Monday, August 30, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: "If you are hungry for God and teachable, you will grow."
Howard Cordell, pastor Faith Covenant Church of Prayer
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy....meditate on these things." PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NKJV
In any situation that I would consider to be "bad," there can be found some good. I might not see the good at first, but if I have a desire to find the "good," it can be found. Many times it may be only the lesson learned that I should not to travel that way again. Scripture says with every temptation, God makes a way out. This in itself is finding the good in a bad situation. Paul himself said that his arrest and imprisonment turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel. Because he was jailed there were people who saw the way he lived his life, and heard his words as he spoke of the love and grace of the Father through Jesus. These people might have missed the opportunity to know about the grace that comes through a personal relationship with God. How many times have I been in a bad situation, and missed the opportunity to find the "good" and share with others my experience, strength and hope? Today I am grateful for having been alcoholic, addicted and lost in self-centeredness. A great opportunity has been given to me and many just like myself to help others recover from a fate that is truly worse than death. God does for me what I could not do for myself.......JRE
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 NKJV
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Saturday I attended the memorial service and celebration of life for Jack Swall who passed on August 4, 2004. Many people spoke of his accomplishments and wonderful life. I myself was touched by a quote from Helen Keller that Jack cherished. Share this with me:
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean calm and in storm....we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision in our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Our beloved ones are no more lost to us than if they were still laughing and loving and working and playing at our side. Truly Life is overlord of Death, and love can never lose its own." HELEN KELLER
Staying teachable
Thought for the day: "If you are hungry for God and teachable, you will grow."
Howard Cordell, pastor Faith Covenant Church of Prayer
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy....meditate on these things." PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NKJV
In any situation that I would consider to be "bad," there can be found some good. I might not see the good at first, but if I have a desire to find the "good," it can be found. Many times it may be only the lesson learned that I should not to travel that way again. Scripture says with every temptation, God makes a way out. This in itself is finding the good in a bad situation. Paul himself said that his arrest and imprisonment turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel. Because he was jailed there were people who saw the way he lived his life, and heard his words as he spoke of the love and grace of the Father through Jesus. These people might have missed the opportunity to know about the grace that comes through a personal relationship with God. How many times have I been in a bad situation, and missed the opportunity to find the "good" and share with others my experience, strength and hope? Today I am grateful for having been alcoholic, addicted and lost in self-centeredness. A great opportunity has been given to me and many just like myself to help others recover from a fate that is truly worse than death. God does for me what I could not do for myself.......JRE
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 NKJV
**********************
Saturday I attended the memorial service and celebration of life for Jack Swall who passed on August 4, 2004. Many people spoke of his accomplishments and wonderful life. I myself was touched by a quote from Helen Keller that Jack cherished. Share this with me:
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean calm and in storm....we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision in our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Our beloved ones are no more lost to us than if they were still laughing and loving and working and playing at our side. Truly Life is overlord of Death, and love can never lose its own." HELEN KELLER
Thursday, August 26, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “One character defect rationalized, becomes two character defects.”
There are several verses of Scripture that I consider to be favorites of mine, but one that is very dear to my heart and has helped me to understand God and myself, comes from the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Share this with me:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
Some time back in the study of these verses I went to the original Greek text and looked up the word that was used for workmanship. The Greek word is “poiema.” We get our modern English word poem from this word. When we receive the gift that God has to offer us through faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross, we become God’s poetry. I like to think of each believer as an individual poem, and as we do good works we become “poetry in motion.” We become songs of the Father working together in harmony. I remember in the early 1960’s going to coffee houses, drinking coffee and tea, listening to someone play the bongo’s and hearing poetry read. Much of what I heard I did not understand because of my young age and experience. Today when I read the poetic books of the Bible, I hang on each word. What an honor to have the apostle Paul consider us to be God’s poem. Poetry in motion. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
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THE SECRET IS ACCEPTANCE
“I will put my trust in Him.” Hebrews 2:13
Helen Roseveare was a British medical missionary in the Congo years ago during an uprising. Her faith was strong and her trust was confident, yet she was raped and assaulted and treated brutally. Commenting later, she said, “I must ask myself a question as if it came directly from the Lord. ‘Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience even if I never tell you why?’”
What a profound thought. God has trusted each of us with our own set of unfair circumstances and unexplained experiences to deal with. Can we still trust in Him even if He never tells us why?
The secret to responsible trust is acceptance. Acceptance is taking from God’s hand absolutely anything He gives, looking into His face in trust and thanksgiving, knowing that the confinement of the hedge we’re in is good and for His glory.
CHARLES SWINDOLL………………..Perfect Trust
********************
“Humility is a result of getting honest with ourselves.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page35
Poetry in motion
Thought for the day: “One character defect rationalized, becomes two character defects.”
There are several verses of Scripture that I consider to be favorites of mine, but one that is very dear to my heart and has helped me to understand God and myself, comes from the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Share this with me:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
Some time back in the study of these verses I went to the original Greek text and looked up the word that was used for workmanship. The Greek word is “poiema.” We get our modern English word poem from this word. When we receive the gift that God has to offer us through faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross, we become God’s poetry. I like to think of each believer as an individual poem, and as we do good works we become “poetry in motion.” We become songs of the Father working together in harmony. I remember in the early 1960’s going to coffee houses, drinking coffee and tea, listening to someone play the bongo’s and hearing poetry read. Much of what I heard I did not understand because of my young age and experience. Today when I read the poetic books of the Bible, I hang on each word. What an honor to have the apostle Paul consider us to be God’s poem. Poetry in motion. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
********************
THE SECRET IS ACCEPTANCE
“I will put my trust in Him.” Hebrews 2:13
Helen Roseveare was a British medical missionary in the Congo years ago during an uprising. Her faith was strong and her trust was confident, yet she was raped and assaulted and treated brutally. Commenting later, she said, “I must ask myself a question as if it came directly from the Lord. ‘Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience even if I never tell you why?’”
What a profound thought. God has trusted each of us with our own set of unfair circumstances and unexplained experiences to deal with. Can we still trust in Him even if He never tells us why?
The secret to responsible trust is acceptance. Acceptance is taking from God’s hand absolutely anything He gives, looking into His face in trust and thanksgiving, knowing that the confinement of the hedge we’re in is good and for His glory.
CHARLES SWINDOLL………………..Perfect Trust
********************
“Humility is a result of getting honest with ourselves.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page35
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “On the path to spiritual maturity, even temptation becomes a stepping-stone rather than a stumbling block when you realize that it is just as much an occasion to do the right thing, as it is to do the wrong.” RICK WARREN
“For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does; comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
1 JOHN 2:16-17 NIV
It’s about choices. At least in my spiritual journey, it is the choices that I make each day, that determine what kind of day I will have. Because of the grace of a loving God, I have been given the gift of the freedom to make my own decisions. My gift back to God is how I live each day. Some days the gift that I bring back to God is not as wonderful as it could be. Other days I am pleased with my gift to God, but always realize that I could have given more. Mercy has been extended to me each day, and with each new awakening I have the ability to choose my gift to God. For years my life was based on having the freedom to make decisions, but never thinking of the consequences. Today by faith in Jesus Christ, the finished work of the Cross, and the grace of a loving God, I also have the freedom to choose. Today I choose Love. The reason? The essence of the “gift of freedom to choose,” given to me, is of a greater Love. May my gift today be pleasing to God and man alike. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………………JRE
“Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV
********************
I CHOOSE LOVE…..
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I CHOOSE JOY……
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical….the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as any less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I CHOOSE PEACE….
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
MAX LUCADO………………..When God Whispers Your Name
******************** “
As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those that tear us apart, all will be well.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 57
Freedom to choose
Thought for the day: “On the path to spiritual maturity, even temptation becomes a stepping-stone rather than a stumbling block when you realize that it is just as much an occasion to do the right thing, as it is to do the wrong.” RICK WARREN
“For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does; comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
1 JOHN 2:16-17 NIV
It’s about choices. At least in my spiritual journey, it is the choices that I make each day, that determine what kind of day I will have. Because of the grace of a loving God, I have been given the gift of the freedom to make my own decisions. My gift back to God is how I live each day. Some days the gift that I bring back to God is not as wonderful as it could be. Other days I am pleased with my gift to God, but always realize that I could have given more. Mercy has been extended to me each day, and with each new awakening I have the ability to choose my gift to God. For years my life was based on having the freedom to make decisions, but never thinking of the consequences. Today by faith in Jesus Christ, the finished work of the Cross, and the grace of a loving God, I also have the freedom to choose. Today I choose Love. The reason? The essence of the “gift of freedom to choose,” given to me, is of a greater Love. May my gift today be pleasing to God and man alike. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………………JRE
“Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV
********************
I CHOOSE LOVE…..
