Author and pastor Leith Anderson wrote: "Several years ago I was visiting Manila and was taken, of all places, to the Manila garbage dump and saw something beyond belief. Tens of thousands of people make their homes on that dump site. They've constructed shacks out of the things other people have thrown away. And they send their children out early every morning to scavenge for food out of other people's garbage, so they can have family meals. People have been born and grown up there on the garbage dump. They have had their families, their children, their shacks, their garbage to eat, finished out their lives, and died there without ever going anywhere else, even into the city of Manila. It is an astonishing thing.
"Amazing, but not as amazing as the journey from heaven to earth. The Son of God made that journey, and he knew what he was doing. He knew where he was going. He knew what the sacrifice would be. He journeyed from heaven to earth on a mission to save the human race."
One example of how Jesus, God's Son, rescues a life is told by Graham Green in his novel, The Heart of the Matter. The hero was a police chief in Africa whose life had become so complicated in a mass of intrigue, killing and unfaithfulness, that he saw but one way out -- suicide. He had "tried" religion as a boy and as a young man, but he had almost forgotten all that as his sadly wicked life unfolded. As he goes out to kill himself, he passes a church. Cynically, he decides to go in and pray a bitter lost man's prayer, more in defiance than in faith. He kneels and as he prays there suddenly breaks over him the thought that God is there with him, & that God will not let him go. He shouts, "How desperately God wants to save me!"
That's the point of Christmas, and of the coming of Jesus Christ. How desperately God must have loved us to send His only Son! How desperately Christ must have loved us to die on that cross for our sins. Christmas is another word for divine love.
Jesus identifies with man, reveals himself to man -- he experienced life as man lives it. God came to live in a human body and lived among us. Even now He is not far off somewhere -- untouchable and unreachable. He is near. He knows your every need, and He cares. He continues to live in the hearts of believers through his Holy Spirit.
If Jesus is the way to eternal life, why waste your time on some other way?
The greatest gift the world ever received is Jesus. The greatest gift you can give God this Christmas is yourself. The greatest gift you can give to your family is a yourself as a Christian father, husband, mother, wife, son or daughter and introduce the family to Christ.
If you know Jesus Christ as Savior, here are some free gifts you can give:
Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you."
Give something away -- anonymously.
Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.
Turn away wrath with a soft answer.
Visit someone in a nursing home.
Apologize if you were wrong.
Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.
Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy. -- (This list is from C. Swindoll, Growing Strong.)
There is no better time than now to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Go to the Contact Us page and send me a message. I will be happy to assist you in your decision.
Thanks for the visit. Go to church Sunday.
-- Don
Babe Ruth had hit 714 runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves against the Reds in Cincinnati. But the great Babe Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly, and in one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears. The one-time hero was angry & discouraged. Just then a little boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero. Ruth didn't hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy and hugged him. Suddenly the crowd went silent and a hush fell over the entire park. An act of caring by a little boy shamed them into remembering the great slugger's accomplishments of the past.
Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, after living a perfect sinless life for you & me was condemned to die the death of a common criminal. The crowds booed and hissed and mocked. Standing faithfully by, in the midst of all of this, were John and Jesus' mother, Mary. Soon other disciples regrouped and their faith was strengthened. They then counted it a privilege to participate with Christ in his sufferings. They put their lives on the line.
In our day, the world again is booing and hissing at Christ. False prophets have used the electronic media in the name of Christ to embellish their own lifestyles. The world has seen the corruption and many have turned against the Lord. Have we, feeling embarrassed, sort of shrunk away and let the world have its way? Are we willing to hug the knees of Jesus and gratefully share in his sufferings? He will take us in his arms and assure us of his love. If we will take our stand, perhaps the world will be silent and remember who Jesus really is.
Today, we will go beyond the cross and look at Jesus' victory over the grave. We will see what this means for us.
Confucius is dead and buried. Mohammed is dead and his body did not come back to life. Christ is alive!
Of all the religions of the world, only one is founded upon fulfilled prophecy. Only one presents a Savior, victorious over death. That religion is the one founded by Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the Son of God, lived as a human being. He was tempted as you and I, yet without sin. He was killed and buried, but he rose again.
