Thursday, April 28, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Why should I start at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? He is no idle husbandman, He purposeth a crop.”
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
You can’t just scratch at the surface of the soil and plant a seed and expect a good crop. You’ve got to really turn it over and get down deep under the surface and loosen up the soil so the root structure can spread out and get a foundation for the supplying of nutrients to the plant. I have found the Lord does not just scratch at the surface or the symptom of my problems, but He digs deep to the source. The Lord runs His plow deep and helps me turn the problem over by bringing the source to the surface. Once exposed to the Light it is easier to see the true nature and to openly discuss and resolve the issues. Of course some of my character defects I have buried deep and have place a stone or two on top of them with the hopes of them never being discovered. God does not just let these lay dormant to be watered by some adversity and to grow. My God has a way of letting me know that He knows the problem exists and stops plowing lone enough to get out the pick and shovel and start prying at my hidden defects. Here in southern Missouri each year as I prepare the soil for my garden I must remove some of the larger rocks that have worked their way to the surface. They stand as obstacles to have good root structure and foundation. It is a little harder work preparing the soil of my heart for a crop, but my, when it’s harvest time I find it all worth the while. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FO YOUR SOULS.
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
MATTHEW 11:28-30 NASB
“We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past life as it has affected other people. In many instances we shall find that, though the harm done others has not been great, we have nevertheless done ourselves considerable emotional injury.
Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness, very deep, sometimes quite forgotten. Therefore, we should try hard to recall and review those past events which originally induced these conflicts and which continue to give our emotions violent twists, thus discoloring our personalities and altering our lives for the worse.” BILL W. A.A. 12X12 page 79-80
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great as the knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
CHARLES H. SPURGEON
THE LORDS PLOW
Thought for the day: “Why should I start at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? He is no idle husbandman, He purposeth a crop.”
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
You can’t just scratch at the surface of the soil and plant a seed and expect a good crop. You’ve got to really turn it over and get down deep under the surface and loosen up the soil so the root structure can spread out and get a foundation for the supplying of nutrients to the plant. I have found the Lord does not just scratch at the surface or the symptom of my problems, but He digs deep to the source. The Lord runs His plow deep and helps me turn the problem over by bringing the source to the surface. Once exposed to the Light it is easier to see the true nature and to openly discuss and resolve the issues. Of course some of my character defects I have buried deep and have place a stone or two on top of them with the hopes of them never being discovered. God does not just let these lay dormant to be watered by some adversity and to grow. My God has a way of letting me know that He knows the problem exists and stops plowing lone enough to get out the pick and shovel and start prying at my hidden defects. Here in southern Missouri each year as I prepare the soil for my garden I must remove some of the larger rocks that have worked their way to the surface. They stand as obstacles to have good root structure and foundation. It is a little harder work preparing the soil of my heart for a crop, but my, when it’s harvest time I find it all worth the while. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FO YOUR SOULS.
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
MATTHEW 11:28-30 NASB
“We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past life as it has affected other people. In many instances we shall find that, though the harm done others has not been great, we have nevertheless done ourselves considerable emotional injury.
Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness, very deep, sometimes quite forgotten. Therefore, we should try hard to recall and review those past events which originally induced these conflicts and which continue to give our emotions violent twists, thus discoloring our personalities and altering our lives for the worse.” BILL W. A.A. 12X12 page 79-80
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great as the knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
CHARLES H. SPURGEON
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." PROVERBS 13:12 KJV
Hope is something we can't live without. That's what I heard my preacher say Sunday morning. I agree all the way with what I heard. It has been my unfortunate experience to know a couple of people who took their own lives over the past few years. In my opinion, one of the factors that I saw as common to all was the loss of hope in their life. Scripture says that there is "faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love." Love might be the greatest, but don't ever second guess the importance of hope. With out hope many do not survive. That is why I see encouragement as such an important part of our relationships with each other. May I today tell someone I appreciate them being in my life and what they do for me by being a friend. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself........JRE
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance amon all them which are sanctified."
ACTS 20:32 KJV
HOPE
It's magic and it's free
It's not in a prescription
It's not in an IV.
It punctuates out laughter,
It sparkles in our tears,
It simmers under sorrows,
And dissipates our fears.
Do you know what Hope is?
It's reaching past today,
It's dreaming of tomorrow,
It's trying a new way.
It's pushing past impossible,
It's pounding on the door,
It's questioning the Answers,
It's always seeking more.
