Friday, April 30, 2010

Is dad glad?

I pray this morning we are making our parents happy with the way we are living our lives.

Proverbs 10:1

1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

I wish this morning I could say that all the days of my life I have pleased my parents but I can't. In my youth I caused them many heartaches. Thankfully as I have grown older the Lord should me my foolish ways and now I think I can say fairly confidently my parents are proud of me. So what about you? How has your life gone as far as pleasing your parents? If your parents have passed I want to remind you that you still have a Father to make glad as stated above. Your heavenly Father! He loves you so much and desires for you to make Him glad with every aspect of your life. In the verse above God makes it very clear that if we make out father glad we are wise but if we grieve our mother we are foolish. I want you to see this morning there isn't a side note that tells us what age this applies too. From the time we are born until death we are to do all we can to honor and make our parents glad. After all if it wasn't for our parents we would not be here!!!

Thank you mom and dad....I hope I make you proud! Call your parents and tell them you love them right now, you won't regret it!

Have a good weekend....Tom

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Correction..be careful!

I have found this to be very true...have you???

Proverbs 9:8

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Let me first give you a definition of a scoffer: someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt or calls out in derision. So to put in english, a soffer is someone who thinks what you are talking about is foolishness so he or she will make fun of you for it. Many times over the years I have talked with folks who are scoffers. The more you try to teach them the truth of God the more upset they get. Hate is a very strong word. I am not sure the people I have talked to hate me but I wouldn't say I was on their Christmas card list either! I have seen may folks on T.V. though who do hate being corrected by the teachings of God. In our world today this is seen in many places.

In complete contrast to the first part of verse 8 look at the second half. When a wise man is rebuked he will love you! Why would someone grow in love when being rebuked? The reason is if a man is right with God and someone shows him the errors of his way, he appreciates it because he will now grow in his realtionship with God...thus he is thankful! Being corrected is not fun but when it is done in love and we being taught the truths of God it is a great thing! There have been times in my life where I have been corrected by a friend in the faith. Sometimes I received it gladly and sometimes not. But no matter how I received it later I could go back and see how God was using that person to grow my fiath and relationship with HIM!!!

God's truth has spoke again in Proverbs! Apply it to your life, you won't regret it!

Tom

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Seek and you will find!

Sometimes God's word needs very little explanation!

Proverbs 8:17
17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.

Wisdom is the topic here. Wisdom says she loves those who love her. Are you trying to obtain wisdom? It only truly comes from God. His Word reveals wisdom. Another place to obtain wisdon is through prayer. The Holy Spirit will reveal wisdom to you when you come to God in prayer. The third way to obtain wisdom is by listening to Godly folks who are full of wisdom because they have lived lives following closely after God. Friends or family memebers like these are truly priceless. Thank God I have had folks like these in my life for guidance.

The Bible in this verse goes on to tell us that those who seek wisdon will find her. It doesn't say wisdom will come after you it says you must seek wisdom. If you are seriously looking you will find her! So are you looking in the right places? The world is not where you will find her. Stop this morning and think about what is being said in this verse. Find the wisdom available in God and find the answers to life you are looking for!

Have a blessed day.

Tom

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Listen to your Parents!

My mom's birthday is tomorrow so this hit home this morning as I was thinking of her.

Proverbs 6:20-22

20 My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you roam, they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you

Our parents! My how stupid we thought they were when we were teenagers. As we grow up though we find out how smart they really were. Matter of fact I have found in my own life that my parents were some of the smartest peopel in my life. God knows that and He reveals that to us in His Word. God was also kind enough to put others in my life who were like parents to me in some very hard times in my life and I will be forever greatful for their Godly wisdom in my times of need.

