Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

For more about Jack Canfield’s Success Principles click this link to go to his site.

Memorial Day is one of the most precious days of the year. It is the day to remember all the fallen soldiers that paid the ultimate price defending our country. They paid the price no matter how they felt about the war…whether it was a war worth fighting for…they just did anyway.
To you and your families I say “Thank you for your sacrifice!” I want also thank all the soldiers and their families who are serving now!

Check out these great videos that pay tribute to our fallen soldiers.  I love this “Memorial Day Video” by www.ShareFaith.com

Here is another beautiful video I have found…enjoy!
The Sacrifice Of One

Also, as we remember those who gave their lives for us, let us not forget the one who willingly gave his life as well so that we can live. His name was Jesus. He sacrificed himself while we were still sinners…while we did not even care about him. In a sense Jesus died not for his friends but for his enemies…he died for people who despised him. It took a little while for that to sink in with me. What an amazing sacrifice and what an amazing God. Thank you father for sending your son to die for me…so I can have relationship with you. Help me remember every day that Jesus died for me.

Finally, you’ll love some of the following sites like Mental Floss with a great article “10 Things to remember about Memorial Day“.  If you have a chance, check out one of many Memorial Day Concerts like the headlining Brad Paisley and Lionel Richie.  Lastly, check out and get involved with “Operation Write Home!”

May God Bless America this Memorial Day Weekend!!!  Don’t forget to pray for our country and for our leaders, including our president every day!

Is Allah the God of the Bible? Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

Islam has become a major force in the world today. Because they believe in a few of the things Christians and Jews do, especially monotheism (one God), there is question as to whether Allah and the Judeo-Christian God are the same.

Son of God? Who is God?

Let’s start by looking at the God of the Bible. He is called Elohim when the Godhead is emphasized, and Yahweh when referring to His nature as one god.

This means that God shows Himself in three distinct ways, yet He is one God. If a man is married with children, and his father is living, he behaves (or, should behave) in a different manner toward his father than he does toward his wife, and in yet another way toward small children. He is still the same man. Another example is an egg – the yolk, the egg white, and the shell are all part of the egg. And yet, they are distinct. Finally, there is water. The chemical formula for it is H2O. H2O exists as a solid, liquid and gas all at the same time, in different part of the world.

So, we see the Godhead – what some call the Trinity – is very clear. God manifests Himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. God is eternally pre-existent in the spirit (non-physical) realm, in all three persons. In other words, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit were all part of Creation. (Ge. 1:1-2, John 1:1-3, Col. Col. 1:16-17) God the Son appears in the Old Testament – before His miraculous birth via the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary – a number of times as the Angel of the Lord. This is how He wrestled with Jacob, how He likely made the animal skins for Adam and Eve, and so on.

The Koran/Qur‘an, on the other hand, makes it very clear that Muslims believe Allah has no son. The idea of Allah having a son is “blasphemous” and a “monstrous falsehood” (18:46, 9:30-31) to them. Muslims are told, “[F]ight everyone who rejects Islam, even Christians and Jews, until they pay regular financial tribute with willing submission and feel themselves completely subjected to their Islamic conquerors.” (9:29) While the Koran/Qur’an says to say that they are the same (29:46), elsewhere it considers this a lie, and in fact states that Christians and Jews are the “worst creatures on earth.” (98:6) It says that Allah is “too majestic” to have a son. (4:171-172)

This goes opposite the Bible in a few ways.

First, Jesus commands us to love our enemies, and bless them that despitefully use us. (Mat. 5:44, etc.) We are to be known by our love, and not fight each other. Many places, that great unconditional love is proclaimed. Yes, evil people who refused to follow Jesus have tried to conquer claiming to be doing it for God, any a close reading of the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ commanded His followers to show Godly compassion to others. God is longsuffering toward us; while he is holy and must punish sin, He is also faithful to save the souls of any who call upon Him, and take them to His perfect heaven, even if – like the thief on the cross – they have forfeited their chances in this world. Sin has consequences, but God is love.

Second, it goes against the Bible’s insistence that Jesus is totally equal with God. He and the Father are one. (John 10:30) he is God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16, etc.), which means that He is of the same substance – that’s what Son of God means. Yes, there is the relational aspect as humans understand it – but Jesus is never seen, in the Bible, as being inferior. Everywhere, He is shown to be the one and only God. He simply chose to step down from His Heavenly throne to this world, in order to die for our sins, and rose from the death, defeating the devil once and for all.