One account of this victory is found in Matthew 28:1-10:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, roled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid, Go and tell my brothers to go into Galilee; there they will see me."
The Empty Tomb Proves God's Power Over Death
The Scriptures had declared that the Messiah would be raised from the dead. The Psalmist, in a prophetic messianic passage (16:10) said, "...you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay."
Jesus himself spoke of his crucifixion and the fact that he would come back to life on the 3rd day. The disciples did not recognize the full implications of his words until it happened. We cannot understand the bodily resurrection of Jesus; we can only accept it.
The power of God over death! Have confidence in God. Put your life into his hands. Trust all to him.
Not only does the empty tomb prove God's power over death, but...
The Empty Tomb Testifies to the Sonship of Christ
Repeatedly, Jesus had claimed to be the Son of God. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son ..." (John 3:16). "He that has seen me has seen the Father ... the Father and I are one." "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (Jn. 14:2-3). On the cross, Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" At his baptism and transfiguration, God proclaimed the Sonship of Jesus.
The Son of God -- God in man, said that he would rise from the grave and he did. His claim to being the Son of God was verified. Had he remained in the grave, we also would have no victory over death. But he didn't! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! A Roman centurion at the foot of the cross who witnessed the events and heard the words of Jesus, said, "Surely this was the Son of God."
Not only does the empty tomb prove God's power over death and testify to the Sonship of Christ, but also...
The Empty Tomb Gives Hope to Us Through Jesus Christ
Jesus had said, "I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again & I will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
It was necessary for Christ to rise from the dead -- to enter heaven through the door of death. This paved the way for us. He broke the shackles of death and the grave.
Romans 1:8 says there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." As Jesus was victorious over the grave, so will all be who have their faith in him.
Romans 8:11 says, "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you."
I once read about a picture called, "The Game of Death," in which a young man is represented as playing chess with the devil. The devil apparently, by the positions of the chessmen, has cinched the game. A noted chess player went to see the picture, and after looking at it he said, "I can save that poor fellow!" Then he explained how the chessmen could be moved to win the game. That is what Jesus did for us. He has in one move, eternally checkmated the devil. By his victory over death, Jesus has given us victory over the grave.
There is no fountain of youth but there is a Fountain of Eternal life. John 4:14 says, "Whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
Will you come and drink at this Fountain? If not, Christ died in vain, as far as you are concerned. For you he died. For you he won the victory over death.
If you wish to write me, just go to the Contact Us page of this website. I would like to hear from you.
-- Don
Have you ever heard of the "Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls"? When you make an acrostic of its first letters, you have "Doormats." The Doormats have an official insignia - a yellow caution light. Their official motto is: "The meek shall inherit the earth, if that's OK with everybody!" The society was founded by Upton Diskson who wrote a pamphlet called Cower Power.
Obviously, that's not the formula for victory in life. Here are the words of a great missionary writer in the New Testament, the second major division of the Bible. The writer's name is Paul. He also gives the source for the three characteristics he mentions.
"God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
Paul wrote these words to a friend who was a minister for Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The spirit Paul is talking about is made available through Jesus Christ to those who trust their lives into his care. A few verses later, the Bible says, "This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." In other words, God had already provided for changing the lives of those who would trust Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God Can Give You Power
Do you sometimes feel like the Doormats? No power, no self-esteem. You feel like the world is passing you by? Cheer up! There is One Who cares for you. He knows what you are going through. He wants to empower your life, to give you a meaningful life, plus assuring you an eternal home in heaven when you die. What security! This is not an egotistical power that lords it over other people. That kind of power usually belongs to very insecure people. God can give you a power that allows you to have such security that you can allow others to be on an equal level with you and even challenge your ideas without your seeing this as a threat to your security. A little later, I'll tell you how this can happen to you.
God Can Give You Love
The Bible says that God is love. Here's how much God loves you. To provide you with the abundent and eternal life, God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life on this earth, and then offer himself as a sacrifice for your sins and my sins. He died that we might live. This was necessary because sin cannot enter heaven, and we all are sinners.
Jesus' sacrifice, for all who will accept it and trust Him with their lives, covered your past sins as well as those you will commit in the future. You will try not to sin after He becomes your Savior and Lord, but sometimes you will slip and do what is wrong. Jesus took our sins on Himself and imputed His righteousness on us so we can stand before God as ones without sin and qualify to enter heaven.
