Faith

Our faith must be a first-hand discovery -- not a second-hand story.

To believe only possibilities is not faith, but mere philosophy.
If anything can be done -- experience and skill can do it.
If a thing cannot be done -- only faith can do it.
Faith is fear that has said its prayers.
Faith is not contrary to reason, but rather reason grown courageous.

Elton Trueblood

Worry

Worry ......

is a mis-use of the imagination.

is assuming responsibility that God never intended you to have.

never robs tomorrow of its sorrow.

only saps today of it strength.

Know God

"Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life -- they don't know God."

1 Timothy 6:21

To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to obey Him.

Real wisdom is looking at the world from God's point of view.

Disappointment

You may be disappointed, but do not be discouraged.

Discouragement is the Devil's own tool.

Use disappointment as material for patience.

If you haven't met the Devil face to face -- Maybe you are going the same way he is.

Attitudes are more important than facts.

Attitude is the mind's paint brush, it can color a situation gloomy or gray or cheerful and gay.

Be Somebody

God doesn't take time to make a nobody

9-6-07 I Will Answer "Jeremiah 33:1-8"

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Dr. Thomas N Carter, an ex-convict, told a thrilling story of his mother's faith. He had been wayward for many years and finally was sent to prison. One one occasion, while he was there, his mother received a telegram from the prison stating that her son was dead and asking what he wanted done with his body.

Carter's mother had prayed for years that he would one day be saved and because a preacher of the Gospel. Stunned at the receipt of the telegram, she immediately went to her prayer closet, instructing other members of the family not to disturb her.

Opening the Bible, she placed the telegram beside it and began to prayer. "O God, " began, "I have believed the promise you gave me in your Word, that I would live to see Tom saved and preaching the Gospel, and now a telegram has come saying he is dead. Lord, which is true, this telegram or your Word?

When the faithful mother rose from her knees, having definite assurance of God's answer, she wired the prison as follows: "There must be some mistake. My boy is not dead."

And there was a mistake. Tom Carter was alive and when he had finished his time in prison, he became a preacher of the Gospel. God honored the trusting prayer of his mother.

Some make prayer too difficult. The Bible formula is simple. Our responsibility is to pray. God has promised to answer.

What "great and mighty" things do you need?

Ask God for them today!

7-15-07 World Upsetters "Acts 17:1-9"

Memory Verse: Acts 17:6 ". . . These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.

Paul and Silas were accused of turning the world upside down -- and the accusation was true. However, as Dr. H. A. Ironside has said, ". . . the reason for this was that through sin the world had been turned wrongside up. So when the gospel was preached and men believed it, things were completely reversed." In other words, made as they ought to be.

Through the centuries, God has had many world upsetters: Luther, Wesley, Finney, Moody, to name a few. But there have been many who have shaken their own communities for Jesus who have not made the pages of history. They have turned their world upside down, even though the full extent of their impact for Christ will not be known until the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Most of us will not make the headlines of this world because of our efforts for Jesus. Students of history will probably not read of us and our exploits in the cause of Christ. Young ministers or missionaries may not sigh at the mention of our names and long for such glory. But we can be faithful where God has placed us and in obediently giving out His Word we can upset the devil's program in our own areas.

Not all churches become world shakers. But each church can be aggressive in carrying the Gospel message to its own community and can turn that community upside down.

What is your church doing to upset the devil?
What part are you taking in evangelizing your world for Christ?
What is you reputation among the enemies of the Gospel?

Turn your world right side up for Jesus!

Sorry

I forgot my book when I came down to the apt. I will post this weekend and make sure I bring it down next week.

7-7-07 What Can I Do For My Country? "Proverbs 14

Memory Verse: Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

De Tocqueville of France, over a century ago, visited America. Upon his return home he wrote: "I sought for the greatness of America in her harbors and rivers and fertile fields, and her mines and commerce. It was not there. Not until I went into the churches and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the greatness of her power. America is great because she is good: and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

But there is a sense in which America cannot be good.

Righteousness is not something that is accepted by a nation as a body. It is not legislated in congress or decided in the halls of justice. Good or bad decisions by a government may affect the conduct of its people in certain areas of life, but righteousness is an individual matter.

"In God We Trust" is a moving motto for our money, yet millions of Americans do not trust in God. Therefore, that official statement of faith is only meaningful for those to whom it has meaning. In whom do you trust?

Neither is it enough to decry conditions in the land. A serious situation does exist. Daily news reports are convincing proof of that. But the solutions lies in personal repentance of sin and faith in Christ.

It is the righteousness of the people that exalts a nation. The sins of the people reproach the land.

As an individual American, what do you intend to do for your country?