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I CHOOSE JOY……
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical….the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as any less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I CHOOSE PEACE….
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
MAX LUCADO………………..When God Whispers Your Name
******************** “
As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those that tear us apart, all will be well.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 57
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
Proverbs 24:26 NIV
Have you ever asked a question thinking you already knew the answer only to find that you have deceived yourself? As I get older I am learning not to ask questions if I don’t have “a need to know” (military term). Honest answers are good and should be the only words we seek to hear, but often we don’t need to know everything. The name of the writer of this proverb is not given in Scripture, it just says that it is a saying of the wise. Who ever came up with “an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips,” did not say that a kiss on the lips is always enjoyable. It does not say that a kiss on the lips is always wanted, or even asked for. One thing about a kiss on the lips, it’s “in your face.” You don’t receive it and not know it. I can remember when I was a little kid and some lady would come up to me and say, “isn’t he cute,” and plant a big wet red kiss on me, and then have to take out her handkerchief to wipe the lipstick off. I did not like that. There have been times also when after having been kissed I would turn and wipe my lips. Isn’t that sad? These were acts done out of compassion and love, but still bothered me some. I remember when I first came into AA, that I had some questions about myself and the answers were like getting a “big wet red lipstick kiss on the lips.” The answer was right in my face. “I”…….. could not help myself. My own will power and best thinking had defeated me spiritually, the answer was that I needed to trust God, clean house, and help others. I am grateful for those who gave me honest answers and stood on the Promises of God as evidence. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………JRE
Share this with me; this is an honest answer in my life:
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
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Hebrews 4:12, 13. For the word of God: The reason given for one’s careful scrutiny of his life involves the reality that God is intently scrutinizing it. His word is quick (living). This word is first in the Greek and is the emphasis. God’s word is not old or archaic; it is alive. It is not inept or inactive; it is powerful (active). It reaches into the inner secrets of man’s mind to discern even his thoughts and intents. Likewise, God’s eye sees man as though he were naked, unable to hide behind excuse or pretense.
NELSON KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE, page 1919
********************
BILL W. on sponsorship from the AA Grapevine dated August, 1961:
“If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted. After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way.”
An honest answer
Thought for the day: “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
Proverbs 24:26 NIV
Have you ever asked a question thinking you already knew the answer only to find that you have deceived yourself? As I get older I am learning not to ask questions if I don’t have “a need to know” (military term). Honest answers are good and should be the only words we seek to hear, but often we don’t need to know everything. The name of the writer of this proverb is not given in Scripture, it just says that it is a saying of the wise. Who ever came up with “an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips,” did not say that a kiss on the lips is always enjoyable. It does not say that a kiss on the lips is always wanted, or even asked for. One thing about a kiss on the lips, it’s “in your face.” You don’t receive it and not know it. I can remember when I was a little kid and some lady would come up to me and say, “isn’t he cute,” and plant a big wet red kiss on me, and then have to take out her handkerchief to wipe the lipstick off. I did not like that. There have been times also when after having been kissed I would turn and wipe my lips. Isn’t that sad? These were acts done out of compassion and love, but still bothered me some. I remember when I first came into AA, that I had some questions about myself and the answers were like getting a “big wet red lipstick kiss on the lips.” The answer was right in my face. “I”…….. could not help myself. My own will power and best thinking had defeated me spiritually, the answer was that I needed to trust God, clean house, and help others. I am grateful for those who gave me honest answers and stood on the Promises of God as evidence. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………JRE
Share this with me; this is an honest answer in my life:
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
********************
Hebrews 4:12, 13. For the word of God: The reason given for one’s careful scrutiny of his life involves the reality that God is intently scrutinizing it. His word is quick (living). This word is first in the Greek and is the emphasis. God’s word is not old or archaic; it is alive. It is not inept or inactive; it is powerful (active). It reaches into the inner secrets of man’s mind to discern even his thoughts and intents. Likewise, God’s eye sees man as though he were naked, unable to hide behind excuse or pretense.
NELSON KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE, page 1919
********************
BILL W. on sponsorship from the AA Grapevine dated August, 1961:
“If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted. After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way.”
Monday, August 23, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Words of Jesus:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NKJV
As I look at the quote from Abraham Lincoln I seem to get mixed up on what exactly he was trying to get across. I find two ways to look at the statement. At first I saw it as if I had a heartache, because of something someone had done to me, some offense of some kind, and when I forgave them and forgot about it, it would ease their heartache. That way of looking at it would have been all about forgiveness. As I studied the quote I found what I thought was to be another way of looking at it. A way that was greater and came from the idea of “love one for another.” If you love someone, and you see that they have a heartache, you will share in their burden. You will share in their hurt feelings with them. If you love them you can’t help but have a heartache yourself. As we reach out to someone we love with compassion and share their burdens we “ease” their heartache. In doing so we “ease” our own heartache. I am reminded of the words of an old Rhythm and Blues song written by Isaac Hayes, “When something is wrong with my baby, something is wrong with me.” How true this is for us Christians. We are all part of the same body and when one feels pain we should all feel pain. Through our love for one another we should “ease” each other’s heartaches. Thanks for letting me share today, God still does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
********************
GOD IS LOVE
“He who does not love does no know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
“God is love” is not an old saw, it is biblical affirmation. It does not depersonalize the Almighty by replacing Him with an idea or an emotion. To the contrary, it defines His nature.
“God is love” says that anything and everything that answers to the finest qualities of true love flows from Him. He is the source of all real love. He is also the judge of all that would call itself love and by its counterfeit seek to deceive minds and destroy hearts.
What is His call to us? “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).
JACK HAYFORD…………………..Prayer Is Invading the Impossible
********************
“There is a special feeling for addicts when they discover that there are other people who share their difficulties, past and present.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 53
When something is wrong........
Thought for the day: “To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Words of Jesus:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NKJV
As I look at the quote from Abraham Lincoln I seem to get mixed up on what exactly he was trying to get across. I find two ways to look at the statement. At first I saw it as if I had a heartache, because of something someone had done to me, some offense of some kind, and when I forgave them and forgot about it, it would ease their heartache. That way of looking at it would have been all about forgiveness. As I studied the quote I found what I thought was to be another way of looking at it. A way that was greater and came from the idea of “love one for another.” If you love someone, and you see that they have a heartache, you will share in their burden. You will share in their hurt feelings with them. If you love them you can’t help but have a heartache yourself. As we reach out to someone we love with compassion and share their burdens we “ease” their heartache. In doing so we “ease” our own heartache. I am reminded of the words of an old Rhythm and Blues song written by Isaac Hayes, “When something is wrong with my baby, something is wrong with me.” How true this is for us Christians. We are all part of the same body and when one feels pain we should all feel pain. Through our love for one another we should “ease” each other’s heartaches. Thanks for letting me share today, God still does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
********************
GOD IS LOVE
“He who does not love does no know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
“God is love” is not an old saw, it is biblical affirmation. It does not depersonalize the Almighty by replacing Him with an idea or an emotion. To the contrary, it defines His nature.
“God is love” says that anything and everything that answers to the finest qualities of true love flows from Him. He is the source of all real love. He is also the judge of all that would call itself love and by its counterfeit seek to deceive minds and destroy hearts.
What is His call to us? “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).