In verse 20 God tells us to keep the word of our father and mother. Hopefully much of what we are taught by our parents came from the Word of God. It is so important that we grasp our parents teachings that God tells us to keep them in our heart where we will constantly think about their words and pull them up when they are needed. God also tells us to tie them around our neck where we will be reminded often. Verse 22 tells us we need to be reminded at all times of the day...when we are going about our daily bussiness, when we sleep at night, and when we wake in the morning, our parents teachings will guide us. I am so thankful for my parents. While in my younger years we were not in church like we should have been but I am happy to say that my parents have found their walk with God and are active in serving Jesus now. Even though we were not in church when I was young they still instilled Godly values in me that I will take to the grave with me. I listened to my parents when I was young and I will continue to do so as it is pleasing to the Lord. Thanks mom and dad for all you have done for me in my life I am greatful and I love you!

Happy Brithday tomorrow mom!!! I love you very much.

Tom

Monday, April 26, 2010

Laziness...God does not like!

I think America needs to pay attention very closely to God's Word here it would help solve many economic problems we have!

Proverbs 6:6-11

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man

Have you ever watched ants? They are simply amazing. They never stop working and carry things way heavier than they are. They really have no boss but they are part of a clan where they know they have a job to do and are a part of their working society! The ant stocks up for the long winter. They plan ahead! We have so many in America now who want everything handed to them. This costs everyone! It is not right and God is showing us this here. I wonder what would happen to an ant if the ant did nothing. His clan would probably kill him or atleast send him packing. In verse 9 God asks how long are you gonna lay around? Then is verse 11 God tells us the result of laziness...poverty. I have never figured out how a man can lay around and expect others to take care of him if he is able to work. Now don't get me wrong here I have no problem helping those in need and believe we are taught in scripture to do that. I also believe scripture teaches if you are able to work and don't because of laziness then you will suffer the consequences. Look at this verse:

2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

That pretty well sums it up doesn't it! Let us make sure we are the ant not the sluggard!

Tom

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Lord is watching!

This is a good verse to end the week on...check it out:

Proverbs 5:21
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He ponders all his paths.

If you grew up in church you were probably told many times that no matter where you are God is watching, right? Well here is the verse to back that up. When I read this verse this morninn it really grabbed a hold of me evn though I have heard and read it before. God is watching me. God is watching you. Think about that for a moment. All of the creation out there and God is keeping an eye on you and me. So today as you wash clothes, do your job, yell at the kids, drive down the road, cheat on your wife, steal money from your job, help the widow lady next door, give your last dollar to a hungry street bum and the list goes on and on....God is watching!!!! Not only is He watching but the verse goes on to say that God ponders or thinks about all our paths. God thinks about what we are doing. Sometimes we bring smiles to His face with our obiedient lifestyles, and sometimes we dissappoint Him greatly when we willfully disobey His commandments.

Wow... to know God is watching and thinking about how we are living should make us really evaluate what and how we are doing things. I want to please God with all of my life and I know you do too! So keep in mind God is watching!!!!

Tom

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Be very careful with opposite sex!

With so much talk these days about marriage and the opposite sex, let us heed the Word of God:

Proverbs 5:3-6

3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is smoother than oil;
4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death,
Her steps lay hold of hell.
6 Lest you ponder her path of life—
Her ways are unstable;
You do not know them.

This is just one of many passages in the Bible where God makes it clear we are to be very careful with the opposite sex. I know in this passage it is taling about a woman but we can easily relate this same thing to men so I believe it applies both ways. If you study the Bible, God makes it clear that sex is for marriage. Society has done a good job I am sad to say to train us in total opposition to God's Word that sex is ok as long as both parties agree. Again that is not what God intended. Sex is an awesome thing in the confines of marriage. This passage today is so relevant for us today. Immoral women and men are running every where just trying to satisfy there own desires not caring who they hurt or use. Just look at the way our young ladies are dressing. Body parts hanging out, doing all they can to get men to look at them and lust for them. The young men have their boxers hanging out of their pants and all the commercials for body sprays where the women will attck you...it is rediculous.

