STEADFAST HEART
I've dreamed many dreams that never came true,
I've seen them vanish at dawn.
But I've realized enough of my dreams, thank God,
To make me want to dream on.
I've prayed many prayers when no answer came;
Though I waited patient and long,
But answers have come to enough of my prayers
To make me keep praying on.
I've trusted many a friend that failed,
And left me to weep alone,
But I've found enough of my friends true blue,
To make me keep trusting on.
I've sown many seed that fell by the way
For the birds to feed upon,
But I've held enough golden sheaves in my hands,
To make me keep sowing on.
I've drained the cup of disappointment and pain
And gone many days without song,
But I've sipped enough nectar from the roses of life
To make me want to live on.
(Author Unknown)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
THE OLD PATHS..........
I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home.
Dads were at work.
Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children.
Crime did not pay; Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.
Moms could cook; Dads would work;
Children would behave.
Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.
Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.
People loved the truth, And hated a lie;
They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!
Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere.
Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness;
And divorce was unthinkable.
The flag was honored; America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!
We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house.
To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!
Preachers preached because they had a message;
And Christians rejoiced because they had the
VICTORY!
Preachers preached from the Bible;
Singers sang from the heart;
And we turned to the Lord to be LOVED!
A new birth meant a new life;
Salvation meant a changed life;
Following Christ led to eternal life.
Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the Word of God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a HUMAN meant someone was praying for you!
Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible;
And churches taught the Bible.
God was worshiped; Christ was exalted;
And the Holy Spirit was respected.
Church was where you found people on the Lord’s day,
rather than in the garden, on the creek bank,
on the golf course, or being entertained somewhere else.
You knew and loved your neighbors and you all believed
that
GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.
GOD CAN DO WHAT HE SAYS HE CAN DO.
WE ARE WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE,
WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST.
GOD’S WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN US.
I LIKE THE OLD PATHS BEST!
Dads were at work.
Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children.
Crime did not pay; Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.
Moms could cook; Dads would work;
Children would behave.
Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.
Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.
People loved the truth, And hated a lie;
They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!
Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere.
Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness;
And divorce was unthinkable.
The flag was honored; America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!
We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house.
To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!
Preachers preached because they had a message;
And Christians rejoiced because they had the
VICTORY!
Preachers preached from the Bible;
Singers sang from the heart;
And we turned to the Lord to be LOVED!
A new birth meant a new life;
Salvation meant a changed life;
Following Christ led to eternal life.
Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the Word of God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a HUMAN meant someone was praying for you!
Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible;
And churches taught the Bible.
God was worshiped; Christ was exalted;
And the Holy Spirit was respected.
Church was where you found people on the Lord’s day,
rather than in the garden, on the creek bank,
on the golf course, or being entertained somewhere else.
You knew and loved your neighbors and you all believed
that
GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.
GOD CAN DO WHAT HE SAYS HE CAN DO.
WE ARE WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE,
WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST.
GOD’S WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN US.
I LIKE THE OLD PATHS BEST!
Monday, February 9, 2009
PRACTICE COURTESY...
"...be courteous...that you may inherit a blessing.' 1 Peter 3:8-9
Common courtesy is becoming less common every day. And that's not good, because the Bible says, '...be courteous...that you may inherit a blessing.' Sometimes we're not sure how to go about pleasing God. Preachers have made it complicated: a series of long-drawn-out, deeply painful acts designed to appease a God who delights in making us squirm. The prophet Micah simplifies it: '...what does the Lord require of you...to love kindness...' (Micah 6:8 NAS). Could language be clearer?
Here are ten 'not-so-common' courtesies you should work on every day, and teach your children. After all, if they don't learn common courtesy from you, where are they going to learn it?
1) Go out of your way to speak to people. 'Pleasant words are...healing...' (Proverbs 16:24 NIV)
2) Try to remember their names - it shows you value them
3) Smile; it increases your 'face value'
4) Be friendly and helpful. If you do, people will return it
5) Show genuine interest. You can find something good in almost anybody, if you try (Philippians 4:8)
6) Be generous with your praise and cautious with your criticism
7) Be slow to judge. There are three sides to every story - your side, their side, and the right side.
