.” 5 By daily recognizing, developing, and refining the moral strength in us, we are co-laborers in building the character God desires to see in His children.
We desire people of character in our churches, our cities, our countries, and our world. Most if not all of the success stories turned failures in recent years, have been partially due to lack of character. No one can rise above the limitations of his character. Billy Graham was asked to comment on how he was able to maintain character in the face of so many ministry leaders showing a lack of character.
He responded with, “People have put me on too high a pedestal. We do the same with other leaders. I know, however, I am not as good as some people think I am. I have seen men in the depths of wickedness and have thought to myself, ‘There I go, except by the grace of God.’ I have to depend on God every day to help me live as I should.” We also must depend on the grace of God to help us live, as we should. To develop character in your life on a daily basis:
•Make right choices. Remember character is a choice. Invite God in on your choices. You will find it makes a lifetime of difference.
•Recognize your character will preach the gospel. Determine to set a good example for those watching your witness.
•Remember bad company corrupts good character. Watch the company you keep. Are they a good influence upon your life or a bad one?
•Depend on the grace of God. When you make a mistake, repent, and begin again. My pastor, Mike Hayes says, “God is a God of new beginnings. Look at how He provides us an opportunity for a fresh start each new season, New Year, new month, new week, and every fresh morning.”
We have determined that choices create character. If you have been unfortunate to make quite a few wrong choices in life as I have, then this will be good news to you. Pastor Amy Hossler encouraged me saying, “Even a wrong or bad choice repented of can eventually build good character.” Our Father God has promised (if we ask for it) to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Additionally, He promised to work all things to our good.9
It seems our Father God is painstakingly involved in working character in us. However, it is up to us to work together with him so that we may reap the harvest of righteousness he longs to give us. Join me as I cooperate with God in creating good character in me with one good choice at a time.
About the Author
Most leaders need a strong team of support. Your leadership should have one too! Earma is Director and Co-Founder of Armorbearers International, Inc. who offers help with designing strong teams of support for God’s leaders. Subscribe to their free ezine “The Armorbearer Coach” at http://www.armorbearers.net/newsletter.htm or visit host site at http://www.armorbearers.net for other insightful articles and resources.
Why Athracht from Lebanon Visits Chamonix Haute Savoie
Chamonix ski resort is a unique place with the infamous Mont Blanc and majestic glaciers. Each of us enjoy going paragliding or even wandering around. I usually travel from Reno and stay at a Chamonix catered chalet during my break.
My family and I previously stayed in Red Roof Inn Salem NH however it sometimes didn’t live up to its its advert: Red Roof Inn is renovating all of their inns nationwide! This location now features redesigned rooms with more comfort and added amenities such as T-Mobile wireless Internet access and all day coffeehouse-style service featuring fresh brewed, ground whole bean coffee and premium coffee options such as Lattes and Cappuccino. They’re rededicated to making your stay even better and back that promise with their Guest Satisfaction Program, which guarantees you will enjoy your stay or they don’t expect you to pay.
In comparison in Chamonix town the guesthouse is invariably exceptional. Likewise eating out in our groups favorite bar, 330 Main Street Blues, eating maple pumpkin cheesecake is a memorable experience. Chamonix is a large enough town to guarantee that there is lots for the skier to do. Amongst other things it includes a sports and swimming complex and a weekly market with fresh local produce, Chamonix provides a combination of skiing, French alpine charm and tourist attractions which not many ski resorts can hope to rival.
Sheik Palazzi warns President Bush and PM Sharon
It’s pretty bad when a Zionist Muslim – one in a million – has to be used of God to warn our professing Christian president who is sinning against God, Israel and the United States with his wicked enabling of the dismembering of the Promised Land of Israel, preparing the way for it to be perverted into “Palestine,” and clearing the way for EU “peacekeepers” who will brutally betray both Arabs and Jews! – DBA
(Used with permission)
Sheikh Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi Final Warning to U.S. President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Sharon:
Your Gush Katif Juden Expulsion and Pogrom-in-Progress now underway are “Serious Crimes” and “Severe Sins” rapidly calling down Divine Wrath on the United States and Israel, and on the “Quartet”/”Sextet” Road Map Nations (Egypt, E.U., Russia, “Saudi” Arabia” & U.N. member countries) collaborating with You in this Act of Global Rebellion Against God
(P.S. Stop sponsoring Israel Government Instigated Massacres of Arabs such as the Potemkin Village Atrocities in Shfaram and Shilo to draw Attention away from Israel Government Aktions now underway against Your Own People in Gush Katif. As U.S. President Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time” — even in Israel. And you don’t fool me.)