JACK HAYFORD…………………..Prayer Is Invading the Impossible
********************
“There is a special feeling for addicts when they discover that there are other people who share their difficulties, past and present.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 53
Friday, August 20, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Be great in act, as you have been in though. Suit the action to the word, and the word to the action.” WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers lonely, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” James 1:22-24 NKJV
When I look in the mirror at myself I see a man with brown hair. The truth is that I have turned gray. I have been gray headed for ten years and started turning gray twenty years ago, but when I look in the mirror and do not look only at the color of my hair, I think of myself as still having brown hair. Natural changes in our lives are like that when we change over a long period of time. We know it’s happening, and then one day, years later we look and we have arrived. I was in jail in 1983 and was reading the Bible for the first time. Within three months I had read it through almost two complete times. I believed in Jesus Christ, and had accepted Him into my life, but other than that, not much else spiritually was going on. I was like a man who looks at himself in the mirror and then immediately walks away and forgets what he looked like. Many, many years I looked in the mirror and would get a glimpse of myself and would walk away and forget what I saw. This was because it was painful to face the reality of who I really was. Only when I allowed others to get close enough to me to hold the mirror, was I able to focus and remember what kind of man I am. Today I am grateful for those in my life who I respect and desire to be like. I am grateful that they take the time to hold the mirror that I may see myself, and them also. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
********************
“We can believe that somehow the cry of the human soul is never unheard by God. It may be that God hears the cry, even if we fail to notice God’s response to it. The human cry for help must always evoke a response of some sort from God. It may be that our failure to discern properly keeps us unaware of the response. But one thing we can believe is that the grace of God is available for every human being who sincerely calls for help. Many changed lives are living proofs of this fact.”
HAZELDEN………….Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“A lot happens in one day, both negative and positive. If we do not take time to appreciate both, perhaps we will miss something that will help us grow.” Narcotics Anonymous………….Just for Today
Holding the mirror
Thought for the day: “Be great in act, as you have been in though. Suit the action to the word, and the word to the action.” WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers lonely, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” James 1:22-24 NKJV
When I look in the mirror at myself I see a man with brown hair. The truth is that I have turned gray. I have been gray headed for ten years and started turning gray twenty years ago, but when I look in the mirror and do not look only at the color of my hair, I think of myself as still having brown hair. Natural changes in our lives are like that when we change over a long period of time. We know it’s happening, and then one day, years later we look and we have arrived. I was in jail in 1983 and was reading the Bible for the first time. Within three months I had read it through almost two complete times. I believed in Jesus Christ, and had accepted Him into my life, but other than that, not much else spiritually was going on. I was like a man who looks at himself in the mirror and then immediately walks away and forgets what he looked like. Many, many years I looked in the mirror and would get a glimpse of myself and would walk away and forget what I saw. This was because it was painful to face the reality of who I really was. Only when I allowed others to get close enough to me to hold the mirror, was I able to focus and remember what kind of man I am. Today I am grateful for those in my life who I respect and desire to be like. I am grateful that they take the time to hold the mirror that I may see myself, and them also. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
********************
“We can believe that somehow the cry of the human soul is never unheard by God. It may be that God hears the cry, even if we fail to notice God’s response to it. The human cry for help must always evoke a response of some sort from God. It may be that our failure to discern properly keeps us unaware of the response. But one thing we can believe is that the grace of God is available for every human being who sincerely calls for help. Many changed lives are living proofs of this fact.”
HAZELDEN………….Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“A lot happens in one day, both negative and positive. If we do not take time to appreciate both, perhaps we will miss something that will help us grow.” Narcotics Anonymous………….Just for Today
Thursday, August 19, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.”
PSALM 18:32-33 NIV
“It is God who arms me with strength.” My physical strength I get daily from nourishment and exercise, but the real strength that keeps me going each day comes from God, and is a river of life. The spiritual force that gives me strength to endure, as I look around at the chaos and suffering in the world. I call this force Joy. I’m not talking about happiness that giggles, or some pleasure that sooths the mind like a good book or a movie. Joy is a spiritual force that comes up from inside when I realize that God has not left me alone. Joy is a spiritual force that I feel when I realize that God is for me and not against me. Joy is a spiritual force that gives me strength when, I am encouraged by brothers and sisters who share their Joy. Joy is like a dynamo that keeps generating spiritual strength even when I am down and tired. Joy is like a gyro that keeps me balanced when my footing is not sure, and keeps my feet planted, like the deer that live in the mountains. I am grateful that God is for me and renews my strength daily, with the Joy that I have in knowing my Creator, one to one. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” NEHEMIAH 8:10 NIV
********************
CONFIDANT OF THE CREATOR
“The LORD confides in those who fear him.” PSALM 25:14 NIV
Imagine being the confidant of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, in whom lie all of life’s secrets! Think of being able to know the will of Him who “does great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37:5).
The primary part of God’s master plan for the ages is an open book to those who enter into covenant with Him, for that plan is Jesus! You don’t have to be initiated into a secret society to relate to the God of the Bible. The Christian life is not mystical or magical; it is lived and expressed in the Light.
JACK HAYFORD………..The Heart of Praise
********************
“Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one’s old life as a condition for finding a new one. A.A. COMES OF AGE, page 46
Dynamo Gyro
Thought for the day: “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.”
PSALM 18:32-33 NIV
“It is God who arms me with strength.” My physical strength I get daily from nourishment and exercise, but the real strength that keeps me going each day comes from God, and is a river of life. The spiritual force that gives me strength to endure, as I look around at the chaos and suffering in the world. I call this force Joy. I’m not talking about happiness that giggles, or some pleasure that sooths the mind like a good book or a movie. Joy is a spiritual force that comes up from inside when I realize that God has not left me alone. Joy is a spiritual force that I feel when I realize that God is for me and not against me. Joy is a spiritual force that gives me strength when, I am encouraged by brothers and sisters who share their Joy. Joy is like a dynamo that keeps generating spiritual strength even when I am down and tired. Joy is like a gyro that keeps me balanced when my footing is not sure, and keeps my feet planted, like the deer that live in the mountains. I am grateful that God is for me and renews my strength daily, with the Joy that I have in knowing my Creator, one to one. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” NEHEMIAH 8:10 NIV
********************
CONFIDANT OF THE CREATOR
“The LORD confides in those who fear him.” PSALM 25:14 NIV
Imagine being the confidant of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, in whom lie all of life’s secrets! Think of being able to know the will of Him who “does great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37:5).
The primary part of God’s master plan for the ages is an open book to those who enter into covenant with Him, for that plan is Jesus! You don’t have to be initiated into a secret society to relate to the God of the Bible. The Christian life is not mystical or magical; it is lived and expressed in the Light.
JACK HAYFORD………..The Heart of Praise
********************
“Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one’s old life as a condition for finding a new one. A.A. COMES OF AGE, page 46
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “We think temptation lies around us, but God says it begins within us.” Rick Warren
Words of Jesus found in Mark 7:21-23NKJV.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
It’s an inside job. It all begins in the heart. I thought if I could just remove from my immediate presence, the substances that were causing decay of my body and mind, and prohibiting spiritual growth, that I could somehow become a better person. Nothing changed, I was still a drunken addict, I just wasn’t using. Eventually with enough self-examination I was able to see that the problem was not the drugs but my heart. My heart had created a way of thinking that didn’t give a hoot for anything except for what made me feel better. When I started working on my heart and began to see the little “feel better seed” that always grew into a thorn tree come to life, I was able to nip it in the bud. Today I am grateful to know that the problem was not drugs and alcohol, but my heart. With the right spiritual attitude I can be around someone drinking. I don’t like it much, but I am not tempted, because I realize that the problem is not “out there,” but “in here.” Here is another quote from Rick Warren which I thought was very good, “Lust is a choice to commit in your mind what you’d like to do with your body.” We make the choice in our mind, but the seed germinates in the heart. Thanks for letting me share.
God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
********************
“Self-righteousness, the very thing that we had contemptuously condemned in others, was our own besetting evil. This phony form of respectability was our undoing, so far as faith was concerned. But finally driven to A.A., we learned better.”
BILL W. ……….Twelve and Twelve, page 30
********************
HONEST TO THE CORE
“Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye.”
Proverbs 7:2
What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely His…..completely……..
God is not looking for magnificent specimens of humanity. He’s looking for deeply spiritual, genuinely humble, honest-to-the-core servants who have integrity.
Today, we live in a world that says, in many ways, “If you just make a good impression, that’s all that matters.” But you will never be a man or woman of God if that’s your philosophy. Never. You cannot fake it with the Almighty. He is not impressed with externals. He always focuses on the inward qualities…..those that take time and discipline to cultivate.
