“So he called him in and asked him, What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.”        (Luke 16:2).

The character and actions of a godly steward stand in stark contrast to that of the unjust steward.  ( See also Luke 16:10-13 )

All good stewards do the following:

Are you that faithful and wise servant being described here in Luke 12:42-43 ?

“The Lord answered, Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.”

Don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t do what God expects of you.  A steward has authentic responsiblility and carries it out faithfully.  By God’s grace, you can do what He has planned for you.

** comments on stewardship taken from the Word for You Today (Sep/Oct/Nov 2009)

How to Have Your Debt Paid in Full

The current national debt of the Untied States is an amount so staggering, few can grasp it. It’s one of the big reasons why national help with health care is so hotly debated, and people worry so much about Social Security.

There is an even bigger debt, though, than the tens of thousands of dollars owed by each man, woman, and child in the United States. And, it, too, is a debt each person owes.

What is that debt? When we see someone do something wrong, we all like to think “They’ll get what’s coming to them.” That faith helps us overcome the incredible evil that is all around us. It is a debt that wrongdoers owe. In fact, people released from prison are sometimes said to have “paid their debt to society.”

The problem is, we all commit wrongs, called sins. We all have a debt – and the combined total of that debt is great far greater than the U.S. National Debt. Think about all the lies that have been told. With so many people in the world, there are far more lies per second than the amount the National Debt increases per second. That’s not even counting the number of times people steal, hurt others, act mean, and so on. This sin debt grows higher and higher every day.

We can pay off credit cards bit by bit. Sometimes, we can agree to pay a certain amount, and a case will be closed. But, in order to do this, you have to not charge any more, right? You can’t pay a minimum balance of $100 on a credit card and then spent $150 per month on that card. It wouldn’t make sense. The debt would never be paid. And, this doesn’t even take into account the interest on that debt. More must be going to pay the debt than the amount added to the debt, in order to spend it down.

In order to get out of debt, we have to work to manage things so we are spending less than we take in. that includes interest. And, we need to manage thigns so we aren’t racking up so much interest we can’t repay.

Think about that debt that we owe because of our human nature, then. Each of us owes a debt because of those things we say, think, or do that are wrong. They’re usually not like the “debt to society” that is paid for with prison. Most of them are things that need a simple apology, or something else. But, even that is not enough to pay off the debt of sin.

It’s important to apologize sincerely, of course. It helps a lot when we do. But, the problem is, by the time we apologize for a particular sin, things have been added to that sin, like interest. For instance, let’s say we have told a lie, and later apologize and change our heart attitude, so we don’t tell that same lie anymore. In the meantime, someone found out that we lied. An amount of trust will have vanished, that had been there before. It will take more effort to build that trust back up. That trust is like an interest payment for the debt that we took on when we sinned. In a way, then, that lie indirectly causes something to be stolen, as well. And, it isn’t even the only thing that can be lost. Someone may act on that lie, and wind up losing money, losing a relationship, or something else based on it, when that thing should never have been lost.

As much as we try, we can’t be perfect. Even if a person sins 3 times a day – and even if you believe you’re a “good person,” I’m sure you’ll accept that there are 3 times a day – that’s over 1,000 sins a year.

Think about it. We get cut off in traffic, and we curse the person even though they could have a sick relative they’re rushing to visit in the hospital. We say something to hurt or tear others down instead of building them up. We rush to selfishly do something instead of thinking of others first. We commit adultery in our heart through how we look at another. As we can see, then, the debt of sin is huge.

It’s one we can’t repay. We can’t even repay the sin debt on each individual sin. But, to make matters worse, we add to that debt every day. We add to it through mean-spirited things, gossip, selfish thinking, and many other things that not only hurt people, they hurt God. What an enormous debt we owe!

Our debt to society isn’t paid with prison, though. The wages of sin is death. It’s separation from God’s perfect love and goodness forever., in a horrible place filled with sin. God, in His justice, must keep sin from His perfect Heaven, because in His love, He provides a perfect place once this life is over. It’s a place filled with goodness, where there’s no pain, no suffering, and no tears.

But wait, you ask: If the wages of sin is death, if we have all this sin, how can we reach that place? How can that debt be paid?

Thankfully, the story doesn’t stop there. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s a free gift.

See, that debt was so huge, that no person could pay it. No person could pay it, because each person would have to pay his or her own sin debt. So, god came to this world, in form of a man. Jesus Christ was 100% man and 100% God while here on Earth. He paid all your sin debt when He died on the cross for you, and rose from the dead.

Think about it. It wouldn’t do to be 51% good and 49% bad, because that sin debt would still be there. Yes, we should try to be good. But, you can’t repay a debt just by promising to not go any further into debt. The debt will still be there. But, that’s what people do when they trust in being good. They try to ignore those little debts and just focus on not having any more debt. But, that debt still has to be paid. No amount of good work can cause that debt to be paid. Thankfully, the sin debt has been paid in full. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. He, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, all His disciples (though they were tortured and killed for it), Jesus’ miracles, and the Old Testament all testify that He is the sinless one, who became sin for us.

That’s how he took on our debt. He marked it “Paid in full” when He shed His perfect blood, as the sacrifice for our sin. All the lambs that were sacrificed from the very beginning were a sign of what Jesus Christ would do someday. He was the sinless Lamb of God. He laid down His life so we could be saved from our sin debt. And then, He rose from the dead the third day.

Archaeology confirms so much of the Bible. The testimony of people like John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” who have been radically changed, proves that it’s possible, and it happens. Most importantly, His Holy Spirit moves in peoples’ hearts to tell them how much God loves them.

See, God is just, but He is also a God of mercy and forgiveness. God wants to forgive your sin debt. He hung on that cross, suffering agony for hours as He endured the wrath of God the Father, as the sinless substitute for each of us. Then, as He died, He cried out, “tetelestai,” which means “It is finished!” The entire debt had been paid!And, he rose again the third day; He had defeated death, so all who believe can rise with Him.

That repayment must be accepted, though. If you knew it was free, you wouldn’t refuse a person’s offer to pay off all your credit cards and other debts, right? And yet, until that person paid them off, you would still have debt, because you wouldn’t have accepted it.

In the same way, Jesus paid all your sin debt for you. And, He just needs you to accept that He did, and receive it by simple faith. God is love. He wants to pay your sin debt. You just need to:

Accept you’re a sinner, that your sin debt keeps you from His perfect Heaven, that no amount of good work can get you there;

Believe that He is God in flesh, that He died on the cross and rose from the dead for you, personally, to take all your sin debt away;

Choose to turn away from your sins, and trust Him to save you from your sin and forgive you, and to come live in you through His Holy Spirit.

That’s all it takes. It’s a free gift. I know it can be hard for some, but that’s okay; He understands. He knows You, and loves You. He’ll help you have faith if you just trust Him to; before trusting Him to forgive your sin debt, just call in your heart, “ Lord, I’m not sure if you’re out there, but I’m giving this a try, and I trust that if You are real, You will hear and answer.”

Of course, once we receive Him as our Savior, and He comes to live in us, we still sin. We have a human nature that causes us to sin. But, we have Jesus Christ living in us so we can turn to Him and get help, so we don’t sin. And, whatever happens, He will forgive and cleanse us, if we just confess our sin to Him.

