HOW DO I LOOK AT MY LIFE? Do I look at my life as having no meaning, or do I know the purpose for my existence?
ATHEIST WORLD VIEW... Atheist's view their lives as a random collection of atoms: Time + Chance = Creation. If this is true, then life has no meaning... Atheist, Betram Russell said, "Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless".
Jesus sees my life as having meaning! Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)... It's in Christ, Messiah that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of an overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
HOW DO I VIEW MY PROBLEMS? Jesus sees the end from the beginning... Romans 8:28 (NIV)... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
HOW DO I VALUE MYSELF? God sees my life as valuable! John 3:16 (NIV)... For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, the whoever (Wanda, You) believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Example of "believe"... I believe a bullet-proof vest will stop a bullet and save my life but until I put one on, give you a gun and say shoot me... I don't really believe!!!
Not that I really know until it happens, but who would I give my life for? Now, the rubber meets the road... who would I give my son's life for? Good question, God gave Jesus' life so I could be forgiven for my sins while I was still sinning, before I asked and continue to sin.
HOW DO I VALUE OTHERS? Matthew 22:37-39... "Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, "love your neighbor as yourself".
According to Matthew 22::37-39... in order to love my neighbor as myself, I need to love myself first. How do I do this?
CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW... What does this view give us?
1. A past... continuing forgiveness (no guilt to eat away at my insides)
2. A present...
A. Purpose... a reason to face each day with joy, feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction
B. Comfort and Peace... God is in control and will never forsake me
C. Value... there is no true self-esteem without God
D. Ability to give value to others... God gave His son for whosoever!!!
3. A Future... on earth: no worry or fear. physical, emotional, financial, relational and... spiritual provision and in heaven. No fear... Psalm 23: even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
My responsibility: obedience; God's responsibility: my success
Give what you have to somebody; it may be better than you think. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American Poet)
How many times have I kept my talents hidden because... I felt what I had wasn’t good enough? There have been many times when I’ve had an idea to write about a particular article, book or an idea for something else, and I just wouldn’t complete the task because... I felt that it wouldn’t make a difference or be important to anyone else. Many of us have talents and the ability to do many wonderfully unique things. Sometimes I think... what I have to offer will most likely fail or I will embarrass myself so I don’t even attempt it. There have been many ideas dropped into my spirit; and up until now, I’ve let most of them just fall by the wayside. God gives me ideas on how to use the talents He has given me in many ways and through many different people. I have decided from now on, whenever God gives me an idea to act upon, I will do it no matter how strange or unprofitable it may seem at first.
My responsibility is to be obedient and do whatever He has told me to do. Let Him worry about making it a success. It is up to God to make it successful. It’s been said several times in His word:
Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.
Job 36:11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures.
Deuteronomy 29:9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
Nothing of God is without purpose. Even what seems unimportant may be what someone else has been searching years for.
I won’t be afraid to put those talents to work for God’s glory, define what success is to me and get ready for it. It’s what He promises and He cannot tell a lie.
* I will not procratinate but obey God's commandments
* I will practice the Fruits of the Spirit...
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
* I will start and maintain an Overeaters Anonymous meeting in Marathon
* I will work on the ACS Relay for Life...
and coordinate The Doerfels performance at the Relay
* I will write my book
How many times have I kept my talents hidden because... I felt what I had wasn’t good enough? There have been many times when I’ve had an idea to write about a particular article, book or an idea for something else, and I just wouldn’t complete the task because... I felt that it wouldn’t make a difference or be important to anyone else. Many of us have talents and the ability to do many wonderfully unique things. Sometimes I think... what I have to offer will most likely fail or I will embarrass myself so I don’t even attempt it. There have been many ideas dropped into my spirit; and up until now, I’ve let most of them just fall by the wayside. God gives me ideas on how to use the talents He has given me in many ways and through many different people. I have decided from now on, whenever God gives me an idea to act upon, I will do it no matter how strange or unprofitable it may seem at first.
My responsibility is to be obedient and do whatever He has told me to do. Let Him worry about making it a success. It is up to God to make it successful. It’s been said several times in His word:
Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.
Job 36:11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures.
Deuteronomy 29:9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
Nothing of God is without purpose. Even what seems unimportant may be what someone else has been searching years for.
I won’t be afraid to put those talents to work for God’s glory, define what success is to me and get ready for it. It’s what He promises and He cannot tell a lie.
* I will not procratinate but obey God's commandments
* I will practice the Fruits of the Spirit...
