I Hate Buttermilk!

One Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called on one of his older deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, "Lord, I hate buttermilk." The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going.

The deacon continued, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was totally perplexed.

The deacon continued, "Lord, I ain't too crazy about plain flour. But after You mix 'em all together and bake 'em in a hot oven, I just love biscuits. Lord, help us to realize when life gets hard, when things come up that we don't like, whenever we don't understand what You are doing, that we need to wait and see what You are making. After You get through mixing and baking, it'll probably be something even better than biscuits. Amen."

"Help me, O Lord, to make a blessed use of all disappointments and calamities in this life, in such a way that they may unite my heart more closely with You. Cause my disappointments to separate my affections from worldly things, and inspire my soul with more vigor in the pursuit of true happiness. Amen."

[Susanna Wesley]

Romans 8:28 … And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.❤

God's Tender Mercy

This parable is chiefly designed to set forth the grace and mercy of God to poor sinners who repent and return to Him, and His readiness to forgive them.

How lively are the images of God's tender mercy presented here!

His father saw the son there were eyes of mercy;  he was filled with compassion for him, there was a heart of mercy;  he ran to meet him, there were feet of mercy;  he threw his arms around him, there were arms of mercy;  he kissed him, there were lips of mercy!

Oh, what a God of mercy He is!  Wonders of mercy; all mercy!

[Matthew Henry]

Luke 15:20-24 ... And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Oh, what a precious reception for one of the chief of sinners!❤

Loving Your Neighbor

It once happened that a certain man asked Jesus WHO his neighbor was, and we have the answer in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A neighbor is anyone who happens to be near us and is in any need, distress, or danger. He may be the worst man in the land, outlawed by his own sins; still if he is near to us and needs our help, he is our neighbor, the man the commandment bids us to love. We would be willing enough to love our neighbors, if we could choose them but this we cannot do. We must let God choose the particular neighbor He wants us to love.

WHAT is it to love our neighbor? It is the loving that is hard. We could do almost anything else, short of loving unpleasant neighbors.

But love is the word, and no revised version changes it. No matter how disagreeable, unlovely, unworthy, our neighbors for the time may be, still the commandment persistently and relentlessly says to us, "You shall love him!"

Our neighbors are about us all the time, needing our love. Indeed, they touch our lives so continually, that we must guard our every look, word, and act, lest we hurt some sensitive spirit.

Some people seem to forget that other people have feelings. They are constantly saying words and doing things which give pain. True love is thoughtful. We ought to train our hearts to the most delicate sense of kindness, that we may never ever jokingly give pain to any other human being. Our neighbors have hearts, and we owe to every one of them, the beggar we meet on the street, the poor wretch we find crawling in the mire of sin's debasement, the enemy who flings his insults in our face to everyone, we owe the love that is thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.

We should train ourselves to such reverence, to such regard for human life, that we shall never injure the heart of one of God's creatures, even by a disdainful look.

[J. R. Miller]

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Mark 12:31 ... And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Luke 10:29-34 ... But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.   And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.   And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.❤

This Incomparable Book!

The whole of Scripture is but one entire love letter, dispatched from the Lord Christ, to His beloved spouse!

Oh! the mysteries, the excellencies, the glories which are in this incomparable book! There are none so useful, none so needful, none so delightful, none so necessary to make you happy and to keep you happy as this!

Ah! the Word of the Lord is   a light to guide you,  a counselor to counsel you,  a comforter to comfort you,  a staff to support you,  a sword to defend you,   a physician to cure you!

The Word is   a mine to enrich you,  a robe to clothe you,   a crown to crown you.   bread to strengthen you,   wine to cheer you,   a honeycomb to feast you,   music to delight you,   a paradise to entertain you!

Oh! therefore, before all and above all:  search the Scripture,  study the Scripture,  meditate on the Scripture,  delight in the Scripture,  treasure up the Scripture!