A few other aspects:

The one above is crucial. There are too many differences to cover here, but a topical study of the Koran/Qur’an would be quite rewarding. For now, let‘s look at just a few short ones, which you may view more yourself:

Personal God of love:

That part about being too majestic comes from their concept that God can‘t be approached. However, the Bible says otherwise. God is very personal, and in fact, wants a personal relationship with each of us. He wants us to take all our cares and worries and burdens to Him. (Mat. 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:7, etc.). He understands all of what we go through (Heb. 4:15-16), because He lived a sinless life, bearing our sins (1 Peter 2:24) – so He lived, but never sinned, thus He can help us through whatever we’re tempted by.

He is a personal God of love, too – this means He is always moved with compassion and will not only never tempt us beyond what we are able, he will provide a way out for us. He will lovingly guide us according to what is best for each of us.

Sacrifice for our sins:

A great archaeologist named William Ramsey set out to prove the Bible wrong, and wound up finding Luke to be an incredible historian who got all his facts right. One of those facts that Luke and the other Bible writers note is that Jesus willing gave himself for us. Because he was God, He could have come down from the cross – He could have called 10,000 angels. Yes, another man had to carry the cross part of the way, but this was very common – quite a few people never survived the scourging before they were crucified, and Jesus didn’t have the strong, broad shoulders that the thieves who were crucified often had. Jesus clearly died on that cross, then rose from the dead. Indeed, among early believers were likely his two sons – otherwise, it’s not likely they would have been mentioned.

Compassion, not honor:

Among some Muslims, there is a form of law called sharia,. This law boasts no compassion when it comes to the treatment of women. It is all about honor. On the other hand, jesus and His followers insisted that women be honored, and when he came across an adulteress, He pardoned her. Jesus constantly forgave sins.

It can be argued, of course, that this law – like some unorthodox Christian teachings – isn’t in the Koran/Qur’an. What’s important, though, is that believers in Christianity are admonished to loves their wives as Christ loved the church. And, if someone sins against another, the only one at fault is the one who sinned, not the victim. God consistently has compassion on those who suffer. The Bible also clearly says that men should love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25); and He was constantly giving Himself for it.

Indeed, elsewhere, we read that God is no respecter of persons, and that all are equal in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28) – there is no disparity between man and woman, except in how men are called to be the spiritual leaders. But, this doesn’t give man the right to walk all over a woman, and when the man won’t or can’t lead a family spiritually, a woman can still become great for doing so. (2 Kings 4:8 onward)

Another excellent article, which contains facts from The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Edition 15, Volumes 22 & 25, discussing how the ecumenical movement has discusses things such as the origin of Islam. There is also much evidence for the truths of the Old Testament, and the people mentioned therein – evidence which is being destroyed.

However, the important thing to remember is this:

The God of the Bible, the Creator and sustainer, loves you. He is not the same as that of Islam. Instead, He is a personal, loving, and caring God, who deliberately came to this world and died on the cross, rising from the dead so we could go to Heaven.

He doesn’t require anything of us but our faith. To get to Heaven, one must: A. Admit your status as a sinner, that you fall short of God’s perfect glory, and that this means you can’t get into His perfect heaven on your own; B. Believe that Jesus Christ, God in flesh, was born of a virgin, took the punishment for your sins when He died on the cross, and then rose victoriously from the dead; and, C. Choose to repent of your sins – that is, agree with god about your sin – and receive him as your Savior by simple faith. For by grace are ye saved by faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

God will never just weigh things in a balance the way other religions claim. No sin at all can get into heaven. The Bible is true when it says, “Ye must be born again.” (John 3:3) This concept is not present is Islam. It is the truth that God, in His perfect love, only wants us to come to Him and accept that we need Him to forgive us and save us, and to then receive that forgiveness by faith, letting Him make us new on the inside. Then, we will no longer be slaves to self, but we will be free. And, we can be certain – because, He wants us to be sure, and to know that just by believing – receiving Him by faith (John 20:31, 1 John 5:13) – we can have life forever with Him, now and in Heaven, where nobody suffers, nobody feels pain, nobody dies, and where nobody can imagine the wonders that await us.

My husband built me a bird feeder from a welding rod can.  It was painted a beautiful red color with a white cap (made from a stove element cover).  I thought it was sure to withstand anything.

That is, until my nightly bird coon came along.  The pretty raccoon in the picture gave me a joyful surprise when I discovered he’d been visiting my feeder.  I was confused, but wondered why the squirrels suddenly developed big enough muscles to begin disassembling my indestructible feeder.  Turns out the squirrels had been sharing their bounty with the bird coon.

I could’ve gotten angry that the squirrels decided my pretty red feeder was fair game.  I could’ve gotten even more angry that the raccoon decided it was a great place for a nightly treat.  After all, eventually, they had warped the lid I was so proud to have my husband assemble and had begun to wiggle the feeder off the screw he’d mounted to hold said feeder onto the post.  Finally, after many nights of abuse, the feeder could stand no more.  It toppled to the ground, and with it my heart fell a little.  It had been the first feeder my husband ever made for me; and the fact that he’d made it from the welding rod can was even more special.  He’d begun to follow a welding career, you see.  It was yet another landmark in the path of our marriage.