LIBERATED YERUSHALIYIM, D.C. (David’s Capital), Liberated Israelite Tribal Territories of Yehudah and Binyamin, Kingdom of David and Shlomo, United Israelite Kingdom of Yehudah and Yosef, Yom Chamishi, 13 Av, 5765, (Gregorian Date: August 18th, 2005), (Hijri Date: 12 Rajab, 1426), Root & Branch Information Services [www.rb.org.il]:
“Severe Sin” — Bush/Sharon Gush Katif Pogrom and Juden Deportation “Serious Crimes” and “Severe Sins”.
“Open Rebellion” — Deportation Rubber Stamping U.S. Congress and Israeli Knesset in State of “Open Rebellion” against G-d of Israel.
“Never Again”? — Legalized Asset Theft of billions of dollars of Currently-Being-Deported Gush Katif Jewish Pioneer homes, farms and businesses, compensation (if at all) of owners forced to sell assets at fraction of real value and transfer of those assets to World Bank for sale to prospective buyers (such as Wye Plantation owning Aspen Institute) replay of early 1930’s Nazi German Legalized Asset Theft (Arianisierung Gesetze/Arianization “Laws”) forcing To-Be-Deported German Jews to “sell” assets at fraction of real value.
“$.$. $piritual Heirs” — World Bank (founded 1944; headquarters, Washington, D.C.) $.$. $piritual Heirs of Bank for International Settlements (B.I.S.) (founded 1930; headquarters, Basel, Switzerland), which operated during World War Two with a U.S. President (Thomas McKittrick) and Nazi German General Director (Paul Hechler) “legally” transferring stolen Jewish assets out of Nazi Germany to Argentina and other countries (including gold from teeth of Jews, mass murdered in Nazi Death Camps, melted down to ingots by Nazi German Reichsbank).
“Nazi German/Saudi Wahhabi Collaborators” — Nazi German Collaborating Union Banking Corporation Director Grandpa Prescott Bush betrayed the Jews of Germany and Europe (and all Americans fighting Hitler) for profits during World War Two. Grandpa Prescott’s son, Saudi Wahhabi Collaborating U.S. Shadow President George H.W. Bush and Grandson, U.S. President George W. Bush, betray the Jews of Israel (and all Americans fighting Saudi sponsored Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood) today for almost 100% U.S. tax free Saudi oil profits.
“Fallen Vichy Israel?” — Israeli “leader”ship today starting to smell like French “leader”ship of late 1930s. Will Prime Minister Ariel Sharon soon star as Modern Marshal Henri Philippe Petain (with Shimon Peres playing Pierre Laval) in “Fallen Vichy Israel”?
“Divinely Decreed Devastation” — Divinely Decreed Devastation “rapidly accelerating descent” on nations — and their “leaders” — supporting current Gush Katif Juden Deportation and Legalized Asset Theft as punishment for these sins.
“Thus says the Lord” — “Thus says the Lord G-d: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into your (Gog’s) mind, and you shall device an evil device [Quartet/Sextet Roadmap]; and you shall say: ‘I will go up against the Land (of Israel) of unwalled villages; I will come upon them who are at quiet, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates; to take the spoil and to take the prey’; to turn your hand against the waste places (Gush Katif currently, Judea and Samaria soon) which are now inhabited, and against the People (of Israel) who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the magnates thereof, shall say to you (Gog): ‘Do you come to take the spoil? Have you assembled your company to take the prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil?’” [Yehezkel/Ezekiel 38:10-13]
About the Author
David Ben-Ariel, an American author who has travelled widely and who has lived throughout Israel, shares a special focus on the Middle East and great interest in Jerusalem, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out www.benariel.com
PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
People all over the world are making preparations
Some are making plans for wedding celebrations
Some are making plans to move to a new location
And some are making plans for a special vacation
Young couples are preparing for their first child’s birth
Farmers are preparing to plant seeds in the fresh earth
Soldiers are packing and preparing to go off to battle
Ranchers are preparing hay to feed their hungry cattle
Teachers prepare their lesson plans for the school year
Students prepare for school with new clothes and gear
Athletes prepare and plan for opening ball game day
Parents prepare their budgets so the bills they can pay
Making plans and preparations are a part of this life
The band is preparing to march to the sound of the fife
As your journey on earth unfolds from day to day
I hope you made some plans to kneel and to pray
I would like to ask you a very deep question
Have you made plans for your last preparation?
Put some thought in your answer to me
What will be your final destination be?
Copyright 2005 Irvin L. Rozier
About the Author
Author of My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com, various other articles and poems (google or yahoo search my name), preacher, retired military
People May Let You Down
Is your hope in God? Or, is it in people?
I will tell you this, people will let you down. Only God is infallible.
So many people put so much faith in another human being by putting them up on a pedestal, and it is very sad. All they are doing is setting themselves up for disappointment.