Lets look at this scripture. The talk of the immoral is smooth. They can talk to you and tell you exactly what you need and want to hear. Their talk is what grabs your attention and lures you in for the taking. I have had some male friends in the past who could sway a girl off her feet like magic. Those girls would believe everything these guys would say! That is why God warns us here of that very thing. Verse 4 tells us when you get taken in by their talk you get hurt. Those same guys I was talking about hurt many girls because they used them and then had nothing more to do with them. Verse 5 tell us where the path of the immoral take us when we are caught in their trap. Very plain and simple to death and hell. Many of folks have taken this very dangerous path and we must warn others where this path will take them. Then in verse 6 God explains a liitle more about this path. Don't ever think about taking this path for it is very unstable. Do not try to know them, the them is the immorals ways.

My friends the world has been glamorizing this path for sometime now. They have been able to slowly soften the look upon immorality even among Christians. God does not change and we must take a solid stand on immorality. There is a fine line to be walked and God expects us to do that!

Share this with others so we can all stand strong.

Tom

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

God's Way!

I don't usually do this but this is a devotion written by a good friend of mine. His name is Tom Doty and He Pastor's in Arkansas. This really spoke to me so I wanted to share it with you.

Tom


John 16:13 (KJV)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.



The story is told of two hunters who flew deep into remote Canada for elk hunting. Their pilot, seeing that they had bagged six elk, told them the plane could carry only four out. “But the plane that carried us out last year was exactly like this one,” the hunters protested. “The horsepower was the same, the weather was similar, and we had six elk then.” Hearing this, the pilot reluctantly agreed to try. They loaded up and took off, but sure enough there was insufficient power to climb out of the valley with all that weight, and they crashed. As they stumbled from the wreckage, one hunter asked the other if he knew where they were. “Well, I’m not sure,” replied the second, “but I think we are about two miles from where we crashed last year.”



How often do we keep doing the same thing and expect different results? When we are given the truth and know the results of our actions, why do we continue on the same path? Things only change as we are willing to accept truth and do our actions differently. God gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in all things. The Holy Spirit is not just about “spiritual things”, but the Spirit is about all things. The Spirit allows us to know what can and will happen if we continue on the same course. We can do things our way or we can do things God’s way. It is our choice and our decision, but God is willing to reveal the truth and results to us. However, we make decisions based on what we want and not what God has shown us. We can be given the truth but we still want to believe those things that have failed before.



We load ourselves down with all kinds of stuff, and then expect God to take care of us. God has told us to confess our “baggage” and get rid of the things that give us problems, but we want to keep on carrying it. Our “baggage” is important to us, even if it makes us crash. We keep on doing the same old thing and we find ourselves in the same old place. We have crashed, but did we learn anything?



God has given each of us the ability to make good decisions. He has told and shown us what will happen if we do our own thing. So, why are we so reluctant to follow and obey Him? Don’t keep doing the same old thing when you know that you will crash. It’s time to trust God and follow Him. If you continue doing the same thing, you will get the same results.



I have prayed for you this morning. I have prayed for obedience to follow the leadership of God. I have prayed for a willingness to do things differently.



Bro. Tom

One line for today

If you want different results begin doing things as God directs

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Keep your focus!

Some more good Words this morning from the Book of Proverbs:


Proverbs 4:23-27

23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.

Focus is a big trait of the Christian. Just think about Peter walking on the water...as soon as he lost his focus on Jesus he sunk like a rock. It is ver important that we keep all aspects of life focused in light of what Jesus wants with our lives.

In verse 23 God's Word tells us to keep out heart right because every thing in our lives flow from the heart! All issues and how we handle them explain our heart condition. Stop and think about that for a moment. Verses 24-27 give examples of how we can tell where out hearts are at. Verse 24...whats coming out of your mouth? Lies? perverse talk? So many times I hear folks who claim they have been Christians for some time tell lies frequently and have perverse talk come from their mouths. What does this tell us? They have a heart condition that needs to be addessed...right now! Verse 25 what are your eyes doing. Are they staying focused on the things of God or the things of the world? Many temptations come frome what we see...lust, coveting, hatred and the list goes on and on. God's Word is clear, stay focused! Where our eyes are also tell the condition of the heart. Verse 26 tells us to watch where our feet are taking us. Our feet can take us to sin. Where we go and the places we frequent can often tell us where our hearts are. Ponder is another word for think. Think before you go. Is this a place God would want me to be or to take my family too? Remember if you are a child of God, He is with you!! No matter where you go. That should help you make those decisions. Verse 27 tells us to be strong. Don't let evil turn you from the path God desires for you. If your heart is in good, strong condition it is much eaiser to keep on the right path and not be turned!

