Jump Start Mailing List - No. 4
07/14/06 12:50 AM
When the president leaves the nation’s capital, a large part of his office goes with him. Before he arrives at his destination, an enormous amount of work has to be done in advance.
A massive communication center is set up prior to his arrival. In a sense, the President is never off duty or unable to know what is going on anywhere in the world.
Even when the president flies on Air Force One, he is equipped with every known piece of equipment he might need to keep constantly in touch with everything.
When the president arrives at his destination, his own armor-plated automobile awaits him.
Just as we learn of this information about our president and the preparation that is made on his behalf, we have a scripture that shows our Lord is preparing for His faithful. We look around and don’t see what God is preparing for our future arrival.
John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
It is difficult for me to understand how someone could want to live with God forever and yet they don’t want to live with His commandments today.
We need to reflect on what has gone on before we even were born and what is continuing to go on in preparation for that great day when we will hear Him say, “Enter thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21
All the work has been prepared for your arrival. All the communication about how to enter has been given...
He has never been out of touch with us and our lives. We may not have always been in touch with Him, but it is not because He was off duty – but because we were off duty... Are you ready for the arrival? If not, why not?
Make it right today...
A massive communication center is set up prior to his arrival. In a sense, the President is never off duty or unable to know what is going on anywhere in the world.
Even when the president flies on Air Force One, he is equipped with every known piece of equipment he might need to keep constantly in touch with everything.
When the president arrives at his destination, his own armor-plated automobile awaits him.
Just as we learn of this information about our president and the preparation that is made on his behalf, we have a scripture that shows our Lord is preparing for His faithful. We look around and don’t see what God is preparing for our future arrival.
John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
It is difficult for me to understand how someone could want to live with God forever and yet they don’t want to live with His commandments today.
We need to reflect on what has gone on before we even were born and what is continuing to go on in preparation for that great day when we will hear Him say, “Enter thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21
All the work has been prepared for your arrival. All the communication about how to enter has been given...
He has never been out of touch with us and our lives. We may not have always been in touch with Him, but it is not because He was off duty – but because we were off duty... Are you ready for the arrival? If not, why not?
Make it right today...
Jump Start Mailing List - No. 3
07/13/06 12:50 AM
Back in the time when the American Revolution was taking place, there was a man named Peter Miller. Now, Peter lived in Pennsylvania at the time, and was a preacher there. Peter had a friend named George Washington. You may have heard of him.
But, Peter also had an enemy. Michael Wittman was described as an evil minded man. And for some reason, he did everything he could to oppose and in fact abuse Peter. Michael Wittman was arrested and sentenced to death for the crime of treason.
When Peter heard this news, he set out on foot and walked 70 miles to Philadelphia to plead for Michael’s life. He was granted the ability to meet with his friend General Washington, and immediately began to plead for the traitor’s life.
General Washington said, “No Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend.” Peter exclaimed, “My friend?? This man is the bitterest enemy I have.” To this, Gen. Washington replied, “What? You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of your enemy? Now that puts the matter in a different light.
I will grant the pardon.” And he did! Peter then took Michael from the very shadow of death back to his own home. No longer his enemy, but his friend!
We sing the song 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus', but we sometimes forget the meaning of the words...
In Romans 5:6-10 'For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
When we were abusing and opposing Jesus – He went to His death in our place.
Jesus was without sin, but BECAME sin so that we might have the hope of eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21). This was taking something beautiful, and defacing it on our behalf!
Now, this next scripture covers the whole story and remains quite possibly my favorite passage in the Bible for this type of thing. Acts 16:30-33 says, 'And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Now, what of this baptism - Acts 2:38 For the remission of sins... That part gets left out too often... But, that is the part that counts...
Now, the story doesn’t stop there. In John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” After we have become friends, we must remain friends. We need to continue to keep His commands.
Have a great day!
But, Peter also had an enemy. Michael Wittman was described as an evil minded man. And for some reason, he did everything he could to oppose and in fact abuse Peter. Michael Wittman was arrested and sentenced to death for the crime of treason.
When Peter heard this news, he set out on foot and walked 70 miles to Philadelphia to plead for Michael’s life. He was granted the ability to meet with his friend General Washington, and immediately began to plead for the traitor’s life.
General Washington said, “No Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend.” Peter exclaimed, “My friend?? This man is the bitterest enemy I have.” To this, Gen. Washington replied, “What? You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of your enemy? Now that puts the matter in a different light.
I will grant the pardon.” And he did! Peter then took Michael from the very shadow of death back to his own home. No longer his enemy, but his friend!
We sing the song 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus', but we sometimes forget the meaning of the words...
In Romans 5:6-10 'For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
When we were abusing and opposing Jesus – He went to His death in our place.
Jesus was without sin, but BECAME sin so that we might have the hope of eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21). This was taking something beautiful, and defacing it on our behalf!
Now, this next scripture covers the whole story and remains quite possibly my favorite passage in the Bible for this type of thing. Acts 16:30-33 says, 'And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Now, what of this baptism - Acts 2:38 For the remission of sins... That part gets left out too often... But, that is the part that counts...
Now, the story doesn’t stop there. In John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” After we have become friends, we must remain friends. We need to continue to keep His commands.
