Can a millionaire sacrifice—and still be a millionaire?
Can I sacrifice—and still keep my standard of living?
FAITHFUL STEWARD
January 1, 2022 By Leave a Comment
I like my job here.
I’m in charge of a lot.
But it’s not my stuff—none of it.
I appreciate living here.
But I’m not at home here.
It’s not my house—just taking care of it for now.
I’ve got a much, MUCH BETTER one ready for me, soon.
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“What is required of a steward—just to be found faithful.”
R U N ! TO JESUS
January 1, 2022 By Leave a Comment
“And they came with haste, and found . . . the baby Jesus.”
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The people in the Bible story knew it was more than a baby they were so eager to meet, and worship.
Have you met Jesus?
Is He more than a baby in your life at Christmas?
Jesus came to live, to love, to heal, to forgive, to die for our sins, to rise from the dead to seal our salvation.
Do you know Him?
Would you like to know Him?
Just talk to Jesus right now—tell Him you’re a sinner—and get right with God today.
BEEN THERE – – – DONE THAT
December 29, 2021 By Leave a Comment
“The first thing I’m going to ask Jesus, ‘Have you been here before?’ “—–Dennis Praeger (Jewish talk show host)
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Jesus’ answer, “BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ! And, I already told you.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS
December 29, 2021 By Leave a Comment
WHAT COULD YOU GIVE
JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS
(Jesus was born 2000 years ago, but He is not 2000 years old.)
VALUABLE ‘ANTIQUES’
December 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Some things do not have to become antiques to reach their full value.
I thought of this when I woke up a few minutes ago, before I thought of anything about the new day.
I experienced a precious moment when something became instantly valuable, invaluable.
It was one of those rare moments (before I even opened my eyes) when my very first thought was to thank and praise God for the new day—and dedicate to Him everything about the day, before any of it happened or even crossed my mind.
DIMINISHING FORGIVENESS
December 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Repentance cannot be easy, and forgiveness cannot be free.
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The emphasis in recent decades on forgiving yourself so you’ll feel better, and forgiving others who are not repentant, has cheapened the meaning of forgiveness.
Jesus clearly tells us to forgive someone who wrongs us and repents, even if it happens over and over, and He even declares that a prerequisite to God forgiving us.
But arbitrarily forgiving others without repentance, simply for our benefit, and working on forgiving ourselves after God has forgiven us, are recent man-made additions to theology, without Biblical basis.
This leads to multiple meanings for forgiveness, and confusion about our forgiveness before God.
+ One, as people are constantly told to forgive others unilaterally, many will think of God universally forgiving them likewise, without their specific, personal repentance.
Forgiveness is not forgiveness then—the two are not the same—it is something else, as shown by the numerous creative ways that modern psychologists and theologians each present their unique paraphrases, and call it forgiveness.
+ Two, forgiving ourselves is not in the Bible.
If we could forgive ourselves, then Jesus did not have to die for our sins.
If Jesus forgives us, then adding ‘forgiving ourselves’ means Jesus’ forgiveness wasn’t complete, which is really blasphemy.
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Forgiveness is not a mental activity or psychological maneuver—it is a spiritual transaction of the heart between two persons—one confessing a wrong done to the other (the sacrifice of humility), and the second accepting the cost of the wrong and no longer holding the wrong against the first.
Likewise, forgiveness before God requires humbly confessing to Him my spiritual bankruptcy, and accepting the extreme price Jesus paid for my sin, because He loved me so I can love Him—complete, finished, done, no additions, deletions, or corrections, ever, by me or anybody else.
That calls for shouting HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU, JESUS ! ! !
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Repentance cannot be easy, and forgiveness cannot be free.
NOSTALGIC – – – “USED TO BE”
December 11, 2021 By Leave a Comment
“Nostalgic is not what it used to be.”—–Peter Rosenberger (Hope for the Family Caregiver, on afr.net)
AFTER A MEAL – – – STOP
December 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment
After you finish a meal, do your digestive system a huge favor.
Give your tummy and the rest of the system complete priority for awhile—three or four minutes.
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Our blood supply carrying fuel is channeled to three basic areas of our body—the muscles, the brain, and the digestive system—and prioritized according to the need of each area at any given moment.
Everyone understands the need for energy for muscles, supplied by the blood flow.
Fewer people realize how much energy, supplied by the blood flow, the brain uses when it is active.
Very few people stop to consider how the digestive system requires a lot of blood flow to supply energy to its job.
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There is a limit to the total amount of energy the blood can supply to the whole body.
Applying this means that we can perform greater physical work if we do not have to use our brain a lot at the same time.
Likewise we can perform greater mental work if we do not have to use our physical muscles a lot at the same time.
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Now, focus on the digestive system and its need (demand) for energy from the blood supply.
Immediately after eating, the digestive system must be given priority by reducing as much as possible the demand for energy (blood flow) to the muscles and the brain.
There is a simple three-word suggestion for anyone to do for a few minutes (at least three or four) right after eating.
Remain seated in a comfortable position that you can maintain—then . . .
MOTIONLESS
Become aware of every muscle, and consciously relax—focus on one muscle at a time if necessary, flexing and releasing. Then remain motionless.
TALKLESS
Do not talk or otherwise communicate with anyone or anything.
THOUGHTLESS
Spend this time without thinking about anything. Take each thought that comes and imagine setting it on a shelf immediately. If necessary focus on your physical tummy. This may be a bit challenging to successfully let go of every thought—just do the best you can, but focus on relaxing your body, your interacting with others, and your thoughts.
Send as little blood as possible to your muscles.
Send as little blood as possible to your brain.
Send as much blood as possible to your digestive system, and within a minute or two you will experience movement in your gut (your tummy saying ‘thank you’)—mission accomplished !
If you are really successful, you may find yourself dozing—extra mission accomplished ! !
When you decide to stop, be sure to transition slowly back into physical activity and mental activity and personal interaction.
Remember the three words:
MOTIONLESS—TALKLESS—THOUGHTLESS