Jesus also gives us the spirit of love, so that we will be willing to reach out and help others, as he reaches out to us. We will gain great pleasure in giving to others, rather than always being on the receiving end.
God Can Give You Self-Discipline
Do you get yourself into trouble because you fail to discipline yourself. Perhaps you put yourself before others and try to meet your wants instead of reaching out to their needs. Or maybe you keep giving in to immoral acts though you know they are wrong. Perhaps you get very angry over little inconveniencies or small inconsiderate acts of others. As we Americans (at least in the United States) say, you "fly off the handle" or you "get hot and bothered." The following poem that an unknown writer penned may remind you of times when self-discipline was absent.
The Handwriting On The Wall!
A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.
"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."
She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.
She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.
Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!
She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.
Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall
-- Anon.
The new life that God gives you when you trust Jesus as Savior can be a start toward self-control and self-discipline. All the changes will not happen at once. But you will be turned around, marching in a different direction with your life. God will put His Holy Spirit in you to encourage you and give you strength. You will no longer have to rely only on your own wisdom, abilities and strength. He wil be your encourager, giving you the courage and strength to grow in His grace. As a baby learns to crawl, stand, then walk and progressively do other things, you start as a babe in Christ. You will progressively grow as He reveals new things to you.
You can read the Bible, pray to God, the heavenly Father and be aware of His presence and care for you.
Here's How
I said that I would explain how you can receive the new meaningful and eternal life. Here's how:
1.Recognize that you are a sinner (Aren't we all!). The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We are all sinners, those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior are lost sinners. The Bible says that after death they will spend eternity in hell where the fire is not quenched. The ones who have accepted Jesus, God's Son, as Savior are saved sinners, also called saints, though we may not act very saintly sometimes. The saved ones will go to heaven and be with God when they die.
2.Repent of your sins. Repent means to be sorely sorrowful of your sins, but it means more. The basic meaning is to turn from your sins and start in the opposite direction. You turn from your sins and toward God.
3.Ask God to forgive you and ask Jesus to come into your life and save you. You can do this with a simple prayer such as the following, if you really mean it:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins and I now turn from them and to you. I now invite you into my life. Please forgive my sins and save my soul. Thank you dear Lord. Amen.
If you have done as instructed above, with a sincere heart, you have been saved. You can now pray to God and address Him as Father, or heavenly Father, or Father in heaven. You approach Him as one saved by His Son.
Feel free to write me. Just go to the Contact Us page of this website. I would like to hear from you. I will then have you in my prayers and be open to assistance with your decision. The local pastor of a church where salvation through Jesus Christ is taught will also be happy to help.
Thanks for the visit. Go to church Sunday.
-- Don
Did you know that some form of the boomerang has existed since the Neolithic period? Pictures and inscriptions on stone walls indicate that the "throwing stick" and the "throwing club" were used as weapons, primarily for hunting. It eventually developed into the boomerang.
A well-made boomerang thrown by a skilled person will return to the thrower. In fact there are regional, national and world championship events. This year the world championship was held July 28-August 9 in Kiel, Germany.
Jesus gives us some commands that act like boomerangs. He tells us that how we treat others will determine how we are treated. Just as what goes up must come down, what we dish out to others will come back to us.
I suppose all of us have developed certain attitudes and concepts of life that make it difficult for us to grasp the meaning of some passages. Perhaps Luke 6:37-38 is such a passage. Here's what Jesus said, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
First Jesus commands us not to judge others.
Jesus says if we go around judging others, other people will be judging us. Also, there seems to be the implication that if we start judging others, not only will others judge us, but God's judgment of us will be harsher.
However, in Matthew 7:16, in speaking of false prophets, Jesus said, "By their fruit, you will recognize them." What is the difference? Isn't that judging? It is a judgment for decision-making to keep you on the right track. But there is a difference in the original language that we do not see in English.
