Rising To The Occasion

Rising To The Occasion “You should not do as they are doing. I ask this of you because you are my child and because it is the right thing to do. What your friends are allowed is the concern of their parents.” How much value and indifference have we placed on good teachings by our parents? As adults, are we still rebelling against what good and commendable? Just because the world promotes through its behavior, media, programming and movies that lack of respect, not honoring other’s property and being self-serving is lawful, lucrative and even esteemed, at what point should one examine their God created conscious. The world has no power over you. Do what would please your Father in Heaven. Rise to the occasions that promote decency, kindness, honesty, and integrity. As a child of God and with faith, hope and love teach others whom you meet along the way. John 14:27-31 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you." If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

The Gift Of Acceptance

The Gift Of Acceptance “Why can’t I just do this: I’ll just live as I please, and then before I died I will repent.” I don’t have to live my life in any particular way or baptize my babies and myself. God created us, he should save us.” “I don’t need to talk to anyone about Jesus, that’s his job!” If you never performed beyond the minimum at a job you might never get noticed for a promotion. If you didn’t reach out to love another individual during your life would you know love when you received it? When you die and are standing before your Creator would He recognize you as one of His children? What comes from your mouth, the intent of your actions and deeds, and your thoughts and desires are evidence of what you feed your soul. We all have influences good and bad. Among all of God’s creation, who will you choose to be like? Before you decide the fate of your eternal life, get to know Jesus. God gave you a Savior and answers for a heavenly existence, but He also gave you a “free will.” God will not force you to enjoy his greatest blessing on your life. The gift of acceptance is in your hands. Mark 16:15-20 And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.'

Reconcililng With One's Self

Reconciling With One’s Self “You do whatever you wish to do. I am not here to judge you, I am only trying to help you.” “Who died and made you king? I don’t have to listen to you!” “You may not value these words now, but one day I pray you will understand.” When others try to help we often take it as a personal injury. Our egos struggle to keep some mysterious exalted status. When we fight hard, scratch deep, yell at the top of our lungs, it is wise to take time to listen and recognize our own cry for help. There is no injustice to one’s self to say he is wrong, in fact, it is critical. It is far worse to know the truth and never acknowledge and modify to reconcile to that essential and life saving truth. John 12:44-50 Jesus cried aloud, 'Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.'

They Can't Take That Away From Me

They Can’t Take That Away From Me “Can you hear yourself? You will wind up alone.” “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.” “Get the wool out of your eyes. Don’t you know a good thing when you see it?” "You have no one to blame but yourself!" We can easily get caught up in trends of the day and in the selfishness of human desire. Trends fade and selfishness leads one to deadening isolation. Know the wonder of your God, stay in intimate relationship with His Son, and really know where your heart belongs. Our alliance to selfish behavior in an evil world can wound us in an instant, but Jesus promises his followers refuge in this life and the next. Believe and keep your heart faithful, for no one can take the hope, joy and love of Jesus away from you. John 10:22-30 It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

One Finish Line

One Finish Line “Why didn’t you do it as prescribed? Any other way will not be recognized.” “You think you can do everything your way? Well, this time it didn’t work!” There are rules in place so that all who qualify have an equal opportunity to participate. Some will lose gravely, others will fall out from lack of hope, frustration and confidence, and only one will truly know how ultimate victory feels. But to those who stay optimistic, participating wholeheartedly, faithfully and strive only for the commendable finish, will know the gift of being able to run in the good race to the end, and will feel spiritually triumphant even without the possession of a tangible trophy. In the race of your life, follow only Jesus. He said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Run your race with Jesus confidently, so that you will have hope of overcoming all obstacles along the way. Your path may not be like that of your neighbor. Nonetheless, the finish line, to which all are headed, is the same. John 10:1-10 ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Give Virtuously To Humanity

Give Virtuously To Humanity “Use my name, if it will help.” “Take this money, and enjoy it with your family.” “What else do you need, I can help you.” “I am unable to be with you today, but shall I pray for your healing.” What you give physically, emotionally and spiritually will uplift and aid in sustaining another life. The time you spend thinking about, praying for and helping another carries great sentiments of love and hope. And when it known by your example that it is God who teaches you, encourage them, so that they too will follow your lead, one who follows in the steps of Christ. God leads us toward His Son Jesus Christ who is our living bread and only salvation for eternity. Believe in the one whom God has sent. Jesus gave, for the life of the world, his flesh so that we will live forever. Give virtuously what you can for the life of the world you live in. John 6:44-51 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