The Holy Spirit living is us is His guarantee that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will keep working in us to get us to be good. He might have to work pretty hard to get some peoples’ attention if they wander far away in sin. But, He will always lovingly guide us back, and watch over us, and help us. Because, God is love. And, He loves you. He wants you to be totally free from the burden of sin.

First Haiti has a devastating earthquake. Then, a large quake hits near Japan. Now, Chile has one of the largest in recorded history, at 8.8! The number of major quakes in recent years seems to be increasing. These three came in just 2 months. An enormous 2004 quake not only caused the Asian tsunami, it sped the earth’s rotation momentarily. It’s enough to make people wonder if the end of the world is near.

Earthquakes are scary, as unlike bad weather, they come without warning. Aftershocks can occur for days, weeks, sometimes months. They cause terrible destruction. The increase in intensity in recent years is much like that of birth pangs that a woman feels before giving birth. Interestingly, Jesus uses the same analogy when he speaks of the end. And, “earthquakes in diverse places” – very different places, some of which don’t normally have them, thouhg some will – are one of the signs.

In Matthew 24, Jesus tells his disciples of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. They ask Him several questions. First, they ask when that destruction would happen, and then they ask about the signs of the end of the world. Jesus takes much more time on the second question than the first. He knew He would inspire His Word to be written, and that it was much more important to answer the second. Matthew 24-25 and Luke 21 each cover different aspects of what Jesus said.

Notice, first, that He answers the part about the destruction of Jerusalem in Luke 21:9. This is important because it gives us context to assure us that Matthew 24-25 is about the future, His coming and the end of the world. There are false Christs now, but there were also false Christs back then. There was lots of commotion, but the end – that is, the end of the world – did not come in 70 AD. Luke 21 talks more about the end, but also says that “before these things” – before the great earthquakes, famine, etc. – the disciples would be persecuted, and there would be a time of great trouble in Jerusalem.

However, the destruction of Jerusalem was horrible, but it was not the worst ever in history, as Mat. 24:21 says the end will be. That event in 70 AD was a picture of something that would happen in the future. We know because Matthew 24:15 says that before the end – during the Tribulation – there will be another temple. An abomination – a horrible, blasphemous thing – will be set up in the temple. That didn’t happen in 70 AD. Quite the opposite, in fact; no stone was left upon another. (The “Western Wall,” or “Wailing Wall,” now in Jerusalem is from an old Roman fort built after that.)

There’s another reason we know Jesus is speaking of the end of the world in Matthew 24. the first word of Mat. 25 – “Then” – shows Jesus is talking about the same subject. He’s drawing an analogy to situations in the end times. Yes, the parable of the talents later in that chapter has numerous spiritual applications for the Church, but there is a plain, literal meaning to Scripture, too.

“So, wait,” you ask, “you mean these earthquakes in diverse places are a sign we’re definitely near the end of the world?” Not quite. We are close – I don’t know how close. It is not given to us to know the day or the hour.

But, other signs also point to us being near, if not in, the end times: Famines, pestilence (major diseases), iniquity (lawlessness) running rampant, the love of many becoming cold (we talk about love, but that true, unconditional love isn’t there), and so on. These things are increasing more and more, just like birth pangs. There is, in fact, a site called “Rapture Ready” with a “Rapture index” that measures all of these. (The entire site is filled with good material, and forums, for those who wish to know more.)

“So, wait,” you ask, “are we really that close to the end? How do I prepare?” Like Jesus with His disciples’ questions, I will only gloss over the first, because the second is most crucial. Yes, we are getting close, but unlike a sonogram, these “birth pangs” can only be estimated. We just know they keep growing.

As for how to prepare, be confident that the Church has not replaced Israel. There will be another temple – in fact, Israelis have been preparing for it for years. God will once again deal with his chosen people as a nation, not just as individuals. Before He does this, though, something will happen which you can prepare for: The Rapture. “For the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds, to be meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)

To know you’ll be caught up with Him, it’s as easy as ABC.

Admit you’re a sinner, that you fall short of God’s perfect glory. When sin was brought into the world through man’s disobedience, it spread everywhere, and caused all things to start decaying. We all fall short of His perfection through our sin. We don’t’ always mean to sin, and some people try really hard to be nice al the time. But, we can’t; we’re not perfect. That sin keeps us out of Heaven, except a price was paid to get us in.

Beleve that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead. He is God in flesh, and he paid that price to get you into Heaven. It was the perfect sacrifice, the just for the unjust. He took the punishment you and I and everyone else deserves for our sin – for the fact we fall short of God’s perfection.

Choose to receive Him as your Savior by simple faith. That means heart knowledge, not just head knowledge. Call on Him to save you from your sins, receiving what He did by simple faith, as being for you personally. Because, He died for each of us personally. He had each person on mind who ever lived when he died on that cross, and frose again. All you have to do is receive Him.

If you do, He will come into your heart and change you on the inside, helping you be more like Him in His love, compassion, goodness, peace, and so many other wonderful things. He’ll give you peace so you wojn’t have to worry about all the problems of this world, and so you can get through them with His help. Because, we don’t know how long it will be before He comes for us. But, whether we rise first, or meet Him in the air, we have His promise that He will come for us before things get as horrible as it will in the Tribulation.

These things we see here, these massive earthquakes and such, are only the beginning of sorrows. But, Jesus has promised to help us through, if we just trust Him – with our souls, and then with our lives. And, if He says it’s our time to leave this world, by knowing Him as Savior, we can be certain that we will be forever with Him, in that awesome place where there is no pain, no suffering, and no tears.

The tenth commandment instructs us to love our neighbors.  Matthew 5:42 instructs us to love our enemies.    I don’t know about you but these are the hardest laws that God has given to us for me to follow.

I have had experiences of loving others that I considered my enemy.  My ex-husband for example he admittedly loved to  get me angry or upset even after I left.  My husband’s ex loved to do the same to him.   As my relationship with God flourished I realized the need to pray for these two and their families.  I also came to the conclusion that because of my sin of divorce that there were certain things that God was not going to keep me from experiencing.  These are the consequences of my sin.  But it is easier to love someone from a distance, not having to deal with their idiosyncrasies on a daily basis.  Now I am experiencing a much tougher love of my enemy and neighbor.

In August 2008 my family and I moved from New Jersey to Greene, NY in search of the wonderous open lands available and the safety of not living near the high crime cities of Philadelphia and Camden.  We felt it God’s will.  God moved mountains to get us here.

We really did not want neighbors to close on either side of our home but the home we chose has a neighbor to our right within 50 feet.  When we moved here the house was empty.  At the time we were so busy readying our home and land that I never thought to pray for christian neighbors. What a mistake!

In April 2009 we were going to have a new neighbor.  A single mom with two children who fell into our children’s age groups.  At first glance it seemed great.

As the weeks went by and the time of their move in was coming, I was filled with such ill-will about these people who were going to move next door to me.  I had not even met them yet.  Awful nightmares, feelings of nausea, depression, anxiety ensued.  I prayed to the Lord for His will to be done but to also protect my marriage and family during this time.  I had no idea why I was feeling so insecure about all this but I knew that something evil was lurking.