CHARLES SWINDOLL…………David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Feel better seeds
Thought for the day: “We think temptation lies around us, but God says it begins within us.” Rick Warren
Words of Jesus found in Mark 7:21-23NKJV.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
It’s an inside job. It all begins in the heart. I thought if I could just remove from my immediate presence, the substances that were causing decay of my body and mind, and prohibiting spiritual growth, that I could somehow become a better person. Nothing changed, I was still a drunken addict, I just wasn’t using. Eventually with enough self-examination I was able to see that the problem was not the drugs but my heart. My heart had created a way of thinking that didn’t give a hoot for anything except for what made me feel better. When I started working on my heart and began to see the little “feel better seed” that always grew into a thorn tree come to life, I was able to nip it in the bud. Today I am grateful to know that the problem was not drugs and alcohol, but my heart. With the right spiritual attitude I can be around someone drinking. I don’t like it much, but I am not tempted, because I realize that the problem is not “out there,” but “in here.” Here is another quote from Rick Warren which I thought was very good, “Lust is a choice to commit in your mind what you’d like to do with your body.” We make the choice in our mind, but the seed germinates in the heart. Thanks for letting me share.
God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
********************
“Self-righteousness, the very thing that we had contemptuously condemned in others, was our own besetting evil. This phony form of respectability was our undoing, so far as faith was concerned. But finally driven to A.A., we learned better.”
BILL W. ……….Twelve and Twelve, page 30
********************
HONEST TO THE CORE
“Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye.”
Proverbs 7:2
What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely His…..completely……..
God is not looking for magnificent specimens of humanity. He’s looking for deeply spiritual, genuinely humble, honest-to-the-core servants who have integrity.
Today, we live in a world that says, in many ways, “If you just make a good impression, that’s all that matters.” But you will never be a man or woman of God if that’s your philosophy. Never. You cannot fake it with the Almighty. He is not impressed with externals. He always focuses on the inward qualities…..those that take time and discipline to cultivate.
CHARLES SWINDOLL…………David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “In the mountains of truth you never climb in vain.”
Nietzche
For years I tried to walk around the “mountains of truth.” I thought there was an easier softer way to get to where I wanted to be. What I wanted in life was peace and serenity, health and prosperity, friends and fellowship. Everything I truly wanted was out there, but this mountain stood in the way and had to be climbed. When you see mountains in the distance they appear to be closer than they really are. For years I walked on the path of self-centeredness without ever reaching the mountains. Along the path I found little short cuts that I thought would lead to peace and serenity. There was one called booze, another called psychedelics, one called amphetamines, and another called lust and greed. Taking these short cuts was fueled by the fear that I would never make it to the mountains. They always ended up in dead ends and I had to come back to the main path to continue on my journey. After years of useless wanderings, I gave up. At this point God sent fellow travelers along to lift me up and to walk with me. They were there to help me see the direction I needed to take and to help me avoid the dead end short cuts. Today I am in the mountains. I have a valley every now and then to cross, but with each valley I am able to still climb higher yet. The mountain I am learning to overcome is myself and I need you to help me by holding the mirror so that I can see myself in truth. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
I am reminded of the Samaritan woman who Jesus met at the well. He asked her to draw Him some water, and then said to her that if she “knew the gift of God” that she would have asked Him and He would have given her “living water,” a “spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus then told her of her own life. The dialog continues, share this with me……..JRE
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know, we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshiper will worship in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” JOHN 4:19-24 NIV
********************
“We recognize our spiritual growth when we are able to reach out and help others.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 56
Mountain climbing
Thought for the day: “In the mountains of truth you never climb in vain.”
Nietzche
For years I tried to walk around the “mountains of truth.” I thought there was an easier softer way to get to where I wanted to be. What I wanted in life was peace and serenity, health and prosperity, friends and fellowship. Everything I truly wanted was out there, but this mountain stood in the way and had to be climbed. When you see mountains in the distance they appear to be closer than they really are. For years I walked on the path of self-centeredness without ever reaching the mountains. Along the path I found little short cuts that I thought would lead to peace and serenity. There was one called booze, another called psychedelics, one called amphetamines, and another called lust and greed. Taking these short cuts was fueled by the fear that I would never make it to the mountains. They always ended up in dead ends and I had to come back to the main path to continue on my journey. After years of useless wanderings, I gave up. At this point God sent fellow travelers along to lift me up and to walk with me. They were there to help me see the direction I needed to take and to help me avoid the dead end short cuts. Today I am in the mountains. I have a valley every now and then to cross, but with each valley I am able to still climb higher yet. The mountain I am learning to overcome is myself and I need you to help me by holding the mirror so that I can see myself in truth. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
I am reminded of the Samaritan woman who Jesus met at the well. He asked her to draw Him some water, and then said to her that if she “knew the gift of God” that she would have asked Him and He would have given her “living water,” a “spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus then told her of her own life. The dialog continues, share this with me……..JRE
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know, we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshiper will worship in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” JOHN 4:19-24 NIV
********************
“We recognize our spiritual growth when we are able to reach out and help others.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 56
Monday, August 16, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Because we cannot see Christ we cannot express our love to Him; but our neighbors we can always see, and we do to them what, if we saw Him, we would like to do to Christ.” MOTHER TERESA
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more ungodly.”
2 Timothy 2:15-16 NIV
Timothy was the apostle Paul’s son in the faith. As far as I can tell the apostle did not write Timothy another letter after this one. He was executed just a short time after this writing. These words come from death row, and I am sure that Timothy cherished each sentence. “To present yourself to God as one approved.” What an order. “A workman who does not need to be ashamed.” Having done the best job you could possibly do. These Scriptures are about presence, how we present ourselves to God. Paul did not say to be perfect in presenting yourself to God. But to “Do your best.” I am so grateful that when the Holy Spirit reminds me of coming up short, and I talk to God about it, grace covers me and my presence is approved. Now this thing of chatter is another story. This last week I have been made aware of chatter in my own life. When my emotions seem to be extreme either feeling real good, or somewhat down, I find myself chattering. It’s almost like if at times my mouth and tongue do their own thing, regardless of what my spirit wants. Two of the most difficult aspects of my walk are controlling my chatterbox, and this thing we call being humble. If it were not for the grace of God I would not have room to grow and learn. God does for me what I can not do for myself…………..JRE
*************************
A.A. Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
Step 7 embodies God’s mysterious power to rebuild our very character and leads us toward the miracle of transformation and conversion.
Alcoholics Anonymous (page 76) offers the following prayer for seventh step conversions: “My creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”
What is entailed in this conversion? We admit and yield every character distortion to God’s transforming touch. We open our every relationship to His guidance. We surrender to His care and discipline all addictive and compulsive behavior patterns. We ask without restraint that He be the God of our lives.
If we approach this act of repentance with a sincere heart, we emerge with a refreshed spirit that comes “from the presence of the Lord.”
NELSON SERENITY BIBLE, page 169
Chatter
Thought for the day: “Because we cannot see Christ we cannot express our love to Him; but our neighbors we can always see, and we do to them what, if we saw Him, we would like to do to Christ.” MOTHER TERESA
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more ungodly.”
2 Timothy 2:15-16 NIV
Timothy was the apostle Paul’s son in the faith. As far as I can tell the apostle did not write Timothy another letter after this one. He was executed just a short time after this writing. These words come from death row, and I am sure that Timothy cherished each sentence. “To present yourself to God as one approved.” What an order. “A workman who does not need to be ashamed.” Having done the best job you could possibly do. These Scriptures are about presence, how we present ourselves to God. Paul did not say to be perfect in presenting yourself to God. But to “Do your best.” I am so grateful that when the Holy Spirit reminds me of coming up short, and I talk to God about it, grace covers me and my presence is approved. Now this thing of chatter is another story. This last week I have been made aware of chatter in my own life. When my emotions seem to be extreme either feeling real good, or somewhat down, I find myself chattering. It’s almost like if at times my mouth and tongue do their own thing, regardless of what my spirit wants. Two of the most difficult aspects of my walk are controlling my chatterbox, and this thing we call being humble. If it were not for the grace of God I would not have room to grow and learn. God does for me what I can not do for myself…………..JRE
*************************
A.A. Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
Step 7 embodies God’s mysterious power to rebuild our very character and leads us toward the miracle of transformation and conversion.
Alcoholics Anonymous (page 76) offers the following prayer for seventh step conversions: “My creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”
What is entailed in this conversion? We admit and yield every character distortion to God’s transforming touch. We open our every relationship to His guidance. We surrender to His care and discipline all addictive and compulsive behavior patterns. We ask without restraint that He be the God of our lives.
If we approach this act of repentance with a sincere heart, we emerge with a refreshed spirit that comes “from the presence of the Lord.”
