billy graham

At some point in my younger years, I went to a Billy Graham Crusade.  At the end, there were tons of people walking down the steps and crowding in front of the stage.  It was just like the crusades I’ve seen on TV before and since.

I’ve often wondered about the sincerity of each person in the crowds.  I pray that each and every one making a public profession were genuinely accepting Jesus into their hearts.  I know that’s between them and God, (but I do wonder).

If you begin with one new Christian, how far and how wide will the message of God reach?  

How many seeds have I spread along the way?  Something to think about...

be a Christian all you want, but...

I saw this story on GodVine. You may have as well.  I wanted to share it here because it made me sick, ashamed, disgusted, and confirmed I’m a hypocrit.  I could have been one of those church members.  I have been one of those church members.  How many times have I walked past someone obviously in need, or sitting at a traffic light looking straight ahead to avoid eye contact with the man or woman standing on the corner holding a sign?  TOO MANY TIMES!

I put money in the Christmas Salvation Army bucket. I donate clothes, household goods...  No, forget what I do.  I’m pretty sure non-Christians do these things as well. Instead, I’ll focus on what I don’t do.  I have purposely missed many of the opportunities I should and could have taken.  So, there have been times I’ve handed money out the window.  Maybe every bill I had (I generally have very little.)  But, God told me to.  It’s amazing how later, I may find a bill tucked away I wasn’t aware of.  Hmm...  How about that...  But, what about money plus a Christian tract or a small New Testament?  Food for the body and food for the soul.  I CAN DO THAT!

God has provided hubs and me with a home with a good roof, cool air and warm heat, food in the fridge, food in the freezer, the necessary things and SO MUCH MORE.  So, we donate to the food drives at Christmas.  What about the food banks currently in dire need now?  The economy and unemployment are overwhelming the demand for food, fans, and essential items needed.  There just aren’t enough resources.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?  WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO?  WHAT ELSE MUST I DO?

Soul searching time for me... 

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A Pastor transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000-member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service, only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food – no one in the church gave him change.



He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares, dirty looks, and people looking down on him. As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. “We would like to introduce to you our new Pastor.” The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping stopped with all eyes on him. He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment then he recited,

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry, and many heads were bowed in shame. He then said, “Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?” He then dismissed service until next week.


Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ should be more than just talk. It ought to be a lifestyle that others around you can love about you and share in.” Be a Christian all you want, but at least follow the teachings of Christ if you’re going to claim the title.
 
(Matthew 25:35-45)

♥

Just think about it:

 if I do one random act of kindness to someone tomorrow, and you do the same - how much kindness will there be?

How many sunbeams will we see?

victory

A long, long time ago, my Dad wrote a poem he named 'Victory'.  At the time, his Mother was very sick and in the hospital.  

After my Dad died in September of  2000, we began the slow process of going thru his many files and   We came across many memories, school records, WWII papers, 15,000 handwritten pages of Bible study notes, and much, much more.  But, no poem.
folders.

'Victory’ had been lost for many years, but my sister found it on a Sunday in April 2013! 

Victory

By J.W. Smithwick

Men rush along life’s busy way,

Some pause to think, some even pray.

Some work and fight and forge ahead,

Some lay so still on the hospital bed.

But each man who lives, succeed or fail,

Shall some day loose this body fail,

And stand before the living God.

No secrets hide beneath the sod.

None justified by what he’s done,

Nor can he stay life’s setting sun.

Before his God, how shall he stand?

His earthly deeds condemn each man.

But hark before it is too late,

You need not bow to a sinner’s fate

For one has come and paid your price

Believe—accept—this Jesus Christ!

quick quotes

Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over,
and dwelling on, and applying to oneself,
the various things that one knows about the works and ways
and purposes and promises of God.
JL Packer

Your faith will not fail while God sustains it; you are not strong enough to fall away while God is resolved to hold you.
JL Packer

Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord.
JL Packer

beautiful butterfly

I was outside this afternoon doing a little yard work.  Mostly I was sitting, watching and listening to the birds.  There was a nice pleasant breeze, and I thought it would be nice to have a hammock or a glider. I enjoyed the dappling sunshine thru the trees.  The sweet smell of honeysuckle was drifting with the breeze, and I saw a butterfly dancing around the vines full of blooms.  

I finally found the bible verse that I've read before in relation to a butterfly. Cocoon to beautiful butterfly...

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

smart advice

a tiny little ant ~ reprise

While doing a study on some of the reasons God sent Jesus to live as a man, I came across a perfect analogy. It may be a bit simplistic, but it works for me.

"If all the world was a colony of ants, and you as a human wanted to communicate with them, how could you best do that?"

"Become an ant?"

"That's right! That's exactly what God did!"

So, why did God send Jesus to be born, to die, and to rise again?

God sent Jesus to:

show the world that He loves us

demonstrate what God is like

give us the gift of eternal life

be reconciled to God

be the atonement for our sins

be the Savior of the world

"The birth of Jesus was not, as in ordinary births, the creation of a new personality. It was a divine Person -- already existing -- entering on this new mode of existence. Miracle could alone effect such a wonder."

The Virgin Birth of Christ, by James Orr

By this the love of God was manifested (shown, revealed) in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atoning sacrifice, payment) for our sins.

1 John 4:9-10 NAS

mother teresa

quick quote

Calm me Lord, as you calmed the storm
Still me Lord, keep me from harm
Let all the tumult within me cease
Enfold me Lord, in your Peace
(unknown)

1234

I’ve wasted most of this day.  Piddling with pinterest and facebook and instagram and blogs... 

1 – I did get one load of laundry done, and I’m trying to convince myself that they do need drying.  The swiffer is begging to swiff.  (I remember ‘way back when’, oh horrors, I actually used a dust cloth and furniture polish spray!)  Since I’ve washed some clothes, I have accomplished something today.  That’s excuse enough.

2 – Callie, our calico cat, doesn’t like vacuums.  Second excuse enough.

3 – it’s 87 degrees.  Third excuse enough.

4 – I’m tired.  An episode of ‘Castle’ is on tv.  Forth excuse enough.

Bye...