On the day of move in I mustered up the strength to go over and introduce myself.  Gave the new neighbors a casserole and cake.  As weeks went by it became clear that some of the behaviors in their household were temptations to not only myself but to my husband and children.  Behaviors that I had prayed and worked hard to rid myself of and that I prayed and hoped my husband would rid himself of.  Behaviors that we were hoping our children would not pick up on from others.

My husband was liking our new neighbors and could not understand why I just did not want to have more than a “hello, how are you” relationship.  He kept encouraging me to make friends with her and her friends.  So for his sake I kept trying thinking that this instinctive gut feeling I was having was maybe me just having an overactive imagination.

As more time went by, what I saw with my eyes was disturbing and made me uncomfortable.  My husband just kept assuring me that we would be okay and that we should be neighborly.

I was praying so hard at this time for myself and my husband, our marriage, and for our neighbors and their friends.  I was especially praying for God to instill a loving heart in me for these people because I just did not want to love them.

They seemed so nice bearing gifts, etc…I am having trouble finding the passage but the good Lord does warn us to guard ourselves against those who appear to honorable by giving they do it only for their own credit not from him.

Then suddenly an uprising at their home occurred and I had one of my neighbors friends on my doorstep.  Over the weeks she gained the trust of myself and my husband.  I wanted to believe that she was good.  She listened to me witness to her.  Her significant other and my husband were liking one another.  I thought okay now I know why God sent these people for us to be great witnesses to them.  I was still uncomfortable so many old habits that were tempting me but I was able to trust them enough to allow them to watch my children while in the hospital having my last child.

Then suddenly without forwarning after they visited the baby and went out with us once after, they no longer were answering our calls…She had fled to her mothers for rest.  I thought something was wrong so I tried to reach out.  She said she would call or come visit and there was nothing.  So I stopped reaching out.  She now is back to being great friends with the neighbor.

Hmmm…why can’t two people befriend another.  Deceit, lies, hidden lives….

The Climax:  Our neighbor has always had a problem keeping her dogs in her yard for their duties.  My husband gets disgusted with it.  So he would pick it up with a shovel and fling it. I did not agree with this.  So the last time he did it he came in and asked me what he should do about the dogs pooping in our yard.  I told him maybe we should scoop it up and put in a bag and give it to her as she is not listening or heeding to our requests to stop.  I had not realized he already flung it nor did he tell me.

The next morning I had a knock on my door.  My neighbor bearing gifts once again but this time from her friend.  Father God had given me my answer.  I had pondered how to stop the gifts coming over (free clothes and such but still…kindness I did not want to accept from the enemy I did not want to allow my home to be victimized by such deceit)…this was the opportunity.  I kindly told my neighbor that I could not accept the clothes from her and that she should not allow her friend to put her in the middle of anything.  That she should not allow her to use her like that.  Her friend needed to have the courage to face me and the lies she had weaved.  Why did I warn her?  Because I respect her enough as a human being not to see her get hurt.  I may not like her ways, beliefs, and values but she is still a person.

We both had tears in our eyes I thought maybe I struck a chord of revelation….then she lashed out at me about the poo.  Then her boyfriend came over and started yelling at me.  I told them I understood their frustration with how that was handled and that I spoke to my husband about it being inconsiderate and disgusting and it would no longer happen but on the same note they needed to keep the dogs doing their business in their yard.  They still kept yelling about how it was not their dogs and that our dog was at their house and the stray cats (that came with our house) were in their yard………….

I cannot believe I kept my composure during all this I do not like being yelled at………I kindly asked them to leave and that they were no  longer welcome in my home.  It took me a couple of times of saying it before they left but they finally left.  I was at such peace.

I told my husband and of course he needed to go out and clarify his actions which started an argument between him and them.

He seems to be so interested in what these people are doing.  Not interested in making friends with people at our church.  It has become an obsession with him.

I would be happy just to live my life with my family and stay isolated in my own yard.  If they have a need I will assist.  If they are in trouble I will be there.  But under no circumstances do I want to have them over for dinner or dessert or vice versa.  Is this loving my neighbor and enemy?  I am not being loving enough?

I do still pray for them each and every day to come to the revelation that there is a God.

Sorry to be so long winded it was hard for me to get my point out in just a few sentences and still this is not every detail that I have dealt with.

I would love to hear from others who may have had similar experiences and how they handle their neighbors on a daily basis.  Do I need to do more for them?  Less?  I need prayer for the upcoming spring.  Right now I do not see these people as much due to the weather but come spring they are always out.  They are the type of people that need to make their presence know with outlandish and loud remarks.  We are working on getting a fence over there with our tax refund………Any thoughts?

God did not make you to be average! Everything you need to succeed already exists in you.  Believe in God’s word and receive the blessings that God is offering to you.  As a matter of fact, God has already bestowed these gifts on every person that is united with Christ…

Ephesians 1:3 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4-14 goes on to explain what some of those spiritual gifts are. Our relationship with God, as His children, is the biggest and most important of the blessings.  In addition, God has a plan for our lives, and because we are His “heirs,” we are guaranteed a future inheritance. The moment we trusted Christ we inherited a great deal of spiritual riches and blessings, all of which were purchased for us by Christ.

God has endowed us with the Holy Spirit, who takes up residence in our hearts and gives us experiential glimpses of God’s kingdom. The Holy Spirit enables us to experience God’s love in this life (Rom.5:5)  The Holy Spirit also enables us to build and enjoy healthy love relationships in this life (1Thess.4:9). But sometimes we can forget that we have the rights of sons and daughters and instead live as orphans. We have incredible riches in Christ, but we often act like we’re poor. We Christians know that the ultimate purpose and meaning of our lives is to bring praise and glory to God.

What might look different in your life if you were living out of a rich experience of our spiritual adoption in Christ?

Take a look at Romans 8:15-17: For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

How does being made sons and daughters free us from fear?

So it is up to us as Christians to act on what we already possess.  We should believe, live and act as though we are blessed, because we really already are!  As Tye Tribbett would say, “We’ve got the V ICTORY!” and we should live our lives for the glory of God.

Click here to see the video of Tye Tribbett on tbn

John 4:23 NIV Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

To summarize, these verses should lead us to:

• Understand that the chief purpose for God’s blessing us is to bring glory to Himself by making us holy and blameless in love.
• Praise and thank God as we meditate on our many spiritual blessings.
• Live in such a way as to bring God the greatest glory possible
.

The recent apology from Tiger Woods had been debated by many. While he has convessed what he has done, he still has quite a few sponsors who are leery at best and ignoring him at worst.

Can he recover his legacy? And, will (or can) he be forgiven?

the answer to both lies in the public. Forgiveness is something people seem rather willing to give if it is sincere. One thing that is important to remember is this: Forgiveness doesn’t mean saying something was right. In fact, in saying it needs forgiven, it’s flat out saying it was wrong.