However, I decided that God loves all creatures great and small, and so should I.  The squirrels are sneaky little buggers and are quick to high-tail it out of sight whenever they suspect I’m anywhere near.  I rarely get a glimpse of them, but it delights me that they feel free to enjoy my donation to a good cause.

The raccoons, on the other hand, brought another creature to my bird stand.  On more than one occasion, I found a possum eating from the bounty placed on the stand.

After the critters made their disgust of my beautiful red feeder known, I retired it to the junk heap and dug out a plastic container.  The container had held a batch of cookies sold at Wal Mart.  It made a perfect feeder for my newly acquired friends.  They found it a joy to climb into the container and eat to their hearts content.  It fit snugly enough onto the screw that they left it alone as long as I provided treats.  Once I forgot to fill the container, so they knocked it to the ground to show their frustration with my careless abandon of their newly acquired nightly adventures.

Once I saw that they wanted to be regular visitors, I discovered that the critters liked our table scraps.  So, I began to put the scraps in the plastic feeder nightly.  By the next morning, all signs of the scraps were gone.  Occassionally, I would hang out clothes on the line just after dark.  As I’d go out the front door to round the corner to the clothesline, I’d catch my possum or racoon friends snacking on the feeder post.  It was amazing to me that they became brave enough to stay and allow me to pass within five feet of them.

I love animals.  God loves animals.  I know it is hard for the wild animals to dig up enough food to satisfy, so it made me happy to help provide for them while I was able.  I guess my possum friend was either discouraged by the competition or decided the snacks had gone past his ability to enjoy them.  I noticed the raccoon visiting earlier in the evenings, so I’m guessing he was beating the possum to the grub.  God’s wondrous creatures became my wondrous creatures.  I respected their need to be left alone to eat, aside from getting a picture every so often for my scrapbook.

I wish that more people could respect God’s creatures.  Why is it that we humans feel that because we are different and somewhat “superior” to the animals, that we should bully them into submission?  Why must we overtake their habitats and then become angry when they impose upon our own?  Why can’t we just admire their beauty and learn to live in peace with them the way the good Lord intended?

I believe that the way we interact with God’s creatures, be it bird coon, possum, squirrel, or whatever….says something about our character.  If we can’t have compassion for the wild creatures, why are we worthy of His compassion for us?  He created them with love.   They give to us so much that we take for granted, much like we take God’s gifts and abilities for granted.

Allow God to show you a new direction.  Take the time to learn from His other creatures.  See what you can learn from your own bird coons and such.  And remember, God loves ALL creatures great and small.  So should you.

Shining Perspective

Success! We’re moved.  We are now living each day sifting through a sea of boxes.  My daily motto has become: “adopt a spirit of adventure and go on a treasure hunt!”  Seven years is long enough to collect more stuff than I ever imagined I would own.  I’ve been surprised to discover the things that I could find sentimental value in. (And I’m astonished at what my husband and son are attached to.)  However, I haven’t become attached to a building, a house, or an apartment.  I moved several times as a child and as an adult, I’ve moved more times than I want to count.  I spent the day cleaning this apartment for the last time and realized that somehow, I got attached to my little home.

Maybe it’s because it was the first apartment that I had for an extended amount of time.  So many memories were made in seven years, some good and many that I didn’t want to remember.  As I spent the day in solitude, (something I don’t get a chance to do very often) I scrubbed and vacuumed as the reel of memories played back in my mind.  We moved there just after the first year of our marriage.  My son was conceived there.  His first steps were taken there; His first words were spoken there. He got his first tooth and five years later, he lost his first tooth there.

Of course, there are plenty of bad memories too.  Memories plagued with anger, immoral living, bad choices and big mistakes.  Holes left in the walls have their own stories where a spirit of rage once reigned, and the presence of old wounds that gave birth to broken hearts still quietly lingers.

Why did I get attached to this apartment?  The one memory that will stand out, the one reason this apartment will always hold a special place in my heart is because it is where I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  I relived so many moments.  Seven years of memories, but none compare to that moment, two years ago, when I surrendered my life and opened my heart to Jesus.  I will miss that spot where I prayed a million prayers and shed a million tears.

While scrubbing the tile floor for the last time I realized that I’ve left my mark on this apartment.  The grout was dirty no matter how many times I ran that brush across it.  It seemed as though it would never come clean; it was stained.  I could continue to try and clean it, and yet my dirt remained.