There is   no wisdom like Scripture wisdom,  no knowledge like Scripture knowledge,  no experience like Scripture experience,  no comforts like Scripture comforts,  no delights like Scripture delights,  no convictions like Scripture convictions,  no conversion like Scripture conversion!

I exhort you to a speedy, serious, diligent, and constant study of the Scripture. Ah! you do not know how soon   your blind minds may be enlightened,  your hard hearts may be softened,  your proud spirits may be humbled,   your sinful natures may be changed,  your defiled consciences may be purged,  your distempered affections may be regulated,  and your poor souls may be saved by searching into the Scriptures,    by reading the Scripture, and     by pondering upon the Scripture.

Ah! if you do not in good earnest, give yourself up   to the reading,  to the studying,  to the pondering,   to the believing,  to the practicing,  to the applying, and  to the living up to the Scripture.  Satan will be too hard for you, the world will be too hard for you, your lusts will be too hard for you, temptations will be too hard for you, deceivers will be too hard for you, and in the end you will be miserable!

 

[Thomas Brooks]

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Luke 8:11-15 ... Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

 

Matthew 4:4 ... But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.


Hebrews 4:12 ... For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.❤

Divers Things

Understand therefore, that one thing in the scripture representeth divers things. A serpent figureth Christ in one place, and the devil in another; and a lion doth likewise.

[William Tyndale]

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ... Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ... For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

1 John 4:1 ... Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ❤

Supposing Him To Be The Gardener

I was sitting about a fortnight ago, in a very lovely garden, in the midst of all kinds of flowers which were blooming in delightful abundance all around. Screening myself from the heat of the sun under the overhanging boughs of an olive tree, I cast my eyes upon palms and bananas, roses and camellias, oranges and aloes, lavender and heliotrope.

 

The garden was full of color and beauty, perfume and fruitfulness. Surely the gardener, whoever he might be, who had framed, and fashioned, and kept in order that lovely spot, deserved great commendation. So I thought, and then it came to me to meditate upon the church of God as a garden, and to suppose the Lord Jesus to be the gardener, and then to think of what would most assuredly happen if it were so. "Supposing him to be the gardener," my mind conceived of a paradise where all sweet things flourish and all evil things are rooted up.

 

If an ordinary worker had produce such beauty as I then saw and enjoyed on earth, what bounty and glory must surely be brought forth "supposing him to be the gardener"! You know the "him" to whom we refer, the ever-blessed Son or God, whom Mary Magdalene in our text mistook for the gardener. We will for once follow a saint in her mistaken track; and yet we shall find ourselves going in a right way. She was mistaken when she fell into "supposing him to be the gardener"; but if we are under his Spirit’s teaching we shall not make a mistake if now we indulge ourselves in a quiet meditation upon our ever- blessed Lord, supposing him to be the gardener.

 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

 

 

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John 20:15 ... Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

 

 

 

Isaiah 60:21 ... Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

 

John 15:2 ...  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.


Isaiah 27:2-3 ... In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. ❤

Riches and Poverty

There are probably few readers of the Bible who are not familiar with the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. It is one of those passages of Scripture which leave an indelible impression on the mind. Like the parable of the Prodigal Son; once read it is never forgotten.

The reason of this is clear and simple. The whole parable is a most vividly painted picture. The story, as it goes on, carries our senses with it with irresistible power. Instead of readers, we become lookers. We are witnesses of all the events described. We see. We hear. We imagine we could almost touch.

The rich man's banquet, the purple the fine linen, the gate, the beggar lying by it, the sores, the dogs, the crumbs, the two deaths, the rich man's burial, the ministering angels, the bosom of Abraham, the rich man's fearful waking up,  the fire, the gulf, the hopeless remorse, all, all stand out before our eyes in bold relief, and stamp themselves upon our minds. This is the perfection of language. This is the attainment of the famous Arabian standard, "He speaks the best who turns the ear into an eye!"

