Making a Difference in your Life, in the Parts that are for Keeps!
GUN CONTROL does not produce SELF-CONTROL
+++ Only SELF-CONTROL can provide proper GUN CONTROL.
+++ Ultimately, only SELF-CONTROLLED GUN OWNERS can provide proper GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
+++ GOVERNMENT GUN CONTROL produces GOVERNMENT PEOPLE CONTROL.
+++ GOVERNMENT CONTROL equals SLAVERY.
Hurt people hurt people.
Forgiven people forgive people.
Healed people heal people.
“Blessed be the God of all comfort,
Who comforts us in all our troubles,
That we may be able to comfort them
Who are in any trouble
By the comfort where
We ourselves are comforted
By God.”
I will share the rest of that quote at the bottom. Please read this first:
What is ahead for those who totally commit to following Jesus at this time, in this country?
I believe the best answer is found reading about Christians in many other countries paying a high price for their faith today. (Yesterday I read and listened to Voice of the Martyrs information on the internet—you can too.) Likewise, what is ahead is also found reading about Christians in the Bible, who paid a high price for their faith.
Is anything in life most valuable that does not require the most cost?
Christians must think long and hard now about what it means to them to follow Jesus. I am writing about this now, so that more people will be ready to stay true to Him in the days ahead.
The Bible will soon become the most valuable possession for American believers, just like it is for those severely persecuted now around the world.
Bibles become most valuable when they become rare. Right now there is a famine of the Word of God in America because most people are not reading it. I ask you, my readers, to not let that happen for you.
Now, honestly, I do not like the rest of the quote above. Jesus said it, and it is heavy, and it is true.
“The time will come when he who kills you will think he is doing God’s service.”
When Bill Clinton was asked (at the opening of his library) why he had the White House affair with Monica, he said, “Because I could.”
We don’t need to ask the current resident of the White House, “How Could You?” He can do whatever he wants. He doesn’t have anything to worry about (except for pleasing his Muslim friends, which is going very well, ahead of schedule).
The bigger question of “How Could You?” should be addressed to Congress. I really don’t understand their wholescale bowing down to the “president” (Messiah, King, Dictator) and surrendering the legislative branch of the government.
And, American people, “How Could You?”
It is now too late to change the course of America by voting.
People who don’t study history and don’t remember our history say we have no other options.
We face the difficult and unpleasant task of fighting for our freedom all over again—this time freedom from our own government. I believe there must be leaders in this land capable of taking charge of The Resistance. I also believe there are plenty of willing followers.
My question to you is this, “How could you not step forward at this time?”
2013—SUCCESS OR FAILURE ?
2013—SUCCESS OR FAITHFULNESS ?
I will make more money.
I will get out of debt.
I will lose weight.
I will get in shape.
I will get spiritual.
I will find love.
I will build my new shop.
I will give more.
I will help the needy.
I will go to church.
I will get my family on track.
I will keep one resolution.
I will be successful.
I will change the world.
I will get weary on January 1.
I will take today off.
Tomorrow . . . I will . . .
I suppose everyone would say the opposite of success is failure.
But what about the second line above? Could it imply a parallel that the opposite of success is faithfulness? Now that would be strange.
But if we stop to think long enough at this beginning of a new year, we can see there is a difference between “success” and “faithfulness.”
When it comes to setting goals, and maintaining them, and implementing them, I propose there is even a contrast between success and faithfulness.
Try as hard as we might to focus differently, it is almost impossible to steer away from the culture’s definition of success.
We are expected to do well, do better, financially.
We are expected to get ahead [get ahead of what, or whom?].
We are expected to be respected.
We are expected to be accepted.
We are expected to “get over it and move on.”
We are expected to act and speak of success.
We are expected to take ownership and tell what we gained for ourselves.
CONTRAST with this:
“What is required of a steward—just be found faithful.”
I believe in the principles of capitalism and free enterprise and private ownership of property. But what if we took the above quote to base all resolutions on the principle of faithful stewardship in every part of our life?
Right now I could go through every one of the “I will” and “We are expected” lines above and write a commentary on each, from the perspective of faithfulness, instead of anxiety over success or fear of failure.
I guess “steward” is not a common word today. It’s because the meaning is not common today. “Steward” means we don’t own it—we’re taking care of it for Someone else.
And—“it” is everything in our lives, everything. It’s not just all our stuff, or part of our stuff. It’s our life, our health, our energy, our thoughts, our emotions, our soul, our relationships, our needs, our wants, our time, our future, our New Year’s Resolutions, and our real future after life seems to stop.
Perfect for January 1.2013:
“Offer to God thanksgiving;
Pay you vows [resolutions] to the most High;
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you;
You will glorify Me.”
HAPPY NEW YEAR—IN THE PARTS THAT ARE FOR KEEPS
THE END OF . . . this sentence is here whenever I type a period.
THE END OF . . . this year is here, and we have no control over that.
THE END OF . . . the Mayan calendar ?
THE END OF . . . the world ?
THE END OF . . . 2012 .
THE END OF . . . life as we know it ?
“THE END OF . . . all things is at hand.”
THE END OF . . . my life ?
THE END OF . . . the love of my life.
THE END OF . . . the life of my love ?
THE END OF . . . living ?
THE END OF . . . really living ?
