“WE CAN’T STOP” – – – “WE CAN STOP”

“We can’t stop the birds from flying over our head, but we can stop them from building nests in our hair.”     —–Martin Luther

We can’t stop bad thoughts from flying across our mind, but we can stop them from building nests, especially in our mouth.

“It’s not how much you eat that makes you strong; it’s how much you properly digest.”     —–Unknown, quoted often by my dad (application below)

We can’t stop eating, but we can stop eating more than we need.

Likewise, spiritually:

It’s not how much Bible Study we consume, it’s how much we apply personally to our daily lives.

It’s pointless to keep refilling the tank without burning the fuel constructively.

Let us not allow building comfortable nests of complacency amidst our spiritual obesity.

WHAT MATTERS ?

“Our integrity matters more than our accomplishments” —–Kevin McCullough

FACT – – – OR – – – CONSENSUS

It’s a fact ! ?

It’s a consensus ! ?

They said it’s a fact—Global Cooling—Oops, make that Global Warming.

They said it’s a fact—Global Warming—Oops, make that Climate Change.

They said it’s a fact—Climate Change.

So BHOB* said it’s a fact—Climate Change.

Oops, just where is his science degree from?

Maybe that’s one executive order that really is above his pay grade.

 

*Barack Hussein OBama—Say BHHHOB aloud and it sounds like the warning for Christians in the 2008 election: “Beware of sheep’s clothing.”

AVERAGE OR EXCELLENT

Don’t accept the mindset of others’ mediocrity and trade in the attitude of your excellence.

EVOLUTION? OR CHRISTIANITY?

Christianity is not compatible with evolution,

just like

Christianity is not compatible with abortion,

because

Christianity is not compatible with any changes to the Bible.

On evolution:

The Bible says God created every living thing reproducing “after its kind.”

On abortion:

The Bible says, “You shall not kill.”

When I taught fourth grade, I found that those students could understand the simple message of the Bible, and believe it.

And Jesus said, “Unless you come like a child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

It is so simple.  Don’t miss it.

SALE – – – SALE – – – SALE

How many creative headlines for sales have you seen between Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Here is a unique one on a church sign in January:

“NOW OPEN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER”

We all need to hear our product, or our case, or our side of issues, to be heard by someone.

I think of a lot of examples, but I’m simply going to the bottom line that inspired this article, and let you think about it.

 

For those entrusted with broadcasting the true message of Christmas, in the light of the escalating war on Christmas by legal and commercial tactics to silence all reference to Jesus, the reality of surrender could be reduced to the sign:

“ANNUAL GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE”

WHO’S COMING FOR CHRISTMAS?

Santa Claus is coming to town?

All the kids are coming home?

Everyone’s going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house?

Friends, Wonderful Friends, are coming?

Food, Good Food, More Food?

Fun, Fellowship, Full?

Cheer, Happiness, Goodwill?

Uncertainty, Unsure Emotions?

Who’s not coming for Christmas?

Who is difficult, coming for Christmas?

Who cares?  WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU?

Does Jesus care?  Does He really understand?

Is Jesus coming for Christmas this year?

Is Jesus coming to your house for Christmas?

Is Jesus coming to your heart for Christmas?

What about after Christmas?

What about all the above, after Christmas?

Are you coming to Jesus for Christmas?

Let me share very personally for a moment.  I love to write.  I love to say things to make you think.  But Christmas makes me want to reach out with my heart and connect with you, even if it is limited to words.

I’ve been through just about every range of experiences and emotions at Christmas.  I know the warmth of family.  I know the agony of loss.  I’ve experienced alone in the parking lot after Christmas Eve service.  I’ve felt the full weight of guilt at Christmas—true guilt and false guilt (both crushing).

I’ve experienced restoration.  I believe in miracles.  I depend on God, today.  And I am thankful that He is faithful, to bless me right now.  And so I trust in Jesus for everything and put Him in charge.  God is good, all the time, even when some things are not good.

Final word:  Jesus comes by invitation only!

“DON’T LAY UP TREASURES…” – – – vs – – – “GO TO THE ANT…”

This quote from Jesus . . .

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth”

. . . is always immediately countered with this quote from Proverbs . . .

“Go to the ant, you sluggard.”

I never hear a rebuttal after someone says the ant proves we should all save up for retirement.

Actually, the proverb about ants is directed to sluggards—lazy bums who refuse to work.

And, by the way, ants store up food for winter, not retirement.

If you really follow the Bible, you won’t even find retirement.

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”     —–Jesus

(dangerous to doctor that)

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT, TO LOSE?

What is your focus?

+++How much you’ve got?

or

+++How much you’ve got, to lose?

 

It can be said, that, when you lose everything, what you have left is all that really counts.

Anyone faced with loss has to re-evaluate what may be more important.

When things go “well”, and we get more, getting more inevitably becomes our focus.

When things don’t go well, and we may lose it all, we are forced to focus on something else.

Why can’t we think more about the simple, important things of life when it’s going well and we’re getting more?

Could it be that the person who doesn’t have much stuff and doesn’t seem to “get ahead” and appears not so successful to others—could it be true that this person is actually better off?

Does “content” with what you have, give a better measurement of life than the “contents” of your possessions?

Do you sleep better with more things?

Does the loss of your stuff, or the fear of loss, rob you of contentment and peace?

“Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches.  If I am poor, I may be tempted to steal.  If I am rich, I may become self-sufficient and forget You.”     —–His Book

“A PEP TALK IN EVERY DROP”

I found these words of encouragement and challenge on a cough drop wrapper this morning:

You’ve survived tougher.

Don’t waste a precious minute.

Fire up those engines!

The show must go on.  Or work.