It is true that there is uncertainty in an unstable economy but:

“Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.
“Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; despise the despicable.
“Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe.
“You’ll never get shaken if you live like this.” Psalm 15:1-5

Have a Great Day!

With all the gifts that people receive on Christmas you would think we would be satisfied but Nooo! Boxing day will find people “charging” through stores in mass, fighting over sale items as if they needed them. Consuming is the way a consumer culture scratches a perpetual soul itch. We scratch on Christmas and are itchy again on boxing day. Maybe this is what Jesus was talking about when he told the woman at the well “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again”

The good news is that Jesus went on to say , but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13,14

It’s just a thought.

For unto us is born THIS day our Savior, who is Christ the Lord…

May an awareness of God’s love for you overwhelm you this Christmas Season

I want to dedicate today’s scripture to our dear friends Randy and Shannon who in the midst of extremely trying circumstances find their peace and hope in God’s promises and His presence. God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.

The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.
Psalm 9:10

People with their minds set on You, You (oh God) keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.
Isaiah 26:3

Be Encouraged.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. Helen Keller

Have a Great Day

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte wrote:

“I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man.
Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison.
Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have  founded empires.

But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force!

Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”

…God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Have a Great Day

Reading through the book of Acts one cannot help notice that apostle Paul was an extraordinary human being.

Where ever he went Paul left a trail of angry leaders, chaos in the streets, yet eternally transformed lives.

What made  Paul so dangerous was his calling (to be a messenger of Christ) as well as
his incredible ability to prove Jesus is the Christ (Messiah).

We all have a calling (do you know what yours is?)
We all have God given abilities and gifts.

What kind of trail do you leave?

It is just something to think about.

I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16

Paul identifies himself a messenger of Jesus Christ. Paul could rejoice in being in prison if it served to advance the Gospel.

What is a amazing is how he would not be derailed from his mission by countless imprisonments, rod beatings, being stoned or shipwrecks.

As Paul did I also identify myself as a messenger of Jesus Christ but I am embarrassed by how anything that challenges my comfort derails me.

I daily enjoy time with God in the morning as I drive to the office. A few minutes after my usual Tim Horton’s stop I realized that some delinquent employee gave me a bacon lettuce tomato sandwich instead of my standard breakfast sandwich. To make matters worse there was only one piece of bacon.

This really bugged me.

God bring us to the place where we can say “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phl 1:21

Ouch or Amen

I came across this slightly obscure verse that says something about what God values.

‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand;
I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant,
whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes.
 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes.
1 Kings 11:34,35

Solomon was the smartest guy on the earth.
Solomon was a brilliant architect and builder but did not impress God.

Solomon cherished many women (700 wives and 300 concubines) but God got left out.

For all Solomon accomplished on this earth – God deemed him unfaithful – maybe because it was all about Solomon.

David was a man who cherished God and cherished by God.

For all our doing what captures the heart of God is a person longs and pursues God’s heart.

Seek Him.

I spoke to a young man the other day who was terrified he was going to miss God’s perfect will for his life.

To this young guy God’s will was like the eye of a needle, the smallest infraction would cause a miss.

My encouragement to him was “Keep your heart right before God then just follow your feet”

God-friendship is for God-worshipers;
   They are the ones he confides in.

  If I keep my eyes on God,
   I won’t trip over my own feet.
   Psalm 25:14,15