It's rumors of a breakthrough,
It's whispers of a cure,
A roller coaster ride
Of remedies, unsure.
Do you know what Hope is?
It's candy for the soul,
It's perfume for the spirit,
To share it makes you Whole
Unknown Author
Hope
Thought for the day: "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." PROVERBS 13:12 KJV
Hope is something we can't live without. That's what I heard my preacher say Sunday morning. I agree all the way with what I heard. It has been my unfortunate experience to know a couple of people who took their own lives over the past few years. In my opinion, one of the factors that I saw as common to all was the loss of hope in their life. Scripture says that there is "faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love." Love might be the greatest, but don't ever second guess the importance of hope. With out hope many do not survive. That is why I see encouragement as such an important part of our relationships with each other. May I today tell someone I appreciate them being in my life and what they do for me by being a friend. Thanks for letting me share. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself........JRE
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance amon all them which are sanctified."
ACTS 20:32 KJV
HOPE
It's magic and it's free
It's not in a prescription
It's not in an IV.
It punctuates out laughter,
It sparkles in our tears,
It simmers under sorrows,
And dissipates our fears.
Do you know what Hope is?
It's reaching past today,
It's dreaming of tomorrow,
It's trying a new way.
It's pushing past impossible,
It's pounding on the door,
It's questioning the Answers,
It's always seeking more.
It's rumors of a breakthrough,
It's whispers of a cure,
A roller coaster ride
Of remedies, unsure.
Do you know what Hope is?
It's candy for the soul,
It's perfume for the spirit,
To share it makes you Whole
Unknown Author
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The steps of faith fall on the seeming void and find rock beneath.”
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
“There is no one holy like the LORD, indeed there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 SAMUEL 2:2 NASB
The Rock of Ages. Hannah was a woman who had no children and prayed to God to bless her with a child. Her prayer was answered, and she dedicated her son Samuel to the service of the Lord. After she dedicated her son whom she was very grateful for to the Lord, she composed a song and used it as a prayer of gratitude to God. In the song she says “nor is there any rock like our God.” What a solid statement. And this concept of God being the rock beneath our feet continues on thousands of years later. The Hebrew word that Hannah used for rock is “Tsuwr,” and it has a meaning of being a cliff and a refuge. I can see God as being a Fortress in my life, a Fortress built upon a large cliff and keeping me secure from all of my enemies. When I think of cliffs and fortresses I am reminded of the U.S. Army Rangers of WWII when they came against the Germans at Anzio Italy. The Germans were established on the tops of these cliffs and had control of the land and sea. The Rangers climbed the cliffs and penetrated the German strongholds, but only after taking seventy-five percent causalities. The cliff the Germans used could be penetrated, but it was costly and difficult. My God is my fortress and my Rock and cannot be penetrated by my enemies. I stand secure knowing that “I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). Today I have a Rock of Ages to stand on.
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.” II Samuel 22:2-3 NASB
Several years later King David understood what Hannah meant by the Rock of God being her solid foundation. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Be not miserable about what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father, who cares for you today, will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.” Francis De Sales
The Rock
Thought for the day: “The steps of faith fall on the seeming void and find rock beneath.”
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
“There is no one holy like the LORD, indeed there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 SAMUEL 2:2 NASB
The Rock of Ages. Hannah was a woman who had no children and prayed to God to bless her with a child. Her prayer was answered, and she dedicated her son Samuel to the service of the Lord. After she dedicated her son whom she was very grateful for to the Lord, she composed a song and used it as a prayer of gratitude to God. In the song she says “nor is there any rock like our God.” What a solid statement. And this concept of God being the rock beneath our feet continues on thousands of years later. The Hebrew word that Hannah used for rock is “Tsuwr,” and it has a meaning of being a cliff and a refuge. I can see God as being a Fortress in my life, a Fortress built upon a large cliff and keeping me secure from all of my enemies. When I think of cliffs and fortresses I am reminded of the U.S. Army Rangers of WWII when they came against the Germans at Anzio Italy. The Germans were established on the tops of these cliffs and had control of the land and sea. The Rangers climbed the cliffs and penetrated the German strongholds, but only after taking seventy-five percent causalities. The cliff the Germans used could be penetrated, but it was costly and difficult. My God is my fortress and my Rock and cannot be penetrated by my enemies. I stand secure knowing that “I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). Today I have a Rock of Ages to stand on.