There are, of course, different levels of wrongdoing. What Tiger Woods did was to sin – committing adultery – on a mass scale. There were no crimes involved. However, it was still an incredible breech of trust. While very few have committed crimes, a much larger percentage of people have at least looked on other adults with lust in their hearts, committing adultery in their hearts, as our Lord Jesus Christ says. Indeed, all of us need forgiven – if not for that, for some other sin.

We can do nothing to earn that forgiveness ourselves, just as Tiger Woods can do nothing to earn our forgiveness. Forgiveness is something that must be given freely. It is not earned or deserved. It is always a free gift. For by grace ar eye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. One must receive what Christ did for them by simple faith – trust that Jesus Christ, God in flesh, lived a perfect life and died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins, as your substitute, and that He rose from the dead the third day. He did all that was needed to get you to Heaven.

A person can work to regain trust, of course, and that will be important. it’s a hard thing to do – which is why the Apostle Paul warns of the need to finish well in the Christian life. It looks as though Tiger Woods wants to do that. But, the Bible doesn’t tell us to trust others. It says to forgive one another, as God for Christ sake hath forgiven us.

Trust must be earned by showing oneself trustworthy in small things first, so they can be trusted in larger things. A young teen I know is mature enough to watch her siblings. She would like to babysit outside the family, for anyone. But, she is just now working to earn her parents’ trust with those younger siblings. Once she does that, she will have the privilege of watching other peoples’ children. As she gets a larger resume and more references, more people will trust her, if she does a good job.

But, if she were to mess up – let’s say she takes her eye off a younger child and he gets hurt – she will be forgiven right away. that is, her parents will still love her. They might decide she’s not ready yet to be trusted with certain responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean they will love her any less.

This is an important concept when it comes to rebuilding his legacy, and Tiger being forgiven. Whenever he plays again, he is going to have to earn that trust. It’s up to the public to decide to put their trust in him again. In the cynical world we live in, it’s easy to wonder what people we can trust, but we can’t just refuse to trust anyone. it will take time for Tiger Woods to rebuild his legacy, but it seems quite possible for him to do so. The public, though cynical at times, does seem ready to let him build that trust up with them again. It’s just like in the Bible, when the Apostle Paul started out, just after his conversion. It took him a while to be trusted by those in Jerusalem, till Barnabas was willing to take a chance. However, that doesn’t mean the early apostles didn’t forgive the former Saul of Tarsus. It just means that they understood only God could be trusted completely.

However, forgiveness – which is also up to the public – is something that isn’t earned or deserved. In fact, true forgiveness means forgiving Tiger Woods before he ever made his apology; just as Jesus called out ont he cross, “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.” He certainly can be forgiven; because all of us have sinned and need forgivness, which was given to us through the wonderful cross, and the shed blood of Jesus, as the remission for our sins.

Do you feel worthless?  Do you feel like you’re a mistake?  Don’t Believe It!

You are special – You are uniquely and beautifully made!

I remember as a child, my mother told me in the heat of an argument that she was sorry I was born.  When I was in my twenties, she told me the story how she tried to abort me 3 times.  These statements surely had a negative affect on me well into my 30s.  Thank God, he has healed me from the stings of these words.  Today, I look at these happenings in a very different way….despite the fact that my mom tried to abort me several times…God willed me into existence.  What incredible plan God must have for my life.  It made me also realize that my words might have hurt people and that we need to be careful about what we say to one another.  The subconscious can’t take a joke.

Words are one thing.  I can only imagine the abuse some of you might have had to endure.  Some of you might had to endure not only verbal abuse but also physical and sexual abuse.  Watching the movie “Precious” gave a glimpse of what that would be like.

Abuses like that can make you feel worthless and full of shame.  I understand that there are even symptoms of guilt with being sexually abused, making you feel like that somehow it’s your fault you have been abused.  Let me make it perfectly clear…these are all lies of the enemy, who wants nothing less than to kill and destroy you.  Don’t you believe it!

You are special!
There is only one like you and God has a plan for your life.  He willed you and me into existence.  Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about your and my existence.

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  Psalms 139:13 (NKJV)

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.  Psalms 139:14 (NKJV)

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Matt 10:29-31 (NKJV)

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!  Psalms 139:16-17 (NKJV)

God Loves You!
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  ”For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

God Can Help

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Prov 18:10 (NKJV)

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.  Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV)

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.  Psalms 147:3 (NKJV)

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’  Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.  Matt 5:4 (NKJV)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  ”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  ”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matt 11:28-30 (NKJV)

New Beginnings
We can’t undo our past, at the same time however, we should not live with our false past identity.   I surely could have not done it myself.  God has not only healed me, but he has also given me a new identity…one that is based on my true identity that is in Christ.  As a Christian, we are no longer bound by our old identity…we’re a new creation.

Jesus is waiting.  Ask him to give you a new identity.  His word says…”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it wll be opened to you.  “or everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Matt 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Check out this beautiful video You are Special – by Max Lucado

Also, check out our articles on We’re Created Different, But We’re All Useful, What is Heaven? A world better than Avatar’s Pandora, Can Your God Do This?, In The Wilderness, It’s not fair! But, why isn’t life fair? And, can it be?, The Comforting Word of God, Salvation, Success and Failure Articles,

Aaaah!  It is Sunday!  A day of rest!  A day to refuel the soul!  A day to set aside just for you, Father God, to give you glory and praise your Holy Name!

For some of you this day may be Saturday, but I usually spend Sunday as my Sabbath.  This has confused me. It  makes sense  that since Father God spent 6 days creating and spent the 7th day resting that Saturday would be the Sabbath, but most of us spend our Sabbath on Sunday since that is the day we go to church.  Some weeks I have more convictions of this than others so I wind up celebrating my Sabbath on Saturday but still attending church on Sunday.   In doing this I feel I really prepare my heart for worship. But where did the Sunday Sabbath come from if the Bible is really clear on the 7th day?

I once was a member of a small group that had this discussion.  The big issue was how many people worked weekends and could not get to church on Sunday?  So is it okay for people who need to work weekends to spend their Sabbath, their day of rest, their day of isolating themselves to the Lord, the day of praise to the Lord, another day?

I guess in retrospect if you spend your 6 days of work Saturday through Thursday or Sunday-Friday, or whatever your schedule might be then your Sabbath would be the day or one of the days you actually do not have to go to work.  That would be the day you set aside for rest.

Some denominations are very set on what the Bible says about the Sabbath.  Going by our calendar, etc.  But although our calendar was derived from a former does it make it exactly the calendar that God used and did God use a calendar?  He has always existed, He is older than all the grains of sand, He has always been there and will always be, His day is a thousand years.  So what type of calendar did He or would He use?

In conclusion, I believe that each of us has our own personal relationship with our Lord.  We need to rest in Him and His Word each and every day to be drawn closer to Him and have the ability to hear His will in our lives.  But we also need to have our Sabbath, where we do no work in order to glorify His Holy Name and His Word.

Draw near to the Lord today and everyday.  Set aside your Sabbath.  Speak to the Lord of your habits, needs, desires, and the Sabbath.   Allow His Holy Spririt to guide and lead you and listen for God’s Words of Wisdom.

I would love to hear from you and what God leads you to do!