The same holds true with sin.  It doesn’t matter what we try to do. Sin remains. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are saved.  It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are cleansed.  “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” ~Leviticus 17:11  “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” ~Hebrews 9:22

It was clear that I could not get that floor to come perfectly clean, just as I cannot make myself perfectly clean.  Since moving to my new home I’ve found myself giving Satan access again.  I’ve allowed him a foothold in my life and I seem to walk in victory but only temporarily.  Then I slip back into the same trap again and again.  But my precious Jesus reminded me that I am covered by His blood and I have been made righteous in Him.  Jesus’ blood doesn’t cleanse me temporarily; it cleanses me once for all.  I haven’t been forgiven for one sin, but all sin past, present and future.  “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” ~Hebrews 9:14

The amazing thing is I can’t do anything to earn forgiveness.  I can’t do anything to make myself clean.  I am free of guilt for every bad memory that was made in that apartment.  All the mistakes and all the wrongs of my life from the beginning and even the mistakes I will make in the future have been covered by the blood of Jesus. Oh, the power of the blood of Jesus.  Not only does Jesus’ blood do all of that, but it has also made it possible for us to have a relationship, a personal and intimate communion with God.  “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” ~1 John 1:7  “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” ~Ephesians 2:13

Maybe you find yourself allowing sin in your life.  Maybe you’ve just made some mistakes and find yourself far from God.  There is nothing you can do, no sin too great, no mistake too big, no blemish on your record, no stain too horrendous that the blood of Jesus cannot wash away and cleanse completely.

I hadn’t thought about my grammar school days for a long time, but one day they boldly invaded my thoughts.  I remembered the friends I played with and even recalled the names of my favorite teachers.  My classroom, with the big clock on the wall and the old-fashioned desk I sat in, were as visible in my mind as if I’d seen them just yesterday.

Somewhere along the line, I began thinking of the school’s lost-and-found department. That’s where lost sweaters, lunch pails, broken toys and miscellaneous items were kept until their owners came to find them.

As my thoughts wandered, it occurred to me that, in a sense, there are many people who are like these items in the lost and found.  They’re “lost,” and whether they realize it or not, are very much in need of being “found.”

Although they keep busy each day, deep inside they feel empty and without purpose, wishing for something or someone to bring meaning to their lives.  Even if they’re successful in business or have all “the toys” the world has to offer, they don’t feel satisfied.  They’re confused about the meaning of life, and even wonder why they were born.  They ask themselves, “Is this all there is?”

Does this sound like you?

There is a book we don’t hear mentioned much anymore, but for hundreds of years it has shown people how to be “found.” Years ago, many people believed what it said and lived their lives by its words.  It brought peace to the reader’s heart and gave guidance for their daily living.  In this book, they found instructions for living successfully, now and in the afterlife, as well.  And this book was the first place to which those people turned for help when they were stressed or didn’t know what to do.

Today people think it’s too old fashioned to be any value in the twenty-first century.  How could this particular old book, written so long ago, have all the answers for people living today?

Let’s just say it is unlike any other book ever written, and if you take the time to read it, slowly and thoughtfully, you will see just how pertinent it is to today’s world – and to you!

It’s no secret.  This book is the Bible, and here are things you might not know about it:

            First of all, although it is only one book, it’s really a compilation of sixty-six short books.  It is good to begin reading it, not at the beginning, although that’s okay, but in one of the little books toward the back, called The First Epistle of John.  It talks about the most pressing need of mankind in this or any century, and it tells how to take care of that need.  Another little book to read is called The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans.  Check out Chapter 3, verses10-12, and 23.  From there, find Chapter 5, verse 12, Chapter 6, verse 23, and Chapter 5, verse 8.  Then read Chapter 10, verses 9-13. If you read the verses in that order, you’ll learn some pretty amazing stuff, showing both a problem and the solution.  From there, you might want to meet the man who is talked about in the books of The Gospels According to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In the middle of this big book is a little book called The Book of Psalms.  It actually contains words to songs written a long time ago.  Chapter 139 tells about you before you were born. Cool, huh?

Do you wonder about the formation of earth?  Then start reading in the very first book, The First Book of Moses Called Genesis.  And if you want to learn about the end of the world, read the last book, The Revelation.  It’s pretty heavy stuff, and it will cause you to think serious thoughts about what it says.

Here are some other places to look:

When you think nobody loves you, read The Gospel of John Chapter 3, verse16 and Chapter 13, verse 34.  You’ll see someone actually does love you – a whole lot.

If you can’t figure things out, consult The Book of Proverbs Chapter 3, verses 5-6. It shows you what to do.

When you can’t forgive yourself, the most important person can. Read The First Epistle of John, Chapter 1, verse 9 and The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans Chapter 8, verse 1 to see who it is, and what He has already done for you.

If you’re always worried and frustrated, you’ll love The First Epistle of Peter Chapter 5, verse 7.