But after all, it is one thing to admire the masterly composition of this parable, and quite another to receive the spiritual lesson it contains. The eye of the intellect can often see beauties while the heart remains asleep, and sees nothing at all. Hundreds read "Pilgrim's Progress" with deep interest, to whom the struggle for the celestial city is foolishness.

Thousands are familiar with every word of the parable before us this day, who never consider how it comes home to their own case. Their conscience is deaf to the cry which ought to ring in their ears as they read, "You are the man!" Their heart never turns to God with the solemn inquiry, "Lord, is this my picture? Lord, is it I?"

Reader, I invite you this day to consider the leading truth which this parable is meant to teach us.  May the Holy Spirit give you a teachable spirit, and an understanding heart, and so produce lasting impressions on your soul!

 

[J. C. Ryle]

 

 

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Luke 16:10-31 ... 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.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.❤

The Prodigal Son

How many prodigals are kept out of the Kingdom of God by the unlovely character of those who profess to be inside?

[Henry Drummond]

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.  Luke 15:11-32  ❤

Outward Appearance

A man transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the new pastor that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service.  Only 3 people out of the 10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food. No one in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation.  "We would like to introduce to you Pastor."  The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.  The homeless man sitting in the back stood up  and started walking down the aisle.  The clapping stopped with all eyes on him.  He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment; then he recited:

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  Matthew 25:34-40

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning.  Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.  He then said, "today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples.  When will YOU decide to become disciples?"

He then dismissed service until next week.

Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It is something you live by and share with others!

[Author Unknown]

1 Samuel 16:17 ... But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Romans 14:4 ... Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

2 Corinthians 10:7 ... Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.❤  

The Music Box

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Once upon a time....

God wanted to give a special little boy a gift. The world had not been nice to this little boy...and God wanted to give him this gift to love him through. This gift was a precious music box with a special little girl on top. The world had not been nice to this little girl either and God wanted to love her through this special little boy.

The day had arrived for God to give this little boy this gift of love. Whisper: His love. The little boy took the gift and thanked God for the gift. The little boy wound the music box up and the little girl danced in circles singing to this little boy... I love you, I love you. She sang this over and over to him.

Soon the little boy grew tired of this.  He wound and wound and wound this music box till the springs finally broke. He grinned thinking he'd finally silenced her. The little girl slowly danced in circles, quietly singing I love you, I love you. The little boy was angry.

He threw the music box on the ground and stepped on it several times. As he was walking away quietly he could here the music box quietly moving and quieter still he heard the little girl singing ... I love you, I love you. So angry, this boy turned around, and outraged threw this music box at the wall breaking it to many, many pieces. The little boy then walked away.  Hearing through weeping, the little girl was singing...BUT, I love you, I love you. He just kept walking away.

Finally God arrived.  There laying in many broken pieces was the little girl dancer weeping. "God, I loved him, I loved him." God picked up the pieces and whispered,  "I know.  It was My love you shared and showed. You do not weep alone."

[Author Unknown]

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Willow

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs. Ezekiel 17:1-6

Willow [English] ~ a slender and graceful tree. ✿

Refuge in the Storm

You Can Sleep When The Wind Blows…

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.

The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.” Enraged by the old man’s response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.

To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away.

The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

SPIRITUAL TRUTH: When you’re prepared, you have nothing to fear.

Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by trusting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and grounding ourselves firmly in the Word of God.

[Author Unknown]

Mark 4:37-39 … And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Psalm 107: 29 … He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Isaiah 41: 10 … Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Nahum 1:7 … The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 46: 1 … God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.❤

Free Will in Light of God's Sovereignty

An Ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty.


On board the Liner are several scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great Liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port.
 

Both freedom and sovereignty are present here and they do not contradict each other. So it is, I believe, with man's freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty Liner of God's sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history. God moves undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfillment of those eternal purposes which He purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began. We do not know all that is included in those purposes, but enough has been disclosed to furnish us with a broad outline of things to come and to give us hope and firm assurance of future well-being.

