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Do You Make The Top 10 List?

1/31/2019

God's Ten Most Wanted
You have likely heard about the FBI’s ten most wanted list. This infamous list contains the names of individuals that defy all laws and kill or maim on a whim.

Perhaps God also has a more desirable list containing the identities of those that He most wants. It might read like this:

The person who puts God and His kingdom above other concerns. (Mt. 6:33)

The person who values God's word above riches. (Psa. 119:162)

The person who can't wait to pray. (Psa. 55:17)

The person who gets genuinely excited about assembling with the saints to worship almighty God. (Psa. 122:1)

The person that constantly thanks God for his or her blessings. (1 Thess. 5:18)

The person who is cheerful about the privilege of giving back to God and to those in need. (2 Cor. 9:7)

The person who is constantly looking for opportunities to serve others. (Gal. 6:10)

The person who prays for the lost and seeks opportunities to share a word about Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 9:16)

Parents who do everything possible to teach their children about God and to walk in the steps of Jesus. (Eph. 6:4)

The person who makes it a priority to forgive anyone that offends or sins against him or her. (Matt. 18:22)

The person who makes it a point to visit and encourage those that are sick or neglected. (James 1:27)

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Although the above list may represent a reasonable estimate as to "God's Ten Most Wanted", it actually contains eleven. But I don't think God minds, do you? May we all strive to please Him in everything we do.

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

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Do You Know Where.....

1/23/2019

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DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?

Following the riots that occurred in the summer of 1967, many cities across the country enacted a youth curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Consequently, a nightly televised public service announcement for parents was issued for years afterwards. It said, “It’s 10:00. Do you know where your children are?”

Perhaps this nightly announcement should be reinstated. After all, studies indicate that children born from the late 80’s onward comprise the most under-parented and under-supervised young people in U.S. history. Designations such as “Generation X” and the “Latchkey Generation" accurately describe millions of children left to their own devices after school and even during weekends. Moreover, unsupervised access to computers and smart phones has exposed children as young as age 5 to pornography, incest, graphic violence and sordid activities. This is not to mention the alarming upsurge in Internet predators that specialize in beguiling children from 8 to 15 years.

Moreover, all Christian parents need to be reminded, "Do you know where your children are SPIRITUALLY?” Are they learning by YOUR example to put God first on Sunday and Wednesday night, as well as every other day of the week (Heb. 10:25)? Are they learning by YOUR example to pray every morning and night (1 Thess. 5:17)? Are they learning by YOUR example to read from their Bible daily or listen as the Bible is read to them (Mat. 4:4)? Are they learning by YOUR example to give generously to the Lord’s church (2 Cor. 9:6ff)?Are they learning by YOUR example to serve the Lord by helping others (Gal. 6:10)?

Do you REALLY know where your children are? Are you doing your utmost to make sure that God is pleased? Remember, where your children are at this moment will influence where they will be 25 years from now.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

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"Guide, Guard, and Direct"

1/16/2019

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“Guide, Guard, and Direct”

Have you heard the petition, "Please guide, guard and direct us" in a prayer lately? Although not heard as frequently as perhaps 50 years ago, some Christians still utter these words in their prayers. If we consider their meaning, it will become apparent why these saints continue to ask God to “guide, guard and direct us".

“GUIDE" means to steer or lead. Because “the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps"(Jer. 10:23), we need all the guidance possible. And who can do any better than the One Who created us (Psa. 100:3) and knows all things (1 Jn 3:20)? Before His death Jesus promised His followers, "…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:12-13). Through His inspired, living and powerful word (2 Tim 3:16, Heb 4:12), God provides the guidance we desperately need today.
“GUARD" means to protect, defend or watch over. With the possible exception of the days prior to the flood (Gen 6:5), we are living in one of the worse periods – morally and ethically – of earth's history. The real threat to Christians today is not crime, war or disease; it is the corrupt and depraved world in which we live (2 Tim. 3:13). We require God’s help to survive unscathed, and He provides it via His word, power and providential peace (Psa. 119:9, 1 Pet. 1:4 & Phil 4:7).
“DIRECT" means to aim towards a goal or objective. It comes as no surprise that the attractions, diversions and lusts of the world constantly vie for our attention. Satan's goal is to divert our attention away from our heavenly home, hoping that we will abandon our confidence in Christ (Heb 10:35). Thus we need God’s help to remain focused on the eternal prize, crown and hope that lies before us (Phil 3:14, 1 Tim. 4:8 & Heb. 12:2).

