Tuesday, November 30, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Have a forgiving view of people. Believe that most people are doing the best they can.” Unknown author
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put in your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” LUKE 6:37-38 NKJV
Webster says a principle is: “A fundamental truth, law or doctrine or motivating force, upon which others are based.” Here in the Book of Luke I find another principle in the teachings of Jesus, the principle of giving. Once again Jesus is very clear about giving and receiving, it’s all in how you measure what you give. The way I see it, Jesus doesn’t speak about the amount that is given or received, but how what you give is measured according to what you have. For the person who has a billion dollars, their measuring cup is larger than the one I have. My measuring cup is larger than the homeless person under the bridge trying to stay warm next to a burning barrel. We all have a measuring cup. I will relate an experience I had in 1980. I was alcoholic and bumming around Kansas City, I didn’t have a home of my own and I mainly stayed with different friends. I thought to myself that life must be better somewhere else, so I moved to Springfield Missouri. I had just enough money to say in a cheap hotel downtown for a few days, and then I was out on the streets. I took up residence underneath an abandoned truck dock behind an empty business. I would wander to the square and drink wine with the winos. I would also give plasma once a week for around ten dollars. I used that money to buy alcohol. In the evening I would go to the mission where I could eat a meal, if I sat through a sermon preached by some young preacher boy. My point in telling you this is that I didn’t have anything, and what I did have you can bet I kept it for myself. My little measuring cup was there to give and help others, but I couldn’t see clearly enough to release of what I had. Therefore the principle of giving was applied to me and I didn’t get anything back. “It was measured back to me as I measured it giving.” I had several more years to go before I started to understand some of the teachings of Jesus. One great event happened during that time though. One evening while I was eating at the mission some young preacher boy came up to me and asked if I wanted a change in my life. He said that if I got on my knees and asked God to come into my heart that things could change. I agreed, and we prayed together kneeling at a metal fold up chair. He gave me a Bible and I never saw him again, I often think of him still to this day. I could not tell that anything different had happened in my life as a result of running into this preacher boy. I soon headed back to Kansas City and back into the same old grind of drinking, drugging, and bumming around, mixed in with a little work here and there. What I didn’t know was that a seed of forgiveness had been planted in my heart through that young preacher boy. It did not germinate until 1983 when I was in jail doing time for another DWI. A prison guard named Smith came along and told me of Jesus, and with his tears he water the small seed that had been planted by the young preacher boy. There is no way that I can repay what was done for me. Today my measuring cup is larger and continues to grow. I am so grateful. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called his disciples to Himself and said to them, “As assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more that all those who have given to the treasury: for they all put out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” MARK 12:42-44 NKJV
Don’t you just know that she got blessed? Thanks for letting me share…….JRE
Measuring Cup
Thought for the day: “Have a forgiving view of people. Believe that most people are doing the best they can.” Unknown author
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put in your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” LUKE 6:37-38 NKJV
Webster says a principle is: “A fundamental truth, law or doctrine or motivating force, upon which others are based.” Here in the Book of Luke I find another principle in the teachings of Jesus, the principle of giving. Once again Jesus is very clear about giving and receiving, it’s all in how you measure what you give. The way I see it, Jesus doesn’t speak about the amount that is given or received, but how what you give is measured according to what you have. For the person who has a billion dollars, their measuring cup is larger than the one I have. My measuring cup is larger than the homeless person under the bridge trying to stay warm next to a burning barrel. We all have a measuring cup. I will relate an experience I had in 1980. I was alcoholic and bumming around Kansas City, I didn’t have a home of my own and I mainly stayed with different friends. I thought to myself that life must be better somewhere else, so I moved to Springfield Missouri. I had just enough money to say in a cheap hotel downtown for a few days, and then I was out on the streets. I took up residence underneath an abandoned truck dock behind an empty business. I would wander to the square and drink wine with the winos. I would also give plasma once a week for around ten dollars. I used that money to buy alcohol. In the evening I would go to the mission where I could eat a meal, if I sat through a sermon preached by some young preacher boy. My point in telling you this is that I didn’t have anything, and what I did have you can bet I kept it for myself. My little measuring cup was there to give and help others, but I couldn’t see clearly enough to release of what I had. Therefore the principle of giving was applied to me and I didn’t get anything back. “It was measured back to me as I measured it giving.” I had several more years to go before I started to understand some of the teachings of Jesus. One great event happened during that time though. One evening while I was eating at the mission some young preacher boy came up to me and asked if I wanted a change in my life. He said that if I got on my knees and asked God to come into my heart that things could change. I agreed, and we prayed together kneeling at a metal fold up chair. He gave me a Bible and I never saw him again, I often think of him still to this day. I could not tell that anything different had happened in my life as a result of running into this preacher boy. I soon headed back to Kansas City and back into the same old grind of drinking, drugging, and bumming around, mixed in with a little work here and there. What I didn’t know was that a seed of forgiveness had been planted in my heart through that young preacher boy. It did not germinate until 1983 when I was in jail doing time for another DWI. A prison guard named Smith came along and told me of Jesus, and with his tears he water the small seed that had been planted by the young preacher boy. There is no way that I can repay what was done for me. Today my measuring cup is larger and continues to grow. I am so grateful. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called his disciples to Himself and said to them, “As assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more that all those who have given to the treasury: for they all put out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” MARK 12:42-44 NKJV
Don’t you just know that she got blessed? Thanks for letting me share…….JRE
Monday, November 29, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do.” Warren Weirsby
“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive your transgressions.”
MARK 11:23-25 NAS
Say, believe and forgive. This is the principle behind the prayer of faith. The words from Mark 11 are the words of Jesus. Jesus understood the principle that works to bring about answered prayer, and was teaching it to His disciples in these verses of Scripture. Webster defines a principle as “the origin, or cause of something,” and also “a fundamental truth, law, doctrine or motivating force, upon which others are based.” It is a well-known fact, even by scientist that prayer works. So if it works there must be a principle behind its working. Jesus keeps it simple, and is very clear about the how and why of prayer. First we must “say” what it is. Not just sort of think about it, or have a general idea of what it is. Say it, speak it to God, speak it to our spirit and to our mind, say it! Then we must believe that we have already received it. We don’t sit around and wish and hope that it will come about. We must “believe” in our inner most being and not doubt that we “have” received. Next we come to the part of the principle that is most important, the forgiving of others. I feel that the whole of this kind of prayer, the prayer of faith (James 5:15), is hinged between “saying and believing,” and “forgiving.” A door won’t swing on its hinges if it is not attached to something solid. I feel that forgiveness is the solid part of the structure that allows saying and believing to come to pass.
Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…..JRE
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“I must trust God to the best of my ability. This lesson has to be learned. My doubts and fears continually drive me back into the wilderness. Doubts lead me astray, because I am not trusting God. I must trust god’s love. It will never fail me, but I must learn not to fail it by my doubts and fears. We all have much to learn in turning out fear by faith. All our doubts arrest God’s work through us. I must not doubt. I must believe in god and continually work at strengthening my faith.”
HAZELDEN………….Twenty-Four Hours A Day
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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
Say, believe, and forgive
Thought for the day: “Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do.” Warren Weirsby
“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive your transgressions.”
MARK 11:23-25 NAS
Say, believe and forgive. This is the principle behind the prayer of faith. The words from Mark 11 are the words of Jesus. Jesus understood the principle that works to bring about answered prayer, and was teaching it to His disciples in these verses of Scripture. Webster defines a principle as “the origin, or cause of something,” and also “a fundamental truth, law, doctrine or motivating force, upon which others are based.” It is a well-known fact, even by scientist that prayer works. So if it works there must be a principle behind its working. Jesus keeps it simple, and is very clear about the how and why of prayer. First we must “say” what it is. Not just sort of think about it, or have a general idea of what it is. Say it, speak it to God, speak it to our spirit and to our mind, say it! Then we must believe that we have already received it. We don’t sit around and wish and hope that it will come about. We must “believe” in our inner most being and not doubt that we “have” received. Next we come to the part of the principle that is most important, the forgiving of others. I feel that the whole of this kind of prayer, the prayer of faith (James 5:15), is hinged between “saying and believing,” and “forgiving.” A door won’t swing on its hinges if it is not attached to something solid. I feel that forgiveness is the solid part of the structure that allows saying and believing to come to pass.
Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…..JRE
********************
“I must trust God to the best of my ability. This lesson has to be learned. My doubts and fears continually drive me back into the wilderness. Doubts lead me astray, because I am not trusting God. I must trust god’s love. It will never fail me, but I must learn not to fail it by my doubts and fears. We all have much to learn in turning out fear by faith. All our doubts arrest God’s work through us. I must not doubt. I must believe in god and continually work at strengthening my faith.”