In the passage quoted above, when Jesus said, "do not judge," the Greek verb (The Bible's New Testament passage was originally written in Greek) is in the present active indicative. The meaning in the original language is: "Do not continue judging," or "Do not have the habit of judging." It denotes a continuing way of acting. Jesus said that this is not acceptable. If you go around judging others, just like the boomerang, it will come back when you are not looking and hit you on the head. And God will hold you responsible for your attitude and actions.
Jesus also said, "Do not condemn."
This is similar to judging. If you are condemning someone, you have already judged him or her. After judging someone's action, motive, attitude or mindset, you might go a step further and say, "You (or he/she) will never change -- you will never amount to anything." Some parents do that to their children. They rarely, if ever, find something for which to commend one or more of their children. They constantly see only the bad and tell them that they will never amount to anything. They are likely to live out that perceived expectation of their parents.
Then Jesus tells us, "Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
We do not always know the motives or past experiences of people who treat us badly. Even if we think we do and the other person's actions are not justified, still we are to be ready to forgive. Jesus' statement just prior to these commands, seem to imply that the same frame of mind is to apply even to our enemies.
Jesus uses the same verb form that he used when he said we are not to judge and not to condemn. In fact, all four of these commands use the same verb forms.
Forgiving is to be our way of life. Sometimes we need to ask forgiveness. This may be the case when someone offends us, even if we do not know of anything for which we need to be forgiven. We may need to do it in order that the other person will be of a mind-set and spirit to accept our forgiveness.
We can be honest with the other person. We do not have to say, "You were wrong," or "You have been hateful to me." We can say, "When you said (or did) a certain thing, it really hurt me. I may have just misunderstood and perhaps I have said or done things to hurt you. I hope you will forgive me, and of course I forgive you for the incident to which I referred. Let's be friends." You will probably receive forgiveness and the other person will feel better toward you. Just like the boomerang, it will come back to you. Become skilled in the use of the boomerang.
Finally, Jesus said, "Give and it will be given to you."
From earliest childhood, we are taught to be conservative with our money. We are taught that others will try to take it in one way or another. Because of this early teaching, combined with actual experiences, many of us have developed what someone has called a "pocketbook protection instinct." This instinct immediately begins to function when we hear the word "give." many of us have failed to recognize the words that follow this command.
Giving is a way to maturity. We are born with a selfish, acquisitive instinct. You know how very small children claim everything is "Mine!" They have to be taught to share.
Giving is a way to happiness. While there is joy in receiving, the greatest happiness that the human heart can know comes to those who are givers.
Giving is the way to usefulness. As Christians, we must share ourselves with others. Only as we give some service to others can we feel useful, or can we be useful.
The focus of the Christian's attention and effort is to be on giving. This refers to every area of life. We need to be givers at home, at school, at work, in business dealings, and within the church.
You can give gratitude, love, mercy, forgiveness, praise, encouragement, inspiration, and time.
Jesus Christ was the greatest giver of all. This Son of God died on the cross as a sacrifice for your sins and mine. Had it not been for his love and sacrifice, we would all have to spend eternity in a fiery hell, separated from God. This is because we have all sinned and sin cannot enter heaven. Jesus took our sins on himself and burried them. He rose from the grave and ascended to heaven. He is alive! You can receive eternal life by turning to Jesus Christ and his way of life for you.
Here's how you can receive the new meaningful and eternal life:
1.Recognize that you are a sinner (Aren't we all!). The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We are all sinners, those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior are lost sinners. The Bible says that after death they will spend eternity in hell where the fire is not quenched. The ones who have accepted Jesus, God"s Son, as Savior are saved sinners, also called saints, though we may not act very saintly sometimes. Those who are saved will go to heaven and be with God when they die.
2.Repent of your sins. Repent means to be sorely sorrowful of your sins, but it means more. The basic meaning is to turn from your sins and start in the opposite direction. You turn from your sins and toward God.
3.Ask God to forgive you and ask Jesus to come into your life and save you. You can do this with a simple prayer such as the following, if you really mean it:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins and I now turn from them and to you. I now invite you into my life. Please forgive my sins and save my soul. Thank you dear Lord. Amen.
If you have done as instructed above, and asked God to save you, as indicated in the prayer, with a sincere heart, you have been saved. You can now pray to God and address Him as Father, or heavenly Father, or Father in heaven. You approach Him as one saved by His Son. You should pray to the Father every day.