These verses should make us all check our heart condition and our focus. How are you doing? God wants to help you in these areas but you must be willing...are you?

Keep you focus brothers and sisters, in the power of Jesus we can do it!

Tom

Friday, April 16, 2010

What will be your legacy?

This is a verse to think about very closely!

Proverbs 3:35

35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

In life you are gonna have a legacy. God makes it very clear here in the Book of Provebs what your legacy will be with Him. Now to man it may be different you may leave lots of money to some worthy cause or your attitude may leave a mark on some or what ever it is man will remember you for a time. But with God He says in this verse your legacy will be one of two things. You will either be a fool because you chose the ways of the world and followed the leading of Satan or you will be wise and inherit glory in Heaven because you choose the ways of our Heavenly Father.

So my friends this short devotion is to the point...you choose what your legacy will be...whats it gonna be....fool or wise???

Have a great weekend and tell someone about Jesus.

Tom

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Want some good sleep?

The book of Proverbs is so relevant for everyday living. If you haven't read them in a while...read 1 chapter a day and you can go through the whole book in a month. Much wisdom to be obtained in this book! Here are today's verses:

Proverbs 3:19-24

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

In verses 19-20 there are 3 things I want you to see. The first is wisdom. Only the Lord's wisdom could form the earth. He wants to share His wisdom with us and that is why He has given us His written Word the Bible. So we can grasp onto some of that wisdom. The second is understanding. God formed the universe by His understanding. Now we will never understand to the extent that God understands but He has given us brains and the ability to learn and understand things. The most important thing He wants us to understand is His love for us and He demonstrated that by sending His Son to die for us on the cross so we can spend eternity with Him. He also wants us to understand basic truths about how to live life....again we gain that understanding by reading His Word and through prayer. The third point is discretion. We can have all the wisdom and understanding in the world but if we don't have discretion we will be in trouble. When to talk when not too. When to help. When to stand strong and when to let things go. God automatically has discretion but we have to learn it.

Now look at verses 22 -24. When we have these learned traits God tells us it will be life and grace to us! Wow. I want to live my life to the fullest and God's Word says to do that I must have these learned traits. I want to have a grace filled life before man and God and I can with these learned traits. These verses go on to say I will walk safely and I will not stumble. Think on this for a moment. These learned traits give me stability in the Lord. For my decisions and acts will be made with wisdom and understanding. Then in verse 24 God tells me I will not be afraid and when I lie down my sleep will be sweet. What a promise from God! My friends when we treat people right and understand how to live our lives according to God's Word we learn discretion. We know what to do and when to do it plain and simple. When you treat people the way God intended you can lie down and night and not have to worry about anything. Which provides sweet sleep! Thank you Lord!

Want some good sleep you can have it if you are learning and living the way the Lord intends!

Tom

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Good to be corrected!

Time to think back to your younger days. Remember when dad said "this is gonna hurt me more than it will you"? Then He would proceed to tear your hind end up? Now that I am a parent I can appreciate those words much more!!! I believe God is the same way. I don't think God enjoys correcting us through punishment but it shows the love He has for us...read thses verses:

Proverbs 3:11-12

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

The problem with these verses for me is to determine if I am being chastised by the Lord or if Satan is testing me. I know though that if I am in sin I will be corrected. I also believe sin has consequences that can be seen as correction from the Lord. Verse 11 tells us not to get mad because God is correcting us. Have you even been corrected by God and gotten mad? I have and this is wrong. Just like when dad used to spank me I would get mad at him...why? I was the one who did wrong and deserved what I got and I learned from my mistakes. This is the same with God, He punishes because He wants us to learn and to be honest if we are not punished we are usually hard headed and will do it again!

