God's Word gives us a clear principal here:
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
When we gibe it should not be for the sole reason of receiving something back. We should give our of the joy of our hearts and the abundance God has blessed us with. But God tells us here that when we give it will also be given to us. Look at the description given about how God will give to us back. He will give us a good measure and not cut us off short! Have you ever bought something that was measured out. Then you got home and it was cut off short? I know I have but our God does not do that to us! Next he says pressed down. I think of an ice cream cone here. You can press the ice cream down in the cone to get all the customer paid for or you can put the scoop on top....God presses the blessings down to give us all He can! Shaken together reminds me of sifting sand when our mission team was in Haiti. We shook the sand to get the impurities out and then we shook the cement mix and sand together to create the mix to put block walls up. When the sand and cement are apart the fall apart easily but when together they become strong. God makes us strong with his blessings for I am weak but He is strong. My God sustains me! Then the Word says running over. My oh my how God has filled my cup with blessing until it is running over! My needs have always been met and I praise the Almighty God for that. In the last part of this verse though I want you to catch this. It can be seen as a warning to us. The way we give is the way God will give to us. Hmmmm could it be we are not blessed because we are not blessing others? Something to think about!
Be blessed and give joyfully!
Tom
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Do you love the Father?
This is another one of those verses to chew on this morning:
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Look very hard at verse 15. We are told clearly not to love the things of this world. And if we do then the love of God is not in us. Wow. Stop and evaluate yourself this morning. Do you love God or the things of this world more? One great way to see the evidence is where do you spend most of your time? TV, fishing, shopping, ballgames, work, ect, ect! Or Praying, reading the Bible, serving others, raising your kids in the Lord, church, and doing what God's Word commands? Verse 16 explains the things of the world. These things we do to fulfill our selfish desires. They are not of God but of self. Think about how much time we spend on self and then on how much time we spend on things of the Father? This can be very painful but very helpful when evaluating ourselves. Then verse 17 reminds us time is passing away. And the lust of the things of this world is also passing away. But when we are in God's will the treasures of heaven will last for eternity. What an Awesome God we have!
So this morning can we honestly say we love the Father or do we need to admit we love the world more and need to make some changes????
Tom
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Look very hard at verse 15. We are told clearly not to love the things of this world. And if we do then the love of God is not in us. Wow. Stop and evaluate yourself this morning. Do you love God or the things of this world more? One great way to see the evidence is where do you spend most of your time? TV, fishing, shopping, ballgames, work, ect, ect! Or Praying, reading the Bible, serving others, raising your kids in the Lord, church, and doing what God's Word commands? Verse 16 explains the things of the world. These things we do to fulfill our selfish desires. They are not of God but of self. Think about how much time we spend on self and then on how much time we spend on things of the Father? This can be very painful but very helpful when evaluating ourselves. Then verse 17 reminds us time is passing away. And the lust of the things of this world is also passing away. But when we are in God's will the treasures of heaven will last for eternity. What an Awesome God we have!
So this morning can we honestly say we love the Father or do we need to admit we love the world more and need to make some changes????
Tom
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Where are my valuables???
Read this verse this morning and made me do some thinking:
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
These Words come straight from the mouth of Jesus. He warns us here about hoarding things here on earth. So many things can happen to our material things while we are on this earth. Cloth can be destroyed by moths or other things. Rust destroys our precious metals. I had to replace a grill recently because the rust had destroyed it. If our stuff is not destroyed this way then thieves are everywhere and will try to steal out things! Jesus tells us to lay our treasures up in heaven where nothing can destroy them! Everything we do for God is remembered by God and we gain rewards for this. How many rewards do you have stored up in heaven??? God's Word says where ever our heart is that is where we are storing up treasures. Think on this for a moment. Are you storing more up in your home or in heaven? It is an indication of where our hearts are!
Tom
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
These Words come straight from the mouth of Jesus. He warns us here about hoarding things here on earth. So many things can happen to our material things while we are on this earth. Cloth can be destroyed by moths or other things. Rust destroys our precious metals. I had to replace a grill recently because the rust had destroyed it. If our stuff is not destroyed this way then thieves are everywhere and will try to steal out things! Jesus tells us to lay our treasures up in heaven where nothing can destroy them! Everything we do for God is remembered by God and we gain rewards for this. How many rewards do you have stored up in heaven??? God's Word says where ever our heart is that is where we are storing up treasures. Think on this for a moment. Are you storing more up in your home or in heaven? It is an indication of where our hearts are!
Tom
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thank you Military Men and Women.
John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
May god bless those who have given their lives so we may freely live and worship our King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ. Also may God bless those who are protecting our freedoms both at home and abroad! We are forever indebted to your service. God bless America!!!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Save what is needed!
This is a clear teaching from God!