Food That Endures For Eternal Life

Food That Endures For Eternal Life When is it in our lives that we show that we are doing the work of God? Are your thoughts, deeds and words like that of Christ? If you believe in Jesus Christ, God’s son, and if you believe that you were created in his image, then you must believe that you are to imitate Jesus in your daily life and seek Him and his ways about all else. Once your spirit is renewed, you begin to approach everything in your life in this very special and unique way, and fulfillment begins to permeate your being. Love will impart itself upon the heart and tenderly urges you to do more. Are you revealing your belief in Jesus Christ when we you interacting with your family? Is there evidence that you are a child of God when you are in your workplace? When you are completing a task are you doing it with love or with anger? When you are tending to a loved one are you there with impatience or kindness? When you are indulging in a meal are you gorging or sharing? When you have an abundance of goods or wealth are you consuming or spending it only on yourself? Jesus spoke about not working for food that perishes. Food in time will spoil and must get thrown away. A satisfied tummy will feel hunger pangs again after a while. But Jesus asks us to work for that food that endures for eternal life. We are nourished by the love we bestow on our cherished ones, fulfilled by the acts of kindness that we impart on strangers. Our hearts are gratified when we serve a widow who longer has a spouse or spend time with orphans who do not have parents. Our spirits relish and are filled with zest, compassion and humbleness when we tend to the sick, handicapped and elderly who may unequipped or not have family or friends. These wonderful morsels of loving opportunities are right in our own homes, communities, churches, schools, hospitals and workplaces. We don’t have to go far to gather the ingredients needed to prepare for the food that Jesus is talking about. We have the bible, the reference for our best feasts and banquets. Love is at the heart of every act that provides nourishment and is designed to not perish. Love never loses taste, nor does it spoil. The food that Jesus may well be talking about is that kind of food that will endure through troubled times, carried on to the next generation, and until our last breath. That same food provides hope for a life in heaven. Work for food that does not perish, that kind of food that is ever abounding in eternal life. John 6:22-29 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, 'Rabbi, when did you come here?' Jesus answered them, 'Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.' Then they said to him, 'What must we do to perform the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.'

At The Heart Of Life Is The Gift Of Giving Of Yourself

At The Heart Of Life Is The Gift Of Giving of Yourself “I quit my dream job! I can’t work with those people anymore.” “I don’t want to stay with him anymore. Yes, he’s been a good husband, provider and a wonderful father. He just gets on my nerves!” “I know I’ve got it all. But there’s something inside of me that does not feel complete.” Should we be satisfied where we are? Why would we discard the good in our lives because we are frustrated or in search of something we can’t put our finger on? If we have a full life with school, family, work, and church on Sundays, what more might we desire? There is much reward to be received when one takes one’s mind off one’s self. When our aspirations circle only around status, a material good or of a relationship that is perfect we will always be disappointed and hunger for more. Refocus your appetite and goals toward what will satisfy the spirit by imitating the way Jesus loved and lived. Give heartily and selflessly in your relationships so that you have no time to think about inanimate experiences and shortcomings of others that can breed selfish belittling ideals. Jesus said to the people, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.' There is always room for us to grow in intellect and opportunity to climb the ladder, but at the heart of life, is the gift of giving generously and humbly to relationships with loved ones and strangers seeking nothing in return. John 6:30-35 So they said to Jesus, 'What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat." ' Then Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' They said to him, 'Sir, give us this bread always.' Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'

Sowing Strong Seams

Sowing Strong Seams “Who are you to tell me what to do? You and your morals and values make me sick!” “Do what you want to do. Don’t ever say, “I didn’t warn you.” “What I share with you is God’s truth – I share it because I love you.” You will reap on earth what you sow on earth. But in what you sow, fashion it so that it may give evidence that you pattern yourself after God’s miraculous and certified blueprint, His Son. If the seams of your life are held together by a loose and thoughtless basting, the tension and temptations of living will easily tear at the weak seams. Reinforce the lines of well thought out stitching to make them strong and long-lasting. John 3:31-36 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.

A Meeting Face To Face

A Meeting Face To Face “I feel so guilty, I could have done more. Where was God when we needed Him?” “It is natural to feel as you do. One day your heart will accept the truth. You made the best decisions you could. They could not help her anymore. She is with God now.” Weariness in our hearts may cloud our good sense and even temporarily alter our faith. Doubt is natural in times of grief, especially when things are out of our control. Jesus once shared, “If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” Do what you can reasonably do for another and allow your heart to meet face to face with your actions and faith. Trust that God will use your circumstances for your better good and believe He has the ultimate heavenly eternal life waiting for each of us.” John 3:7-15 Jesus said, 'Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above." The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can these things be?' Jesus answered him, 'Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 'Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.'

Let It Be With Me

Let It Be With Me Has God ever revealed to you something you must do? Did you act on it or ignore it? Did it seem too overwhelming, perhaps impossible? Was it easy to brush it aside and remove all thoughts about it from your heart? Do you regret not taking steps to do something? Do you believe it is too late to act now? Pray that you would recognize when The Holy Spirit is making itself known to you. Prepare your heart for feeling the awesome inspiring power of the Most High when it overshadows you. In your spirit there is freedom to believe that nothing is impossible with God. Look to the day when you can say, ”Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word and will.” Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

No Doubt About It

No Doubt About It “Wow! You should have been there, it was miraculous!” “You are crazy! That could never have happened! I would have to see it to believe it!” Sometimes our stories of special gifts in our lives, premonitions about the future and impossible to fathom outcomes seem like tall tales of a great or adolescent imagination. When we spend time with God our hardened hearts are softened allowing us to believe in God’s gifts of the impossible, our blurry eyes are more acute to see holy matters that have already come to pass, and a sleeping spirit is awakened to what is to come in the future. “Do not doubt but believe. Blessed are those who have not seen, but have come to believe.” An awe inspiring quote by someone divinely named Jesus. John 20:19-29 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Speaking of God's Graces

Speaking of God’s Graces How many times more in our lives will we lack faith even after God has produced many miracles on our behalf. It seems we can easily forget how desperate we once felt when we were in need of God’s intercessions. God intercedes in our lives daily. Speak of God’s graces often to all those who have ears to listen so that your eyes won’t turn a blind eye, your heart won’t grow weary, your attitude won’t grow arrogant, your hands won’t turn self-serving and your mind won’t fail to remember what a good and gracious God you have. Increase your faith by getting to know better the awesome Father that loves you. Mark 16:9-15 Now after Jesus rose, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.