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.” II Samuel 22:2-3 NASB
Several years later King David understood what Hannah meant by the Rock of God being her solid foundation. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Be not miserable about what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father, who cares for you today, will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.” Francis De Sales
Monday, April 25, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
Proverbs 30:33 NIV
Have you ever noticed when you stir up your cream and sugar in your coffee, and you take the spoon out of the cup, the coffee continues to circle around on its own. I have found this to be true in my life when it comes to anger that I have stirred up. There have been times when I have felt that my rights were violated, and as I would speak up in anger, I would stir up the situation. After I have had my say and felt all good and better for standing up for myself, I would shut up expecting everything to be all right. Little did I know that the anger that I stirred up was still spinning around and around. As I was ready to go on with life in peace and comfort, feeling better about myself for having stood up for my rights, all of a sudden here it comes spinning out of control and clobbers me on my blind side. Something that I had stirred up in anger had continued on even though I was not involved personally anymore. I am learning in life that some people don’t get over quickly the hurtful words that we sometimes use. Even when we are right, hurtful words that wound us take time to heal. Possibly sometimes there will always be scarring and the evidence of words that have cut us. So I come to a conclusion that even at times when I think I am right, I should choose how I use words to express my feelings. Possibly it is better to wave my rights and get over my feelings, than to say something that might leave a scar. How important are my rights compared to the pain of someone else, and the strife that will spin back to clobber me? Today I learn from Proverbs that if you stir it, it will continue to spin. God has done for me what I could not do for myself……………………….JRE
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV
“I bear my willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lord’s workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most.”
CHARLES H. SPURGEON
“Not what you do so much as what you are, that is the miracle-working power. You can be a force for good, with the help of God. God is here to help you and to bless you, here to company with you. You can be a worker with God. Changed by God’s grace, you shed one garment of the spirit for a better one. In time, you throw that one aside for yet finer one. And so from character to character, you are gradually transformed.”
HAZELDEN……………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Clobbered on the blind side
Thought for the day: “For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
Proverbs 30:33 NIV
Have you ever noticed when you stir up your cream and sugar in your coffee, and you take the spoon out of the cup, the coffee continues to circle around on its own. I have found this to be true in my life when it comes to anger that I have stirred up. There have been times when I have felt that my rights were violated, and as I would speak up in anger, I would stir up the situation. After I have had my say and felt all good and better for standing up for myself, I would shut up expecting everything to be all right. Little did I know that the anger that I stirred up was still spinning around and around. As I was ready to go on with life in peace and comfort, feeling better about myself for having stood up for my rights, all of a sudden here it comes spinning out of control and clobbers me on my blind side. Something that I had stirred up in anger had continued on even though I was not involved personally anymore. I am learning in life that some people don’t get over quickly the hurtful words that we sometimes use. Even when we are right, hurtful words that wound us take time to heal. Possibly sometimes there will always be scarring and the evidence of words that have cut us. So I come to a conclusion that even at times when I think I am right, I should choose how I use words to express my feelings. Possibly it is better to wave my rights and get over my feelings, than to say something that might leave a scar. How important are my rights compared to the pain of someone else, and the strife that will spin back to clobber me? Today I learn from Proverbs that if you stir it, it will continue to spin. God has done for me what I could not do for myself……………………….JRE
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV
“I bear my willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lord’s workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most.”
CHARLES H. SPURGEON
“Not what you do so much as what you are, that is the miracle-working power. You can be a force for good, with the help of God. God is here to help you and to bless you, here to company with you. You can be a worker with God. Changed by God’s grace, you shed one garment of the spirit for a better one. In time, you throw that one aside for yet finer one. And so from character to character, you are gradually transformed.”