We serve a great God who loves us dearly and wants to take care of us. He wants us to put our hope in Him. Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).
You are reading this article right now because you either subscribe to my weekly newsletter, “Living Your Abundant and Prosperous Life,” or you found it via search engine,
recommendation, or by some other means. Whichever, I believe you truly want to live an abundant and prosperous life. Therefore, your hope must, absolutely be in God!
You will never experience the fullness of what God has for you unless you are believing in Him. The bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Whatever any situation may look like, just know God is in control.
Don’t put your faith in a person. I know people have good intentions, but they are only people. God is your rewarder and He is perfect in all His ways. He will never let you down. He
knows right where you are and just exactly what you need. Live by faith, not by sight.
About the Author
Daniel N. Brown is the publisher of the “Living your Abundant and
Prosperous Life” Newsletter. A FREE weekly publication that teaches how to live the abundant and prosperous life. Receivea FREE 7 page report entitled, “How to Receive from God”
when you sign up. http://www.secretplaceonline.com
Insightful Info about Obtaining a DVD Recorder
Do you crave for Digital Versatile Disc excellence; nonetheless miss your old VCR’s ability to save your much-loved children’s programmes? Well, you are equipped to acquire the best of both with a Digital Versatile Disc (more normally known as a DVD) recorder, as to its intelligent taping functions as well as its DVD first-rate audio and vision.
There are currently many models of Digital Versatile Disc recorders available, each with different qualifications & features. As a result, this means that whatever your wants are, there is a particular brand of Digital Versatile Disc recorders available in retail shops to suit you. Find top brand DVD recorders at Digital Direct!
Digital Versatile Disc Recorders have never been so sensibly priced. If truth be told, prices are falling so rapidly that getting rid of that old Video Cassette Recorder (more normally known as a VCR) & changing to DVD or HDD recording makes better sense. Though, it’s an industry affected by technology and innovation & consequently means product features are developing on a weekly basis.
If you’re mystified by the distinction between DVD-R, DVD-RAM & DVD+RW, we also supply you with a clear breakdown of the configurations available to buy – which companies are using them and what the most recent improvements are.
Pioneer manufactures a range of Digital Versatile Disc recorders, several of which have HDD capability; permitting you to tape several hours of telly prior to transferring them on to Digital Versatile Disc when desired. Pioneer also produces an array of exceptional Digital Versatile Disc players and Digital Versatile Disc home cinema systems including HDMI compatible makes.
Pioneer is a world famous television and hi-fi brand that caters for the home, car, multimedia & DJ consumer industries. Pioneer was created as Fukuin Shokai Denki in Tokyo in 1938. The company firstly began life producing speakers & switched its name to Pioneer in 1961. Since then it has brought a selection of firsts onto the market, which includes the world’s first Global Positioning System navigation device in nineteen-ninety and the first Digital Versatile Disc recorder in nineteen ninety nine.
Real Sporting Village in Rome
You will find "Real Sporting Village" in a beautiful park of 16 hacres with many mediteranian trees like; Pine, Lemon, Oleander, Boucanville.
A Stay in "Real Sporting Village" will defenitly relax you.
The Real Sporting Village is contructed with four diferent chalets.
Chalet Giallo (Yellow):
A Room with two single beds. Bathroom with shower. Living room. Small but fully furnished kitchen with fridge. Air conditioning, TV and terras.
Chalet Verde (Green):
A Bedroom with a dubblebed. Bathroom with shower. Living room with tv and air conditioning. Small but fully furnished kitchen with fridge and a terras.
Chalet Blu (Blue):
A bedroom with a dubble bed and a bedroom with two single beds. Bathroom with shower. Living room with tv and air conditioning. Small but fully furnished kitchen with fridge and a terras.
Chalet Rosso (Red):
A bedroom with a dubble bed and a bedroom with two single beds. Bathroom with shower. Living room with tv and air conditioning. Small but fully furnished kitchen with fridge and a terras.
Offered service:
Dayly cleaning and change of towels and bedlinnen every three days.
Breakfast
Inlcuded in the price:
Sauna and Turkisch bath
Hydromasage
Fitness centre
Pool (inside and outside)
Tenniscourt
Golf
Football
How to reach us:
By car:
From motorway A1 exit at Roma nord following the sign for Civitavecchia. Get off the motorway exit nr.1 following the signs for 500 mt. and you will find a sign on the right handside.
By train:
From Termini Train Staion take Metro A (Subway) direcxtion Cornelia. When you get off the train follow the sign for Piazza Irnerio-Aurelia. Right in front of the exit you will find a busstop. Take bus nr.246 and get off after 6 stops.
By plain:
From Fiumicino take the Terravision Shuttle and it will drop you off right in front of our Village Sporting Club Real.