HAZELDEN………….Twenty-Four Hours A Day
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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
Friday, November 26, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “A humble knowledge of one’s self is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences.” Thomas a Kempis
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:10-14 NIV
Paul demonstrates a humble knowledge of himself in these verses of Scripture. Realizing that he had not arrived yet to a complete spiritual fulfillment, Paul says he is straining and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Some translations use the word “press” instead of the word straining. The Greek word found in the original is “dioko” which means literally to pursue. Paul wrote a great portion of the New Testament, and I find encouragement in knowing that he realized and taught spiritual progress, not spiritual perfection. If I ever reach a point in my walk with God where I think I have arrived, where the goal has been attained, where I have crossed the finish line, if I ever reach this point and I am still wearing my “earth suit,” I will be only fooling myself. I don’t really agree with the NIV translation of the word “straining” because it is not a strain to walk with God. I find pressing toward the goal to be rewarding and a pleasurable experience with great company along the way. I have not arrived but I am on the way. Like the old saying, “happiness is not a destination but a way of traveling.” This is how I view the spiritually progressive walk with God. Thanks for letting me share today, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
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WALK IN HIS LIGHT
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’” Genesis 1:3
In the same sense that God “spoke” and light rushed forth to bring a new world with new growth, God still speaks “light” into the confusion and darkness of our daily circumstances. He is instantly at hand to show the way, to lead us in His light, to defuse the darkness around us.
His presence shines! Where He is, there is light, simply because He is there. To walk in Jesus is to walk in His light. JACK HAYFORD……………..Living and Praying in Jesus’ Name
Spiritual progress not perfection
Thought for the day: “A humble knowledge of one’s self is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences.” Thomas a Kempis
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:10-14 NIV
Paul demonstrates a humble knowledge of himself in these verses of Scripture. Realizing that he had not arrived yet to a complete spiritual fulfillment, Paul says he is straining and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Some translations use the word “press” instead of the word straining. The Greek word found in the original is “dioko” which means literally to pursue. Paul wrote a great portion of the New Testament, and I find encouragement in knowing that he realized and taught spiritual progress, not spiritual perfection. If I ever reach a point in my walk with God where I think I have arrived, where the goal has been attained, where I have crossed the finish line, if I ever reach this point and I am still wearing my “earth suit,” I will be only fooling myself. I don’t really agree with the NIV translation of the word “straining” because it is not a strain to walk with God. I find pressing toward the goal to be rewarding and a pleasurable experience with great company along the way. I have not arrived but I am on the way. Like the old saying, “happiness is not a destination but a way of traveling.” This is how I view the spiritually progressive walk with God. Thanks for letting me share today, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
********************
WALK IN HIS LIGHT
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’” Genesis 1:3
In the same sense that God “spoke” and light rushed forth to bring a new world with new growth, God still speaks “light” into the confusion and darkness of our daily circumstances. He is instantly at hand to show the way, to lead us in His light, to defuse the darkness around us.
His presence shines! Where He is, there is light, simply because He is there. To walk in Jesus is to walk in His light. JACK HAYFORD……………..Living and Praying in Jesus’ Name
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Gratitude is a God honored attitude.”
Our Daily Bread 11-25-04
“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.” 2 Samuel 22:50 NKJV
This Scripture is the first place in the Bible that I can find the words “give thanks.” They come from a warrior. David had many battles to fight and the Lord God gave him many victories. These words of David’s are from a song that he wrote after God had delivered from the hands of all his enemies and from Saul his fellow countryman who had been trying to take his life because of jealousy. David was a great king and warrior, and was a very successful military leader when it came to taking care of the business of ruling a nation. His problem was that he didn’t have the same victories in his own personal life. He had many wives and many children and there was always conflict in his home. He had problems with lust in his life, and as a result of this committed murder. Through it all, David always was able to see his own mistakes and was quick to come back to Lord God and repent. I feel that David knew he would not always be square with mankind, but when it came to God, he knew that there was no other way. Today I give thanks for the grace of God that was extended to me when I did not deserve it, and there was no way I could earn it. To be given another chance in life, a chance to make things right again, was something I did not deserve. I can never repay Jesus for the gift given me through the finished work of the Cross, the gift of forgiveness. All I can do is to remember to serve, as He came also to be a Servant to us. God did for me what I could not do for myself, I give thanks…………………..JRE
“For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to al generations.” Psalm 100:5 NKJV
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NOTHING LESS THAN JESUS
“I have obeyed my Father’s commands and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.” John 15:10
God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).
Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same…..
He wants you to be just like Jesus.
MAX LUCADO………………….Just Like Jesus
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“God had restored his sanity” Alcoholics Anonymous page 57
Thanks
Thought for the day: “Gratitude is a God honored attitude.”
Our Daily Bread 11-25-04
“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.” 2 Samuel 22:50 NKJV
This Scripture is the first place in the Bible that I can find the words “give thanks.” They come from a warrior. David had many battles to fight and the Lord God gave him many victories. These words of David’s are from a song that he wrote after God had delivered from the hands of all his enemies and from Saul his fellow countryman who had been trying to take his life because of jealousy. David was a great king and warrior, and was a very successful military leader when it came to taking care of the business of ruling a nation. His problem was that he didn’t have the same victories in his own personal life. He had many wives and many children and there was always conflict in his home. He had problems with lust in his life, and as a result of this committed murder. Through it all, David always was able to see his own mistakes and was quick to come back to Lord God and repent. I feel that David knew he would not always be square with mankind, but when it came to God, he knew that there was no other way. Today I give thanks for the grace of God that was extended to me when I did not deserve it, and there was no way I could earn it. To be given another chance in life, a chance to make things right again, was something I did not deserve. I can never repay Jesus for the gift given me through the finished work of the Cross, the gift of forgiveness. All I can do is to remember to serve, as He came also to be a Servant to us. God did for me what I could not do for myself, I give thanks…………………..JRE
“For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to al generations.” Psalm 100:5 NKJV
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NOTHING LESS THAN JESUS
“I have obeyed my Father’s commands and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.” John 15:10
God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).
Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same…..
He wants you to be just like Jesus.
MAX LUCADO………………….Just Like Jesus
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“God had restored his sanity” Alcoholics Anonymous page 57
Monday, November 22, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10 NIV
What is God’s will for my life? What is my purpose in mankind? These always seem to be big questions in the lives of Christians and even people who are not Christian. I hear much about God’s will for my life from sermons, Sunday school and other fellowships that I attend, but I have noticed that people will shy away from coming right up in your face and saying, “This is God’s will for you.” I’ve heard it said many times, “You want to know what God’s will is for your life? Read the Bible, it is God’s will for you.” I try and read the Bibles some every day; I love the Word of God. I am fascinated at how Scripture in the Bible can be applied to my life today just as it was twenty years ago, and I have changed so much since my early days of first believing. The Bible is truly “timeless and timely.” So, back to God’s will for my life. How do I discover what God wants me to do? As I search the Scriptures looking for some clue, some deep meaning as to how and apply all the parables, all the lessons, all the commandments, all the history, all the success and failures. As I search trying to find the answer to God’s will for my life, I realize, for me is very simple, and in searching for some deeper meaning to everything at times I have passed right over God’s will for me. Here is what I have found out about God’s will for my life, share this with me: Love God with my whole heart and being; Believe in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross; Love my neighbor as myself; Help others. If I truly love God and others, I will not stray too far from God’s will for my life. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
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HOLD ONTO GOD’S HAND
“Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually.” Psalm 105:4
Discovering and embracing god’s will leads us to make major adjustments. And that requires us to release and risk, releasing the familiar and risking whatever the future may bring. That’s the bottom line of fleshing out God’s will…..
We are only finite human beings. We can only see the present and the past. The future is a little frightening to us. So we need to hold onto God’s hand and trust Him to calm our fears. And at those times when we’re stubborn and resisting and God shakes us by the shoulders to get our attention, we’re reminded that we don’t call our own shots, that God has a plan for us, mysterious though it may seem, and we want to be in the center of it.
All the risks not withstanding, that’s still the safest place on earth to be.
CHARLES SWINDOLL……………The Mystery of God’s Will
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“He had found God, and in finding God found himself.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 159
Level ground
Thought for the day: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10 NIV
What is God’s will for my life? What is my purpose in mankind? These always seem to be big questions in the lives of Christians and even people who are not Christian. I hear much about God’s will for my life from sermons, Sunday school and other fellowships that I attend, but I have noticed that people will shy away from coming right up in your face and saying, “This is God’s will for you.” I’ve heard it said many times, “You want to know what God’s will is for your life? Read the Bible, it is God’s will for you.” I try and read the Bibles some every day; I love the Word of God. I am fascinated at how Scripture in the Bible can be applied to my life today just as it was twenty years ago, and I have changed so much since my early days of first believing. The Bible is truly “timeless and timely.” So, back to God’s will for my life. How do I discover what God wants me to do? As I search the Scriptures looking for some clue, some deep meaning as to how and apply all the parables, all the lessons, all the commandments, all the history, all the success and failures. As I search trying to find the answer to God’s will for my life, I realize, for me is very simple, and in searching for some deeper meaning to everything at times I have passed right over God’s will for me. Here is what I have found out about God’s will for my life, share this with me: Love God with my whole heart and being; Believe in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross; Love my neighbor as myself; Help others. If I truly love God and others, I will not stray too far from God’s will for my life. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
********************
HOLD ONTO GOD’S HAND
“Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually.” Psalm 105:4
Discovering and embracing god’s will leads us to make major adjustments. And that requires us to release and risk, releasing the familiar and risking whatever the future may bring. That’s the bottom line of fleshing out God’s will…..