I love you, Father God!  You are my King of Kings, my rock and fortress, without you life would be impossible and with you life is amazing!  All glory and honor to you, Abba Father!  Praise be your Holy Name!

The Apostle Paul seems to have been a sports fan. He likely followed the ancient Olympics, just as we follow the modern Games. In several places, he compares the Christian life to sports. He speaks of people who strive for mastery of various things, as one would strive to excel at Olympic events. He speaks of not wanting to become disqualified. And, writes of how all run, that one may attain the prize, and tells us to run that way, though we shall all obtain that prize.

How should we do that? Obviously, life is not totally about athletics. In fact, Jesus Christ cared deeply about the handicapped of his day, those who couldn’t do much physically. It is, however, a valid comparison, as we consider the things anyone can do, and the things to avoid, as well as the ultimate goal of life.

First, we see that people strive for mastery. The Bible is telling us to work at obtaining the qualities of a strong Christian, as though we were trying to make it into the Olympics. This is vital, because we have a great adversary, the devil, who is constantly going around seeking to devour people. We must put on the “whole armor of God” each day, and practice doing that constantly. Ephesians 6:11-18 tells us about that – the faith, righteousness (not our own, but Christ’s), and so on which allow us to stand. It’s just like one stands at the podium to earn that medal.

Not everyone can do everything. But, everyone can work on the fruits of the Spirit, for instance, in Galatians 5:22-23. By cultivating those, one can grow to be more and more like Jesus, which will allow others to see His goodness in us. And, we can do those things, to the best of our abilities, that mark a good Christian – reading the Bible, praying, giving (time and talent, as well as money), fellowshipping with other believers, witnessing of what Christ as done for us, and so on. Not everyone will be great at first. But, everyone can work on those things some, to the point where they get better each day.

We must, however, not cut corners, Paul warns of not wanting to be disqualified. This can happen in two ways. First, a person could be disqualified by cheating. Think of a runner in the marathon skipping a few miles of the course. They never really finish, and if they train that way, that shortcut means they won’t be as effective. They can also simply fail to meet the necessary requirements. This means they wouldn’t even be able to enter the competition. It would be like an ice skater who never practiced with the music he or she wanted to use. When they try to qualify, they would be so out of sync they wouldn’t get anywhere close to Olympic entry.

Both are seen in the problem of Christians who won’t grow spiritually. They trust Jesus to save them, but ignore the Holy Spirit calling them to improve. They have no limitation that keeps them from giving, or prayinbg, or reading the Bible, or anything like that. They just pay too much attention to the world. Some even fall into sin that harms their own team, like a hockey player who just goes around picking fights with teammates instead of just sitting back and letting them play and try to win.

Finally, Paul advises that – though we shall all obtain the prize – we should focus as it we wanted to finish first.

This verse is not saying to be prideful. It’s merely saying that one must put one’s whole focus on himself or herself, and not pay attention to how others are doing. It doesn’t matter if someone else is pursuing their calling in a different way, or how well they are doing at it. Yes, we must stand fast against sin. However, we should not put such emphasis on others that we ignore our own walk with Christ.

So, how does one become an Olympic-style Christian, and get the most out of life. First, one must commit to those things that draw us near to God. Yes, the Bible says that He who hath begun a good work in you will complete it. It’s His job to guide and direct you. However, let’s say you’re walking a dog. What’s easier? When that dog is well heeled and walks right with you? Or, trying to walk when your dog is pulling after a squirrel or something in the totally opposite direction? Of course, it’s the first one. We need to stay close to God, so it’s easier on us and on Him. This is why Paul warns us not to quench the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is how He guides us toward a Godly path.

We must not let our path become one of self-righteousness, nor let it become a path of sin. Either one can cause us to become disqualified for that race. It might mean a lost chance at some blessing or reward, or it might mean that God will nto hear our prayer because we regard sin in our hearts. It will never mean we lose our salvation, but imagine the shame just as getting to Heaven, and learning you could have done so much more with what you had. That you wasted your life on things that never mattered. That, in itself, would be horrible, and is the reason Paul was so concerned.

Because, you see, while we must keep an eye on our own running, we have the duty to be an example of Christ for others. In that way, our eyes should be all around us, even though we run the race as if we wanted to finish first.

In another respect, of course, we can’t totally run it to finish first. It’s not just because we must be humble, and give God the glory, rather than credit our own accomplishments. It’s because all receive the same crown who have trusted Christ as Savior. That crowning achievement is the eternal life which was purchased for us through the shed blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a pice which can be received by anyone by simple faith. For we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

See, so much in life is going to disappear at the end. The only thin we take with us are souls; Jesus is preparing a place for as many as will receive Him. Everything will be taken care of up there. He just wants as many as possible to receive Him.

So, run the race, keeping your mind on the fact that to get the most out of life, you need to first of all know that you have eternal life. That’s done by simply putting your whole faith in Jesus Christ, receiving what He did on the cross as having taken the punishment for your sins. Then, trusting that He rose from the dead for you, too.

Next, your focus needs to be on things above. And, you need to cultivate those fruits of the Spirit, remain close to God through faith, prayer, and so on, and work toward telling others about Jesus so that as many as possible can join you in heaven someday. Not to get any credit for it yourself, but so that God may be glorified.

Then, if you have trusted him as Savior and faithfully served Him, He can say those words that will mean so much more than any gold medal, so much more than any anthem at a podium. He, the Creator of the Universe, the one by whom all things consist, can say to you, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” That is better than any medal – hearing Him tell you that you did a good job.

That’s the way to get the most out of life. It’s by making sure you have received Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Then, having plenty of others that you have won to Christ by planting seeds – through kindness, love, witnessing, and son on – that lead to them getting saved and/or growing closer to Christ themselves. That is how to be an Olympic-level Christian.

“Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes but morning comes. Keep hope alive. Don’t you surrender!  Suffering breeds faith. In the end faith will not disappoint.”   –Jesse Jackson, American civil rights activist,minister

As you read the quote by Rev. Jesse Jackson keep these verses in mind from James 1:2-4,  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it. When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare. We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly. If, after all, any should say, This may be the case with some, but I fear I shall not succeed, the promise is, To any that asketh, it shall be given. No condition of life is such as to hinder rejoicing in God.

(bible verse notes taken from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible).

The following is a poem that I came across many years ago. Its seems just as appropriate today as it did back then. See if you remember hearing it, as well.

Don’t Quit by Edgar A. Lewis

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

More bible commentary on James Chapter 1 can be found at Matthew Henry’s Commentary

A recent finding by archaeologists shows the Bible to be older than many liberal scholars thought. These scholars base their views on man’s thinking. However, the thinking of imperfect man has been proven wrong time and again. Meanwhile, the Bible – which is the Word of God – is perfect and timeless.

The recent finding – written Hebrew containing some of the Law – is among many that sink myths made popular by people who do not want to accept God’s authority in their lives. The desire to see people as all-important is not a new one. In fact, it is as old as time itself. However, it’s important to understand that we are imperfect. And, imperfect people can never create a perfect theory, system, or anything, without relying totally on God to do it.

One of the main theories this finding debunks is that written Hebrew came later. This is based on peoples’ prejudices. People came up with this theory because they wanted to feel superior. If they could say a people group had writing later than them, it might make them feel better.