HAZELDEN……………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Friday, April 22, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Waiting for someone to repent before we forgive is to surrender our future to the person who wronged us.” Author unknown
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
Can I have my cake and eat it too? You bet I can. Why have cake if you can’t eat it. Why have cake if all you can do is say, “look at this beautiful cake I have.” My God supplies all my needs, and like I heard at an AA meeting last night, “everything I need I get, and when I get what I need, I invariably find that it was just what I wanted all the time.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 552) To have what we need is good. To have what we want is also good. But when my greed becomes what I think is my need, then I cross over that thin line that separates God’s provisions from what I do for myself. Doing for myself is also good, but when my desire for things is brought about by me, through me, and for me only, then possibly is not a need. Thanks for letting me share today, I am almost late for a noon meeting so I will make this short. God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“And my god shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
“It is as easy for God to supply the greatest as the smallest wants, even as it was within His power to form a system or an atom, to create a blazing sun as the kindle of the firefly’s lamp.” Thomas Guthrie
I shall not want
Thought for the day: “Waiting for someone to repent before we forgive is to surrender our future to the person who wronged us.” Author unknown
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
Can I have my cake and eat it too? You bet I can. Why have cake if you can’t eat it. Why have cake if all you can do is say, “look at this beautiful cake I have.” My God supplies all my needs, and like I heard at an AA meeting last night, “everything I need I get, and when I get what I need, I invariably find that it was just what I wanted all the time.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 552) To have what we need is good. To have what we want is also good. But when my greed becomes what I think is my need, then I cross over that thin line that separates God’s provisions from what I do for myself. Doing for myself is also good, but when my desire for things is brought about by me, through me, and for me only, then possibly is not a need. Thanks for letting me share today, I am almost late for a noon meeting so I will make this short. God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“And my god shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
“It is as easy for God to supply the greatest as the smallest wants, even as it was within His power to form a system or an atom, to create a blazing sun as the kindle of the firefly’s lamp.” Thomas Guthrie
Thursday, April 21, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day:
“Forgiving happens it three stages: we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us; we surrender our right to get even; and we wish that person well.”
Author unknown
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” JAMES 2:14-17 NKJV
“We surrender our right to get even.” Now there’s something I can chew on for a while. You might wonder how I can tie in faith vs. works, with surrendering our right to get even and have it balance the scale logic. Well I can, it might not work for you , but this is how it works for me. Good works are a result of faith in God and good things such as brotherly love and compassion. Also I see good works as not doing something negative to another individual, even if it was deserved. Pay backs don’t balance the scale, they just tip it from one side to the other. I am learning that when the scales, of “doing and having done” are balanced in the level position, I find a peace and serenity in myself that makes life enjoyably livable and loveable. Today I am in the process of learning to surrender my rights to get even. I am finding some serenity in life by this act of good works. God has done for me what I could not do for myself………………JRE
********************
In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, third edition, page 452, there is something written by a member, share this with me:
“Perhaps the best thing of all for me is to remember that my serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations. The higher my expectations of Max (his wife) and other people are, the lower is my serenity. I can watch my serenity level rise when I discard my expectations. But then my ‘rights’ try to move in, and they too can force my serenity level down. I have to discard my ‘rights,’ as well as my expectations by asking myself, How important is it, really? How important is it compared to my serenity, my emotional sobriety? And when I place more value on my serenity and sobriety than anything else, I can maintain them at a higher level, at least for the time being.”
********************
“Clearly nothing that the organized church can do by its services, by religious books, by radio and television will effect the needful change. Only as the individual translates his Christianity into terms of the way he does his daily work and the loving spirit he shows daily in his contact with others, can Christianity leaven the very heavy lump of modern life.”
LESLIE D. WEATHERHEAD
The scales of doing and having done
Thought for the day:
“Forgiving happens it three stages: we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us; we surrender our right to get even; and we wish that person well.”
Author unknown
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” JAMES 2:14-17 NKJV
“We surrender our right to get even.” Now there’s something I can chew on for a while. You might wonder how I can tie in faith vs. works, with surrendering our right to get even and have it balance the scale logic. Well I can, it might not work for you , but this is how it works for me. Good works are a result of faith in God and good things such as brotherly love and compassion. Also I see good works as not doing something negative to another individual, even if it was deserved. Pay backs don’t balance the scale, they just tip it from one side to the other. I am learning that when the scales, of “doing and having done” are balanced in the level position, I find a peace and serenity in myself that makes life enjoyably livable and loveable. Today I am in the process of learning to surrender my rights to get even. I am finding some serenity in life by this act of good works. God has done for me what I could not do for myself………………JRE
********************
In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, third edition, page 452, there is something written by a member, share this with me:
“Perhaps the best thing of all for me is to remember that my serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations. The higher my expectations of Max (his wife) and other people are, the lower is my serenity. I can watch my serenity level rise when I discard my expectations. But then my ‘rights’ try to move in, and they too can force my serenity level down. I have to discard my ‘rights,’ as well as my expectations by asking myself, How important is it, really? How important is it compared to my serenity, my emotional sobriety? And when I place more value on my serenity and sobriety than anything else, I can maintain them at a higher level, at least for the time being.”