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
* I will start and maintain an Overeaters Anonymous meeting in Marathon
* I will work on the ACS Relay for Life...
and coordinate The Doerfels performance at the Relay
* I will write my book
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Do you have shelter... count that blessing
This home at 27313 Cayman Lane on Ramrod Key burns down early Monday morning, displacing an elderly woman.
As we were standing in line for dinner at church last night, we met Vera who was very friendly with a great sense of humor... cracking jokes and laughing freely and... praising God!!! When she moved on down the line, Irv and our friend, James said to me, "Her house burned down last night". What? "Yes, to the ground". Amazing. Here are excerpts the story from the local paper...
Ramrod Key resident Vera Fielding must be feeling "lucky" to have courageous and resourceful neighbors. I don't believe in "luck" because there is good and bad luck. With God their are only promises: "And my God will meet all your needs, Phillipians 4:19. In Vera's case, her need was rescue.
At 5:30am Monday morning a neighbor heard a sound like a gunshot but was an electric fire spreading to Vera's front porch and into her house and up the stairs, blocking her way out downstairs. The 89 year old was trapped on a second story balcony after the fire started on the bottom floor. Neighbors called 911, searched yards and found a ladder tall enough to reach the balcony where Vera was helped over the balcony and to safety. The neighbor had to jump from the balcony because the smoke was overwhelming. He got Vera off the balcony just in time.
All she has left is her purse.
Time to count our blessings today, don't you think?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sharing Faith, Strength and Hope
Hebrews 11:1... What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
1 Corinthians 1:25....This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.
May I share a couple of God said, "No, but... gives us the desires of our hearts which He knows better than we do". I realize these may seem trivial but God is interested and involved in every detail of our lives and I thank Him...
* Years ago Irv and I wanted to retire to Ocean City, MD. We even bought a small condo there to go every weekend until my Mother needed us to care for her so we sold it. God said, "No but"... gave us something enormously better. As you all know, Irv and I can go anywhere in our "home on wheels" and now our home base is in Paradise on earth, Marathon (The Keys), FL .
* Paradise is famous for hurricanes which I wanted no part of so prayed James 5:17. We arrived June 2009 and thus far, hurricanes have not come to pass.
* There is a family, The Doerfels who travel to the keys to live and perform up and down the Keys for several months in the winter. Irv and I love Bluegrass music which is one type of music The Doerfels perform. I was so excited to go down to Boondock's to see them for the first time but it didn't work out and I was so disappointed. God said, "No but"... last fall, The Doerfels showed up at our church and worshiped with us until May then moved on with their tour. On occasion they played with our worship band and on Easter gave a wonderful concert. They are back again this year, have become our friends and have agreed at my request to perform at the Middle Keys Relay for Life.
And so I am thankful for all of you... to you from John The Elder, To the beloved Gaius (all of you), whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
1 Corinthians 1:25....This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Psalms 65:5... You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.
I created this blog for sharing our testimony of Faith, Strength, and Hope as well as prayer requests, never forgetting to share our thanfuls to God. Use first names only if you prefer. My prayer is that our sharing, praying and thanking God together will encourage each of us as we strengthen our faith and hope. on our earthly journey.
May I share a couple of God said, "No, but... gives us the desires of our hearts which He knows better than we do". I realize these may seem trivial but God is interested and involved in every detail of our lives and I thank Him...
* Years ago Irv and I wanted to retire to Ocean City, MD. We even bought a small condo there to go every weekend until my Mother needed us to care for her so we sold it. God said, "No but"... gave us something enormously better. As you all know, Irv and I can go anywhere in our "home on wheels" and now our home base is in Paradise on earth, Marathon (The Keys), FL .
* Paradise is famous for hurricanes which I wanted no part of so prayed James 5:17. We arrived June 2009 and thus far, hurricanes have not come to pass.
* There is a family, The Doerfels who travel to the keys to live and perform up and down the Keys for several months in the winter. Irv and I love Bluegrass music which is one type of music The Doerfels perform. I was so excited to go down to Boondock's to see them for the first time but it didn't work out and I was so disappointed. God said, "No but"... last fall, The Doerfels showed up at our church and worshiped with us until May then moved on with their tour. On occasion they played with our worship band and on Easter gave a wonderful concert. They are back again this year, have become our friends and have agreed at my request to perform at the Middle Keys Relay for Life.
And so I am thankful for all of you... to you from John The Elder, To the beloved Gaius (all of you), whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
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