We are only finite human beings. We can only see the present and the past. The future is a little frightening to us. So we need to hold onto God’s hand and trust Him to calm our fears. And at those times when we’re stubborn and resisting and God shakes us by the shoulders to get our attention, we’re reminded that we don’t call our own shots, that God has a plan for us, mysterious though it may seem, and we want to be in the center of it.
All the risks not withstanding, that’s still the safest place on earth to be.
CHARLES SWINDOLL……………The Mystery of God’s Will
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“He had found God, and in finding God found himself.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 159
Thursday, November 18, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “In judging of others a man labors in vain, often errs, and easily sins; but in judging and examining himself, he always labors fruitfully.”
Thomas a Kempis
This morning as I sit and look out my window and watch the birds at the feeders and the squirrels scampering around, my mind ponders over the thought about judging others and self-examination. Self-examination has become a useful tool that I use in my morning meditation. Before I sit down to read Scripture, I spend some time in prayer and self-examination. I don’t spend a lot of time reflecting inwardly, but I do try and check my attitude a little to see if some adjustments need to be made. Sometimes when I notice some attitude that runs contrary to living at peace with others, I will pray about the situation and the person to change my attitude. There are times also when I am aware of a negative attitude and have no desire to change the way I feel. These days turn out to be real doozies. It seems to be harder to change my attitude when I feel justified in have a bad mood because of something someone did or said that I thought was not right. Bad attitudes can hang around for long periods of time because we feel our rights have been violated. I am learning that at some point, if I want to have serenity in my own life today, if might have to give up some of my rights. I’m not talking about my legal rights, or my God given rights. I am talking about my right to be upset, my right to be angry, my right to be jealous, my right to be suspicious, my right to speak my mind, my right to have a bad attitude. When I give up and let go of these feelings other feelings come in to take their place. We always have some emotions and feelings going on, we are not vegetables. So, when we work on one feeling, it will, be replaced by another, hopefully a better one. There are people today I my life who do not judge me because of my past. I am learning not to judge myself by my past also. It is not where I’ve been that counts, but where I’m going. Today I choose to be a child of God in fellowship with my siblings. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”
1 CORINTHIANS 11:28-28 NAS
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“Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.”
ROMANS 12:2
Real change is an inside job. You might alter things a day or two with money and systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be, the matter of the heart.
Allow me to get specific. Our problem is sin. Not finances. Not budgets….Our problem is sin. We are I rebellion against our Creator. We are separated from our Father. We are cut off from the source of life. A new president or policy won’t fix that. It can only be solved by God.
That’s why the Bible uses drastic terms like conversion, repentance, and lost and found. Society may renovate, but only God re-creates.
MAX LUCADO………….When God Whispers Your Name
********************
“God’s will for us becomes our own true will for ourselves.” Narcotics Anonymous basic text page 46
Rights
Thought for the day: “In judging of others a man labors in vain, often errs, and easily sins; but in judging and examining himself, he always labors fruitfully.”
Thomas a Kempis
This morning as I sit and look out my window and watch the birds at the feeders and the squirrels scampering around, my mind ponders over the thought about judging others and self-examination. Self-examination has become a useful tool that I use in my morning meditation. Before I sit down to read Scripture, I spend some time in prayer and self-examination. I don’t spend a lot of time reflecting inwardly, but I do try and check my attitude a little to see if some adjustments need to be made. Sometimes when I notice some attitude that runs contrary to living at peace with others, I will pray about the situation and the person to change my attitude. There are times also when I am aware of a negative attitude and have no desire to change the way I feel. These days turn out to be real doozies. It seems to be harder to change my attitude when I feel justified in have a bad mood because of something someone did or said that I thought was not right. Bad attitudes can hang around for long periods of time because we feel our rights have been violated. I am learning that at some point, if I want to have serenity in my own life today, if might have to give up some of my rights. I’m not talking about my legal rights, or my God given rights. I am talking about my right to be upset, my right to be angry, my right to be jealous, my right to be suspicious, my right to speak my mind, my right to have a bad attitude. When I give up and let go of these feelings other feelings come in to take their place. We always have some emotions and feelings going on, we are not vegetables. So, when we work on one feeling, it will, be replaced by another, hopefully a better one. There are people today I my life who do not judge me because of my past. I am learning not to judge myself by my past also. It is not where I’ve been that counts, but where I’m going. Today I choose to be a child of God in fellowship with my siblings. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”
1 CORINTHIANS 11:28-28 NAS
********************
“Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.”
ROMANS 12:2
Real change is an inside job. You might alter things a day or two with money and systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be, the matter of the heart.
Allow me to get specific. Our problem is sin. Not finances. Not budgets….Our problem is sin. We are I rebellion against our Creator. We are separated from our Father. We are cut off from the source of life. A new president or policy won’t fix that. It can only be solved by God.
That’s why the Bible uses drastic terms like conversion, repentance, and lost and found. Society may renovate, but only God re-creates.
MAX LUCADO………….When God Whispers Your Name
********************
“God’s will for us becomes our own true will for ourselves.” Narcotics Anonymous basic text page 46
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do.” Warren Wiersby
When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”
And hearing this Jesus said to them, “it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
MARK 2:16-17 NAS
The principle of love never changes, it never fails, love will always work. Jesus extended love to Matthew Levi the tax collector, and invited him to become a part of His ministry. Levi took Him up on it and invited Jesus to his house for fellowship. While there some of the more legalistic religious people of the day thought it was wrong for Jesus to fellowship with these kinds of people. And of course Jesus said He did not come for the righteous but for the sinners. You know why He didn’t come for the righteous? Come on, think about it, why did He not come for the righteous also? Don’t they deserve the love of God extended to them just like the sinners? Did Jesus only come for part of the people? Jesus said Himself He did “not come to call the righteous,” my question is why? Okay, here is my answer, remember this is not Scriptural. Jesus did not come for the righteous, because there were none! These “do gooders” who would not lower themselves to fellowship with those they considered lower than them socially or religiously, were righteous. You bet they were, but it was only in their own eyes. They were sinners also, the sin of self-righteousness. They could not apply the principle of love because they put limits on who they wanted to love. I am so grateful that when I was un-loveable, God sent family and friends my way to encourage, and help me stand up again. God helps me one day at a time to overcome my addictions to alcohol and drugs, and self-centeredness. Self-centeredness and self-righteousness, how much difference is there? God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
[Love] “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.”
1 CORINTHIANS 13:6
********************
PRINCIPLES OF MINISTRY, Dr. Warren Wiersby
Foundation of ministry is character.
Nature of ministry is service.
Motive of ministry is love.
Measure of ministry is sacrifice.
Authority of ministry is submission.
Purpose of ministry is the glory of God.
Tools of ministry, prayer and the Word of God.
Privilege of ministry is growing.
Power of ministry is the Holy Spirit.
Model for ministry is Jesus Christ
********************
A.A Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the Spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities
Principles before personalities
Thought for the day: “Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do.” Warren Wiersby
When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”
And hearing this Jesus said to them, “it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
MARK 2:16-17 NAS
The principle of love never changes, it never fails, love will always work. Jesus extended love to Matthew Levi the tax collector, and invited him to become a part of His ministry. Levi took Him up on it and invited Jesus to his house for fellowship. While there some of the more legalistic religious people of the day thought it was wrong for Jesus to fellowship with these kinds of people. And of course Jesus said He did not come for the righteous but for the sinners. You know why He didn’t come for the righteous? Come on, think about it, why did He not come for the righteous also? Don’t they deserve the love of God extended to them just like the sinners? Did Jesus only come for part of the people? Jesus said Himself He did “not come to call the righteous,” my question is why? Okay, here is my answer, remember this is not Scriptural. Jesus did not come for the righteous, because there were none! These “do gooders” who would not lower themselves to fellowship with those they considered lower than them socially or religiously, were righteous. You bet they were, but it was only in their own eyes. They were sinners also, the sin of self-righteousness. They could not apply the principle of love because they put limits on who they wanted to love. I am so grateful that when I was un-loveable, God sent family and friends my way to encourage, and help me stand up again. God helps me one day at a time to overcome my addictions to alcohol and drugs, and self-centeredness. Self-centeredness and self-righteousness, how much difference is there? God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
[Love] “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.”
1 CORINTHIANS 13:6
********************
PRINCIPLES OF MINISTRY, Dr. Warren Wiersby
Foundation of ministry is character.
Nature of ministry is service.
Motive of ministry is love.
Measure of ministry is sacrifice.
Authority of ministry is submission.
Purpose of ministry is the glory of God.
Tools of ministry, prayer and the Word of God.
Privilege of ministry is growing.
Power of ministry is the Holy Spirit.
Model for ministry is Jesus Christ
********************
A.A Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the Spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “God hears more than our words, He listens to our hearts.”