THE END OF . . . meaning ?
THE END OF . . . promises ?
THE END OF . . . dreams ?
THE END OF . . . money.
THE END OF . . . debt ?
THE END OF . . . suffering.
THE END OF . . . evil.
THE END OF . . . tyranny.
THE END OF . . . faith ? (someday)
THE END OF . . . hope ? (someday)
THE END OF . . . love ? (never)
“Now these three remain: faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.” —–His Book
Someday we won’t need faith anymore.
Someday we won’t need hope anymore.
Someday we will have love forever—we can start today.
(Please read “LOVE PRAYER” on this site 3-10-12)
“Heads, I Win – – – Tails, You Lose”
Does anybody remember being tricked by that line as a kid?
One thing for sure, you didn’t get fooled twice with that coin toss.
Yet it amazes me that leadership in Washington has fooled half of Americans—twice—with logic as silly, and promises as ludicrous as the riddle above.
I may expand on this, but thought I’d let you reflect and come up with your own applications.
(repeat from 3-21-12)
What do these three experiences have in common?
PUNISHMENT
PERSECUTION
SACRIFICE
Brace yourself, especially for the application.
All three involve suffering.
Punishment—you suffer, and it’s your fault.
Persecution—you suffer, and it’s not your fault.
Sacrifice—you suffer, and it’s your choice.
Application—using the above definition, ask yourself, “When was the last time I sacrificed for anything, or for anyone?”
For me, Christmas this year will be getting together with my children who are in the state, over New Year’s weekend. That may explain some of my deeper reflections the past several days.
So, I was working alone on my trailer brakes with some mechanical challenges and severe cold weather, while most people were with family. Yesterday I may have gone too long without eating and was eligible for a migraine, which hit during the night. I didn’t want to get out of the warm bed, and my medicine was in another building.
While I was lying there, I realized I was transitioning from a dream where I was sharing all-important things of life with my children—things I want them to remember when I’m gone. But I so much want them to catch this now, so I can know I made a difference in their lives in the parts that are for keeps.
Some of those reflections are lost, as is the case daily. I don’t get to record a lot of the insights that come, and that is hard. But here is part of what I hope to share at the awesome meal this weekend. (You won’t find better eating at a restaurant—several amazing cooks, and my daughter has a dream cooking store)
The common table prayer, expanded:
COME—Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-loaded, and I will give you rest.” And we say, “Come to our table, come to our family, come to our hearts and lives.”
COME, LORD—“One day every knee will bow; One day every tongue will confess, ‘You are Lord.’ Still the greatest treasure remains For those who gladly choose You now.” The choice today will not be open long.
COME, LORD JESUS—His name means “Savior,” because He saves us from our sins. That too is by invitation only—by invitation accepted only.
COME, LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST—“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and have supper with him.” It is my greatest desire that each of us individually invites this Guest and makes Him welcome, today, and permanently.
COME, LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST, AND LET YOUR GIFTS—Thanks for the food, thanks for the friendships within family and others, thanks for provision, thanks for Your love, thanks for Jesus, thanks for the offer of salvation, thanks for all the gifts that come from You alone.
COME, LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST, AND LET YOUR GIFTS TO US BE BLESSED—We don’t deserve Your blessings. We stop to recognize that all we have comes from You—not our own doing.
COME, LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST, AND LET YOUR GIFTS TO US BE BLESSED, AMEN.—See the little baby Amen. Lying in a manger Amen. On Christmas morning. Amen. Amen. Amen.
And everybody that believes in Jesus says,
AMEN !
I’m a writer, but not a poet, so I read a few items on the internet with the above title. Bottom line—check out the one at “The Foundry” from The Heritage Foundation.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . .this morning J.J.Jasper on American Family Radio mentioned that nothing clears out faster than a circus the day after it’s over, except for Christmas the day after. That has often bothered me. Others must feel the same way, because you see some Christmas lights for a week after. But, for the most part, never a hint of Christmas in a business or public place.
I believe this reflects the true meaning of Christmas—missing in commercial, material pursuits before the “holiday.” If that is all of your Christmas, you put it away as fast as you can December 26, because you have nothing left to gain after the day.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . that was nice—in fact, it was wonderful.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . we had fun—and food—and then some.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . reality returns—back to work and worry.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . it’ll take a few days to recover—understatement—name the category.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . there’s no sign of Christmas, except for the return lines for stuff you don’t need or don’t like.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . and . . . did I miss something?
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . THAT’S ALL, FOLKS.
NO ! NO ! NO ! Please don’t let that happen to you. Baby Jesus didn’t disappear the day after Christmas. His purpose here had only begun. He changed people’s lives for years. And then you know how His life ended—but it didn’t end. That part of His job was done, “IT IS FINISHED.” But even then His work was not done.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . that is only the beginning of the story
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . why hasn’t He come to fix everything?
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and . . . AND
. . . He’s waiting—–for you—–to follow Him, to sign up today to join the crowd forever in heaven, to ask Him, “Jesus, please write my name in Your Book, today.”
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and
. . . and Jesus says your name, and then He says, “Come to Me.”
By the way, did you ever see the church sign that said, “NOW OPEN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER”?
Do check out the ‘Twas the Day After Christmas” poem at “The Foundry” from The Heritage Foundation.
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