Verse 12 tells why God corrects and I want you to be sure to catch this...because He LOVES us! Just as we delight in our own children and we correct them because we love them God does the same with us. So my friend if God's hand seems to be hard on you right now, examine your life and see if their is sin that needs to be corrected and repented of in your life. For God corrects those whom He loves!

Thank you Jesus for guidence in my life...even if it hurts for a time I want to do your will in my life. Do whatever is neded to keep me in a right relationship with you! I desire to follow you in all things.

Tom

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Give!!!

We were talking in Sunday school this past week about how blessed we are and how we take it for granted. Something we should never do. This verse today is a key verse for our lives and the blessings God gives us:

Proverbs 3:9-10

9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Here is the question for today. Do you honor God with your possesions? I am talking of many things not just money. For example.....time, televisions, music, children, computer, Bible and the list can go on and on. To me when I put this verse in this context it brings many things into play. It makes me realize I have work to do. I honor God with somethings but not with others and this is wrong! Verse 9 also says with the firstfruits of your increase. This to us tody would mainly be our money...do you give a portion to God of what He has blessed you with? This is clearly taught in scripture. Let me give you another example of what this verse could apply to....your garden. Do you share with the needy what God has blessed you with in your garden? Wow what an awesome testimony that could be.

God is so good to us He promises us that if we are faithful with what He has given us He will continue to bless us abundantly and that is what verse 10 is telling us. All we have to do is look at our lives...it is said that if you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and clothes on your back you are in the top 4% of the richest people in the world!

Let's make sure we give where we are instucted to give!

I have more than I could ever ask for God...Thank you Jesus!

Tom

Monday, April 12, 2010

Find favor with God

Read these verses carefully:

Proverbs 3:3-4

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Do you want to have favor with God? You can if we obey what the scriptures teach here. Verse 3 starts out by saying that we do not need to forsake mercy and truth. God is so merciful with us and He expects us to show mercy to others. So ask yourself...do I show mercy to others?? Even when they don't deserve it? God gives us mercy when we don't deserve it and He sets the example for us. Next this verse tells us not to forsake truth. Jesus is truth. It is very hard to be truthfull all the time but it is expected of us. So no matter what...even if it hurts tell the truth. This also applies to bussiness deals or being honest. God is always watching be truthful in everything you do! This verse goes on to tell us that these characteristics are so important we should bind them around our neck and write them on our hearts as reminders so we do not forget.

Now look at the promises from God when we obey verse 3....We will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man! Now I am not to worried with how man views me but I sure am concerned with how God sees me and I want favor and high esteem from God and He tells me here I can have both by being truthful and showing mercy. Wow God is so good to us.

So how are you doing in these two areas??? They are not easy but God desires them in our life so let us do all we can to please God!

Tom

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Peace and long life!

For Wednesday.


Ahhhh what a great promise below:

Proverbs 3:1-2

1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.

I talk often of the importance of studying God's word and then obeying it. Look again at what will happen for those who follow and keep the Word of God. Did you see it? First in verse 2 God says we will have long life. That is very interesting to me that we are promised long life if we uphold His Word. Could it be many die at a young age because they are not keeping God's Word? To be honest I have never really even thought of this. Then the second promise we see is peace will be added to you. I found out that having a relationship with Jesus has brought peace beyond my understanding but here I see that keeping God's Word will add even more peace to my life!! I don't know about you but I will take all I can get!

What more can we ask for...long life and peace. We can have both if we keep and study God's Word. God is so good to us!

Tom

Monday, April 5, 2010

Think you are smart?

For Tuesday!