Find a Bible, if you do not have one, and read in it each day. A good place to start is the Gospel of John. It is in the New Testament. Most of your reading at this point should be in the New Testament. Be sure you tell someone about your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Write me by going to the Contact Us page of this website. I would like to hear from you. I will then have you in my prayers and be open to assistance with your decision. The local pastor of a church where salvation through Jesus Christ is taught will also be happy to help.
Thanks for the visit. Go to church Sunday.
-- Don
In America we observe an annual Thanksgiving Day. For the United States, it is the last Thursday of November. Most of us know the story of the first Thanksgiving -- at least, we know the Pilgrim version. But how many of us know the Indian viewpoint? No, I'm not talking about some revisionist version of history. I'm talking about the amazing story of the way God used an Indian named Squanto as a special instrument of His providence.
Historical accounts of Squanto's life vary, but historians believe that around 1608 -- more than a decade before the Pilgrims landed in the New World -- a group of English traders, led by a Captain Hunt, sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, Hunt took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery. But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians -- a boy named Squanto.
Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stable of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America.
It wasn't until 1619 -- ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped -- that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home. But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto's entire village.
We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead?
A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English.
According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto "became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."
When Squanto lay dying of a fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Squanto bequeathed his possessions to his English friends "as remembrances of his love."
Who but God could so miraculously weave together the lives of a lonely Indian and a struggling band of Englishmen? It's hard not to make comparisons with the biblical story of Joseph, who was also sold into slavery -- and whom God likewise used as a special instrument for good.
Squanto's life story is remarkable, and we ought to make sure our children and grandchildren learn about it. While you're enjoying turkey and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, share with your kids the Indian side of the Thanksgiving story.
Tell them about Squanto, the "special instrument sent of God" who changed the course of American history. -- Charles Colson,BreakPoint Commentary, November 25, 1998, © 1998 Prison Fellowship Ministries.
God always wants what is best for us. The very best thing is eternal life with Him. Even though we are sinful, God provides a way to receive complete and permanent forgiveness. This is necessary if we are to enter heaven when we get through with these bodies in which we live. Our awareness, our soul continues when our bodies die.
Heaven is a holy place. There is no sin there. Sin is rebellion against God. It may be simply an indifference toward God, as though He does not exist. Just like many children who grow up in a home provided by the sacrifice of their parents and then leave without ever showing any gratitude, many people treat God the same way. God created man for fellowship but we have broken that relationship. Every person has done so. We are responsible for our sins and must pay the penalty -- which is eternity in a burning hell (Satan's domain). If we choose Satan instead of God, we go to live with Satan in his home when we die.
But God does not want us to end up in hell. He loves us so much that He sent his Son Jesus Christ to live as a perfect person here on earth. As he had no sin of his own, he qualified to be a sacrifice for our sins. He was crucified on a cross over 2,000 years ago, and took our sins on himself. For each person who will accept his sacrifice and entrust his or her life in his hands, he will clothe that person in his righteousness, so he or she can stand before God as being without sin. One's sins are completely and permanently forgiven.
Jesus rose from the grave, came back to life, on the third day after his crucifixion and spent 40 additional days on earth before ascending back into heaven. He conquered death and paved the way for us to enter heaven. But he is the only way for us to enter heaven.
All of the animal sacrifices in the Bible's Old Testament were pointing to the one great sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus will not only forgive your sins he will give you a new life. This new life will be both eternal and filled with new meaning and purpose. Instead of living a self-centered life, you will be living a life committed to God through His Son. He will give you a love, a genuine caring concern, for other people. You will find the joy of serving rather than being served. He will help you know right from wrong.
In the Bible you can learn more about God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit who comes to live within you, and the life He has for you. Find a Bible. Read the Gospel of John, in the New Testament, first. Matthew, Mark and Luke (3 other portions of the New Testament) contain more of the teachings and works of Jesus.
If you have a Bible, or can find one, here are a few verses of Scripture to read: John 3:16-18, Romans 3:10 & 23, Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9.