NELSON SERENITY BIBLE, page 169
Friday, August 13, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Hatred is often fear’s disguise.” Anonymous
In the ninth chapter of the book of John, Jesus was walking along and He saw a man who was blind from birth. His disciples ask Him some questions about the man’s condition and then Jesus spit on the ground and made some mud and anointed the mans eyes with it. He then told him to go and wash it off. The man then went home seeing. The Pharisees, who were of the ruling class of the people, had a fit about Jesus making mud, which was considered work, and healing the man on the Sabbath. What strikes me in reading this chapter is how there are those people who have been touched in some way by Jesus and their lives have been changed forever. And then there are those who stand from a distance and do not allow themselves to be touched. I have been in both groups. There was a time in my life when I would run any other way except to Jesus. And Jesus was everywhere I went, but I avoided allowing myself to be touched. I would listen a little, but don’t get close enough to touch me. Finally when running only on self-will, I ran myself into physical, mental, and spiritual bankruptcy. Being broke down I had nowhere to run, and someone brought Jesus to me. I was touched, and my eyes were opened. I had been spiritually blind from birth and now I could see. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
Share this with me: John 9:13-38 NIV
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed and now I see.”
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.
Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him?” It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it now he can see?”
“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That is why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but for this fellow, we don’t know where he comes from.”
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Jesus heard they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
********************
When they threw the man out…….Jesus went and found him. If you’re down and out, Jesus is looking for you. Let yourself be found and feel his touch. Thanks for letting me share…………….JRE
Twas blind
Thought for the day: “Hatred is often fear’s disguise.” Anonymous
In the ninth chapter of the book of John, Jesus was walking along and He saw a man who was blind from birth. His disciples ask Him some questions about the man’s condition and then Jesus spit on the ground and made some mud and anointed the mans eyes with it. He then told him to go and wash it off. The man then went home seeing. The Pharisees, who were of the ruling class of the people, had a fit about Jesus making mud, which was considered work, and healing the man on the Sabbath. What strikes me in reading this chapter is how there are those people who have been touched in some way by Jesus and their lives have been changed forever. And then there are those who stand from a distance and do not allow themselves to be touched. I have been in both groups. There was a time in my life when I would run any other way except to Jesus. And Jesus was everywhere I went, but I avoided allowing myself to be touched. I would listen a little, but don’t get close enough to touch me. Finally when running only on self-will, I ran myself into physical, mental, and spiritual bankruptcy. Being broke down I had nowhere to run, and someone brought Jesus to me. I was touched, and my eyes were opened. I had been spiritually blind from birth and now I could see. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
Share this with me: John 9:13-38 NIV
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed and now I see.”
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.
Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him?” It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it now he can see?”
“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That is why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but for this fellow, we don’t know where he comes from.”
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Jesus heard they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
********************
When they threw the man out…….Jesus went and found him. If you’re down and out, Jesus is looking for you. Let yourself be found and feel his touch. Thanks for letting me share…………….JRE
Thursday, August 12, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found in it the key to your own heart, your own happiness and your own duty.” WOODROW WILSON
Words of Jesus spoken at the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 7:1-4NIV.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in you brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”
Woodrow Wilson said that “when you read the Bible………..you will have found the key to your own heart.” How true this was for me. The first time I read the Bible as a believer, the Sermon on the Mount held the key to my own heart. The Scripture of judging others especially hit home. I have been so guilty of seeing the character defects in other people while at the same time I have the same thing going on in my life. It’s kind of like when I look through my own eyes I have on a pair of glasses that the lens are made up of my own defects. They seem to naturally magnify the same defects in others. After the Word of God takes the key and opens my heart, if I listen with my inner ears, I can hear the rattle of my own defects as I make a judgment on someone else. Jesus said, “DO NOT JUDGE.” I find this to be very difficult, but I am learning that if I take the key to my heart daily, and keep an open mind, I can grow. That’s all, I don’t become perfect, I just grow, and that’s better than how I used to live life. I am so grateful for the Key’s of Life that have been laid at my feet, I only need to pick them up and use them. God does for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
*********************
DAILY CONFESSION
“If we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 JOHN 1:9 TLB
We must offer daily confession, both for known sins that blot a day’s activities and for sins we may have overlooked.
When we do this, we are assured that through the blood of Christ we have instant and complete forgiveness.
Every aspect of our lives, regardless of what the world says is right or acceptable, needs to be brought under the searching eyes of the Lord.
JACK HAYFORD…………….Our Daily Walk
*********************
“By surrendering control, we gain a far greater power.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 43
Heart Key
Thought for the day: “When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found in it the key to your own heart, your own happiness and your own duty.” WOODROW WILSON
Words of Jesus spoken at the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 7:1-4NIV.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in you brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”
Woodrow Wilson said that “when you read the Bible………..you will have found the key to your own heart.” How true this was for me. The first time I read the Bible as a believer, the Sermon on the Mount held the key to my own heart. The Scripture of judging others especially hit home. I have been so guilty of seeing the character defects in other people while at the same time I have the same thing going on in my life. It’s kind of like when I look through my own eyes I have on a pair of glasses that the lens are made up of my own defects. They seem to naturally magnify the same defects in others. After the Word of God takes the key and opens my heart, if I listen with my inner ears, I can hear the rattle of my own defects as I make a judgment on someone else. Jesus said, “DO NOT JUDGE.” I find this to be very difficult, but I am learning that if I take the key to my heart daily, and keep an open mind, I can grow. That’s all, I don’t become perfect, I just grow, and that’s better than how I used to live life. I am so grateful for the Key’s of Life that have been laid at my feet, I only need to pick them up and use them. God does for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
*********************
DAILY CONFESSION
“If we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 JOHN 1:9 TLB
We must offer daily confession, both for known sins that blot a day’s activities and for sins we may have overlooked.
When we do this, we are assured that through the blood of Christ we have instant and complete forgiveness.
Every aspect of our lives, regardless of what the world says is right or acceptable, needs to be brought under the searching eyes of the Lord.
JACK HAYFORD…………….Our Daily Walk
*********************
“By surrendering control, we gain a far greater power.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 43
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “True fortitude I take to be the quiet possession of a man’s self, and an undisturbed doing of his duty, whatever evil besets or danger lies in his way.” JOHN LOCKE
************************
Words of Jesus, found in John 6:63 NKJV.
“It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Today my daily reading has brought me to the book of John. My thoughts are on having personal fortitude and living a life in the Spirit. For me to live a life in the Spirit, I must first keep my inner-self tuned. Like an instrument I must tune each day to the sounds of the inner voice, the still small voice of the Spirit. There are days when I am rushed and don’t get around to a time of meditation, prayer and devotion. These days always seem to start off bumpy, and with less serenity then the days where I make the time to “check in,” and listen to see if I am tuned. I am three parts: the spirit man; the physical man; and the soul man, which is made up of the mind, emotions, and will. The spirit man gives life to who I am, therefore each day I try and feed this part of my being. While feeding the spirit man on the Word of God, I also try and listen to see if I am “tuned up.” There are days when I prefer to be self-centered and tune to myself. These are the days that I am always out of harmony with others. These are the times when the teacher would say, “Jerry does not play well with others.” My prayer today is to be in tune with the Spirit and in harmony with others. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………………..JRE
************************
THE HIGHEST CALLING
“Who ever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
LUKE 14:33
When the Standard Oil Company was looking for a representative in the Far East, they approached a missionary and offered him $10.000. He turned down the offer. They raised it to $25,000, and he turned it down again. They raised it to $50,000, and he rejected it once more.
“What’s wrong?” They asked.
He replied, “Your price is all right, but your job is too small.” God had called him to be a missionary, and anything else was not worthy of his consideration.
What should we be for Jesus Christ? Most Christians are not called to be missionaries, or preachers, but they are called to follow Christ. They are called to be faithful wherever He puts them, in the school, in the home, in the factory or office, in the neighborhood and nation. They are called to be controlled by the Spirit and to bear the fruit of the Spirit. They are called to be Christ’s ambassadors wherever God puts them.
Nothing less than God’s call is worthy of our consideration. BILLY GRAHAM
Tuned up
Thought for the day: “True fortitude I take to be the quiet possession of a man’s self, and an undisturbed doing of his duty, whatever evil besets or danger lies in his way.” JOHN LOCKE
************************
Words of Jesus, found in John 6:63 NKJV.