Check this verse out:

Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This verse tells us the answer to life. Take a moment to really soak it in. In the game of life their are many who think they have it all figured out. Fame, fortune, good looks, lots of women or lots of men depending if you are male or female, big house, fast cars, big fancy degree, and the list goes on and on. These folks who have these things in many cases think they are pretty smart and have gone a long way in life. Now let me be clear that one can obtain many of these in the right manner minus the lots of the opposite sex but in most cases when these are obtained it is for purely selfish reasons not to become closer to God. Look to where God says we are to start in gaining knowledge...by fearing the Lord! You know if every man and woman would do that this world would be so much different. This verse goes on to say that fools dispise wisdom and instruction. This could be applied many ways but I believe it is refering to the wisom and instruction that comes from God's Word. It is sad to say that the majority of Christains have not read the entire Bible let alone the unbelieving world. So how can we obtain all the knowledge God has for us if we are not reading His instuction Book? You're right if you said we can't!

So let me ask you again...do you think you are smart? If you are not in God's word, you are not as smart as you could be!!! And for those that don't read the Bible....they are what the Bible calls fools! If you don't believe me read the verse above again.

God bless and open that Bible!!

Tom

I'd rather be poor.

Here is our verse for today:

Proverbs 28:6
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

This verse pretty well sums up how our attitude should be. Whatever we have to do in life to have the standards that God teaches us in his word we need to do. Thias verse makes it very clear that we would be better off in life poor but have good character and be an honest person that to have great riches and be perverted in our ways! Think about this for a moment. Money in it's self is not evil but God warns in His Word that it is very difficult to have a great amount of money and live a godly life because of all the temptations that comes with having great riches. Think of all the rich folks who fall hard into sin that you see on the news, they gave into the temptations that came with their great riches. Now there are some who can handle having money and use their money to glorify God with it and help others. But they are few and far between and I think we see that as God felt it important enough to include this proverb in His Word!

So if you don't have a large amount of money you may want to think of it as a blessing because it keeps you away from many temptaions. But you also need to ask yourself how you are walking? For even a poor man can have little integrity if he is not walking with the Lord.

Even though I am not rich in money, I am rich in blessings and I praise the Lord for that! I have way more than I deserve. From what I have seen of riches, I would rather have my faith and be poor that to have riches and be lost and no relationship with God.

Have a great Monday!

Tom

Friday, April 2, 2010

Good Friday

Many of us are off from work and school today. We look at it as a vaction day which it is but I want to remind you of what this day is all about for the Christian. Read these verses below:

Matthew 27:45-54

45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[a]
47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

It seems to me that the Easter weekend doesn't seem to have the punch it should have on people. Sunday churches will be packed as many come out for their once a year church visit. Which I have never understood. God wants us to be faithful all year long. To me the whole weekend should be emphasised and talked about and full of worship. While Christmas is very important for us as we celebrate the birth if Jesus, Easter should be just as important if not even more for the believer for if Jesus death, burial and resurrection did not happen we do not have an eternity in heaven. Think about that for a moment.

So I hope over this Easter weekend each day we think about what Christ went through for sinners such as us. We are so unworthy but He loves us so much He endured the beatings, the mockings, being spit on, His neard being pulled out, and death on the cross for me and for you.

Thank you Jesus....words can not express our gratitude.

Tom

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Your not alone!

Temptation! The ole devil sure is persistant isn't he? I want us to realize this morning though that there is not a temptation in this world that we will face that others have not already faced! Look at this verse:


1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

In the first part of this verse did you catch where it says "such is common to man"? Temptations have been around since Adam and Eve. What we face everyday in temptations has been faced over and over. Some overcome the temptations and some do not. Look at the next part of the verse...." but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able." In my human mind I wish it said something like there are some temptations that will over power you and there is nothing you can do! But it doesn't. We have a God who has given us the strength through Christ Jesus to overcome sin. So if we cave in to our temptation we have only one person to blame....ourselves. For God tells us in the last part of this verse that when we are facing the temptation there is a way of escape, and we are able to bear it. We can overcome temptation my friends....Jesus has paved the wave for the escape! No excuses...none.

So here is what we need to grasp from this lesson....you are not alone in temptation and God provides a way out! Stand in the strength of out Lord my friends and knock the ole devil right in the mouth!

Tom