However, the claim itself of Hebrew being a more recent language is based on the fact that it hadn’t been found to be any earlier. This is like saying, “Because I can’t see across the ocean, there is nothing there.” First, the lack of evidence for something doesn’t prove that it doesn’t exist. All it shows is there isn’t any evidence right now. Second, you have proof each time you meet someone from across the sea. Someone might say, “They could be lying,” but if they bear evidence – such as souvenirs from faraway countires – you would know they are telling the truth.

The Bible has always had that evidence. Joshua and the Israelites brought the written Penteteuch (the first five books of the Bible) into the Promised Land when they settled it. The written Word of God is referred to numerous times in Scripture by people who wrote centuries before Christ. the law was brought out by Josiah, King of Israel, and read before the people decades before the fall of Jerusalem.

The witness of the writers of Scripture shows that the written Word of God was around for centuries before some people like to say it was. This is because God inspired the people to write it. This means that the Holy Spirit moved the writers to write what God wanted them to write, while still allowing them to keep their own individual personalities and styles.

There will always be people who try to scoff. but, this not only shows Hebrew to have been written earlier than liberal scholars thought, it is among a number of findings lately that have proved the existence of King David. Other famous archaeological digs have shown other evidence of the existence of people and groups who existed in Biblical times.

The Bible is clearly very old. The liberal scholars have been wrong consistently when trying to date it. The same holds true with their idea of New Testament dates. The books of the New Testament were all written within the first decades after Jesus’ death, the last being around 90-95 A.D.. In fact, some scholars believe that one of the Dead Sea Scrollsmay contain a small portion of the Gospel of Mark.

Even if it doesn’t, it’s imprortant to realize that the Bible can be relied upon as the absolute Word of God. It should not be torn apart by textual critics. It should be accepted for what it is – the inspired, inerrant Wordof God which was written by the contemporaries of those alive at the time events took place, be they Old or New Testament. the witness of the Bible is true in every area. Especially in that of needing to trust in Jesus Christ, God in flesh, as the sinless substitute for our sins. he suffered, bled, and died for our sins, and rose from the dead, because mankkind is imperfect; and has been since the beginning, when sin was brought intot he world, and death by sin.

However, thankfully, while man is imperfect, God is perfect, and has given us His Word.

After the terrible devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, many are taking a new look at major regions in the United States that could see quakes, those being California, the New Madrid fault line, and, lately, at the “earthquake swarm” in Yellowstone National park. And, people are wondering – can it happen here?

Earthquakes are very scary. Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires, and other disasters, which provide at least a *little* warning, quakes provide none. (Some speak of hints like sea lions leaving San Francisco, but that is just a coincidence, as they had left well before the 1989 quake.) This makes them seem much more scary. The supervolcano that is also under Yellowstone make that one appear quite frightening to many.

Unfortunately, we can’t know for certain when the next quake will hit, but we know that they will come sometime. Will it be in our lifetimes? We don’t know for sure. However, one day there will be an earthquake so large, it will be larger than any that has come before it. The Bible which is God’s love letter to us – warns us of that humongous, 20-on-the-Richter-scale quake just before the Battle of Armageddon. That’s just before his Second Coming.

Why does a “love letter” warn of such things? Because any loving person will want to warn their loved ones of impending doom, so they can escape. Jesus did the same thing when He warned His disciples of the year 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem decades before it happened He then jumped straight to the end times, which they had asked about, so as to answer their original question; this is why the church age in between is ignored in Matthew 24-25. He wants us to be prepared.

See, God made this world perfect. There weren’t supposed to be any natural disasters. But, something happened when man, by his own free choice (because god didn’t want us to be mindless robots) chose to bring sin into the world. That sin was like an infection, which infected all the earth. It wasn’t just that man faced spiritual death, and would one day face physical death as well. All of creation was infected. Hence, Romans 8:22 tells us that the whole world groans and travails in pain. In fact, “earthquakes in diverse places” is one sign of the end being near.

Thankfully, one day, God will make a new Heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more pain, no suffering, no tears. But, there can be no sin there, either. So, how do we make sure we get there, and how does this help us prepare?

How do we get to that new Heaven and earth?

Each of us has that same “infection” called a sin nature. We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God. God Himself is just like His perfect Heaven – we must be perfect to approach Him. The wages of sin – what we earn for that sin, that time when we go against His will and choose our own way – is death. That’s a separation from God forever in a place of suffering called Hell, which was only created for the devil and his angels which rebelled. God doesn’t want people to go there.

So, God made a way for us to get to heaven. He came into this world in the person of Jesus Christ, who was fully God and fully man. He was perfect. And, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He died for our sins, was buried, and then He rose again the third day. And, the wonderful thing is, that as many as receive Him by simple faith, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that beleve on His name.

It’s only by simple faith in what He already did that we can get to Heaven. We can’t do it ourselves. Each person must put his or her trust in Jesus Christ to forgive them and save them from their sins, and come make them new on the inside. For if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold, all thigns are become new. Then, he will live in us and help us to grow closer to Him in our love, compassion, and so on. We’ll still have that fleshly nature, but one day, those who receive Him will be changed totally, so they are without in once they die or are raptured. Then, eventually, God will make that new Heaven and earth, and Heaven itself shall descend to that world, and God will dwell with man, as told in Revelation 21.

Okay, so it will come, but not for a long time, right? It probably won’t come for a long while. However, here’s what to do to prepare.

First, pray God saves your soul

The most important thing is to receive His free gift of salvation, by faith in what He did for you on the cross as having taken all the punishment for your sin.

You might die in some other way than a quake, after all. You need to be prepared. That means that when the church age ends, you will be caught up in the air with Him – either as one of the dead in Christ which rise first, or one of those who remain living on Earth.

Second, pray God holds it off

First, the major earthquake the Bible speaks of occurs in the Tribulation period. This doesn’t mean there *can’t* be a major quake before then. But, you can certainly pray that God will hold off the Big One in California, the Yellowstone supervolcano, and so on until the Tribulation period.

See, the church age ends at the start of the Tribulation. Events on Earth during the Tribulation are spoken of in Revelation 6-19. Once the Rapture happens, things will get a lot worse, as far as natural disasters, plagues, and so on, as well as sin.

Right now, there is a lot of sin in the world’s people. And, creation is groaning more and more. It’s not because of anyone’s particular sin. To continue our earlier analogy, it’s just part of that “infection” that has been spreading throughout the world, infecting all of nature with decay. God is all-powerful, He can hold things off. But, that “infection” has an effect. And, God – being just as well – must allow the laws of cause and effect to run their course, unless He intercedes in a miraculous way. If there were no cause and effect, the world would be an even worse place; nobody would know what to expect when anything happened.

Third, pray God helps you through

If there would be a major quake, you can pray that God helps you through it. He gives us grace to help with everything in time of need, but that last word is very important. He provides us with our daily needs, not just those things we want. Having a couple weeks of supplies in event of a major disaster is always wise. Having a couple years is foolish. It’s not trusting in God. Remember, He tells His disciples to seek first the Kingdom of God, and its righteousness, and all these things (food, shelter, etc.) would be added unto us.