********************
“Clearly nothing that the organized church can do by its services, by religious books, by radio and television will effect the needful change. Only as the individual translates his Christianity into terms of the way he does his daily work and the loving spirit he shows daily in his contact with others, can Christianity leaven the very heavy lump of modern life.”
LESLIE D. WEATHERHEAD
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day:
“Forgiving is a journey; the deeper the wound, the longer the journey.”
Author unknown
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgression.”
Words of Jesus found in the Book of Mark, chapter 11, verse 25.
Every time Jesus taught on the subject of praying he mentioned forgiveness. I don’t think this is just a coincidence I think that prayer and prayer that is to be answered, is tied directly in with our attitude toward others. I think that initial forgiveness works even though it may only be a small seed of the full blossom that will eventually come with total forgiveness. Forgiveness like many other spiritual principles grows in degrees if we continue to nurture and not go back on what we have started. Sometimes with forgiveness it is easy to have something tick us off that we had already turned over to God and immediately we once again feel some resentment and anger. Forgiveness takes work. I was thirty-four when I met Evelynn. I had never been married and because of my alcoholism had missed many opportunities early in life to start a family. We got married when I was thirty-nine and attempted to have a life like we both had always wanted. The problem was that we continued to bring drugs and alcohol into our lives. We divorced after being married for nine years and a year later Evelynn died of an overdose of alcohol and drugs. I was deeply hurt and my life went into a tailspin for the next three years. It is only by the grace of a loving God that I did not also end up dead. Today I still work on the process of grieving and the process also of my forgiveness to Evelynn for the pain I have felt. I forgave her soon after she died, but the fullness of the forgiveness has taken ten years. It has only been by the instruction of a loving God and the study of the Word that has brought this about. I apply this growing knowledge of forgiveness to other areas of my life today. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or civilization, compared with his, is only a moment.” C.S. LEWIS
The road to forgiving
Thought for the day:
“Forgiving is a journey; the deeper the wound, the longer the journey.”
Author unknown
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgression.”
Words of Jesus found in the Book of Mark, chapter 11, verse 25.
Every time Jesus taught on the subject of praying he mentioned forgiveness. I don’t think this is just a coincidence I think that prayer and prayer that is to be answered, is tied directly in with our attitude toward others. I think that initial forgiveness works even though it may only be a small seed of the full blossom that will eventually come with total forgiveness. Forgiveness like many other spiritual principles grows in degrees if we continue to nurture and not go back on what we have started. Sometimes with forgiveness it is easy to have something tick us off that we had already turned over to God and immediately we once again feel some resentment and anger. Forgiveness takes work. I was thirty-four when I met Evelynn. I had never been married and because of my alcoholism had missed many opportunities early in life to start a family. We got married when I was thirty-nine and attempted to have a life like we both had always wanted. The problem was that we continued to bring drugs and alcohol into our lives. We divorced after being married for nine years and a year later Evelynn died of an overdose of alcohol and drugs. I was deeply hurt and my life went into a tailspin for the next three years. It is only by the grace of a loving God that I did not also end up dead. Today I still work on the process of grieving and the process also of my forgiveness to Evelynn for the pain I have felt. I forgave her soon after she died, but the fullness of the forgiveness has taken ten years. It has only been by the instruction of a loving God and the study of the Word that has brought this about. I apply this growing knowledge of forgiveness to other areas of my life today. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or civilization, compared with his, is only a moment.” C.S. LEWIS
Monday, April 18, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day:
“As Tennyson passed the cottage of an aged lady, he asked, ‘What news this morning?’ Replied the old lady, ‘Lord Tennyson, I know only one piece of news, that Jesus Christ died for all mankind.’ ‘Madam,’ said Tennyson, ‘that is old news and new news and good news!’”
HOWARD A. BANKS
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB
Would a person who was shipwrecked at sea and at the mercy of the waves refuse a life preserver? I think not! Then why would a person who was spiritually shipwrecked refuse a life preserver of hope? I don’t know the answer but I see it in the world today. I think some of it might have to do with the concept of the self-made person, the idea that “I did it myself,” “I did it my way.” These principles are of the world and go against the spiritual principles that God has given us. How about the concept that we must surrender to win? That goes against all we’ve been taught. How about the concept that by giving we receive? Once again that goes against what we’ve been taught. Spiritual principles go contrary to what the world tell us. That is why for some of us who are so hard-headed, and so hard-hearted, that only through our brokenness and our spiritual bankruptcy, are we able to see through the shine of the glitter that the world attaches to everything. If we look deep into our lives, and we see past the plastic glitter, then we find the true nuggets of gold that were deposited long ago. These nuggets are the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, our families and friends, and our love for our fellow travelers. I am so grateful that by my surrender I won the victory. All along I looked to the outside for the answer and it was an inside job all the time. God has done for me what I could not do for myself………………………JRE
********************
ADVANTAGES OF BEING POOR
The poor know they are in urgent need of redemption.
