I Love To Praise Him by The Parkway Pentecostal Choir (Music Video) Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The Auction (Friday, April 25, 2008)

THE AUCTION

The upstate NY man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land, antiques and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy.

Miraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boys’s birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart.

The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who helped raise the boy, offered $5 for the picture and easily took the bid. To every-one’s shock, the auctioneer ripped a hand written will from the back of the picture. This is what it said: “To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate.”

The auction was over. The greedy crowd walked away in shock and dismay.

How many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone?

God’s Angels Encamped Us! by Gene McGuire (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”(Phil. 3:14)

COMMENT: Several years ago, while driving to Detroit, my nephew and I had clear sailing until we got to Cleveland when that “lake effect” snow began to blow horizontally. It wasn’t to the point of being a whiteout, but it was pretty bad. We almost made a decision to stop and get a motel room. Instead, my nephew decided to stop driving 80 mph and slow down to 35. We went on, slowly but surely, believing that God had His angels encamped around us. As we neared Toledo, the weather improved greatly.  We came through that ordeal unscathed. When I think about what Jesus said concerning the tribulations in our lives, a song comes to mind:”I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.” When we become Children of God we are not immune to the trials and tribulations in this world, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world. Listen and be elated by this Amplified Bible version of John 16:33. “I have told you these things, so that in Me (Jesus) you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” So when everything in your life seems to be closing in on you, keep pressing on because you have a Friend who sticks closer to you than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

SCRIPTURE STUDY: John 10:10, John 14:27 and Hebrews 13:5

WISE SONG LYRICS: KEEP BELIEVING IN WHAT YOU KNOW IS TRUE. KEEP BELIEVING, YOU KNOW THE LORD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH. WHEN TROUBLES COMES IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, YOU’LL BE FINE, IF YOU’LL JUST KEEP BELIEVING!

I Cannot Pray (Monday, April 21, 2008)

I Cannot Pray

I cannot say OUR if my religion has no room for others and their needs.

I cannot say FATHER if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily life.

I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I, who am called by his name am not holy.

I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God.

I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN unless I am truly ready to give myself to his service here and now.

I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of my fellow men.

I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.

I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.

I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER if I fear what my neighbors and friends may say or do.

I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY if I am seeking my own glory first.

I cannot say FOREVER if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.

I cannot say AMEN unless I honestly say, “Cost what it may, this is my prayer.”

-Unknown

Made by God versus Made by Man (You Tube Video) (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)

Excellent and insightful work by Jacques.