When you’re feeling lonely, The Epistle to the Hebrews Chapter 13, verse 5 tells you who is there for you.

Are you in an impossible situation?  See who The Gospel According to Luke Chapter 18, verse 27 tells you to talk to.

            Yes, all this information, and more, is found in the Bible.  Many have read it attempting to prove it is just a myth, full of errors, or at the very least, not pertinent to their lives.  Instead, those who once felt “lost” have been “found,” finding meaning and purpose for their everyday lives. And they have become believers in this book and the man about whom the entire book refers.

            Okay. That was a good book for people long ago, but what about you?  Have you ever read the Bible?

What do you think would happen if you did?

Living Out the Parable of Rendering Unto God and Caesar

How We Are to Live Today

Jesus once said that we are to “render unto Caesar what is due Caesar and render unto God what is due God.” The meaning behind this parable is easy to understand. We must pay our taxes and follow the laws the government lays out for us, while at the same time tithing and obeying God’s word in our lives. It was the ideal way to live then, and it is the way we are called as Christians to live today.

This means we must follow the laws of the land, no matter whether we agree with them or not. This means following the speed limit, being honest on our tax returns, and avoid taking that which does not belong to us. It also means that we must follow God’s law as described in the Bible, go to church, pray, and tithe. We must also do charitable works and serve others, for “faith without works is dead.” As human beings, we have many rules we must follow, as we expect our children to follow our rules.

The Bible also states that, “Man can not serve two masters.” So what happens if the law of man (the government) is directly opposed to the law of God? Just as the U.S. Constitution states that the law of the federal government comes before the laws of the states, the law of God must come before the law of man. In some cases, especially in some countries, this means facing potential jail time for following God’s law, or even being martyred. Yet, it is what we are called on to do, and as people who love God, we should do these things gladly. We should always be glad to follow God’s law, no matter where it leads us.

Do Not Be Lukewarm

We have to be careful here and not straddle the proverbial “fine line”. If a law is proclaimed that violates God’s law as stated in Scripture then you must decide to whom you have final allegiance. Laws requiring abortion or euthanasia or other such things fall under what is “due God.”

However, matters dealing with expenses, and where we work, how we get our mail and many aspects of our daily lives all fall into the realm of what is “due Caeser.” Yes, even taxes, no matter how oppressive. The tax system in Jesus’ time was incredibly oppressive, he himself paid them.

Why? Because it was due Caesar. However, matters of the heart, soul, and mind are what we render to God.

The difference in our mindset in this country is borne from the fact that for almost 200 years our Caesar (elected government) have given us the rights over everyday matters. And now that Caesar has decided to begin taking control of these things more himself, we panic and become angry, when in reality it began long time ago, most notably in the 1930s.

My Guarantee

And here is my hindsight prophetic guarantee to you (yes, this is confusing to me also but sure sounds good). Had we in our own lives (collectively as a nation) rendered to God what is due him (heart, soul, mind, strength) then our Caesar now would not be asking/demanding/taking a bigger chunk of what he believes is due him.

A hard pill to swallow, I know.

So, do your best to follow the law of man; and if you do not like it, use legal channels to change it, all the while obeying it while it exists. But never obey the law of man above the law of God. God’s law is supreme, in all cases, and that is the way it should be.

Here is a little on Tithes and Offerings to further your learning.

Nuggets of Wisdom – Be Still Before the LORD

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  Nehemiah 9:6

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.  Job 33:4

No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-that he should live on forever and not see decay.  Psalm 49:7-9

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. Timothy 2:5-6

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.  Hebrews 9:14-15

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:1-2

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  2 Corinthians 4:6-7 

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  1 John 5:10-11

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:5-7    AMEN!!!

For more “Wisdom” go to nuggetsofwisdom.us

Those of us who grew up in the 60′s and 70′s may remember the  ”What, Me Worry?” catch phrase from Alfred E. Newman, the poster-boy for Mad Magazine, with his ragedy smile and his boyish-looking face.  However, Alfred E. Newman did make a  valid point.

Anxiety and worry distracts us from worshipping and serving God.  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)   Since the faithful disciple should commit himself to representing God on earth and bringing glory to Jesus, he should also be able to trust God to provide for him as he lives one day at a time.  ”This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.”  (Psalm 118:24-25 NIV)

Having Proper Preparation in Your Life

The motto of the Boy Scouts is to always be prepared. It is a good creed to live by, as you never know exactly what is going to happen. Boy Scouts always make sure they have everything on hand they could possibly need for any eventuality out in the world. Their whole objective is to never be caught off guard. You should live your life that way, too, in order to provide protection and security to yourself and your family. This is especially important when it comes to faith, as it is said that Jesus will come as a thief in the night, so you must always be prepared for his return.