Have a great day!
Jump Start Mailing List - No. 2
07/12/06 12:49 AM
Tomorrow... I have to think of Dad, and his love of 'Gone With The Wind'. Scarlett O'Hara's famous statement, "Tomorrow is another day" comes to mind.
No one knows what tomorrow holds, or if it will even come.
Someone has calculated that if you could correctly predict the future for just 5 minutes, you could soon make a fortune by investing in the stock market. You would be able to buy stocks before they went up in price and sell them immediately before they decrease.
Sadly, no one can predict the future. Not even for even 5 minutes – Yet –
Tomorrow can be exciting. Tomorrow can be challenging. Tomorrow can be sad or tragic.
We need to always look to right now!
Your tomorrow is wrapped up in the decisions you make today. Your destiny tomorrow will be determined by the fork of the road that you choose today.
God is a wonder worker. He will do wonders in your life tomorrow if you dedicate yourself to Him today.
Joshua 3:5 'And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”'
Set your self apart from this sinful world, and set you mind on God and His word and will for you today.
Scarlett said, "I'll think about that tomorrow", but the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “Now is the accepted time”.
Jesus told His disciples, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." in Matthew 6:34 Today is the day we need to be concerned with! Enjoy your family today! Enjoy your life today! But thank God for them today! Take time to think about all of the blessings that He has given you, and what He is asking of you!
No one knows what tomorrow holds, or if it will even come.
Someone has calculated that if you could correctly predict the future for just 5 minutes, you could soon make a fortune by investing in the stock market. You would be able to buy stocks before they went up in price and sell them immediately before they decrease.
Sadly, no one can predict the future. Not even for even 5 minutes – Yet –
Tomorrow can be exciting. Tomorrow can be challenging. Tomorrow can be sad or tragic.
We need to always look to right now!
Your tomorrow is wrapped up in the decisions you make today. Your destiny tomorrow will be determined by the fork of the road that you choose today.
God is a wonder worker. He will do wonders in your life tomorrow if you dedicate yourself to Him today.
Joshua 3:5 'And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”'
Set your self apart from this sinful world, and set you mind on God and His word and will for you today.
Scarlett said, "I'll think about that tomorrow", but the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “Now is the accepted time”.
Jesus told His disciples, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." in Matthew 6:34 Today is the day we need to be concerned with! Enjoy your family today! Enjoy your life today! But thank God for them today! Take time to think about all of the blessings that He has given you, and what He is asking of you!
Jump Start Mailing List - No. 1
07/10/06 12:46 AM
I am very thankful to live in a country where we can still talk openly about
God - I think sometimes I forget how wonderful I have it.
We have our own TV program that allows us to talk freely about the Bible and
what we believe and stand for.
There is an ancient proverb that states, "A gift unacknowledged is a gift
unreceived." I receive many gifts from God, and need to thank Him and to
acknowledge those gifts.
We usually thank God for family, for friends, for food. Perhaps we need to
thank Him for all the things we usually take for granted. The ability to walk.
The ability to see, and to hear.
We need to remember to thank him for His word which is so readily available
to us. We need to remember to thank Him for His Son and for the Home He is
preparing for us in Heaven, if we are faithful to His word.
It is easy to get caught up in the stream of life and forget about these
things.
I spent a long time just thinking about how hard I had it,
and not speaking up to defend my beliefs. And I trace it back to fear.
I didn't think about Heb 13:6
So we may boldly say:
" The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
This could have been an inspiration for me.
There is a story that has to inspire me.
I use this as motivation in my walk with Him.
Acts 16:23-26
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison,
commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and
fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and
the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the
prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's
chains were loosed.
While in prison - praying and singing hymns. Wow!
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
Rejoice always.
Give thanks in everything...
Sometimes it is hard to rejoice. Hard to see a reason to be thankful.
Most of us have so much to in our lives - but we are here today.
God - I think sometimes I forget how wonderful I have it.
We have our own TV program that allows us to talk freely about the Bible and
what we believe and stand for.
There is an ancient proverb that states, "A gift unacknowledged is a gift
unreceived." I receive many gifts from God, and need to thank Him and to
acknowledge those gifts.
We usually thank God for family, for friends, for food. Perhaps we need to
thank Him for all the things we usually take for granted. The ability to walk.
The ability to see, and to hear.
We need to remember to thank him for His word which is so readily available
to us. We need to remember to thank Him for His Son and for the Home He is
preparing for us in Heaven, if we are faithful to His word.
It is easy to get caught up in the stream of life and forget about these
things.
I spent a long time just thinking about how hard I had it,
and not speaking up to defend my beliefs. And I trace it back to fear.
I didn't think about Heb 13:6
So we may boldly say:
" The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
This could have been an inspiration for me.
There is a story that has to inspire me.
I use this as motivation in my walk with Him.
Acts 16:23-26
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison,
commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and
fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and
the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the
prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's
chains were loosed.
While in prison - praying and singing hymns. Wow!
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
Rejoice always.
Give thanks in everything...
Sometimes it is hard to rejoice. Hard to see a reason to be thankful.
Most of us have so much to in our lives - but we are here today.