The poor know not only their dependence on God and on powerful people but also their interdependence with one another.
The poor rest their security not on things but on people.
The poor have no exaggerated sense of their own importance and no exaggerated need of privacy.
The poor expect little from competition and much from cooperation.
The poor can distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
The poor can wait, because they have acquired a kind of dogged patience born of acknowledged dependence.
The fears of the poor are more realistic and less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering and want.
When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it sounds like good news and not like a threat or a scolding.
The poor can respond to the call of the Gospel with a certain abandonment and uncomplicated totality because they have so little to lose and are ready for anything.
Monica Hellwig, as quoted by Phillip Yancey
Old news, new news, and good news
Thought for the day:
“As Tennyson passed the cottage of an aged lady, he asked, ‘What news this morning?’ Replied the old lady, ‘Lord Tennyson, I know only one piece of news, that Jesus Christ died for all mankind.’ ‘Madam,’ said Tennyson, ‘that is old news and new news and good news!’”
HOWARD A. BANKS
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB
Would a person who was shipwrecked at sea and at the mercy of the waves refuse a life preserver? I think not! Then why would a person who was spiritually shipwrecked refuse a life preserver of hope? I don’t know the answer but I see it in the world today. I think some of it might have to do with the concept of the self-made person, the idea that “I did it myself,” “I did it my way.” These principles are of the world and go against the spiritual principles that God has given us. How about the concept that we must surrender to win? That goes against all we’ve been taught. How about the concept that by giving we receive? Once again that goes against what we’ve been taught. Spiritual principles go contrary to what the world tell us. That is why for some of us who are so hard-headed, and so hard-hearted, that only through our brokenness and our spiritual bankruptcy, are we able to see through the shine of the glitter that the world attaches to everything. If we look deep into our lives, and we see past the plastic glitter, then we find the true nuggets of gold that were deposited long ago. These nuggets are the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, our families and friends, and our love for our fellow travelers. I am so grateful that by my surrender I won the victory. All along I looked to the outside for the answer and it was an inside job all the time. God has done for me what I could not do for myself………………………JRE
********************
ADVANTAGES OF BEING POOR
The poor know they are in urgent need of redemption.
The poor know not only their dependence on God and on powerful people but also their interdependence with one another.
The poor rest their security not on things but on people.
The poor have no exaggerated sense of their own importance and no exaggerated need of privacy.
The poor expect little from competition and much from cooperation.
The poor can distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
The poor can wait, because they have acquired a kind of dogged patience born of acknowledged dependence.
The fears of the poor are more realistic and less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering and want.
When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it sounds like good news and not like a threat or a scolding.
The poor can respond to the call of the Gospel with a certain abandonment and uncomplicated totality because they have so little to lose and are ready for anything.
Monica Hellwig, as quoted by Phillip Yancey
Friday, April 15, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If people speak ill of you, live so that no one will believe them.”
PLATO
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” MATTHEW 7:12 NASB
The “Golden Rule,” this idea was not original to Jesus, but had been taught by many great Jewish rabbis. The great Rabbi Hillel who lived during the time of the birth of Jesus taught this principle. Where the idea came from of “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you” is something I don’t know. I have heard that it can be found in many other faiths as well. I believe that it is a seed of goodness that God planted into the soul of man, long before written words had been penned. The world today teaches us differently. We are taught to “do first before they do to you.” “Wait till they do to you, then do to them.” “Don’t get mad, get even.” All of these self-centered ideas can be found in our society today. I think that some of these desires come from out natural drives to survive. Our drives for food, shelter, clothing, and our reproductive drives. You can put two toddlers together with toys, and they will take from each other. These natural drives go way back. Yet none of us likes to be treated badly and when we find ourselves being hurt, we automatically can feel that the Golden Rule should be working in reverse. In other words, that they should be treating us like we would treat them. Once again, I believe that God has sowed the seeds of goodness in all of us. How we nurture them and whether they bring forth an abundant increase is up to us. May I prepare the soil of my heart for an increase of goodness. God has done for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
********************
THE PURPOSE OF GOD
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”
JAMES 1:16-18 NASB
********************
“You can say you are a Christian, but that doesn’t make you one. The true Christian will give evidence of faith by a transformed life. The kind of faith that will take you to heaven is the kind of faith that will produce godliness in your life here and now.” CHARLES H. ROBINSON
Doing unto
Thought for the day: “If people speak ill of you, live so that no one will believe them.”