However, the fact is that no matter how much you are prepared, you can not prepare for every single thing. Unexpected things happen. Things that are totally random and out of the blue happen that no one would ever have imagined happening. You can have all of the first aid kits, hurricane kits, outdoor survival kits, snake bite kits, poison control kits and even emergency food supplies for extended natural disasters, and still find yourself without the one thing you need when the unexpected occurs.

Even in household budget planning, the unexpected happens. A tire blows out, a child has to go to the emergency room and there is no insurance, or a job terminates.

So how do you ever have full security in life? The fact is, you cannot outside of salvation. There will always be something that you could never have foreseen or imagined, and it could happen to you at the most inopportune times. Now, do not blow this out of proportion. Having blind faith by not preparing as much as humanly possible is advocated against in Scriptures as it is admonished that faith without works is dead.
Take heed in the meaning of the story of the ant and sluggard. You still need to have a budget plan, savings, emergency supplies, etc.

However, when you have faith in God (proving it through your obedient actions) you know you are never alone, never forsaken, and always protected in God’s own way.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5.

With this faith, you need never worry about being unprepared, because you will always have all the help you need right at hand.

Remember that God is never farther away than your prayers. When the earth quakes and the streets flood and your house comes crashing down, remember that God is with you. Reach out to him in faith and trust, and know in your heart He will protect you. The only way to have proper preparation in your life is to have God.

A Mandate from God is Serving Others

As Christians, we are called on by God to the role of serving others — and not only in the area of finances. We are to serve others with every opportunity we can find, and to always be looking for opportunities to do so. And next to witnessing to the testimony of the Gospel, it is a primary function as children of God as well as loving God with all of our hearts and souls and minds.

When we think of serving others, we often think of getting involved in charities or giving money to homeless people on the side of the street. However, serving is so much more than that. It is not something we do once in a while. It is a way of life.

Always have the thought of service to others in your heart, every waking moment of every day. There are all kinds of unexpected ways to go about this. You may not even realize you are doing it at times. For example, getting up before your children and making them breakfast and fixing their lunchboxes for school is serving. Making dinner for your family or buying groceries for your housebound grandmother is serving.

We are serving when we allow someone to get in front of us in traffic or let someone with fewer items get in front of us in line at the grocery store. Even picking up something that an old person dropped and handing it to them or retrieving a ball from a roof for a child are all ways of serving others as God intended, if done with the right motives.

However, be careful. If we serve because it makes us feel better, than no reward will be set aside for us. It is for a selfish reason … that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew 6:2.

Do it out of a heartfelt desire for, and love of, God. We are to serve for his pleasure, not ours.

The whole point of serving others is to think of the needs of others before we think of our own. As parents, we are used to doing that with our children, but we often forget to do it in other parts of our daily lives. We may become short-tempered with strangers, act selfishly in public, and decide that we deserve something more than someone else and grab that sweater out from under the reaching hands of someone else at a department store sale.

When tempted to be selfish, just remember how much God gave to us. It should be all we need to soften our hearts and serve as we were meant to as we serve God by serving others.

I recently read an article in “Voice of the Martyrs” that has left me convicted.

“Who is First?” In our day to day living are we putting God’s Kingdom first?  As I reflect and read stories of Christians sacrificing themselves and their families for Christ, I feel remorse for not doing more for God’s Kingdom.  I feel guilt for thinking the minor persecution I suffer for my faith may be enough.

I am guilty for putting my family first.  How many of us are?  We live day to day being a Martha.  Filled with anxiety and worry about what we have not gotten done, what we need to do.  Worrying about our finances and the picnic we are preparing for…..How much of this is really essential in our daily living.  How much of a role is all this in our real job here on earth -  servants for the Almighty God.

My heart yearns for the Lord yet I do not do nearly enough to sacrifice myself.  I feel sorry for myself because my marriage is not nearly what I want it to be.  I feel pity for the daily grind I need to put up with in my household and feel this is a sacrifice in an of itself.

It may very well be but when you look around the world at what others are sacrificing young and old it really makes you appreciate the fact that we have so much even if we feel we have so little.

Although I may not be a part of their faith, I have a great respect for the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses for going door to door spreading the Word of God.  Stopping people on the street to tell them of Jesus’ love.  Praise God for witnesses such as these.

Lead me, Father God, to be the Christian witness you need for me to be right here where you have placed me.  Although I may not have to give my life in order to spread your Word, Lord, I want to be a living sacrifice in my community.  Teach me your ways, Lord.   Teach me how to spread your Word and to be an effective witness for your kingdom.

As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s also time to honor not only biological mothers, but everyone who performs the duties of a mother – grandmothers, aunts, older sisters, and others. It’s also a good time to consider a very important woman in the Bible – Mary.