“It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Today my daily reading has brought me to the book of John. My thoughts are on having personal fortitude and living a life in the Spirit. For me to live a life in the Spirit, I must first keep my inner-self tuned. Like an instrument I must tune each day to the sounds of the inner voice, the still small voice of the Spirit. There are days when I am rushed and don’t get around to a time of meditation, prayer and devotion. These days always seem to start off bumpy, and with less serenity then the days where I make the time to “check in,” and listen to see if I am tuned. I am three parts: the spirit man; the physical man; and the soul man, which is made up of the mind, emotions, and will. The spirit man gives life to who I am, therefore each day I try and feed this part of my being. While feeding the spirit man on the Word of God, I also try and listen to see if I am “tuned up.” There are days when I prefer to be self-centered and tune to myself. These are the days that I am always out of harmony with others. These are the times when the teacher would say, “Jerry does not play well with others.” My prayer today is to be in tune with the Spirit and in harmony with others. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………………..JRE
************************
THE HIGHEST CALLING
“Who ever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
LUKE 14:33
When the Standard Oil Company was looking for a representative in the Far East, they approached a missionary and offered him $10.000. He turned down the offer. They raised it to $25,000, and he turned it down again. They raised it to $50,000, and he rejected it once more.
“What’s wrong?” They asked.
He replied, “Your price is all right, but your job is too small.” God had called him to be a missionary, and anything else was not worthy of his consideration.
What should we be for Jesus Christ? Most Christians are not called to be missionaries, or preachers, but they are called to follow Christ. They are called to be faithful wherever He puts them, in the school, in the home, in the factory or office, in the neighborhood and nation. They are called to be controlled by the Spirit and to bear the fruit of the Spirit. They are called to be Christ’s ambassadors wherever God puts them.
Nothing less than God’s call is worthy of our consideration. BILLY GRAHAM
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Even if your on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” WILL ROGERS
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
HEBREWS 12:1-3 NIV
The author of the book of Hebrews writes about running a race, and throwing off everything that hinders us. And also the sin that so easily entangles. If you’re in a race you don’t need a bunch of stuff weighting you down. And you don’t need things that will get tangled up. I went to Vietnam in 1967 with the U.S. Army. I was a member of a recon platoon and I remember some of the first patrols I went on, I carried all kinds of stuff. Things I thought I might possibly need. As time went by I learned that what was important was to be able to travel light so I could move faster, and to keep things taped up so they didn’t get tangled in the bushes. There was a vine over there that had thorns on it that looked like fish hooks. We called them “wait a minute bushes.” We soon learned to avoid them because it was difficult to get loose from them. Today in my new life as a born again Christian, I must learn also to throw off things that hinder. Some things that I have found to hinder me are: worry, jealousy, envy, resentments, anger, gluttony, lust, and any kind of self-centered thinking. For me these can be classified as either sin, or leading to sin in my life, which entangles and slows my spiritual progress. The “wait a minute bushes” of my present walk, or patrol, or race. I am grateful for the living Word of God, which reminds me daily to lighten up, and to “consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that I will not grow weary and lose heart.” God is doing for me what I could not do for myself. …………………….JRE
“We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60
************************
Each one of us is a child of God, and as such, we are full of the promise of spiritual growth. A young person is like the springtime of the year. The full time of the fruit is not yet, but there is promise of the blossom. There is a spark of the Divine in every one of us. Each has some of God’s spirit that can be developed by spiritual exercise. Know that your life is full of glad promise. Such blessings can be yours, such joys, such wonders, as long as you develop in the sunshine of God’s love. HAZELDEN………………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Wait a minute bushes
Thought for the day: “Even if your on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” WILL ROGERS
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
HEBREWS 12:1-3 NIV
The author of the book of Hebrews writes about running a race, and throwing off everything that hinders us. And also the sin that so easily entangles. If you’re in a race you don’t need a bunch of stuff weighting you down. And you don’t need things that will get tangled up. I went to Vietnam in 1967 with the U.S. Army. I was a member of a recon platoon and I remember some of the first patrols I went on, I carried all kinds of stuff. Things I thought I might possibly need. As time went by I learned that what was important was to be able to travel light so I could move faster, and to keep things taped up so they didn’t get tangled in the bushes. There was a vine over there that had thorns on it that looked like fish hooks. We called them “wait a minute bushes.” We soon learned to avoid them because it was difficult to get loose from them. Today in my new life as a born again Christian, I must learn also to throw off things that hinder. Some things that I have found to hinder me are: worry, jealousy, envy, resentments, anger, gluttony, lust, and any kind of self-centered thinking. For me these can be classified as either sin, or leading to sin in my life, which entangles and slows my spiritual progress. The “wait a minute bushes” of my present walk, or patrol, or race. I am grateful for the living Word of God, which reminds me daily to lighten up, and to “consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that I will not grow weary and lose heart.” God is doing for me what I could not do for myself. …………………….JRE
“We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60
************************
Each one of us is a child of God, and as such, we are full of the promise of spiritual growth. A young person is like the springtime of the year. The full time of the fruit is not yet, but there is promise of the blossom. There is a spark of the Divine in every one of us. Each has some of God’s spirit that can be developed by spiritual exercise. Know that your life is full of glad promise. Such blessings can be yours, such joys, such wonders, as long as you develop in the sunshine of God’s love. HAZELDEN………………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Monday, August 09, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Forgiveness happens I three stages: we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us; we surrender our right to get even; and we wish that person well.” unknown
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not at one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV
With the Olympics starting this week in Greece, this Scripture is very suitable to current events. The Isthmian Games were an athletic event known to all of the apostle Paul’s readers. They were held on alternate summers in the vicinity of Corinth. The events were as familiar to his readers as the World Series is to us. Paul is reminding his readers to keep their eyes on the prize. In the Olympic games the crown was made of wild olive branches. In the Isthmian games the crown was made of pine. These laurels began to perish a soon as they were given. If we run the race, and finish the race, we as Christians will be given a crown that won’t perish. Most awards in life soon gather dust, and soon become just a part of the past. How wonderful to work for something that has a lasting effect on us, and those around us. I have a friend in AA who I have heard say many times, “You’ve got to keep your eyes on the prize.” For me the prize I keep my eyes on is loving God and my neighbor, and staying clean and sober. I am so grateful that we all have a prize that we can obtain. I am grateful for those who run alongside of me and give encouragement to endure. God does for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
*************************
IT’S CALLED “CHOICE”
“To choose life is to love the LORD your God, Obey him, and stay close to him.”
Deuteronomy 30:20
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground……
All were silent as the Creator reached in himself and removed something yet unseen. “It’s called ‘choice.’ The seed of choice.”
Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth’s mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.
Now it’s our choice.
MAX LUCADO…………..In the Eye of the Storm
*************************
“It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision o God’s will into all our activities. “How can I best serve Thee, Thy will (not mine) be done.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85
Running the race
Thought for the day: “Forgiveness happens I three stages: we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us; we surrender our right to get even; and we wish that person well.” unknown
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not at one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV
With the Olympics starting this week in Greece, this Scripture is very suitable to current events. The Isthmian Games were an athletic event known to all of the apostle Paul’s readers. They were held on alternate summers in the vicinity of Corinth. The events were as familiar to his readers as the World Series is to us. Paul is reminding his readers to keep their eyes on the prize. In the Olympic games the crown was made of wild olive branches. In the Isthmian games the crown was made of pine. These laurels began to perish a soon as they were given. If we run the race, and finish the race, we as Christians will be given a crown that won’t perish. Most awards in life soon gather dust, and soon become just a part of the past. How wonderful to work for something that has a lasting effect on us, and those around us. I have a friend in AA who I have heard say many times, “You’ve got to keep your eyes on the prize.” For me the prize I keep my eyes on is loving God and my neighbor, and staying clean and sober. I am so grateful that we all have a prize that we can obtain. I am grateful for those who run alongside of me and give encouragement to endure. God does for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
*************************
IT’S CALLED “CHOICE”
“To choose life is to love the LORD your God, Obey him, and stay close to him.”
Deuteronomy 30:20
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground……
All were silent as the Creator reached in himself and removed something yet unseen. “It’s called ‘choice.’ The seed of choice.”
Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth’s mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.
Now it’s our choice.