PLATO
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” MATTHEW 7:12 NASB
The “Golden Rule,” this idea was not original to Jesus, but had been taught by many great Jewish rabbis. The great Rabbi Hillel who lived during the time of the birth of Jesus taught this principle. Where the idea came from of “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you” is something I don’t know. I have heard that it can be found in many other faiths as well. I believe that it is a seed of goodness that God planted into the soul of man, long before written words had been penned. The world today teaches us differently. We are taught to “do first before they do to you.” “Wait till they do to you, then do to them.” “Don’t get mad, get even.” All of these self-centered ideas can be found in our society today. I think that some of these desires come from out natural drives to survive. Our drives for food, shelter, clothing, and our reproductive drives. You can put two toddlers together with toys, and they will take from each other. These natural drives go way back. Yet none of us likes to be treated badly and when we find ourselves being hurt, we automatically can feel that the Golden Rule should be working in reverse. In other words, that they should be treating us like we would treat them. Once again, I believe that God has sowed the seeds of goodness in all of us. How we nurture them and whether they bring forth an abundant increase is up to us. May I prepare the soil of my heart for an increase of goodness. God has done for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
********************
THE PURPOSE OF GOD
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”
JAMES 1:16-18 NASB
********************
“You can say you are a Christian, but that doesn’t make you one. The true Christian will give evidence of faith by a transformed life. The kind of faith that will take you to heaven is the kind of faith that will produce godliness in your life here and now.” CHARLES H. ROBINSON
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “It’s easy to forget another’s past when we need their help.”
LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
“Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, ‘Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come tome now when you are in trouble?’
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, ‘For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon and become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.’”
JUDGES 11:7-8 NASB
In Scripture, the story of Jephthah has always been one of my favorites. It probably goes back to the time when I was a new Christian and I attended my first revival. The evangelist was a very young man named David Runyan. He had bee preaching since his early teens at youth rallies, and he had a fire about him that I had never seen in anyone else before. When he told the story of Jephthah how he had made an agreement with God and “could not go back on it,” I learned about personal integrity. Jephthah was a man who had an Israelite father, and whose mother was a harlot His other brothers rejected him because of this and gave him no inheritance in his father’s house. He left and soon hooked up with a bunch of hoodlum types and had a gang. Jephthah was from the area of Gilead, which is east of the Jordan River. When the people of Ammon came to do battle with the people of Gilead they found themselves in a bind with no one to lead them. They turned to the toughest one they could find, even though they didn’t like him and had rejected him. Jephthah agreed to lead the army, but before they shipped out, he made a vow with God that if he had victory, when he came home, the first thing out of his door to greet him would be dedicated to the Lord. He had the victory, and when he came home his only daughter came joyously out to meet him. Even though Jephthah came from a shady background, and had been hanging with hoodlum types, he still had a personal integrity that did not fail. He was a man of his word, and would not go back on that. He dedicated his only child to the service of the Lord, which meant that he would never have grandchildren. His word was important to himself. A person’s background and environment does not make up the substance of that person’s inner being. May I learn again from the story of Jephthah and grow. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
“If you observe anything evil within your self; correct it; if something good, preserve it; if something beautiful, foster it; if something sound, maintain it; if sickly, heal it; Read unwearingly the precepts of the Lord and, sufficiently instructed by them, you will know what to avoid and what to pursue.”
Bernard of Clairvaux
********************
“The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 83
Jephthah
Thought for the day: “It’s easy to forget another’s past when we need their help.”
LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
“Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, ‘Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come tome now when you are in trouble?’
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, ‘For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon and become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.’”