Fourth, pray God gives you discernment

This is a vital part of the Christian life. It means knowing when something is of God, and when it’s not.

Stories of looting and such in Haiti can make one worry about what would happen in event of a disaster here. However, that spirit of fear is actually ungodly. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7) When the Bible says to “fear God,” it means to hold Him in great reverence, to realize His awesome power and what He could do if He wanted, which helps us realize his great mercy by which He saved us even more. He doesn’t want to destroy us. He never takes joy in punishing, He loves us unconditionally. So, that term never means to be frightened.

First, note that God lives in us through His Holy Spirit , which is fully god just like God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. This is the Spirit we can listen to so we can be guided through life. He doesn’t want us to be afraid and worry all the time about earthquakes, or any other disasters. He wants us to use His Spirit.

It’s a Spirit of peace that passes understanding, of goodness, of mercy. And, it’s one where people should look at us and see a difference. When someone sees a Christian, they should see Christ inside them, and say, “Wow, I wish I had that Spirit of peace.”

It’s wonderful to have that Spirit. But, the same Spirit that lives in us and gives us peace, and the ability to get through all the problems of life, is God. That means He is all-knowing. As such, He can tell us, in our hearts, what is right and what is wrong.

When the Bible says we should not be as little children, tossed to and fro with every doctrine, it’s talking mostly about sound Biblical doctrine. It’s saying, “Don’t just keep changing with whatever man teaches, follow the Bible, which is forever.” However, there is another application which can be made, too.

So often, we hear stories about massive supervolcanoes, or fault lines like New Madrid, or rumors about things like the San Francisco sea lions, and we start to worry. Those little worries become big ones, and eventually we get so anxious that we don’t know what to do. Then, just as that one crisis ends, the next one begins – maybe it’s the H1N1 virus, maybe it’s economic woes, maybe it’s something else.

God doesn’t want us to be tossed about like a little boat on a raging sea. He wants us to have a peace that passes understanding. He wants us to feel safe, so we can know what’s important, and what isn’t. He knows the future, so He can guide us as to what to watch out for, what to just keep track of but not be too concerned, and what we can ignore. God cares for your well-being. It’s not just eternal life in Heaven someday He promises us. It’s eternal life with Him starting the moment you trust Him as your Savior! Hallelujah!

So, when you hear stories about earthquake swarms, or whatever else the media brings up, trust in god to keep you, because He will. This world has a huge infection called sin, which has all of creation groaning and travailing. However, if you receive Him as Savior, you can have Him guiding you through it all; you only have to turn to Him and ask for that help, for He has promised, “I will never leave you, norm forsake you.”

Baseball great Yogi Berra’s “déjà vu all over again” quote will likely appear often, as Brett Favre threw another interception at the end of a conference championship game, just like in January of 2008. Will he retire, or not? And, if he retires, will he stay retired? Between him and Conan O’Brien, who list the battle with Jay Leno over the 11:30 time slot, future employment will be in celebrity news for weeks or even months.

Interesting that, in each case, they likely want to do something. It’s doubtful O’Brien will give up comedy, though he could with his severance package. As for Favre, pro athletes are so used to competition and cheering, it would be hard to imagine him spending his whole life golfing and fishing, even if we think we would with his millions.

The reason it’s hard to imagine is, we are born with a desire to do something. Even the first man, Adam, didn’t just sit around doing nothing. His job was to till the garden in Eden, to dress it and keep it nice. This was a much easier job before the Fall, of course.

When Adam and Even sinned, things changed. To use our present examples, a Brett Favre can’t play quarterback without 300-pound guys clobbering him. The old adage is that football is not just a contact sport, it’s a collision sport. Because sin came into the world, these collisions cause Favre to get banged up, and to age to the point where someday, he’ll realize his body can’t take it. Similarly, Conan O’Brien is in a job where jokes fall flat sometimes. Sometimes, communication fails, and there can easily be someone better who can take that job.

These are the “thorns and thistles” of their jobs, the problems of working that have existed since sin entered the world. Tilling the garden would have been easy for Adam. But, because sin was brought into the world, with his job came problems. And, the ground would produce thorns and thistles. (Genesis 3:18)

Every difficulty we encounter, no matter what our work, can be traced back to these thorns and thistles. Every task that seems fruitless, every attempt to get something done that fails, comes because of this. Favre’s interceptions, his many bruises and aches, come because this world is not the perfect place it was created to be. Conan’s struggles with his employer, as well as times when any comedian is “just dying out there,” are the consequences of sin having been brought into the world back at the dawn of time.

Of course, work has success, too. God promises that success will come in that verse, when He tells Adam he shall eat the herb of the field. What he is saying, though, is that that herb is going to be hard to come by, much harder than if sin were not present. And, in the same way, Favre and O’Brien have each tasted great success in their jobs. Favre is a surefire Hall of Famer who increased his prestige with an incredible season. Conan O’Brien is seen by many as a great comedian, even with his problems.

Some jobs bring more difficulties than others, of course. In some, it’s the location – a house in a poor market might not sell for months, even with the best seller. Ratings are dependent on the competition and “lead in” viewers. A quarterback can struggle mightily with no supporting cast. At times, it’s the nature of the job. Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers, saw an incredible playoff game go to waste because of defensive struggles. And, the best doctor can’t save every patient. Even in a field where that doctor would rarely ever see something bad, there will always be that one case that turns out to be an untreatable cancer. Thorns and thistles come up in every field.

And yet, when all is said and done, that agent can find someone to buy, if the price is low enough. The surgeon in the busiest emergency room, with the worst accidents, will be able to save some. A truly great quarterback can still get noticed by the Hall of Fame eventually, and a great comedian can get laughs from someone. The herb of the field will come. It will just be with a lot of effort, a lot of toil, and a lot of sweat.

That toil and sweat of the brow comes at us just as it came at Adam, and just as it comes for Favre and O’Brien – whatever they choose to do. However, the next verse, Genesis 3:19, points to what Favre and O’Brien must both consider. Eternal rewards are the only ones that will last, and they must start to earn these, instead of only Earthly ones. To get those, we must receive Christ’s forgiveness.

Consider Adam’s situation. He learns that he will have to work much harder to get any yield from the land. He will do this in sorrow his whole life, realizing what once was. Yes, he would be able to get the herb of the field eventually. But, even when he did, it would seem so fruitless at times. The toil and sweat of his brow would make labor so tiring. And, after all that labor, what would he get? A physical body that would grow old, decay, and die. Just as Brett Favre and Conan O’Brien – and all of us – have.

God knew this. He didn’t want any of us to be surprised. The fact that Adam would have to toil and sweat was an implied part of that warning back in Gen. 2:17 that he would surely die. This phrase, literally translated, says, “dying, you will die.” In other words, the process of death would begin right away, and would continue until, at long last, Adam returned to dust. Gen. 3:19, then, is telling Adam just how that would happen. Just as we will turn to dust someday and so will celebrities like Favre and O’Brien.