MAX LUCADO…………..In the Eye of the Storm
*************************
“It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision o God’s will into all our activities. “How can I best serve Thee, Thy will (not mine) be done.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85
Thursday, August 05, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Yet through all, we know this tangled skein is in the hands of One who sees the end from the beginning; He shall yet unravel all.
Alexander Smith
“Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other.
I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done.”
Isaiah 46:9-10
Have you ever had a long rope that was all knotted up? How about a garden hose that wouldn’t untangle? Maybe it was a long electrical cord with many knots and kinks in it. All you can do at times is sit down and find a loose end and begin to thread it back through. For many years I did tree work, and as a climber I had to take very good care of my ropes. Seventy feet up in a tree is no place to run into a knot or kink. When I came across the quote from Alexander Smith I was reminded of a long rope with many tangles and knots. At times this life seems like a tangled skein of yarn in which no one can untangle it. Only God who has put it all together can gently take the knots out, not pulling on them to make them tighter. I don’t know how life gets so tangled up at times. I can be going along so smooth, and then all of a sudden there it is, a big mess of everything crossing over, running through, and tying me down. I know that God always see the end and will unravel it all. Until then I have to trust and try and not to pull to tight one way or another to make it worse. Some knots if you don’t pull on them too tight, just take care of themselves. How grateful I am to know that God knows the end from the beginning, and cares how I take each step. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………………JRE
*************************
We seem to live not only in time but also in eternity. If we abide with God and He abides with us, we may bring forth spiritual fruit which will last for eternity. If we live with God, our lives can flow as some calm river through the dry land of earth. It can cause the trees and flowers of the spiritual life (love and service) to spring forth and yield abundantly. Spiritual work may be done for eternity, not just for now. Even here on earth we can live as though our real lives were eternal.
HAZELDEN…………..Twenty-Four Hours A Day
*************************
The last few lines of this page have been used for prayer requests, our prayers are the greatest work that we can do for each other. For six months or so I have asked for prayers for Jack Swall, yesterday he passed into eternity. Jack fought a battle against cancer like I have never seen in anyone else. Possibly our prayers were the wind beneath his wings. My aunt Sharron and Russ, Jacks son, would like to thank all of you who offered up your prayers for Jack..
Sharron wrote a few lines about Jack that I would like to share with you.
"John Edwin Swall, known to all as Jack - - our dad, our best friend, ourgranddad, our second father, our adopted granddad, friend to all, enemyto none, has at last been freed from the pain and agony of the pastseven and a half months since the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Jack saw his 76th birthday in June, something none of the specialiststhought possible. He drove to our house three Sundays ago forbreakfast. He has never complained, not one time, about pain ordiscomfort and if he felt sorry for himself, he kept it from us all.Jack was role model to many of us."
The One who sees the end from the beginning
Thought for the day: “Yet through all, we know this tangled skein is in the hands of One who sees the end from the beginning; He shall yet unravel all.
Alexander Smith
“Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other.
I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done.”
Isaiah 46:9-10
Have you ever had a long rope that was all knotted up? How about a garden hose that wouldn’t untangle? Maybe it was a long electrical cord with many knots and kinks in it. All you can do at times is sit down and find a loose end and begin to thread it back through. For many years I did tree work, and as a climber I had to take very good care of my ropes. Seventy feet up in a tree is no place to run into a knot or kink. When I came across the quote from Alexander Smith I was reminded of a long rope with many tangles and knots. At times this life seems like a tangled skein of yarn in which no one can untangle it. Only God who has put it all together can gently take the knots out, not pulling on them to make them tighter. I don’t know how life gets so tangled up at times. I can be going along so smooth, and then all of a sudden there it is, a big mess of everything crossing over, running through, and tying me down. I know that God always see the end and will unravel it all. Until then I have to trust and try and not to pull to tight one way or another to make it worse. Some knots if you don’t pull on them too tight, just take care of themselves. How grateful I am to know that God knows the end from the beginning, and cares how I take each step. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………………JRE
*************************
We seem to live not only in time but also in eternity. If we abide with God and He abides with us, we may bring forth spiritual fruit which will last for eternity. If we live with God, our lives can flow as some calm river through the dry land of earth. It can cause the trees and flowers of the spiritual life (love and service) to spring forth and yield abundantly. Spiritual work may be done for eternity, not just for now. Even here on earth we can live as though our real lives were eternal.
HAZELDEN…………..Twenty-Four Hours A Day
*************************
The last few lines of this page have been used for prayer requests, our prayers are the greatest work that we can do for each other. For six months or so I have asked for prayers for Jack Swall, yesterday he passed into eternity. Jack fought a battle against cancer like I have never seen in anyone else. Possibly our prayers were the wind beneath his wings. My aunt Sharron and Russ, Jacks son, would like to thank all of you who offered up your prayers for Jack..
Sharron wrote a few lines about Jack that I would like to share with you.
"John Edwin Swall, known to all as Jack - - our dad, our best friend, ourgranddad, our second father, our adopted granddad, friend to all, enemyto none, has at last been freed from the pain and agony of the pastseven and a half months since the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Jack saw his 76th birthday in June, something none of the specialiststhought possible. He drove to our house three Sundays ago forbreakfast. He has never complained, not one time, about pain ordiscomfort and if he felt sorry for himself, he kept it from us all.Jack was role model to many of us."
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit. It is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.”
Tryon Edwards
“A right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.” Today if I meditate on God, and think of how God sees me, I can get a picture of myself. I would love to share this picture with you, but I won’t. I’ve probably got a few dusty corners, and maybe something stuck way back on a shelf out of sight of everyone because I am ashamed to display it in the open. As I commune daily with God, God is making me aware of these areas that need a little more cleaning. If I really get honest with myself, and realize that I am transparent before God, all the little places of uncleanness show up. In AA we have a saying that in order to get sober you must “trust God, clean house, and help others.” Cleaning house is by far the hardest. God did not remove all my defects of character at once. If I am willing to see myself as God sees me, then God will give me the tools to clean the hard areas of my life, but I must do the work myself. God just hands me the tools. Some of the tools that God has given me are meditation, prayer, the Word of God, this small page, and friends who are not afraid to say, “Hey, you’ve got a little dust back in that corner! Don’t sweep it under the rug.” Thanks for letting me share, God does for me what I could not do for myself………………JRE
*************************
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 PETER 1:5-8 NKJV
“In the Matter of Drudgery. You have inherited the Divine nature, says Peter (2 Peter 1:4), now screw your attention down and form habits, give diligence, concentrate. “Add” means all that character means. No man is born either naturally or supernaturally with character, he has to make character. Nor are we born with habits; we have to form habits on the basis of the new life God has put into us. We are not meant to be illuminated versions, but the common stuff of ordinary life exhibiting the marvel of the grace of God. Drudgery is the touchstone of character. The great hindrance in spiritual life is that we will look for big things to do. “Jesus took a towel….and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
************************
“The steps lead to an awakening of a spiritual nature. This awakening is evidenced by changes in our lives.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 48
dust bunnies
Thought for the day: “True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit. It is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.”