8) Instead of 'using' others, serve them: '...by love serve one another' (Galatians 5:13)
9) Start trusting people - it builds lasting relationships
10) Be humble. Oswald Chambers once said, 'When a saint becomes conscious of being a saint, something has gone wrong.'
Courtesy does two things:
a) it speaks well of your heavenly Father. Jesus said, 'let your light shine before men, that they may...praise your Father...' (Matthew 5:16 NIV)
b) it determines your level of blessing. '...be courteous ...that you may inherit a blessing.'
Common courtesy is becoming less common every day. And that's not good, because the Bible says, '...be courteous...that you may inherit a blessing.' Sometimes we're not sure how to go about pleasing God. Preachers have made it complicated: a series of long-drawn-out, deeply painful acts designed to appease a God who delights in making us squirm. The prophet Micah simplifies it: '...what does the Lord require of you...to love kindness...' (Micah 6:8 NAS). Could language be clearer?
Here are ten 'not-so-common' courtesies you should work on every day, and teach your children. After all, if they don't learn common courtesy from you, where are they going to learn it?
1) Go out of your way to speak to people. 'Pleasant words are...healing...' (Proverbs 16:24 NIV)
2) Try to remember their names - it shows you value them
3) Smile; it increases your 'face value'
4) Be friendly and helpful. If you do, people will return it
5) Show genuine interest. You can find something good in almost anybody, if you try (Philippians 4:8)
6) Be generous with your praise and cautious with your criticism
7) Be slow to judge. There are three sides to every story - your side, their side, and the right side.
8) Instead of 'using' others, serve them: '...by love serve one another' (Galatians 5:13)
9) Start trusting people - it builds lasting relationships
10) Be humble. Oswald Chambers once said, 'When a saint becomes conscious of being a saint, something has gone wrong.'
Courtesy does two things:
a) it speaks well of your heavenly Father. Jesus said, 'let your light shine before men, that they may...praise your Father...' (Matthew 5:16 NIV)
b) it determines your level of blessing. '...be courteous ...that you may inherit a blessing.'
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE?
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts. May the Lord bring their flattery to an end and silence their proud tongues…
Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and even is praised throughout the land. (Psalm 12:1-3, 7-8 NLT)
Why is it that those who get ahead always seem to be the ones who lie, cheat, and steal? They not only get away with their evil deeds, but their actions are admired and paraded around the world.
Daydreaming about wicked people getting their just desserts may bring a smile to your face, but thinking about revenge isn't healthy for your soul. Instead, we should commit the wicked and the evil they do to God in prayer. We can't stop others from speaking lies or taking advantage of us, but we can and should cry out to the Lord who watches over his people. God knows the truth about all people, and he hears and responds to the cry of his people. This truth can give us peace amidst all the evil of those around us.
Dear Lord, thank you for watching over me as those around me plot evil…
Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and even is praised throughout the land. (Psalm 12:1-3, 7-8 NLT)
Why is it that those who get ahead always seem to be the ones who lie, cheat, and steal? They not only get away with their evil deeds, but their actions are admired and paraded around the world.
Daydreaming about wicked people getting their just desserts may bring a smile to your face, but thinking about revenge isn't healthy for your soul. Instead, we should commit the wicked and the evil they do to God in prayer. We can't stop others from speaking lies or taking advantage of us, but we can and should cry out to the Lord who watches over his people. God knows the truth about all people, and he hears and responds to the cry of his people. This truth can give us peace amidst all the evil of those around us.
Dear Lord, thank you for watching over me as those around me plot evil…
Saturday, January 3, 2009
WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY?
A wonderful inheritance
His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. Luke 1:50 NLT
But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress. O My strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. Psalm 59:16-17 NLT
What will your children inherit? What about your grandchildren? Would you like them to know God's mercy as you have or even more so?
What a wonderful inheritance to pass on from generation to generation. If this is what we want for our children, we must help them to reverence the Lord.
Mercy is God's gift to us; reverence is our gift to God. The two work together to leave a legacy of faithfulness to future generations.