Mary is shown to be a woman of great faith – one might say she had faith beyond her years, as she was likely engaged as a young teen. But, who was she?

The Bible – the Inspired Word of God

To start, it’s important to establish that the Bible is the Word of God. The writers didn’t follow man’s wisdom – they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21), which is one way God manifests Himself. It’s like saying water vapor is one way H2O shows itself. Water, ice, and vapor are all H2O. The Father, Son, and Spirit are all God. God is three in one, and one in three. That is the Trinity, or as the Bible calls it, the Godhead. (Col. 2:9 and others). Jesus promised to send the Comforter – the Holy Spirit/Ghost – to the disciples (John 14:26, etc.), and also to all believers. (Eph. 1:13-14, etc.)

So, God Himself instructed the writers to write the Bible, while allowing the writers to keep their own individual traits and styles. God’s Word is truth. (John 17:17)

Mary’s Attitude & Christ’s Virgin Birth

One thing we notice quickly is Mary’s attitude. Numerous times, as things happen, she “ponders them in her heart.” This shows that she was wise enough to know she must be humble. She didn’t have all the answers, and she knew it. That’s an important trait. Some mothers are faced with children of widely varying personalities. They must know how to treat each in a loving manner which befits that child. She comes right out and asks the angel how she was going to conceive, if she had never been with a man. The angel saw her heart and answered graciously. Jesus would be born miraculously, because the Holy Spirit would “come upon her,” (Luke 1:35, Mat. 1:20) and “overshadow” her, like a cloud. (Luke 1:35) Once she is informed of this, she has the faith to understand that this would be a miraculous work, performed by God. It would be very different from normal, because God had to provide a way to bypass the seed of man, because through man – Adam – all are dead. Through Jesus Christ, God in flesh, however, all are made alive again. (Rom. 5:12-21) Mary accepts this willingly.

Mary’s Rejoicing at her Salvation and God’s Promise

The Bible gives us Mary’s song of praise to God. (Luke 1:46-55) She especially praises God as her Saviour. (Luke 1:47) This is important. It shows that she knew she wasn’t perfect. She was in need of the Saviour, just as everyone is.

But, wait, some may say. In Luke 1:43, Elizabeth – Mary’s cousin and mother to John the Baptist – refers to her as the mother of the Lord? Even if Mary was in need of the Saviour, does this show she has a special place of honor? Let’s look at what the Bible says elsewhere. We’ll see the answer is apparent.

Why does the Holy Spirit lead Elizabeth to call Mary this?

There are two good reasons why Elizabeth calls Mary this.

First, it shows that blessed fact that Jesus Christ was God in flesh. He is the Lord – He is not just a God, He is, was, and always shall be God. In many other places, we see He is one with God. (John 10:30, etc.) Yes, at times God has a reason for distinguishing between God the Father and God the Son, often to remind readers of His sacrifice. However, this is one more place where we see Jesus is God.

Second, she is humbly accepting that it was a great honor that Mary would come to her. Mary is a great mother. Think about it. God knew that when He came in flesh, to Earth, He would have it rough. He’d be hated, mocked, ridiculed, probably called every name in the book – and not just as an adult. The old devil, full of tricks, would likely rile up those in his neighborhood to no end, just as Herod was fueled by jealousy and rage to kill every little boy in Bethlehem, in hopes of killing Jesus. Bullies may have taunted him mercilessly, and others cheated may have him consistently. Why? Because if He had been made to sin even once, He would not have been able to be the sinless sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross, and rose from the grave.

We know Jesus was sinless, though. His perfect blood provided our redemption. Could He have come out of a dysfunctional home? Sure, He was God. However, God knew that the burden of growing up as He did would be lessened considerably by providing Him with a loving, caring family to grow up in, so He wouldn’t have to face any more than He had to. Mary and Joseph recognized that God needed to be at the head of their household.

So, Mary had been given a great honor. However, she was only given this honor because she was totally ready to make God number one in her life.

We can see this in the only command she gives in the Bible. That command was given to workers at a marriage feast in Cana.

Mary’s command – “Whatever Jesus Says, Do It”

The command Mary gives comes after servants at a feast run out of wine. She goes to Jesus and informs Him of this. However, Jesus doesn’t perform a miracle just because she asks Him to; His statement to her is a mild reminder that He is God, and is not bound by what she requests Indeed, He’s not bound by any of us; His plans and ways are perfect. He knows what is best in each of our lives, better than we do.

Some have wondered about His calling her “Woman.” This was the customary Jewish term when speaking respectfully to a woman, as seen in other verses. It can be done very tenderly, and was, by Jesus. Indeed, He uses this same term on the cross, to fulfill an obligation. He told John, His closest disciple, to take care of her, as she was almost certainly a widow at this point – hence He says “Woman, behold thy son.” (John 19:26) yes, she had other children the natural way, as noted in several verses. However, as the oldest, Jesus had the duty to provide for her.