Our Daily Bread 10-27-04
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15 NAS
This is a very important part of prayer. I know that this Scripture doesn’t appear to be on the subject of prayer, but it is. Jesus had gone up on a mountain and was teaching to a large crowd of people. When He came to the subject of prayer, he said that you should be humble and not prideful about prayer, you should do it in secret if you can, and you should not use the same words over and over in a meaningless way. Jesus then gave the people an example of a complete prayer. We call this prayer the Lord’s Prayer. Right in the middle of the short prayer Jesus says we should ask for forgiveness and to forgive others, and then after the prayer He goes on to say that if we don’t forgive others we will not be forgiven. I ask myself why is forgiveness so important? Why does my whole relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, depend on how I feel about other people? I ask myself, if I have something against someone that I hold on to, do I still have favor with God? Jesus says the answer is no! I ask why? In trying to understand this principle I realize that prayer is not so much a matter of words, but a matter of our heart. God listens to our hearts, and if the heart is preoccupied with some resentment, than the true message to God is not very clear, no matter how beautiful the words are that we pray. Forgiveness is such a powerful principle that works more than one way. It works “all ways” and “always.” Forgiveness heals my relationship with others, it heals my relationship with God and it brings healing to myself. Our own inner healing is seen in the serenity that we experience in our lives. Today I choose serenity over resentments. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
********************
BEING BRIDGES
“Love suffers long and is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
God ministers to every individual with a perfect knowledge of each person’s needs. While He will certainly understand my hurt feelings and comfort me when I have been mistreated, He will also be concerned with all that is happening to and in the other person.
I may consider the other person my adversary, but Jesus cares as much about that person’s needs as He does about mine. And He wants me to learn this and open my heart to being used by Him to bridge rifts in relationships.
JACK HAYFORD……………….Our Daily Walk
********************
“In God’s hands the dark past is the greatest possession you have, the key to life and happiness for others.” Alcoholics Anonymous page
All ways and always
Thought for the day: “God hears more than our words, He listens to our hearts.”
Our Daily Bread 10-27-04
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15 NAS
This is a very important part of prayer. I know that this Scripture doesn’t appear to be on the subject of prayer, but it is. Jesus had gone up on a mountain and was teaching to a large crowd of people. When He came to the subject of prayer, he said that you should be humble and not prideful about prayer, you should do it in secret if you can, and you should not use the same words over and over in a meaningless way. Jesus then gave the people an example of a complete prayer. We call this prayer the Lord’s Prayer. Right in the middle of the short prayer Jesus says we should ask for forgiveness and to forgive others, and then after the prayer He goes on to say that if we don’t forgive others we will not be forgiven. I ask myself why is forgiveness so important? Why does my whole relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, depend on how I feel about other people? I ask myself, if I have something against someone that I hold on to, do I still have favor with God? Jesus says the answer is no! I ask why? In trying to understand this principle I realize that prayer is not so much a matter of words, but a matter of our heart. God listens to our hearts, and if the heart is preoccupied with some resentment, than the true message to God is not very clear, no matter how beautiful the words are that we pray. Forgiveness is such a powerful principle that works more than one way. It works “all ways” and “always.” Forgiveness heals my relationship with others, it heals my relationship with God and it brings healing to myself. Our own inner healing is seen in the serenity that we experience in our lives. Today I choose serenity over resentments. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
********************
BEING BRIDGES
“Love suffers long and is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
God ministers to every individual with a perfect knowledge of each person’s needs. While He will certainly understand my hurt feelings and comfort me when I have been mistreated, He will also be concerned with all that is happening to and in the other person.
I may consider the other person my adversary, but Jesus cares as much about that person’s needs as He does about mine. And He wants me to learn this and open my heart to being used by Him to bridge rifts in relationships.
JACK HAYFORD……………….Our Daily Walk
********************
“In God’s hands the dark past is the greatest possession you have, the key to life and happiness for others.” Alcoholics Anonymous page
Monday, November 15, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: About doing good ... "If not here, where? If not now, when? If not you, who?" Rabbi Hillel, a Jewish rabbi and scholar in Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
MATTHEW 11:2-6 NAS
Go tell John! These are the words from Jesus to the Point Man in His ministry. When I was in the Army in Vietnam I went on many patrols. We always had a point man. The job of the point man is to walk out ahead of the main element and keep a keen eye open for the enemy. Not only does the point man look for the enemy himself, he looks for any signs of the enemy and any traps that might have been laid. Of course if there is an attack by the enemy, the point man is usually the first to know it. The most dangerous job on any patrol is the point man! Father God had given Jesus a point man also. His name was John, and he walked out ahead of Jesus Christ for some time, preparing the people for the greatest spiritual awakening that the earth had ever seen. John did an excellent job, many hearts repented and were softened and ready to receive the Living Word, Jesus Christ. Today God has many point men out in the field. They walk into jails, prisons, and institutions every day caring a message of hope. I am so grateful for a couple of point men that came on a patrol to Leeds Farm, a Kansas City correctional institution, twenty-one years ago, and brought a Divine message of hope and the way to live a better life. They helped prepare my heart for the Living Word Jesus Christ. God was doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
********************
To encourage John the Baptist, the Lord sent a reminder of the miracles He was doing. The Old Testament predicted that Messiah would give sight to the blind (Isaiah 29:18), and there are more recorded miracles of our Lord doing this than any other kind. This alone should have assured John that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Charles Ryrie, New American Standard, Study Bible, page 1531
********************
Every strong and beautiful flower must have a strong root in the ground. It must send a root down that it may be rooted and grounded while at the same time it sends a shoot up to be the flower that shall gladden the world. Both growths are necessary. Without a strong root, it would soon wither. The higher the growth upward, the deeper must be the rooting. My life cannot flower into success and helpfulness unless it is rooted in strong faith, or unless it feels deeply secure in the goodness and purpose of the universe.
HAZELDEN…………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does he enable us to match calamity with serenity.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 68
Point Man
Thought for the day: About doing good ... "If not here, where? If not now, when? If not you, who?" Rabbi Hillel, a Jewish rabbi and scholar in Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
MATTHEW 11:2-6 NAS
Go tell John! These are the words from Jesus to the Point Man in His ministry. When I was in the Army in Vietnam I went on many patrols. We always had a point man. The job of the point man is to walk out ahead of the main element and keep a keen eye open for the enemy. Not only does the point man look for the enemy himself, he looks for any signs of the enemy and any traps that might have been laid. Of course if there is an attack by the enemy, the point man is usually the first to know it. The most dangerous job on any patrol is the point man! Father God had given Jesus a point man also. His name was John, and he walked out ahead of Jesus Christ for some time, preparing the people for the greatest spiritual awakening that the earth had ever seen. John did an excellent job, many hearts repented and were softened and ready to receive the Living Word, Jesus Christ. Today God has many point men out in the field. They walk into jails, prisons, and institutions every day caring a message of hope. I am so grateful for a couple of point men that came on a patrol to Leeds Farm, a Kansas City correctional institution, twenty-one years ago, and brought a Divine message of hope and the way to live a better life. They helped prepare my heart for the Living Word Jesus Christ. God was doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
********************
To encourage John the Baptist, the Lord sent a reminder of the miracles He was doing. The Old Testament predicted that Messiah would give sight to the blind (Isaiah 29:18), and there are more recorded miracles of our Lord doing this than any other kind. This alone should have assured John that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Charles Ryrie, New American Standard, Study Bible, page 1531
********************
Every strong and beautiful flower must have a strong root in the ground. It must send a root down that it may be rooted and grounded while at the same time it sends a shoot up to be the flower that shall gladden the world. Both growths are necessary. Without a strong root, it would soon wither. The higher the growth upward, the deeper must be the rooting. My life cannot flower into success and helpfulness unless it is rooted in strong faith, or unless it feels deeply secure in the goodness and purpose of the universe.
HAZELDEN…………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does he enable us to match calamity with serenity.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 68
Friday, November 12, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “You can’t unsay a cruel remark.”
When he had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”………………………Then Peter answers and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”
MATTHEW 15:10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 NKJV
Have you ever clicked on send when sending an email, and then realized that maybe you shouldn’t have sent that one? I have, there have been times when I have written something and though of it as being okay, and then as soon as I hit send, a small little voice in my heart says, “maybe you shouldn’t have done that.” The words that we speak are the same way, once we’ve released them there’s no bringing them back. If I could go back and truly fix my life in the areas where I messed up, almost all the work would be done in repairing words that I spoke foolishly. Words that I spoke in anger, or words that I spoke while feeling superior to someone else. “Things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart.” This is so true, when my heart is full of myself and thinking only of myself, what others hear could be damaging to their hearts. For me, choosing the proper words and knowing when to speak them is one of the most difficult aspects of living a life that is pleasing to God. It is so hard to undo a life spent running on self-will, but with each little knot I untie, I grow evermore in the Love of the Father. He loves us all, and wishes us to love each other. May I learn to watch over each word before it leaves my tongue headed for eternity. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
********************
IN THE PLAM OF GOD’S HAND
“For the earth is the LORD’s and all it contains.” 1 CORINTHIANS 10:26
God has the whole world in His hands. Remember the old gospel song? He’s got the wind, the rain, the tiny little baby, yes, even you and me in His hands. How easy it is to forget that! And it isn’t limited to our geography or our culture, you know. He’s got the Middle East in His hands (that’s a relief isn’t it?), not to mention Central America and Red China, Ethiopia and India, Indonesia and Russia, all right there in the palms of His sovereign hands. And while we’re at it, He’s got our future, our children, our circumstances, our friends, and our foes in His hands…..within His grasp…under His control. Even when imaginary fears slip in like the morning frost to blight our faith, He’s there, in charge…….