In this Thanksgiving season, let's remember to thank God for His blessings. The best thanks we can give is the acceptance of His offer of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. Feel free to write me by going to the Contact Us page of this website. I will be happy to answer questions and assist in your decision to trust Jesus Christ as Savior.
Thanks for the visit. Go to church Sunday.
-- Don
A poor widow's son struck it rich with oil and as Mother's Day approached, he made up his mind to show his appreciation by some unusual gift for all that his mother had done for him. So he asked the owner of a pet shop, "What is your most unusual and expensive pet?"
The pet store owner answered, "I have a mynah bird for $27,000. It is the only one in the world that can recite the Lord's Prayer, the 23rd Psalm, and the 13th chapter of First Corinthians."
"I'll take it," said the rich son. "I don't care how much it costs. Mom is worth it and she will get so much comfort hearing it recite Scripture."
So he bought it and shipped it off to his mother. On Monday following Mother's Day, he called long distance. "Did you get my bird?" he asked.
"Yes, son."
"How did you like it?"
"It was delicious, Son." (Treasury of Humor)
In the United States the second Sunday of May each year is Mother's Day. It is a day in which special appreciation is shown to our mothers.
Here are some quotes from some historical leaders about their mothers:
John Quincy Adams (6th president of the U.S.): "All that I am my mother made me."
Abraham Lincoln (16th president of the U.S.): "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
Dwight L. Moody (Christian evangelist in the 1800s): "All that I have ever accomplished in life, I owe to my mother."
Napoleon (emperor of France in the early 1800s): "Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons."
Andrew Carnegie (U.S. Steel manufacturer and philanthropist of early 1900s, born in Scotland) frequently acknowledged the tender interest and influence of his mother.
Benjamin West (U.S. painter 17 & 1800s, in England after 1763): "A kiss from my mother made me a painter."
Henry Ward Beecher (U.S. preacher & writer, 1800s): "The memory of my sainted mother is the brightest recollection of my early years."
James Garfield's first act upon being inaugurated as the 20th president of the U.S. in 1881 was to stoop and kiss his aged mother, who sat near him.
U.S. President William McKinley (25th president of the U.S., 1897-1901) provided in his will that, first of all, his mother should be made comfortable for life.
One of the last acts of Jesus Christ, while hanging on the cross, was to make provision for his mother.
The apostle Paul said in II Timothy 1:5 (in the Bible), "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded now lives in you also."
Paul recognized that the parent continues to live through the child. In the case of Timothy, his trusted co-worker, the example of faith set by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice influenced his own life of faith. How important it is for one's own parents to set a good example! And when this is reinforced by the grandparents the example is even more powerful.
Proverbs 31:28, speaking of a good mother, says, "Her children rise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
As I think of my own mother, I can say first of all that...
My Mother Knew How to Enjoy Life.
My mother loved life and she loved people. My brothers and sisters and I were always free to invite other youth to our home. It was generally after church on Sundays. We didn't even have to ask permission. If we went home with someone else, however, that was a different matter. My parents cared enough about us that they wanted to know where and with whom before giving permission. It was not unusual for us to have 15-18 young people for Sunday dinner and the afternoon. I don't know how Mom always managed to prepare so quickly for so many, but she did and she seemed to enjoy it immensely. She was quite a prankster and played pranks on the young people as they played pranks on one another. And they loved her for it. The way my mother enjoyed life is one of the happiest memories of my younger years.
As I look to the New Testament of the Bible, I see the example of another woman who seemed to thoroughly enjoy life. Her name was Mary. She was the mother of Jesus.
Can you imagine a pregnant woman, nearing the time for delivery, launching out on such a trip of adventure as the journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea? -- and by donkey back? She must have been in good physical condition to endure the trip! Later we see her enjoying herself at a wedding feast in Capernaum, and when the wine ran out it was she who went to Jesus about the problem. In the Bible we frequently see her with the band of followers of Jesus in Galilee and Judea. She enjoyed life and she enjoyed people.
If more parents would enjoy life with their families, there would be fewer problems of relationship in the families and more happiness. My brothers and sisters and I are committed to the Lord, actively involved in our churches and have the highest respect for our parents.
My Mother Gave All of Her Love to All of Her Children.