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So the next time you hear someone petitioning God to “guide, guard and direct us”, you should appreciate the importance of the request. Better yet, try incorporating it into some of your own prayers.

Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis

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What Do Your Prayers Say About.......

1/10/2019

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WHAT DO YOUR PRAYERS REVEAL ABOUT YOU?

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray…’" (Luke 11:1) The preceding scripture makes me wonder what it was about Jesus’ prayers that prompted His disciples to instruct them. After all, most Jewish males were taught to pray from an early age. By the time they reached adulthood, many had worded hundreds of prayers . Apparently, however, there was something about Jesus' prayers that made his followers feel like novices.

Was it the words He spoke? His posture? His fervency? Whatever it was, something about Jesus’ prayers left an impression upon His disciples.

Although most of our prayers occur in private, if someone else happened to observe or hear us, would anything about our prayers capture their attention?

An allied soldier in France was ordered to appear before his commanding officer. Upon doing so, his captain said, “Your sergeant has informed me you have been observed slipping off into the woods almost every night. It has also come to my attention that enemy patrols are occasionally spotted in those same woods. Can give me a compelling reason to believe that you have not been secretly passing on information to the enemy?”

Unshaken by the accusation, the private replied, “Sir, ever since I was a boy I’ve tried to slip away at dusk in order to pray. And unless it interferes with my duties, I attempt to do so to this day. I go into the woods to pray, sir.”

Skeptical, his captain challenged him, “Alright, show me how you pray in the woods.” Without hesitation, the private fell to his knees and began praying for his parents, siblings, comrades in arms, and even his captain. Before his prayer was finished, the captain courteously interrupted and said, “That’s sufficient, private. Please return to your duties. I’ll speak to your sergeant, advising him to treat your nightly trips to the woods as an order from me.” The captain then turned to a lieutenant and remarked, “I’ve never witnessed anyone pray as ardently as that soldier. Its clear to me that he’s had years of practice.”

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (Jam. 5:16)

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

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Trust God!

1/6/2019

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TRUST GOD IN 2019

One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried pitifully as the farmer tried in vain to get him out. Eventually the farmer decided that the humane thing to do was to fill the well with dirt. As much as he hated doing so, at least his donkey would soon be out of his misery.

He asked his neighbors to help. They presently grabbed shovels and began dumping dirt into the well. Initially the donkey cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

As the neighbors continued shoveling dirt into the well, the farmer glanced down toward the doomed donkey. What he saw, however, amazed him. Whenever a shovel full of dirt fell on the donkey, he shook it off and stepped up on the growing heap. In a few hours the farmer and his neighbors happily witnessed the donkey step safely over the edge of the well.

All’s well that ends well! (Forgive the pun.)

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The aforementioned story brings to mind a well-known Bible passage – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

Which is to say that God IS ABLE to turn perplexing problems into positive blessings. Two Bible examples come to mind:

Due to the jealousy of his brothers, Joseph was nearly murdered, then sold into slavery. His situation worsened in Egypt. He ended up being imprisoned for a crime for which he never committed. Despite horrible hardships, Joseph later commented, “God meant it for GOOD, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to SAVE MANY PEOPLE ALIVE.” (Gen. 50:20)

In Acts 7, a courageous Christian named Stephen preached to a group of hostile Jews. Enraged by his message, they subsequently stoned the defenseless disciple to death. One of the Jews present at the execution was Saul of Tarsus. Despite the fact that he was initially pleased concerning the death of a Christian, it sparked something inside of him. That spark eventually fanned into an inferno of guilt when Jesus spoke to Saul from heaven as he was traveling to Damascus. Although the martyrdom of Stephen was tragic, his soul went to a better place and Saul became the premiere preacher to the Gentiles – the apostle Paul.

We will all face trials, adversities and setbacks in 2019 (Jn. 16:33, 2 Tim. 3:12). God, however, will work everything out for our good! Trust and see!

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

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Do You Make The Top 10 List?

Do You Know Where.....

"Guide, Guard, and Direct"

What Do Your Prayers Say About.......

Trust God!

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