Distants to:
100 mt from busstop for buses nr. 246-247-981-985
200 mt from railway station Aurelia
15 min. from citycentre
20 min from Ciampino and Fiunicino airport
Other suggestion for Rome? Wide choice and Low rates on Rome accommodations: compare rates for Hotels in Rome, or compare price for other kind of accomodations in Rome (apartments, Bed and breakfast, Guest Houses,…), or make a reservation for a tour in Rome
How to Journal for the Soul
How to Journal for Your Soul
by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
A journal can serve so many purposes. There are food journals to assist with weight loss, home improvement journals, baby keepsake journals, and travel journals, just to name a few. I started my first journal at age 15 simply because I wanted to remember what it was like to be that age, and realized that if I didn?t write it down, I would forget. Just recently, I began blank book number 12! These simple books, filled with life?s memories, are among my most prized possessions.
But what about a journal for the soul? ? a journal devoted to one?s relationship with God? What would such a journal contain? It could be a series of letters to God. Just as sometimes it is easier to write a letter or send an email as opposed to picking up the phone or having a face-to-face conversation, it can be easier to speak to God through writing. In this case, this journal would be a form of prayer, a conversation with God.
Such a journal might be used to write about one?s relationship with God. It could be a place for indicating where God was for you on any given day. Did you find God in another person, in the smile of a child, in the kindness of a stranger, or perhaps in creation, in a beautiful sunrise or a crisp autumn day? When did God feel absent? Was there a time that you felt alone and abandoned? This journal might be as simple as a list of positives and negatives.
A journal for the soul might also contain a list of goals for where you would like your spiritual life to be. Would you like to devote more time to prayer? Perhaps attend church services more frequently? Spend more time appreciating nature? Be kinder to those you encounter each day? Writing down these goals can be a first step to making them a priority in your life. You could then include what steps you take to make those goals a reality.
In addition, you might want to reflect on your spiritual history. Looking back at your life, can you see God at work? Do you see a plan taking shape, a direction in which you feel that you have been pushed? Were there times that you rejected God and attempted to make it on your own? What brought you back into a relationship with God? Looking at one?s past can be integral in moving to a new future.
What should your journal look like? That is entirely up to you. A simple notebook can do, as can any blank book with lines sold everywhere from the local dollar store to the high end leather bound variety at the upscale bookstore. Pick something that you will treasure and want to write in, but not so intimidating that you fear your writing in it will ?ruin? it. Some of you may be tempted to use your computer. This can work fine if you resist the urge to use the ?delete? key at every turn. This is not supposed to be a grammatically perfect and spell-checked document but rather an honest look at one?s life. If you do use a computer, however, I would suggest printing out your entry to keep someplace else. Computer files are notorious for getting lost or destroyed and you may want to look back on those pages years from now to see where you have been and how far you have come!
In any case, a journal should be a record of the journey. We come to know God through our experiences of daily life. A spiritual journal offers a place for reflection and can be a very useful tool in fostering your relationship with God.
Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Theology, is editor of the Spiritual Woman Newsletter (http://www.spiritualwoman.net) and author of ?Letters to Mary from a Young Mother? (iUniverse, 2004).
© Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur 2004
About the Author
Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Theology, is editor of the Spiritual Woman Newsletter (http://www.spiritualwoman.net) and author of ?Letters to Mary from a Young Mother? (iUniverse, 2004).
Fruit Inspection
If we believe we are called to be Fruit Inspectors, then might we also have been watching for imperfection in Jesus, in His day, too?
By human observation, Jesus did not pass the test. Among other things, they said He was gluttonous and a winebibber; being that he befriended both publicans and sinners. Luke 7:34 No doubt, others have looked to find flaws in your ministry, too.
Maybe you were slain by someone offended by your poundage, who’d forgotten that bodily exercise only profits a little.
Perhaps the determination of your faithfulness is based upon 100% church attendance, when you work third shift and can’t keep your eyes open through every meeting.
Certainly, when they inspected Jesus, they considered Him to be flawed, too … thinking God had caused Jesus’ affliction due to his own sin, without ever having considered that people might actually be suffering as a result of the sins of others. Isaiah 53:4-5
Apparently, if we look to see error, we will find it; real or imagined. That being the case, why don’t we give others a break and get off their backs?
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:20
It isn’t by our inspection that we shall know them.
It is by their fruit that we shall “know” them.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:22-26
© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock
http://www.angelslight.org/joycepoem.html
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.
About the Author
Joyce C. Lock is a published author, poet, and columnist. In addition, she founded and maintains the email ministries “Heavenly Inspirations” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and “Share a Smile” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/ . Joyce’s writings encourage us in our relationship with God and each other.