He has yesterdays’ failures. He has today’s challenges. He has tomorrow’s surprises right there in His hands. And not one of them causes Him to gasp.
CHARLES SWINDOLL…….Living on the Ragged Edge
********************
“The answers will come, if your own house is in order…See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us….May God bless you and keep you…until then.”
Alcoholics Anonymous page 164
Not in, but out.
Thought for the day: “You can’t unsay a cruel remark.”
When he had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”………………………Then Peter answers and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”
MATTHEW 15:10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 NKJV
Have you ever clicked on send when sending an email, and then realized that maybe you shouldn’t have sent that one? I have, there have been times when I have written something and though of it as being okay, and then as soon as I hit send, a small little voice in my heart says, “maybe you shouldn’t have done that.” The words that we speak are the same way, once we’ve released them there’s no bringing them back. If I could go back and truly fix my life in the areas where I messed up, almost all the work would be done in repairing words that I spoke foolishly. Words that I spoke in anger, or words that I spoke while feeling superior to someone else. “Things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart.” This is so true, when my heart is full of myself and thinking only of myself, what others hear could be damaging to their hearts. For me, choosing the proper words and knowing when to speak them is one of the most difficult aspects of living a life that is pleasing to God. It is so hard to undo a life spent running on self-will, but with each little knot I untie, I grow evermore in the Love of the Father. He loves us all, and wishes us to love each other. May I learn to watch over each word before it leaves my tongue headed for eternity. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
********************
IN THE PLAM OF GOD’S HAND
“For the earth is the LORD’s and all it contains.” 1 CORINTHIANS 10:26
God has the whole world in His hands. Remember the old gospel song? He’s got the wind, the rain, the tiny little baby, yes, even you and me in His hands. How easy it is to forget that! And it isn’t limited to our geography or our culture, you know. He’s got the Middle East in His hands (that’s a relief isn’t it?), not to mention Central America and Red China, Ethiopia and India, Indonesia and Russia, all right there in the palms of His sovereign hands. And while we’re at it, He’s got our future, our children, our circumstances, our friends, and our foes in His hands…..within His grasp…under His control. Even when imaginary fears slip in like the morning frost to blight our faith, He’s there, in charge…….
He has yesterdays’ failures. He has today’s challenges. He has tomorrow’s surprises right there in His hands. And not one of them causes Him to gasp.
CHARLES SWINDOLL…….Living on the Ragged Edge
********************
“The answers will come, if your own house is in order…See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us….May God bless you and keep you…until then.”
Alcoholics Anonymous page 164
Thursday, November 11, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The selfish man suffers more from his selfishness than he from whom that selfishness withholds some important benefit.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
“And many who believed came confessing and telling their deeds.”
ACTS 19:18 NKJV
The apostle Paul had been given great power by the Holy Spirit to help in his ministry. He had the power of healing and he also had the power to lay hands on believers so they could also be empowered by the Holy Spirit also. During Paul’s ministry in Asia or Turkey as we know it today, he did many wonderful works and these were seen by many. There was one Jewish exorcist and several sons of a priest who saw Paul doing wonderful works through the Holy Spirit, and they attempted to do like wise. Of course not empowered by the Holy Spirit the evil man they were working with jumped on them and whipped them. “This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified” (Acts 19:17). That brings us up to the verse where “many who believed came confessing.” I know that in my life there were many changes that needed to take place but none of them came about until I “came confessing.” I know that a lot of people, Christians included don’t understand the principle of confession. Believe me it’s hard to sometimes to go deep inside and carry the trash out. But something happened to me spiritually when I did my AA 5th Step. When I did some cleaning on the inside and took the trash out, it made room for some of the better things of life, things of the spiritual nature in which benefits flow three directions, to God, others, and myself. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” ACTS 19:20 NKJV
********************
A.A. STEP 5: We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Almost as soon as a child can talk, we discover that this precious bundle of energy and joy can also lie. Some children are born risk-takers. Because of this personality trait, parents find themselves having to discipline such children frequently. Sometimes it might seem easier just to believe the little lies they tell to avoid the discipline. And yet we learn that once the truth is admitted, even if discipline has to follow, our children feel cleansed and relieved.
This same principle held true for the believers at Ephesus; and it does in our own lives as well. When we come confessing and telling our deeds, we will be amazed at the cleansing and release that the Holy Spirit will impart to us. Even though it may seem easier to continue to deny or excuse our behavior, in the long run the relief and cleansing are worth the momentary pain. NELSON SERENITY BIBLE page 194
Confessing and telling
Thought for the day: “The selfish man suffers more from his selfishness than he from whom that selfishness withholds some important benefit.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
“And many who believed came confessing and telling their deeds.”
ACTS 19:18 NKJV
The apostle Paul had been given great power by the Holy Spirit to help in his ministry. He had the power of healing and he also had the power to lay hands on believers so they could also be empowered by the Holy Spirit also. During Paul’s ministry in Asia or Turkey as we know it today, he did many wonderful works and these were seen by many. There was one Jewish exorcist and several sons of a priest who saw Paul doing wonderful works through the Holy Spirit, and they attempted to do like wise. Of course not empowered by the Holy Spirit the evil man they were working with jumped on them and whipped them. “This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified” (Acts 19:17). That brings us up to the verse where “many who believed came confessing.” I know that in my life there were many changes that needed to take place but none of them came about until I “came confessing.” I know that a lot of people, Christians included don’t understand the principle of confession. Believe me it’s hard to sometimes to go deep inside and carry the trash out. But something happened to me spiritually when I did my AA 5th Step. When I did some cleaning on the inside and took the trash out, it made room for some of the better things of life, things of the spiritual nature in which benefits flow three directions, to God, others, and myself. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” ACTS 19:20 NKJV
********************
A.A. STEP 5: We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Almost as soon as a child can talk, we discover that this precious bundle of energy and joy can also lie. Some children are born risk-takers. Because of this personality trait, parents find themselves having to discipline such children frequently. Sometimes it might seem easier just to believe the little lies they tell to avoid the discipline. And yet we learn that once the truth is admitted, even if discipline has to follow, our children feel cleansed and relieved.
This same principle held true for the believers at Ephesus; and it does in our own lives as well. When we come confessing and telling our deeds, we will be amazed at the cleansing and release that the Holy Spirit will impart to us. Even though it may seem easier to continue to deny or excuse our behavior, in the long run the relief and cleansing are worth the momentary pain. NELSON SERENITY BIBLE page 194
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The best sermons are lived not preached.”
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down to the beard, the beard of Arron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing, Life forevermore.”
The 133 Psalm NKJV
This morning as I read this Psalm I decided to use the first sentence as the basis for a small paragraph to share with ya’ll. But the more I thought about it the more I was pulled into the rest of the Psalm. The Psalm is a song of ascents, which means that as the Israelites traveled up to Jerusalem for one of the annual feast, they would sing this song. It must have been a wonderful time to gather together and see folks that you hadn’t seen in a while, to come together in unity for the purpose of worshiping God. Kind of like our Thanksgiving, Christmas, family reunions, and 4th of July all rolled up in one occasion. How good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. This is so true. I can remember a time a few years ago when my life was all about me, me, me. Living this way I rubbed some of my family and neighbors the wrong way. It took several years to get around to working on the problem, which was my self-centeredness. Today I try and live in peace with all those around me, and try and be a good neighbor. It makes life “good and pleasant.” When I do go against the grain of someone, I am learning to be quick to resolve the issue and to say “I’m sorry.” It keeps the unity not only between myself and others, but the unity within myself between my mind and spirit. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
********************
Psalm 133 Unity of the brethren is pictured as being as precious as the oil of priestly consecration and as refreshing as the early mountain dew.
Ryrie Study Bible NAS page 953
********************
To be shallow is not a sign of being wicked, nor is shallowness a sign that there are no deeps: the ocean has a shore. The shallow amenities of life, eating and drinking, walking and talking, are al ordained by God. These are the things in which Our Lord lived. He lived in them as the Son of God, and he said that “the disciple is not above the Master.”
Our safeguard is in the shallow things. We have to live the surface common-sense life in a common-sense way; when the deeper things come, God gives them to us apart from the shallow concerns. Never show the deeps to anyone but God. We are so abominably serious, so desperately interested in our own characters, that we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Determinedly take no one seriously but God, and the first person you find you have to leave severely alone as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
WOW!! Oswald Chambers has a way of cutting right through the mess and getting to the point……have a wonderful day…………JRE
********************
A.A. Step Eight: Made a list of all people we have harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Oil and dew
Thought for the day: “The best sermons are lived not preached.”
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down to the beard, the beard of Arron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing, Life forevermore.”