Of course, some work is more joyful than others. When Paul Harvey, the great radio commentator, passed away, there was a clip of him stating something to the effect that he’d never “worked” a day in his life. It was always so much fun. Just as Favre, when he looks at it, keeps coming back to the thrill of the game. (And, thus, keeps coming out of retirement.) And, just as O’Brien keeps looking at the thrill of doing stand-up comedy. Sure, it takes a lot of toil and sweat, as it did for Mr. Harvey. But, if you ask them, they’d probably echo his sentiments.

This is an element of God’s grace. It shows that God, in His perfect love, has created each of us with interests that, if we hone them, will grow into lifelong work that we’ll love. We’ll love it because God has matched us to that work. Paul Harvey still worked, of course. But, he had found that one specific thing which he could do that brought him pleasure. Just as Favre and O’Brien no doubt have.

This is not a sign of salvation per se; plenty of saved people toil in unhappy situations, and plenty of unsaved love their jobs. What it means is that God loves us, and it’s one of the ways He shows that love to us. There is always that reminder – through how we age – that our bodies are but dust. However, he provides us with grace, so we can have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

However, Adam was still mortal, as we all are. He would return to the ground. Even if someone is the greatest ever at what they do, all the things they do in this life build treasures on earth. Ones that moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves can break forth and steal. (Matt. 6:19) That frail, physical body simply returns to the dust.

Yet, Adam could receive God’s forgiveness for his sin – that means forgiveness for falling short of God’s perfect glory. And, so can anyone. We must each accept that we’re sinners, in need of a Savior. Simply receive, by simple faith, God’s forgiveness, through what Jesus Christ, God in flesh, did on the cross. He was sinless, yet He became sin for us. He was the substitute, he took the punishment for our sins, when He died on the cross, and then he rose from the dead, just as we who receive Him will be raised someday. To as many as received Him, gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 1:12) This means trusting Him by simple faith to forgive us for our sins.

Once a person trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are assured of a home in God’s perfect Heaven, where there is no pain, no suffering, no heartache. One can only get to heaven by receiving that forgiveness, because when we do, God makes us a new creature on the inside; He comes to live in us and guide us to becoming more like Him.

When a person has received Christ as their Savior, they can earn rewards in Heaven, by serving the Lord. A person can serve the Lord in a secular job, of course – you don’t have to be a missionary to serve Him. But, to build treasure in Heaven, a Christian must live with an eye toward doing things that glorify and honor Him and draw others to Him.

It is vital that we lay up treasures in Heaven, where they can’t decay, grow old, or be stolen. (Matt. 6:20) This applies just as much to us as it did to Adam. We, too, have physical bodies that will return to the ground. However, we also have that promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He longs for us to turn to Him. He longs for us to be born again, through what He did for us on the cross, dying and rising from the dead. And, then, He longs for us to build those treasures in heaven, so we don’t have to be empty-handed when we approach the throne of God. We can have crowns to lay at His feet. We can have wonderful, eternal blessings that go beyond this world, into eternal rewards.

These rewards are what Favre and O’Brien should seek. Favre can’t play quarterback as long as O’Brien can do comedy. Both must realize that – while God has been gracious in giving each something that fills them with joy, no matter what they do, if they seek only Earthly gain, it will all be wasted. They can’t last forever. But, if they receive Christ, they can live forever, and they can serve the Lord in whatever He provides for them, that will glorify and honor Him.

Have you noticed how much we hear about our hearts these days?  We’re frequently reminded we should reduce the stress in our lives, eat properly, exercise regularly and have yearly check ups.  Doctors believe if we do these things we will keep healthy.

Of course, if problems arise, we can choose to ignore their advice and risk the consequences, or we can make whatever changes are necessary for a healthy heart. It is really up to us to decide.

Our “spiritual hearts”—our relationship with God, need to be taken care of as well.  Some people have very healthy spiritual hearts, but for others, there is bad news.  Their “spiritual EKG” shows severe sin problems in desperate need of forgiveness.  There are only two options available to them:  They can ignore their condition, in which case they will “die in their sin,” or they can take the healing advice of “God, the Great Physician,” and get well.  It seems like an easy decision to make, but it’s amazing how many people make the wrong one.

The Physician has a “file” about all people with unhealthy hearts.  It is entitled, The Book of Romans. It’s a book in the Bible.  Contained within its pages is complete information about the patient, along with a diagnosis and recommended treatment.  It’s a very important file.  This is some of the information contained within it:

The Physician’s Diagnosis:

There is a condition known as sin.  It is defined as not measuring up to God’s standard of perfection in our thoughts, words, or deeds.  Sin entered the world because of one person’s behavior (Rom.5:12 NIV).  That was Adam.  Since then, all people have sinned (Rom.3:23 NIV).  Sin separates each person from a relationship with God, results in physical and spiritual death, and condemns each one to a place of eternal torment called Hell (Rom.6:23 NIV).  This is a world-wide epidemic, and is the most serious and deadly problem known to humankind today.

Treatment and Cure:

The treatment and cure for this problem is available from only one source—Jesus Christ, the Great Physician.  Although Jesus never sinned, He showed His great love for us by taking the punishment for our sins—a cruel and painful death.  It is the punishment we deserve (Rom.5:8, 17-18 NIV).  After three days, God raised Jesus from the dead. Verbally confessing Jesus is Lord, and believing in ones heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is the treatment for a sinful heart condition (Rom.10:9-10 NIV). Anyone who asks for the treatment will receive it (Rom.10:13 NIV). Then, no longer sick in your sins, you will be able to give yourself “whole heartedly” to God (Rom.6:16-18 NIV).  Nothing will ever be able to separate you from God’s love for you (Rom. 8:35-39 NIV).  This is truly good news!

With this treatment the patient will soon realize his heart has been cured.  By daily “feeding” on God’s Word, the Bible, and “exercising” one’s prayer life, a good check up with the Physician is guaranteed.  This treatment will also result in a less stressful life because cares can be given to God, and it will cause one’s heart to beat in time with His.

A bright future is promised the patient who makes these changes.  When that person dies, a home in Heaven, with God forever, is guaranteed (Rom.3:23 NIV).  After Jesus arose from the dead, He went to heaven to prepare that home.  In fact He’s working on it right now.

Imagine being able to live with the Physician forever in a place prepared especially for you.  With Him, there will be no more tears, no more aches and pains, no more sin-sick hearts.

The Physician has never had a malpractice suit filed against Him, nor even a complaint from any of His patients.  He has a great bedside manor, and even makes house calls. With His “health plan,” there’s no waiting to see the Physician, no paper work to fill out, and no co-payments.  Best of all, anyone can afford it—because it’s free for the asking.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 (Paul writes) ……. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would  believe on him and receive eternal life.

1 John 1:8-9 ……. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, (realize that you are a sinner and there is nothing  that you alone can  do to earn your way into Heaven) he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 6:23 ……. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:21-26 ……. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified (made right with GOD) freely by his grace (giving you what you don’t deserve) through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He  did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

John 3:16 ……. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

1 Corinthians 15:35-44 & 50……. But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised?  With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable .

John 5:24 ……. ”I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Revelation 21 ……. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this   down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

1 John 5:5 ……. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 3:1-3 ……. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. AMEN!!!

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