Tryon Edwards
“A right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.” Today if I meditate on God, and think of how God sees me, I can get a picture of myself. I would love to share this picture with you, but I won’t. I’ve probably got a few dusty corners, and maybe something stuck way back on a shelf out of sight of everyone because I am ashamed to display it in the open. As I commune daily with God, God is making me aware of these areas that need a little more cleaning. If I really get honest with myself, and realize that I am transparent before God, all the little places of uncleanness show up. In AA we have a saying that in order to get sober you must “trust God, clean house, and help others.” Cleaning house is by far the hardest. God did not remove all my defects of character at once. If I am willing to see myself as God sees me, then God will give me the tools to clean the hard areas of my life, but I must do the work myself. God just hands me the tools. Some of the tools that God has given me are meditation, prayer, the Word of God, this small page, and friends who are not afraid to say, “Hey, you’ve got a little dust back in that corner! Don’t sweep it under the rug.” Thanks for letting me share, God does for me what I could not do for myself………………JRE
*************************
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 PETER 1:5-8 NKJV
“In the Matter of Drudgery. You have inherited the Divine nature, says Peter (2 Peter 1:4), now screw your attention down and form habits, give diligence, concentrate. “Add” means all that character means. No man is born either naturally or supernaturally with character, he has to make character. Nor are we born with habits; we have to form habits on the basis of the new life God has put into us. We are not meant to be illuminated versions, but the common stuff of ordinary life exhibiting the marvel of the grace of God. Drudgery is the touchstone of character. The great hindrance in spiritual life is that we will look for big things to do. “Jesus took a towel….and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
************************
“The steps lead to an awakening of a spiritual nature. This awakening is evidenced by changes in our lives.” Narcotics Anonymous, basic text page 48
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” PROVERBS 11:14 NIV
A few centuries ago before we entered this age of knowledge and technology, people had advisers, mentors, patrons, and a strong family from which to draw from for guidance and advice. Today we encourage young people to get an education or a trade and then we push them out into the world to fend for themselves, all along praying and hoping that they get good guidance as they venture forth. My observation of the media, TV, movies, music, and just plain and simple “what’s going down,” tells me that young people today get out on their own too soon. I myself left home after high school at the age of seventeen. My mother and father were divorced, I didn’t have a church, I didn’t belong to any civic group, I just went to work and I worked hard. I also played hard after work. Anytime I wasn’t working I considered it recess time, even if it was three in the morning. The year was 1965 and that soon came to an end when I got drafted into the US Army in February of 1966. Through no choice of my own I got a mentor and adviser. I was forced to “toe the mark and walk the line.” It wasn’t until thirty years later that I came to realize that my military experience was one of the best teachers of discipline that I have had in my life. The AA program has also offered me a opportunity to have a mentor in my life, and to be a mentor also. Today I am grateful for those in my life who share in a loving way their experiences, and lead by example. For those friends who are not afraid to tell me like it is. And for those who have honored me by asking that I share my experience, strength and hope with them. Jesus prayed that we believers would be one. Mentoring need not have any denominational borders. In this day we need to draw closer not apart. Thanks for letting me share, God does for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
Jesus praying for His disciples and those He was mentoring, and also for us. Share this with me:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. That they all may be one, as you Father, are in Me, and I in You. That they may also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
JOHN 17:20-21 NKJV
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ROOT OUT REBELLION
“How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” PROVERBS 28:14
In a world hell-bent on having it’s own way, it is terribly difficult to cultivate the right attitude toward authority. The “QUESTON AUTHORIY!” mentally is so interwoven into the fabric of our society, it seems impossible to counter act it. Realistically, about the only place we can come to terms with it is in our homes. Are you doing this? Be honest now. Within the walls of your dwelling are you maintaining the controls? Maybe these three warnings will encourage you to stay at it….or start today.
Childhood….A rebellious nature is conceived in a home where parents relinquish control.
Adolescence….A rebellious spirit will be cultivated among peers who resist control. And if it isn’t curbed there , it culminates at..
Adulthood….A rebellious life must be crushed by God when He regains control.
And take it from one who experienced it and deals with it week after week, nothing is more painful to endure. CHARLES SWINDOLL…………….Strengthening Your Grip
Seeking Guidance
Thought for the day: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” PROVERBS 11:14 NIV
A few centuries ago before we entered this age of knowledge and technology, people had advisers, mentors, patrons, and a strong family from which to draw from for guidance and advice. Today we encourage young people to get an education or a trade and then we push them out into the world to fend for themselves, all along praying and hoping that they get good guidance as they venture forth. My observation of the media, TV, movies, music, and just plain and simple “what’s going down,” tells me that young people today get out on their own too soon. I myself left home after high school at the age of seventeen. My mother and father were divorced, I didn’t have a church, I didn’t belong to any civic group, I just went to work and I worked hard. I also played hard after work. Anytime I wasn’t working I considered it recess time, even if it was three in the morning. The year was 1965 and that soon came to an end when I got drafted into the US Army in February of 1966. Through no choice of my own I got a mentor and adviser. I was forced to “toe the mark and walk the line.” It wasn’t until thirty years later that I came to realize that my military experience was one of the best teachers of discipline that I have had in my life. The AA program has also offered me a opportunity to have a mentor in my life, and to be a mentor also. Today I am grateful for those in my life who share in a loving way their experiences, and lead by example. For those friends who are not afraid to tell me like it is. And for those who have honored me by asking that I share my experience, strength and hope with them. Jesus prayed that we believers would be one. Mentoring need not have any denominational borders. In this day we need to draw closer not apart. Thanks for letting me share, God does for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
Jesus praying for His disciples and those He was mentoring, and also for us. Share this with me:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. That they all may be one, as you Father, are in Me, and I in You. That they may also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
JOHN 17:20-21 NKJV
*************************
ROOT OUT REBELLION
“How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” PROVERBS 28:14
In a world hell-bent on having it’s own way, it is terribly difficult to cultivate the right attitude toward authority. The “QUESTON AUTHORIY!” mentally is so interwoven into the fabric of our society, it seems impossible to counter act it. Realistically, about the only place we can come to terms with it is in our homes. Are you doing this? Be honest now. Within the walls of your dwelling are you maintaining the controls? Maybe these three warnings will encourage you to stay at it….or start today.
Childhood….A rebellious nature is conceived in a home where parents relinquish control.
Adolescence….A rebellious spirit will be cultivated among peers who resist control. And if it isn’t curbed there , it culminates at..
Adulthood….A rebellious life must be crushed by God when He regains control.
And take it from one who experienced it and deals with it week after week, nothing is more painful to endure. CHARLES SWINDOLL…………….Strengthening Your Grip
Monday, August 02, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.”
Thomas Fuller
“And I, brethren, when I came to you did not come with excellence of speech or wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NKJV
The quote I used today from Thomas Fuller and the Scripture from the writings of the apostle Paul, seem in some ways to disagree with each other, but I don’t find this so. The apostle Paul had been educated by the best teachers of his day, and was a member of the Pharisees party. The word Pharisees means “separated one” and they were strict observers of the Jewish laws, so they had to have much knowledge of the many laws to observe them. I see Paul as being a bon fire for God. He was not just on fire for God but he was a bon fire. You cannot light a candle from a bon fire. The heat will not let you get close enough to ignite the small wick. Paul humbled himself and shared only Jesus and Him crucified for the forgiveness of sins, which kept the heat down so others could light their candles. Today I am thankful for the many people throughout my life who have made themselves uncomplicated so they could share a little something, so I could get my candle lit. May I in turn, learn not to have such a raging fire burning, that the heat drives others away. May I always keep my fire going up for God, and the light from the fire of the Word going outward. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………JRE
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ONE DAY AT A TIME
“Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.” Psalm 90:12, TLB
The Bible is pointed about the value of each individual day and is equally direct in speaking of our responsibility to use these pieces of time wisely and profitably.
We are to consider each day a valuable gift, and look to god for wisdom in using that gift.
We are to treat each day separately, recognizing that “one day at a time” isn’t just a clever slogan but a practical guideline to help us stay sensitive to today’s duties and not worry about tomorrow.
JACK HAYFORD………….Our Daily Walk
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“We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness. Alcoholics Anonymous page 130
Light from the bon fire
Thought for the day: “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.”
Thomas Fuller
“And I, brethren, when I came to you did not come with excellence of speech or wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NKJV
The quote I used today from Thomas Fuller and the Scripture from the writings of the apostle Paul, seem in some ways to disagree with each other, but I don’t find this so. The apostle Paul had been educated by the best teachers of his day, and was a member of the Pharisees party. The word Pharisees means “separated one” and they were strict observers of the Jewish laws, so they had to have much knowledge of the many laws to observe them. I see Paul as being a bon fire for God. He was not just on fire for God but he was a bon fire. You cannot light a candle from a bon fire. The heat will not let you get close enough to ignite the small wick. Paul humbled himself and shared only Jesus and Him crucified for the forgiveness of sins, which kept the heat down so others could light their candles. Today I am thankful for the many people throughout my life who have made themselves uncomplicated so they could share a little something, so I could get my candle lit. May I in turn, learn not to have such a raging fire burning, that the heat drives others away. May I always keep my fire going up for God, and the light from the fire of the Word going outward. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………JRE
*************************
ONE DAY AT A TIME
“Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.” Psalm 90:12, TLB
The Bible is pointed about the value of each individual day and is equally direct in speaking of our responsibility to use these pieces of time wisely and profitably.
We are to consider each day a valuable gift, and look to god for wisdom in using that gift.
We are to treat each day separately, recognizing that “one day at a time” isn’t just a clever slogan but a practical guideline to help us stay sensitive to today’s duties and not worry about tomorrow.
JACK HAYFORD………….Our Daily Walk
*************************
“We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness. Alcoholics Anonymous page 130