[A.W. Tozer]

Proverbs 16:9 ... A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. ❤

The Parable of the Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.  One day a small opening appeared.  He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress.  It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly.   He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.  The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shrivelled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shrivelled wings.  It never was able to fly.  

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.  If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.  We would not be as strong as what we could have been.  We could never fly!

[Author Unknown]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ... And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ❤

Wanted ~

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:8-10 ❤

The Parable of the Spilled Coffee

A Bible study group met in a home to study how various ministries should work in the body of Christ. One member commented, “I don’t understand how different gifts can work together.”

At that moment a woman accidentally dropped her cup, which broke and spilled coffee all over the floor. Each group member responded differently to the mishap, according to their spiritual gifts.

The teacher gave some advice. “Next time if you will put your cup on the coffee table, that won’t happen again.”

The administrator responded by organizing a clean-up committee. “Bill, please go find a mop. Sally, could you help him with a towel?”

Bill, who had the gift of service, hurried to get the mop.

Sally, who had the gift of helps, followed Bill and said, “I’ll help you!” 

The person with the gift of exhortation said, “We all make mistakes so don’t let it get you down.”

The person with the gift of mercy put her arm around the woman, patted her hand and said, “I feel so badly for you.”

The person with the gift of giving exclaimed, “I’ll buy a new set of coffee mugs to replace the broken one!”

They all used their various gifts together to resolve the situation.

[Kent Crockett]

1 Peter 4:10 ... As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Ephesians 2:10 ... For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Romans 12:13 ... Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. ❤

Truth and Lie

Truth and Lie went out to dinner.

Lie decided he wanted to eat the same order as Truth.

Truth replied: go ahead, you are more than welcome to taste the Truth.

Lie began to choke, roll on the floor, and all kinds of manifestations began to occur.

Lie then said: what happened? Truth said: you have just been delivered from LYING by tasting the TRUTH.

[message from the Internet]

Psalm 34:8 ... O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 119:103 ... How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

1 Peter 2:2-3 ... 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. ❤

Heaven and Hell

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.

But the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They then went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, "I don’t understand."

"It is simple" said the Lord, "In this place the people have learned to feed one another." ✞

[Author Unknown]

Lesson From a Bug

I pulled out of my driveway heading for my mom's and noticed a katydid on my windshield.

As I accelerated, I noticed the wind was making his body flutter,but the legs were securely attached to the windshield.

I was sure he would lose his battle to the wind, but he kept hanging on body fluttering in the wind. He did this for a couple of miles. As I slowed down one time he tried to re-adjust his footing.

He released his grip on the windshield with just one leg and it was all over, he was gone.

✞ The wind is our trials.

✞ The windshield is like the word of God.

✞ When we hold on to our "windshield" securely, we are secure.

✞ When things start to settle down we often loosen our grip on God’s word. We start to rely on our strength and understanding rather than staying in God’s word. That’s when the trials comeback and catch us unprepared and the trials drag us away.

✞ If we hold firm to God's word, we will be ready for the trials as they come.

[Author Unknown]

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 ... Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. ❤

Time to Shine

The parable of the talents: Matthew 25:14-30

We live in an age of advanced technology that allows us to be witnesses for Christ in a very public manner. But some Christians are concealing what they post on social networks [or partially concealing] by the use of privacy settings. The Bible says: a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14) So, the question is, what are you hiding?

There is a lost and dying world out there. Believers should be living a life that is worthy of their calling. If you are sinning, you need to stop. If you are having problems or hurting etc., then you need to ask God for help so that you may overcome (1 John 5:4). Believers should be serving the Lord with boldness, sharing His love openly, and reaching as many souls as possible.

Stop hiding and start shining! ℛℒ

Ephesians 4:1 … I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 Thessalonians 1:11 … Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.

Luke 10:2 ... Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew 5:16 … In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ♥