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Thanksgiving.... its all a matter of perspective!
Its all a matter of perspective.A man once was complaining about how quickly his children wore out shoes. He fussed at them, saying "you just don't understand how much these things cost!" Feeling a bit sorry for himself, he went with his children into a shoe store. As the sales lady helped him fit his children with shoes, he repeated his complaint to her. To his surprise, she broke out in tears and had to take a short break from helping him.When she returned, she apologized to the father. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break down like that. You see, my daughter was born with a birth defect and is in a wheelchair. She never has, and never will wear out a pair of shoes. I would give ANYTHING if I had to buy her shoes because she had worn them out."Do you know what that father did? When he got home, he made a little altar of those old worn out shoes that he had been complaining about. He knelt before them in prayer, confessing his sin to His heavenly Father. He closed his prayer this way. "thank you God for worn out shoes!"Its so easy to focus on the negatives, isn't it? So easy to forget how blessed we are and how much we have to be thankful for. The economy is difficult.. but we ate today. Life may not go our way.. but there are people who love us and genuinely care for us. People may disagree with our opinion.. but we live in a wonderful country where they have the freedom to do that!We need to remember the example of Paul. From prison he wrote:"And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice."Philippians 1:12-18 (NLT)
Start with a bang?
Have you ever noticed how many times the Bible talks about perseverance? Look at a few examples.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 (NKJV)
so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
2 Timothy 4:6-7 (NKJV)
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Apparently, God places quite a premium on endurance! As a matter of fact, I would even go so far as to put it this way. How you finish is at least as important as how you begin! Take a second and read that through again. I know lots of people that start well.. but they don't finish well. How tragic!
I once knew an older pastor who has long since gone on to be with the Lord. We were discussing a young minister who seemed to have it ALL; charisma, talent, the blessing of God. He had started with such promise, and for a while had really looked like he might be the next Billy Graham. But then, he just sort of fell by the wayside. My older friend made this comment, and it has stuck with me over the years. "He started with a bang, and then quit all over!"
I am in the "fourth quarter" of life and ministry (to use a football metaphor) More than anything, I want to finish well for Jesus sake. I want to go out like I came in, full of vigor and vision and surrender to Jesus. And do you know what? I want you to finish well, too.
Some of you reading this may be at a difficult point in your walk with God. Family problems, financial issues, sickness, depression.. these can sap your strength and make you want to say, "Why keep serving God? What difference does it make?" Dear friend, DON'T QUIT. Keep on keeping on! Persevere! Endure! The God of all strength will enable you!
2 Thessalonians 1:4 (NKJV)
so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
2 Timothy 4:6-7 (NKJV)
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Apparently, God places quite a premium on endurance! As a matter of fact, I would even go so far as to put it this way. How you finish is at least as important as how you begin! Take a second and read that through again. I know lots of people that start well.. but they don't finish well. How tragic!
I once knew an older pastor who has long since gone on to be with the Lord. We were discussing a young minister who seemed to have it ALL; charisma, talent, the blessing of God. He had started with such promise, and for a while had really looked like he might be the next Billy Graham. But then, he just sort of fell by the wayside. My older friend made this comment, and it has stuck with me over the years. "He started with a bang, and then quit all over!"
I am in the "fourth quarter" of life and ministry (to use a football metaphor) More than anything, I want to finish well for Jesus sake. I want to go out like I came in, full of vigor and vision and surrender to Jesus. And do you know what? I want you to finish well, too.
Some of you reading this may be at a difficult point in your walk with God. Family problems, financial issues, sickness, depression.. these can sap your strength and make you want to say, "Why keep serving God? What difference does it make?" Dear friend, DON'T QUIT. Keep on keeping on! Persevere! Endure! The God of all strength will enable you!
The Standard
Question: what do you get if you don't have a standard for what to believe and how to behave?
Answer: Whatever you want.
I must talk to a hundred people a week. Okay, maybe not quite that many, but quite a few. There is a pattern that I see over and over and over. We totally ignore God's Word, and then we wonder what in the world happened when things go horribly wrong!
"I know the Bible says not to be unequally yoked, but..."
"I know God said to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but.."
"I know God says to go to my brother, but..."
We ignore His principles and follow our own way. Even worse, sometimes we twist and distort the Bible to make it conveniently say something that endorses our own sinful desire! We look and look until we find a story, a hard-to-understand verse, anything. And then.. Aha! There we have it.. all the "proof" we need that God approves!
It seems to me that it would be much less difficult, much less agonizing, much less foolish, to just lay ourselves before Him and His blessed Word and in humble obedience say, "not my will but Thine be done."
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Answer: Whatever you want.
I must talk to a hundred people a week. Okay, maybe not quite that many, but quite a few. There is a pattern that I see over and over and over. We totally ignore God's Word, and then we wonder what in the world happened when things go horribly wrong!
"I know the Bible says not to be unequally yoked, but..."
"I know God said to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but.."
"I know God says to go to my brother, but..."
We ignore His principles and follow our own way. Even worse, sometimes we twist and distort the Bible to make it conveniently say something that endorses our own sinful desire! We look and look until we find a story, a hard-to-understand verse, anything. And then.. Aha! There we have it.. all the "proof" we need that God approves!
It seems to me that it would be much less difficult, much less agonizing, much less foolish, to just lay ourselves before Him and His blessed Word and in humble obedience say, "not my will but Thine be done."
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
A beginning
Hello all,
Many thanks to Tammy Arnold for setting up this website! What a great method of communication it will be for First Baptist Church.
I will be returning here often to share my thoughts with you about Christ and the Christian life. Its a great opportunity, and I look forward to making the most of it with you. Check back often!
Love in Jesus
Tim
Many thanks to Tammy Arnold for setting up this website! What a great method of communication it will be for First Baptist Church.
I will be returning here often to share my thoughts with you about Christ and the Christian life. Its a great opportunity, and I look forward to making the most of it with you. Check back often!
Love in Jesus
Tim