It was as though each child was the only child. Love was not based on accomplishment. The worth of an individual is not based on what he or she is able, or not able, to accomplish. I had the feeling that even though I might fail miserably in doing anything really worthwhile, my parents' love would not diminish a bit. I was loved as me -- not for my accomplishments.
A parent's love for the helpless newborn baby starts out that way, but frequently that love becomes conditional on the things the child does. That does not mean that a parent may not be hurt by his or her child's attitudes or actions. It does mean that a loving parent will keep on loving in spite of the hurt -- as God keeps on loving us when we hurt Him.
My Mother Was a Good Wife to My Father.
My mother and father loved one another and we, the children, knew it. Sometimes Mom would start tickling Dad and they would begin to scuffle in fun. Somehow, seeing Mom and Dad enjoying one another and having fun together gave me a sense of security and a feeling of peace.
My mother never tried to order my father around. Decisions to be made were discussed by both Dad and Mom. Each considered the other and the family. If there were split opinions, Mom realized that a house divided against itself could not stand. She always accepted Dad's final decision and supported him in it. The amazing thing is that Dad might not make the decision in the way he had preferred, but make it in favor of Mom's opinion.
This unity, support and love had a great impact upon us children. Just as the example of Timothy's mother and grandmother were important to Timothy, so the example of my parents was important to me.
It is something to think about. No two people are alike and your approach and way of relating may be entirely different from that of my parents. That's OK, but however you relate, you must consider the consequences of your example.
My Mother Instructed Her Children by Word and Example.
I was never sent to church; I was taken. The Bible was read regularly in our home, and its teachings were made a part of my parents' lives. They never said, "Do as I say and not as I do." What they said and what they did were consistent. They were strict in discipline, but loving.
My parents taught me stewardship of money very early. For a couple of years (just before and during my first grade in school) they ran a laundry. I was paid a penny (a long time ago) for each laundry tub I drained. But part of the deal was that half of those pennies (50%, not 10%) would be given back to the Lord through the church. The lesson stuck (not the 50% part). Even though my parents did not have much money, they practiced responsible stewardship. The lesson was not just about money, but it taught me that everything belongs to God and I am responsible to Him.
Mom kept us aware of the love of God, our gratitude to Him and our opportunities to serve Him.
My Mother Was Committed to God Through Jesus Christ.
This is the most important of all. It seems that her faith in God through Jesus Christ was at the heart of all those other characteristics I have presented.
Her faith was contagious. She did not look for what was wrong with the church, or with other Christians. Her faith allowed her to accept people as they were, realizing that we are all sinners saved by God's grace.
Godly mothers will receive the blessing of Proverbs 31:28, "Her children will rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
Parents, your commitment to God through Jesus Christ His Son is important to you and your children.
Young people, you need to consider the things I have presented here as you determine the kind of parents you will be. Would you like for your children to rise up and call you blessed? Being a good parent is too great a job without Christ. Christ in the home does make a difference!
What About You?
If you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior, there is no better time than right now. To do so, first you must acknowledge that you are a sinner. We have all sinned. The Bible tells us that and we know it by experience. Sin is doing something wrong. All sin is against God, as He wants us to do and say and think the right things.
Second, you must confess your sins. God is ready to receive your prayer. Just talk to God. He is everywhere and can hear you. He even knows your thoughts. So admit to God that you are a sinner.
Now, repent of your sins. Repentance includes both being sorry for your sins and a turning from them to God. Don't wait until you can overcome your sins. That will never happen. Turn to God and let Him change you.
Finally, ask Jesus Christ, God's Son to come into your life and take control of it. Ask him to save you and give you eternal life.
See, salvation is not dependent on what you do, but on what Christ has done in offering his life as a ransom for yours. After you have done this, thank him for saving you -- for having mercy on you and extending his grace to you.
You will still commit sins sometimes, but you have started living your life in a new direction. Your deep desire will be to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to please God the Father.
You will not become unsaved when you sin. Jesus' sacrifice covered those sins too. But out of regret for your sins and love for your Savior, you should ask God for his forgiveness.
Let me know if you have made, or are contemplating making, a decision about your salvation or God's will in your life. Also, if I can be of help, write me from the Contact Us page of this website.
Go to church somewhere Sunday.
Don
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