The 133 Psalm NKJV
This morning as I read this Psalm I decided to use the first sentence as the basis for a small paragraph to share with ya’ll. But the more I thought about it the more I was pulled into the rest of the Psalm. The Psalm is a song of ascents, which means that as the Israelites traveled up to Jerusalem for one of the annual feast, they would sing this song. It must have been a wonderful time to gather together and see folks that you hadn’t seen in a while, to come together in unity for the purpose of worshiping God. Kind of like our Thanksgiving, Christmas, family reunions, and 4th of July all rolled up in one occasion. How good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. This is so true. I can remember a time a few years ago when my life was all about me, me, me. Living this way I rubbed some of my family and neighbors the wrong way. It took several years to get around to working on the problem, which was my self-centeredness. Today I try and live in peace with all those around me, and try and be a good neighbor. It makes life “good and pleasant.” When I do go against the grain of someone, I am learning to be quick to resolve the issue and to say “I’m sorry.” It keeps the unity not only between myself and others, but the unity within myself between my mind and spirit. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
********************
Psalm 133 Unity of the brethren is pictured as being as precious as the oil of priestly consecration and as refreshing as the early mountain dew.
Ryrie Study Bible NAS page 953
********************
To be shallow is not a sign of being wicked, nor is shallowness a sign that there are no deeps: the ocean has a shore. The shallow amenities of life, eating and drinking, walking and talking, are al ordained by God. These are the things in which Our Lord lived. He lived in them as the Son of God, and he said that “the disciple is not above the Master.”
Our safeguard is in the shallow things. We have to live the surface common-sense life in a common-sense way; when the deeper things come, God gives them to us apart from the shallow concerns. Never show the deeps to anyone but God. We are so abominably serious, so desperately interested in our own characters, that we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Determinedly take no one seriously but God, and the first person you find you have to leave severely alone as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
WOW!! Oswald Chambers has a way of cutting right through the mess and getting to the point……have a wonderful day…………JRE
********************
A.A. Step Eight: Made a list of all people we have harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we want from it.” William Osler
“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35b NKJV
This quote from Jesus did not come from the Sermon on the Mount, or when Jesus fed the five thousand, or when He went to the Cross. This quote did not come from any of the four gospels, but was recorded by the physician Luke in the Book of Acts. The apostle Paul quoted Jesus as he humbled himself before the elders of the church at Ephesus and told them how he had come working with his own hands and not expecting them to support him in his daily needs. Paul came to give and not to take. What he came to fearlessly give, even after many beatings for doing it, was the “Good News” that Jesus had set us free. Freedom from the prison that we create for ourselves by building walls of guilt, remorse, shame, anger, resentment, jealousy, envy, and selfishness. Paul had truly been set free from this self-imposed prison of the mind and spirit. He was guilty of the persecution and harassment of the followers of Jesus, and he even consented in the execution of some. But when he met Jesus and forgiveness was even extended to a wretch like him, he could not keep it quiet and to himself, he had to share. I myself was also released and pardoned from a spiritual prison like Paul. I spent most of my life taking and ended up with nothing. After being forgiven and freely set free, I find that I must give it away to keep what I’ve got. And through this giving I have received abundantly over and over more than I ever took out of life. Funny how that works. The word blessed means happy, could this possibly be the key to happiness? Thanks for letting me share, God does for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV.
“And as you go, preach saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
********************
A STATUE OF LIBERTY
“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
During the national observance of the one-hundredth anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, I was struck by the great emphasis on the number of immigrants who had often left everything behind. Coming to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they risked their lives for something they valued more highly than everything they had left behind: freedom. They did not take their adopted country’s hard-won freedom for granted, and neither must we.
Their experience is a picture of what we must do when we come to Christ. We must forsake our allegiance to this world, leave behind all that it offers, and become citizens of a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. His statue of liberty is in the form of the Cross.
The statue in New York Harbor lifts her lamp “beside the golden door.” The statue of liberty on that hill outside Jerusalem lights the way into eternal life.
BILLY GRAHAM
********************
“If God can solve the age-old riddle of alcoholism, he can solve your problems too.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 116
Freely set free
Thought for the day: “We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we want from it.” William Osler
“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35b NKJV
This quote from Jesus did not come from the Sermon on the Mount, or when Jesus fed the five thousand, or when He went to the Cross. This quote did not come from any of the four gospels, but was recorded by the physician Luke in the Book of Acts. The apostle Paul quoted Jesus as he humbled himself before the elders of the church at Ephesus and told them how he had come working with his own hands and not expecting them to support him in his daily needs. Paul came to give and not to take. What he came to fearlessly give, even after many beatings for doing it, was the “Good News” that Jesus had set us free. Freedom from the prison that we create for ourselves by building walls of guilt, remorse, shame, anger, resentment, jealousy, envy, and selfishness. Paul had truly been set free from this self-imposed prison of the mind and spirit. He was guilty of the persecution and harassment of the followers of Jesus, and he even consented in the execution of some. But when he met Jesus and forgiveness was even extended to a wretch like him, he could not keep it quiet and to himself, he had to share. I myself was also released and pardoned from a spiritual prison like Paul. I spent most of my life taking and ended up with nothing. After being forgiven and freely set free, I find that I must give it away to keep what I’ve got. And through this giving I have received abundantly over and over more than I ever took out of life. Funny how that works. The word blessed means happy, could this possibly be the key to happiness? Thanks for letting me share, God does for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV.
“And as you go, preach saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
********************
A STATUE OF LIBERTY
“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
During the national observance of the one-hundredth anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, I was struck by the great emphasis on the number of immigrants who had often left everything behind. Coming to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they risked their lives for something they valued more highly than everything they had left behind: freedom. They did not take their adopted country’s hard-won freedom for granted, and neither must we.
Their experience is a picture of what we must do when we come to Christ. We must forsake our allegiance to this world, leave behind all that it offers, and become citizens of a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. His statue of liberty is in the form of the Cross.
The statue in New York Harbor lifts her lamp “beside the golden door.” The statue of liberty on that hill outside Jerusalem lights the way into eternal life.
BILLY GRAHAM
********************
“If God can solve the age-old riddle of alcoholism, he can solve your problems too.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 116
Monday, November 08, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: ““A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than the giant himself.” Didacus Stella
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
JAMES 3:13-18 NKJV
“Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in meekness of wisdom.” As I read this Scripture this morning I wonder to myself just what it means. As I study it out, I find that it is in reference to “true and false” wisdom. And also it is in reference to teachers and those who instruct us. I like what the Dake Bible has to say about this verse, share this with me:
“True wisdom is always accompanied with meekness and gentleness. Proud, overbearing and disdainful men may pass as scholars and have learning, but not true wisdom.”
Once again I see where attitude is of most importance in the teaching and instructing of others, and also in the way we learn. As I look back over my years in school, the teachers and instructors I had that had the greatest influence on me and the ones that I probably learned the most from, were the ones that were meek and gentle in their methods of teaching. My second semester in college, I failed a Social Psychology class as “slick as a whistle” because I could not connect with the instructor. There was no meekness or gentleness it was all just “cut and dry.” I couldn’t grasp it on the intellectual level because the human aspect was missing. If I had been a more mature individual at the time I might have done better, but I was young and still needed to be spoon-fed. Today I am a grandfather and find myself still sitting in the classroom of life. I am still learning and I am grateful for my many instructors who out of love demonstrate the “meekness of wisdom.” God is still doing for me what I could not do for myself………JRE
********************
WE NEED EACH OTHER
“But now there are many members, but one body.” 1 CORINTHIANS 12:20
Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link and the chain is broken.
Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited.
Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete…..
You guessed it. We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated islands we’re not.
To make this thing called life work, we gotta’ lean and support. And relate and respond. And give and take. And confess and forgive. And reach out and embrace.
CHARLES SWINDOLL………….The Finishing Touch
********************
“The central fact of our lives is the absolute certainty that our creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could not do by ourselves.”
Alcoholics Anonymous page 25
attitude is of most importance
Thought for the day: ““A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than the giant himself.” Didacus Stella
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
JAMES 3:13-18 NKJV
“Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in meekness of wisdom.” As I read this Scripture this morning I wonder to myself just what it means. As I study it out, I find that it is in reference to “true and false” wisdom. And also it is in reference to teachers and those who instruct us. I like what the Dake Bible has to say about this verse, share this with me:
“True wisdom is always accompanied with meekness and gentleness. Proud, overbearing and disdainful men may pass as scholars and have learning, but not true wisdom.”
Once again I see where attitude is of most importance in the teaching and instructing of others, and also in the way we learn. As I look back over my years in school, the teachers and instructors I had that had the greatest influence on me and the ones that I probably learned the most from, were the ones that were meek and gentle in their methods of teaching. My second semester in college, I failed a Social Psychology class as “slick as a whistle” because I could not connect with the instructor. There was no meekness or gentleness it was all just “cut and dry.” I couldn’t grasp it on the intellectual level because the human aspect was missing. If I had been a more mature individual at the time I might have done better, but I was young and still needed to be spoon-fed. Today I am a grandfather and find myself still sitting in the classroom of life. I am still learning and I am grateful for my many instructors who out of love demonstrate the “meekness of wisdom.” God is still doing for me what I could not do for myself………JRE
********************
WE NEED EACH OTHER
“But now there are many members, but one body.” 1 CORINTHIANS 12:20
Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link and the chain is broken.
Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited.
Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete…..
You guessed it. We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated islands we’re not.
To make this thing called life work, we gotta’ lean and support. And relate and respond. And give and take. And confess and forgive. And reach out and embrace.
CHARLES SWINDOLL………….The Finishing Touch
********************
“The central fact of our lives is the absolute certainty that our creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could not do by ourselves.”
Alcoholics Anonymous page 25
Friday, November 05, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.”
PROVERBS 4:25-26 NIV
The road gets narrower as I travel on my daily journey of recovery and walking with my Lord Jesus. Six years ago when I first came back to the path after several years of wondering in the wilderness of substance abuse, I found the road broad and roomy, all I had to do was not drink or use and keep a conscious contact with God. I also found the road very bumpy and ruff, and with each little stumbling I would loose my serenity and inner peace. Having a desire for this thing called “inner peace” I soon discovered that this serenity came about by maintaining a spiritual relationship with God, others, and myself. The daily maintenance of my spiritual condition, I soon learned involved the choices that I make through the day. Choices like will I start the day off with prayer, meditation, and reading the Word of God. Choices like will I choose to get angry, or hold resentments, or be envious of someone else. Choices like will I pass someone by who needs help because I want to keep my time for myself and what I am doing. When I take the time to think ahead a little, I am able to remove some of the bumps out of the road and smooth out my journey. In doing this, the road gets narrower but smoother and the traveling is much more enjoyable. The road used to be wide and bumpy, and all about me. Today I choose to travel with others, so my part is narrower and with the help of Jesus I have been able to clear away some of the bumps and enjoy the smoother ride. Every now and then my eyes wonder off the path and I end up at a dead end. The grace of God calls to me from the place where I made a wrong turn, so I turn around, dust myself off, humble myself, and go back to the path. I find the gate always open that leads to the path, I am grateful. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
HEBREWS 12:1-2 NKJV
********************
There are times when there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task. Routine is God’s way of saving us between our times of inspiration. Do not expect God always to give you His thrilling minutes, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by the power of God.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
********************
“What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all our activities.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 85
the gate is always open
Thought for the day: “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.”
PROVERBS 4:25-26 NIV
The road gets narrower as I travel on my daily journey of recovery and walking with my Lord Jesus. Six years ago when I first came back to the path after several years of wondering in the wilderness of substance abuse, I found the road broad and roomy, all I had to do was not drink or use and keep a conscious contact with God. I also found the road very bumpy and ruff, and with each little stumbling I would loose my serenity and inner peace. Having a desire for this thing called “inner peace” I soon discovered that this serenity came about by maintaining a spiritual relationship with God, others, and myself. The daily maintenance of my spiritual condition, I soon learned involved the choices that I make through the day. Choices like will I start the day off with prayer, meditation, and reading the Word of God. Choices like will I choose to get angry, or hold resentments, or be envious of someone else. Choices like will I pass someone by who needs help because I want to keep my time for myself and what I am doing. When I take the time to think ahead a little, I am able to remove some of the bumps out of the road and smooth out my journey. In doing this, the road gets narrower but smoother and the traveling is much more enjoyable. The road used to be wide and bumpy, and all about me. Today I choose to travel with others, so my part is narrower and with the help of Jesus I have been able to clear away some of the bumps and enjoy the smoother ride. Every now and then my eyes wonder off the path and I end up at a dead end. The grace of God calls to me from the place where I made a wrong turn, so I turn around, dust myself off, humble myself, and go back to the path. I find the gate always open that leads to the path, I am grateful. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
HEBREWS 12:1-2 NKJV
********************
There are times when there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task. Routine is God’s way of saving us between our times of inspiration. Do not expect God always to give you His thrilling minutes, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by the power of God.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
********************
“What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all our activities.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 85
Thursday, November 04, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “A kind word is the oil that takes the friction out of life.”
Our Daily Bread 10-21-04
“Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.”
Matthew 20:14 NAS
Jesus tells a parable of how the kingdom of heaven is like a land owner who hires workers for his grape farm. He goes out early in the day and finds workers and agrees with them on a good and normal wage for working the day. Then the owner goes out at mid-morning, noon, and 5pm and hires more workers, and offers them the same pay. At the end of the work day, say 6pm, the owner tells the workers to be paid from the last to the first. They all get the same pay, one days wages. The guy that arrived early in the morning and worked all day in the hot sun gets a little stewed at the owner for paying the guy who worked only an hour the same money that he got. I can relate to how the guy felt. I have worked for companies where there were those who did less work than I did but were paid more. It comes down to the fact that the owner of the company can do what ever he wants when it come to those who work for him. The kingdom of heaven is the same way, God just “wishes to give.” If you show up late God wants you to have the same reward as everybody else. I did not show up until later in my life to work in Gods grape farm, and I know many who at a very young age were devoted and came to work early. If we all work till quitting time, we will all be paid the same. I am grateful for a loving God who wishes all to receive of His great love, even those who show up late. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?
So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
Matthew 20:15-16 NAS
********************
VALUABLE TO GOD
“He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
Proverbs 11:28
A certain rich man died and the question was asked at his funeral, “How much did he leave?”
“He left it all,” came the reply.
Often, I hear someone introduced this way: “This is Bob and he works for….,” as if where a person works or what a person does determined his or her value. (I have noticed it is usually only the well-to-do or those who are thought of as “successful” who are introduced this way.)
Yet God does not judge us by our success. He loves each person the same. Your value and mine does not come from what we do, the clothes we wear, the house we live in, or the type of car we drive. Our value comes from the fact that God made us and loves us, and Christ died for us. Our value comes from the fact that He adopted us into His family, and we are now His children forever.
Don’t depend on possessions or position for your identity. Get your identity from Christ, for you are of infinite worth to Him!
BILLY GRAHAM
********************
“We have found a loving, personal God to whom we can turn.” Narcotics Anonymous basic text page 27
"but I wish to give"
Thought for the day: “A kind word is the oil that takes the friction out of life.”
Our Daily Bread 10-21-04
“Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.”
Matthew 20:14 NAS
Jesus tells a parable of how the kingdom of heaven is like a land owner who hires workers for his grape farm. He goes out early in the day and finds workers and agrees with them on a good and normal wage for working the day. Then the owner goes out at mid-morning, noon, and 5pm and hires more workers, and offers them the same pay. At the end of the work day, say 6pm, the owner tells the workers to be paid from the last to the first. They all get the same pay, one days wages. The guy that arrived early in the morning and worked all day in the hot sun gets a little stewed at the owner for paying the guy who worked only an hour the same money that he got. I can relate to how the guy felt. I have worked for companies where there were those who did less work than I did but were paid more. It comes down to the fact that the owner of the company can do what ever he wants when it come to those who work for him. The kingdom of heaven is the same way, God just “wishes to give.” If you show up late God wants you to have the same reward as everybody else. I did not show up until later in my life to work in Gods grape farm, and I know many who at a very young age were devoted and came to work early. If we all work till quitting time, we will all be paid the same. I am grateful for a loving God who wishes all to receive of His great love, even those who show up late. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?
So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
Matthew 20:15-16 NAS
********************
VALUABLE TO GOD
“He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
Proverbs 11:28
A certain rich man died and the question was asked at his funeral, “How much did he leave?”
“He left it all,” came the reply.
Often, I hear someone introduced this way: “This is Bob and he works for….,” as if where a person works or what a person does determined his or her value. (I have noticed it is usually only the well-to-do or those who are thought of as “successful” who are introduced this way.)
Yet God does not judge us by our success. He loves each person the same. Your value and mine does not come from what we do, the clothes we wear, the house we live in, or the type of car we drive. Our value comes from the fact that God made us and loves us, and Christ died for us. Our value comes from the fact that He adopted us into His family, and we are now His children forever.
Don’t depend on possessions or position for your identity. Get your identity from Christ, for you are of infinite worth to Him!
BILLY GRAHAM
********************
“We have found a loving, personal God to whom we can turn.” Narcotics Anonymous basic text page 27
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Be good to yourself, you deserve it.”
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 NKJV
“Reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” I must continue daily to remind myself of the goals that I have set for myself. Six years ago what I reached forward for was simple, all I needed was not to take that first drink or drug, and to have a conscious contact with God on a daily basis. Today I still have the same daily goal but I must include service to others as part of my “reaching forward.” We all set goals in life and reach many of them. I have found that when I achieve a goal and have no one to share it with, it seems like an empty accomplishment. Can you imagine graduating from high school or college and having no one to share it with? In some ways being involved with service to others is a sharing of my accomplishments. I my remind myself to keep a humble attitude when sharing, otherwise my accomplishments are not received well. If I say, “look here, look here at what I have done!!” I find myself with no one to share with. “Reaching forward to those things which are ahead,” and those things which are ahead include others that I may be of service to. May I always stay teachable and grow, knowing that I must have a humble attitude to truly reach those that I may help. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
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“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I press onward toward the goal.” We should forget those things which are behind us and press onward toward something better. We can believe that God has forgiven us for all our past sins, provided we are honestly trying to live today the way we believe He wants us to live. We can wipe clean the slate of the past. We can start today with a clean slate and go forward with confidence toward the goal that has been set before us.”