There is another reason Jesus doesn’t call her by the term “Mother” in this verse, though. It relates to the first point – He was not bound to obey just because she had given birth to Him. This is not only because He is God, but because he knew there could be confusion if she was seen to influence Him at any point.

She shows that she understands that in the next verse. She tells the servants “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5)

With that command, she humbly backs away, realizing that Jesus, and He alone, is God, and only He should be obeyed. Jesus was right, that people might get confused otherwise, as a woman approaches Him at another point during His Earthly ministry, and praises Mary, calling her blessed. Jesus corrects this woman, too, saying, “rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28) In other words, the one who is blessed is the person who keeps – that is, obeys – the Word of God.

Mary does say, in the Magnificat, that the world would call her blessed. Mary was a wonderful, humble woman who kept God close in her heart. She willingly backed away, as she realized that Jesus is God in flesh, and that He alone should be approached for things. She is saying she’ll be called blessed in the same way all those who received Jesus by faith were blessed with that great privilege, to see our Lord Himself in the flesh.

We can be joyful, too, because, “To as many as received Him, gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12) That verse is special, because it is one of many verses where God, in His Word, tells us what to do in order to receive His free gift of salvation. It is not just for those who receive Him – it is for those who believe on His name.

What Jesus Tells Us To Do:

How do we do that? He wants us all to com to Him by prayer. He calls on all, “Come unto Me, al lye who labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat. 11:28-30) We do that through prayer, letting Him work in us through God the Holy Spirit. We can go boldly before the throne of grace. (Hab. 4:16)

It is not by vain repetitions (Mat. 6:7) – Jesus gave us a model prayer, but it is clearly a model, as He just gets done saying to just say the same thing over and over. It shows that we pray to God the Father, in Jesus’ name. Yes, when we do that, we’re really praying to God the Son, too, but that that means is, we’re praying because we are in Jesus – we have His Spirit living inside us. That’s the only way we can pray to God.

This is why the first prayer God will hear, and answer “yes” to, is the “sinner’s prayer.” You may ask, is that in the Bible? A type is – it’s what prayed by the thief on the cross in Luke 23. More generally, when someone refers to it, they’re referring to the act of trusting in Jesus as we are commanded in Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 10:9-10, Rom. 10:13, John 1:12, John 3:16, and so on. All these verses in God’s Word – His commands for us – tell each of us we must: 1. Admit we’re sinners, that we fall short of God’s perfect Heaven, and can’t save ourselves; 2. Believe that Jesus Christ, God in flesh, died for our sins taking our punishment, and rose from the dead; and, 3. Choose to repent – turn away from our sins – and receive Him into our hearts as Saviour, letting Him make us new inside.

God gave us His Word because he wants us to know Him personally, to know for sure we are going to Heaven. (1 John 5:13, Rom. 8:38-39, etc.) Churches have set up traditions, but Jesus warns us against following traditions that go against His Word, just as He does against vain repetitions. He wants us to follow His Word, and that alone.

When we trust in Him, He promises to guide us through anything, give us peace that passes understanding, wisdom whenever we seek Him, and many other great things on Earth, in addition to salvation from our sins. Indeed, when the servants went to Jesus at that marriage feast, Jesus gave them what they needed. Not because they went through Mary – Jesus said they couldn’t go through Mary, and Mary specifically told them not to go through her, but to go through Jesus and do whatever He said. Turning water into wine was a little request compared to the big miracles Jesus did – it wasn’t healing or raising from the dead. But, this just shows that Jesus will hear any request, from the smallest to the greatest. And, He will give us what is best for us when we ask in His will.

That’s because Jesus – God Himself – comes to live inside us, through his Holy Spirit, when we receive Him by simple faith. And, if we stray, He lovingly guides us back – sometimes He has to nudge harder, if we struggle too hard, but He will always lovingly work in us to make us more like Him, because that is what’s best for us.

Mary did a great job. She is the ideal mother; the kind women can look up to, just as they can look up to Ruth, Esther, or any Godly person. However, she is not the one any of us should ultimately pattern ourselves after.

God’s Word – which not only Mary, but more importantly God Himself, says to follow – says we should be like Christ. It is hard, because even after we receive Him, we have that fleshly nature. However, we have His promise, that once He begins a good work in us, He will complete it. (Philippians 1:6) So, we can do like Mary did, and greatly rejoice in God our Saviour. Because, just Mary recognized her need of salvation for her sins, and learned to do whatever it was Jesus said, so, too, can we all receive Him as our Saviour, and learn to follow Him – not because we have to, but because we want to.