Many people think of God as being angry and judgmental, pointing his disapproving finger at our sins and failures. In reality, God is both holy and merciful. In his holiness, he calls us to moral and virtuous living; in his mercy he is willing to forgive us, and he loves us even when we fail. The psalmist is rejoicing that he can rely upon God's mercy, which becomes a protection against the destructive forces of evil. How will you rely on God's mercy this year?
His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. Luke 1:50 NLT
But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress. O My strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. Psalm 59:16-17 NLT
What will your children inherit? What about your grandchildren? Would you like them to know God's mercy as you have or even more so?
What a wonderful inheritance to pass on from generation to generation. If this is what we want for our children, we must help them to reverence the Lord.
Mercy is God's gift to us; reverence is our gift to God. The two work together to leave a legacy of faithfulness to future generations.
Many people think of God as being angry and judgmental, pointing his disapproving finger at our sins and failures. In reality, God is both holy and merciful. In his holiness, he calls us to moral and virtuous living; in his mercy he is willing to forgive us, and he loves us even when we fail. The psalmist is rejoicing that he can rely upon God's mercy, which becomes a protection against the destructive forces of evil. How will you rely on God's mercy this year?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
I'm delighted to share the following New Year's Message with you! May it challenge you to unprecedented growth in your Life with Jesus. I'd like to take credit for the entire message, but confess up front that it is paraphrased from an article written by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson many years ago.
"I never make New Year's Resolutions anymore," the man told me, "I never keep them, anyway." I can remember all too many resolutions I've made and let slip away, too. But I believe New Year's resolutions are worth making. Let me tell you why.
First, we all need changes. Some we find very hard to admit to ourselves. I've heard people who say, "I have no regrets about my life. If I had it to do over, I'd do it the same way again." But that attitude is way too blind and self-serving so far as I'm concerned. There is great power in confession--to ourselves, to God, to others. Owning up to our failures is the first, painful step on the road to something better.
Second, when we change calendars is a good time for reassessment. How did last year go? What do I want to do differently this year? This time of year always reminds me of a passage of scripture, better understood by farmers than suburbanites: "Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns" (Jer 4:3). It makes sense. The more land you put into production, the more prosperous you'll be. But some of us are stupid enough to try to sow seeds in land overrun by star thistle without breaking up the soil and taking care to root out the thorns as they come up. Call it laziness. Call it stupidity. What percentage of your life is producing something of value to God? How much "unplowed ground" do you have that ought to be broken up in this coming year and made useful? Reassessment. The brink of a new year is a good time for reassessment.
Third, New Year's is an excellent time for mid-course corrections. Sure, we might fail in what we set out to do, but if we fail to plan, the old saw goes, then we plan to fail. If you're so fearful of failure that you never set up your row of tin cans to shoot at, you're not very likely to hit any at all. Failure is not the end. For the person who determines to learn from it, failure is a friend. One of my heroes in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. Talk about failure! Throughout his life he was opposed, persecuted, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, deserted by trusted co-workers, slandered, and scorned. Sometimes it seemed that projects to which he had devoted years were turning to dust before his eyes. But from one of his stints in prison, we can see an unwillingness to quit. "Forgetting what is behind," he wrote, "and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14, NIV) No wonder he made a mark on his world. He stopped looking back, and looked forward instead. He didn't let the fear of failure keep him from trying again.
Fourth, New Year's is a time to learn to rely more heavily on the grace of God. Now I've met a few self-made men and women and so have you, but so often these people seem proud and driven. There is another way: beginning to trust in God's help. One more secret from the Apostle Paul: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," he said (Phil 4:13, NIV). And God's strength saw him through a lot--through pain, through joy, and through accomplishment.
If this last year, you didn't practice relying on the Lord as much as you should have, there is no time like the present to make a New Year's resolution. In fact, why don't you say a short prayer right now--use these words if you like: "Dear God, I want the new year to be different for me." Now spell out in prayer some of the changes you'd like to see. And close this way: "Lord Jesus, I know that I'm going to need a lot of help for this. So right now I place myself in your hands. Help me to receive Your strength. Amen." Good. Now you've got a much better chance of a Happy New Year."