Proverbs 21:20
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
God's Word is clear that we are suppose to store up what we need for hard times. This verse is clear about that. The verse says the wise store up food and olive oil. Of course we know why we would store up food....for hard times! But what about olive oil. This oil was used in certain offerings and for medicinal purposes. So one needed to keep a supply on hand. As far as food there is a line that has to be drawn somewhere between need and hoarding. Because God's Word also makes it clear we are to share with others in need. I am a believer this is also true with our money. For me to place a number of where that is would be wrong that is something we all must allow God to tell us! This verse goes on to tell us what we are when we don't store some for the future....a fool! That is to the point isn't it!
So save what you need but don't get greedy!
Tom
Proverbs 21:20
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
God's Word is clear that we are suppose to store up what we need for hard times. This verse is clear about that. The verse says the wise store up food and olive oil. Of course we know why we would store up food....for hard times! But what about olive oil. This oil was used in certain offerings and for medicinal purposes. So one needed to keep a supply on hand. As far as food there is a line that has to be drawn somewhere between need and hoarding. Because God's Word also makes it clear we are to share with others in need. I am a believer this is also true with our money. For me to place a number of where that is would be wrong that is something we all must allow God to tell us! This verse goes on to tell us what we are when we don't store some for the future....a fool! That is to the point isn't it!
So save what you need but don't get greedy!
Tom
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Camel through the eye of a needle????
These verses are fairly simple to understand:
Luke 18:18-30
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
This ruler was a religious man! He claimed to follow the law closely. But he had one problem. A love for his riches. Ouch! That sure does sound familiar. Look at what Jesus asked of him. Sell everything and give it to the poor. The rich man couldn't do it....he loved his "stuff" too much. We need to ask ourselves...could we do that? Don't answer to quickly...could you give up everything for Jesus? Jesus desires us to share what He has blessed us with! In verses 24-25 Jesus makes it very plain and simple for us. Riches get in the way of our relationship with Him if we are not very very careful. Jesus even tells us how difficult it is....like a camel going through the eye of a needle! Ummm folks that is impossible...but with God leading our lives all things are possible!
Let us think carefully on what Jesus is saying to us this morning!
Tom
Luke 18:18-30
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
This ruler was a religious man! He claimed to follow the law closely. But he had one problem. A love for his riches. Ouch! That sure does sound familiar. Look at what Jesus asked of him. Sell everything and give it to the poor. The rich man couldn't do it....he loved his "stuff" too much. We need to ask ourselves...could we do that? Don't answer to quickly...could you give up everything for Jesus? Jesus desires us to share what He has blessed us with! In verses 24-25 Jesus makes it very plain and simple for us. Riches get in the way of our relationship with Him if we are not very very careful. Jesus even tells us how difficult it is....like a camel going through the eye of a needle! Ummm folks that is impossible...but with God leading our lives all things are possible!
Let us think carefully on what Jesus is saying to us this morning!
Tom
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Instructions for us!
Again we are rich compared to the majority of the world so these Words are for us:
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
In verse 17 God says for the rich not to be haughty. What is haughty?Here is how it is defined in the dictionary: disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant. We have no reason to be like that. Rich or poor we have to humble ourselves before the Almighty God and man! The verse goes onto say not to trust in uncertain riches. As we have seen through the tornadoes in Alabama and Missouri everything can be gone in an instant, we must put our trust in our greatest resource...God! He blesses us in so may ways. I look at my family, my church, food on my table, roof over my head, clothes on my back, and Jesus who died for me....can I really ask for anything else? Verse 18 tells us to do good and to be rich in good works! When is the last time you have helped others? Helping others is what God desires for us to be about along with sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The verse tells us we should be ready to give and share out of the blessings God have given us. Have you? Verse 19 tells us when we give it is storing up a good foundation for us! Where at? In heaven of course! When we share out of the blessings God has given us it shows we have the love of Christ in out heart thus we can know we have a hold on eternal life! Praise God!
Listen to the instruction of the Lord this morning....it does the soul good!
Tom
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
In verse 17 God says for the rich not to be haughty. What is haughty?Here is how it is defined in the dictionary: disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant. We have no reason to be like that. Rich or poor we have to humble ourselves before the Almighty God and man! The verse goes onto say not to trust in uncertain riches. As we have seen through the tornadoes in Alabama and Missouri everything can be gone in an instant, we must put our trust in our greatest resource...God! He blesses us in so may ways. I look at my family, my church, food on my table, roof over my head, clothes on my back, and Jesus who died for me....can I really ask for anything else? Verse 18 tells us to do good and to be rich in good works! When is the last time you have helped others? Helping others is what God desires for us to be about along with sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The verse tells us we should be ready to give and share out of the blessings God have given us. Have you? Verse 19 tells us when we give it is storing up a good foundation for us! Where at? In heaven of course! When we share out of the blessings God has given us it shows we have the love of Christ in out heart thus we can know we have a hold on eternal life! Praise God!
Listen to the instruction of the Lord this morning....it does the soul good!
Tom
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