HAZELDEN…………..Twenty-Four Hours A Day
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“I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.”……..MAX LUCADO
Reaching forward
Thought for the day: “Be good to yourself, you deserve it.”
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 NKJV
“Reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” I must continue daily to remind myself of the goals that I have set for myself. Six years ago what I reached forward for was simple, all I needed was not to take that first drink or drug, and to have a conscious contact with God on a daily basis. Today I still have the same daily goal but I must include service to others as part of my “reaching forward.” We all set goals in life and reach many of them. I have found that when I achieve a goal and have no one to share it with, it seems like an empty accomplishment. Can you imagine graduating from high school or college and having no one to share it with? In some ways being involved with service to others is a sharing of my accomplishments. I my remind myself to keep a humble attitude when sharing, otherwise my accomplishments are not received well. If I say, “look here, look here at what I have done!!” I find myself with no one to share with. “Reaching forward to those things which are ahead,” and those things which are ahead include others that I may be of service to. May I always stay teachable and grow, knowing that I must have a humble attitude to truly reach those that I may help. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
********************
“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I press onward toward the goal.” We should forget those things which are behind us and press onward toward something better. We can believe that God has forgiven us for all our past sins, provided we are honestly trying to live today the way we believe He wants us to live. We can wipe clean the slate of the past. We can start today with a clean slate and go forward with confidence toward the goal that has been set before us.”
HAZELDEN…………..Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.”……..MAX LUCADO
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” PSALM 118:24 NIV
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” ISAIAH 9:6 NAS
Election day 2004 is here. I have not felt so much anxiety over a presidential election since I was fourteen years old when JFK became President. I remember my freshman civics class at Westport High School, Kansas City Missouri, and my teacher Fred Phollman (elected to Missouri Sports Hall of Fame), and how he took time to explain the candidates and the election process. I remember how strange it seemed to call the President Kennedy instead of Eisenhower. One thing I know is that the country was divided then like it is now and we were able to pull together and become one again. I remember again the country being divided in 1968 and especially in 1972 and afterwards we pulled together and became one. I remember us pulling together during the Iran Crisis and becoming one again. I remember us pulling together for the Gulf War. How about the way we pulled together for 911…..that was awesome. We pulled together for Iraq war and backed our troop all the way, but since then we have let ourselves become divided over many issues. Regardless of how the election goes today I know that once again we will pull together and become “One Nation Under God.” Tomorrow the people from the party that was elected, should reach out to someone from the other party that they know and say, “Let us be one.” Thanks for letting me share this “one” message. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
Jesus praying to the Father, John 17:11 NIV.
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they maybe one, even as We are one.”
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FRIENDLY PEOPLE, THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” PROVERBS 18:24
If I have learned anything during my journey on Planet Earth, it is that people need one another. The presence of other people is essential, caring people, helpful people, interesting people, friendly people, thoughtful people. These folks take the grind out of life. About the time we are tempted to think we can handle things all alone, boom! We run into some obstacle and need assistance. We discover all over again that we are not nearly as self-sufficient as we though.
In spite of our high-tech world and efficient procedures, people remain the essential ingredient of life. When we forget that, a strange thing happens: We start treating people like inconveniences instead of assets.
CHARLES SWINDOLL……………Laugh Again
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“Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward.”…………BILL W.
"One" message
Thought for the day: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” PSALM 118:24 NIV
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” ISAIAH 9:6 NAS
Election day 2004 is here. I have not felt so much anxiety over a presidential election since I was fourteen years old when JFK became President. I remember my freshman civics class at Westport High School, Kansas City Missouri, and my teacher Fred Phollman (elected to Missouri Sports Hall of Fame), and how he took time to explain the candidates and the election process. I remember how strange it seemed to call the President Kennedy instead of Eisenhower. One thing I know is that the country was divided then like it is now and we were able to pull together and become one again. I remember again the country being divided in 1968 and especially in 1972 and afterwards we pulled together and became one. I remember us pulling together during the Iran Crisis and becoming one again. I remember us pulling together for the Gulf War. How about the way we pulled together for 911…..that was awesome. We pulled together for Iraq war and backed our troop all the way, but since then we have let ourselves become divided over many issues. Regardless of how the election goes today I know that once again we will pull together and become “One Nation Under God.” Tomorrow the people from the party that was elected, should reach out to someone from the other party that they know and say, “Let us be one.” Thanks for letting me share this “one” message. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
Jesus praying to the Father, John 17:11 NIV.
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they maybe one, even as We are one.”
********************
FRIENDLY PEOPLE, THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” PROVERBS 18:24
If I have learned anything during my journey on Planet Earth, it is that people need one another. The presence of other people is essential, caring people, helpful people, interesting people, friendly people, thoughtful people. These folks take the grind out of life. About the time we are tempted to think we can handle things all alone, boom! We run into some obstacle and need assistance. We discover all over again that we are not nearly as self-sufficient as we though.
In spite of our high-tech world and efficient procedures, people remain the essential ingredient of life. When we forget that, a strange thing happens: We start treating people like inconveniences instead of assets.
CHARLES SWINDOLL……………Laugh Again
********************
“Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward.”…………BILL W.
Monday, November 01, 2004
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Once stretched by a new idea, a man’s mind never regains its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
The apostle Paul’s mind was stretched by a new idea and could never go back to the way it was. Paul was highly educated and probably came from a family of wealth. At one time he was very much involved in the Jews suppression of the followers of Jesus Christ, even to the extent of the stoning and execution of Stephen, a Spirit filled worker for the church. When Jesus Christ came into Paul’s heart and mind, his whole being was stretched and he could never be the same man that he had been before. The “new idea” of man being reconciled to God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was a stretch for most people in those days, and still today many find it to be a stretch. A hard heart and a closed mind won’t bend or stretch for something new. In my life it was only by running in my own self-willed direction, and having head-on collisions with the wall of denial, that I was able to soften up my heart and mind. Being all spiritually bruised and tenderized, and softened up, the Holy Spirit was able to prepare the ground of my heart for seeds of love and hope that were sown by others sent my way. As the seeds of hope grew, my heart and mind stretched. Once opened to the “new idea” of unconditional love and forgiveness, I could never go back to the way I was. Sometimes when I’m down and experiencing some self-pity, I try and crawl back into the little dark corner that once used to be my heart. But with the stretching and the new windows that Jesus built that are open to Father God, the light of Love and Forgiveness make the place different. I cannot go back, it’s just not the same anymore. I am grateful. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
Paul writing to the church of the Galatians, share this with me:
“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” GALATIANS 1:11-12 NKJV
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Each new day brings an opportunity to do some little thing that will help to make a better world, that will bring God’s kingdom a little nearer to being realized on earth. Take each day’s happenings as opportunities for something you can do for God. In that spirit, a blessing will attend all that you do. Offering this day’s service to God, you are sharing in His work. You do not have to do great things.
HAZELDEN……………..Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“Came to believe that a Power greater that ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 59…..(Step 2)
Stretching
Thought for the day: “Once stretched by a new idea, a man’s mind never regains its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
The apostle Paul’s mind was stretched by a new idea and could never go back to the way it was. Paul was highly educated and probably came from a family of wealth. At one time he was very much involved in the Jews suppression of the followers of Jesus Christ, even to the extent of the stoning and execution of Stephen, a Spirit filled worker for the church. When Jesus Christ came into Paul’s heart and mind, his whole being was stretched and he could never be the same man that he had been before. The “new idea” of man being reconciled to God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was a stretch for most people in those days, and still today many find it to be a stretch. A hard heart and a closed mind won’t bend or stretch for something new. In my life it was only by running in my own self-willed direction, and having head-on collisions with the wall of denial, that I was able to soften up my heart and mind. Being all spiritually bruised and tenderized, and softened up, the Holy Spirit was able to prepare the ground of my heart for seeds of love and hope that were sown by others sent my way. As the seeds of hope grew, my heart and mind stretched. Once opened to the “new idea” of unconditional love and forgiveness, I could never go back to the way I was. Sometimes when I’m down and experiencing some self-pity, I try and crawl back into the little dark corner that once used to be my heart. But with the stretching and the new windows that Jesus built that are open to Father God, the light of Love and Forgiveness make the place different. I cannot go back, it’s just not the same anymore. I am grateful. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
Paul writing to the church of the Galatians, share this with me:
“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” GALATIANS 1:11-12 NKJV
********************
Each new day brings an opportunity to do some little thing that will help to make a better world, that will bring God’s kingdom a little nearer to being realized on earth. Take each day’s happenings as opportunities for something you can do for God. In that spirit, a blessing will attend all that you do. Offering this day’s service to God, you are sharing in His work. You do not have to do great things.
HAZELDEN……………..Twenty-Four Hours A Day
********************
“Came to believe that a Power greater that ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 59…..(Step 2)