"I never make New Year's Resolutions anymore," the man told me, "I never keep them, anyway." I can remember all too many resolutions I've made and let slip away, too. But I believe New Year's resolutions are worth making. Let me tell you why.
First, we all need changes. Some we find very hard to admit to ourselves. I've heard people who say, "I have no regrets about my life. If I had it to do over, I'd do it the same way again." But that attitude is way too blind and self-serving so far as I'm concerned. There is great power in confession--to ourselves, to God, to others. Owning up to our failures is the first, painful step on the road to something better.
Second, when we change calendars is a good time for reassessment. How did last year go? What do I want to do differently this year? This time of year always reminds me of a passage of scripture, better understood by farmers than suburbanites: "Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns" (Jer 4:3). It makes sense. The more land you put into production, the more prosperous you'll be. But some of us are stupid enough to try to sow seeds in land overrun by star thistle without breaking up the soil and taking care to root out the thorns as they come up. Call it laziness. Call it stupidity. What percentage of your life is producing something of value to God? How much "unplowed ground" do you have that ought to be broken up in this coming year and made useful? Reassessment. The brink of a new year is a good time for reassessment.
Third, New Year's is an excellent time for mid-course corrections. Sure, we might fail in what we set out to do, but if we fail to plan, the old saw goes, then we plan to fail. If you're so fearful of failure that you never set up your row of tin cans to shoot at, you're not very likely to hit any at all. Failure is not the end. For the person who determines to learn from it, failure is a friend. One of my heroes in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. Talk about failure! Throughout his life he was opposed, persecuted, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, deserted by trusted co-workers, slandered, and scorned. Sometimes it seemed that projects to which he had devoted years were turning to dust before his eyes. But from one of his stints in prison, we can see an unwillingness to quit. "Forgetting what is behind," he wrote, "and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14, NIV) No wonder he made a mark on his world. He stopped looking back, and looked forward instead. He didn't let the fear of failure keep him from trying again.
Fourth, New Year's is a time to learn to rely more heavily on the grace of God. Now I've met a few self-made men and women and so have you, but so often these people seem proud and driven. There is another way: beginning to trust in God's help. One more secret from the Apostle Paul: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," he said (Phil 4:13, NIV). And God's strength saw him through a lot--through pain, through joy, and through accomplishment.
If this last year, you didn't practice relying on the Lord as much as you should have, there is no time like the present to make a New Year's resolution. In fact, why don't you say a short prayer right now--use these words if you like: "Dear God, I want the new year to be different for me." Now spell out in prayer some of the changes you'd like to see. And close this way: "Lord Jesus, I know that I'm going to need a lot of help for this. So right now I place myself in your hands. Help me to receive Your strength. Amen." Good. Now you've got a much better chance of a Happy New Year."
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
HOLY DAYS
As snow begins to fall and the deep freeze of winter sets in, we again gather with family and friends, singing and dancing around the Christmas tree or lighting the menorah or Kwanzaa candles. All will be well as we let the holiness in us shine forth, celebrating what is Holy in others and in the universe. Ah, what peace and joy. What greater abundance than the love of family and friends celebrating together!
Hmm. Time for a reality check? This serene scenario may play out in a few fortunate families. Let's face it, however, for many of us, the reality of the Christmas season is something entirely different.
For starters, the pace of life has gotten so frantic that the added demands of preparing for the holidays often seem to intensify life's difficulties. As much as we all love our families, being around them for extended periods of time may cause tempers to flare and old wounds to resurface. We may love giving and receiving gifts, but many of us end up buying too many gifts that cost too much. Ugly materialism and debt creep in, despite our best intentions. Children are delighted with some gifts and disappointed with others that didn't meet expectations. Family members complain behind other's backs. One person is left to do most of the cooking and clean-up and is besieged with work. Too much food is made, and, despite our resolutions to the contrary, most of us end up eating too much, feeling bloated, stuffed and guilty afterwards.
For others, the holidays can be the loneliest time of the year.
In short, amidst all the hectic demands of the Season, sometimes we lose touch with what the holidays really mean. The peace and tranquility of the holidays get overshadowed by emotional remnants of the past, over-consumption, and sheer exhaustion. The holidays are anything but Holy Days.
Yet, holidays can be an opportunity to go inside and reconnect with what is important. It can be a time to reflect on the role of Spirit in our life; a time to dwell in the presence of God, Divine Spirit, or the Universal Life Force, however you want to think of that mysterious, sacred force that pervades existence. The holidays are here to remind us that life truly is a miracle of holiness. It is a chance to look inside and to feel the presence of the Holy in our life.
Although life is more pressurized and intense than ever before and at times may feel like more than you can handle, the difficulties and challenges, the pain and suffering--amidst the joy and happiness--are what real life is all about. Holidays will continue to bring us challenging and joyful moments, tons of work, conflicts, and "stuff" to deal with. They are supposed to! We all mess up from time-to-time, forget the Spirit inside, and go off track. Making mistakes is how we learn. Trouble and suffering gives us the opportunity to again seek Spirit. Even bad times can contain grace.
True peace and joy is not about living a neatly sanitized, practically perfect life. It is about being totally authentic in every way. Living life fully--with sorrow and joy, pain and happiness, agony and ecstasy--is what true spiritual practice entails. It is only our limited perception and false expectations that make us think things are imperfect. This is the true core of any spiritual teaching: that we have the potential for living an authentic and full life with the divine spirit infused in us, integrating both suffering and happiness.
So keep the holidays holy, by being fully you, and knowing that the God and the Divine Spirit, your higher Self, the innermost, divine part of your own nature is with you and always available to you
Hmm. Time for a reality check? This serene scenario may play out in a few fortunate families. Let's face it, however, for many of us, the reality of the Christmas season is something entirely different.
For starters, the pace of life has gotten so frantic that the added demands of preparing for the holidays often seem to intensify life's difficulties. As much as we all love our families, being around them for extended periods of time may cause tempers to flare and old wounds to resurface. We may love giving and receiving gifts, but many of us end up buying too many gifts that cost too much. Ugly materialism and debt creep in, despite our best intentions. Children are delighted with some gifts and disappointed with others that didn't meet expectations. Family members complain behind other's backs. One person is left to do most of the cooking and clean-up and is besieged with work. Too much food is made, and, despite our resolutions to the contrary, most of us end up eating too much, feeling bloated, stuffed and guilty afterwards.
For others, the holidays can be the loneliest time of the year.
In short, amidst all the hectic demands of the Season, sometimes we lose touch with what the holidays really mean. The peace and tranquility of the holidays get overshadowed by emotional remnants of the past, over-consumption, and sheer exhaustion. The holidays are anything but Holy Days.
Yet, holidays can be an opportunity to go inside and reconnect with what is important. It can be a time to reflect on the role of Spirit in our life; a time to dwell in the presence of God, Divine Spirit, or the Universal Life Force, however you want to think of that mysterious, sacred force that pervades existence. The holidays are here to remind us that life truly is a miracle of holiness. It is a chance to look inside and to feel the presence of the Holy in our life.
Although life is more pressurized and intense than ever before and at times may feel like more than you can handle, the difficulties and challenges, the pain and suffering--amidst the joy and happiness--are what real life is all about. Holidays will continue to bring us challenging and joyful moments, tons of work, conflicts, and "stuff" to deal with. They are supposed to! We all mess up from time-to-time, forget the Spirit inside, and go off track. Making mistakes is how we learn. Trouble and suffering gives us the opportunity to again seek Spirit. Even bad times can contain grace.
True peace and joy is not about living a neatly sanitized, practically perfect life. It is about being totally authentic in every way. Living life fully--with sorrow and joy, pain and happiness, agony and ecstasy--is what true spiritual practice entails. It is only our limited perception and false expectations that make us think things are imperfect. This is the true core of any spiritual teaching: that we have the potential for living an authentic and full life with the divine spirit infused in us, integrating both suffering and happiness.
So keep the holidays holy, by being fully you, and knowing that the God and the Divine Spirit, your higher Self, the innermost, divine part of your own nature is with you and always available to you
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