JUDGES 11:7-8 NASB
In Scripture, the story of Jephthah has always been one of my favorites. It probably goes back to the time when I was a new Christian and I attended my first revival. The evangelist was a very young man named David Runyan. He had bee preaching since his early teens at youth rallies, and he had a fire about him that I had never seen in anyone else before. When he told the story of Jephthah how he had made an agreement with God and “could not go back on it,” I learned about personal integrity. Jephthah was a man who had an Israelite father, and whose mother was a harlot His other brothers rejected him because of this and gave him no inheritance in his father’s house. He left and soon hooked up with a bunch of hoodlum types and had a gang. Jephthah was from the area of Gilead, which is east of the Jordan River. When the people of Ammon came to do battle with the people of Gilead they found themselves in a bind with no one to lead them. They turned to the toughest one they could find, even though they didn’t like him and had rejected him. Jephthah agreed to lead the army, but before they shipped out, he made a vow with God that if he had victory, when he came home, the first thing out of his door to greet him would be dedicated to the Lord. He had the victory, and when he came home his only daughter came joyously out to meet him. Even though Jephthah came from a shady background, and had been hanging with hoodlum types, he still had a personal integrity that did not fail. He was a man of his word, and would not go back on that. He dedicated his only child to the service of the Lord, which meant that he would never have grandchildren. His word was important to himself. A person’s background and environment does not make up the substance of that person’s inner being. May I learn again from the story of Jephthah and grow. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
“If you observe anything evil within your self; correct it; if something good, preserve it; if something beautiful, foster it; if something sound, maintain it; if sickly, heal it; Read unwearingly the precepts of the Lord and, sufficiently instructed by them, you will know what to avoid and what to pursue.”
Bernard of Clairvaux
********************
“The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.” Alcoholics Anonymous page 83
Monday, April 11, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If you want to help the soul of you neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask Him simply to fill you with love, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.”
VINCENT FERRER
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 NASB
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:10 NASB
With love in my heart I can accomplish any desire I have for helping my neighbor. I can understand why Vincent Ferrer said “I should approach God with all my heart and simply ask Him to fill me with love.” Sometimes I have a desire to help people not out of love, but from a material perspective, where I realize I have enough to share, and offer help. I can see today that if I first asked God to fill me with love, possibly I could truly see their needs and could help in other ways more important that just material blessings. How many times have I gave someone some money just to send them on their way, not knowing if their needs might have been more fulfilled by just spending some time with them listening and sharing. How about if I gave them money, and the truth of the matter was that I gave them too much and they went and used it the wrong way, which only made their situation worse. I know this has happened to me before. I think it is important to help those we can in all ways, but the best advice I’ve had today has been to first pray for the love of God to fill my heart first and then I can see clearly to help those that I may be of some benefit. “Owe nothing to one another except to love one another.” The apostle Paul said one truly profound statement there. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
********************
GOD IS OUR REWARD
“I am your………..exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1
God never demands a sacrifice for the divine pleasure of smelling its aroma or because He needs us to tickle His pride. The objective is our release, our growth.
God asked Abraham to offer Isaac. Not to exploit Abraham’s emotions or to destroy Isaac, but to take away forever Abraham’s fear that God might not have his best interest at heart. Only in worship do we draw close enough to discern God’s true nature and loving heart.
God gave Abraham no immediate monetary reward for worshiping Him, but the reward was immensely grander, God Himself!
JACK HAYFORD
********************
“……when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each one of them this qualification……… ‘if it be Thy will.’” A.A. 12X12 page 102
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another
Thought for the day: “If you want to help the soul of you neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask Him simply to fill you with love, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.”
VINCENT FERRER
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 NASB
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:10 NASB
With love in my heart I can accomplish any desire I have for helping my neighbor. I can understand why Vincent Ferrer said “I should approach God with all my heart and simply ask Him to fill me with love.” Sometimes I have a desire to help people not out of love, but from a material perspective, where I realize I have enough to share, and offer help. I can see today that if I first asked God to fill me with love, possibly I could truly see their needs and could help in other ways more important that just material blessings. How many times have I gave someone some money just to send them on their way, not knowing if their needs might have been more fulfilled by just spending some time with them listening and sharing. How about if I gave them money, and the truth of the matter was that I gave them too much and they went and used it the wrong way, which only made their situation worse. I know this has happened to me before. I think it is important to help those we can in all ways, but the best advice I’ve had today has been to first pray for the love of God to fill my heart first and then I can see clearly to help those that I may be of some benefit. “Owe nothing to one another except to love one another.” The apostle Paul said one truly profound statement there. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
********************
GOD IS OUR REWARD
“I am your………..exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1
God never demands a sacrifice for the divine pleasure of smelling its aroma or because He needs us to tickle His pride. The objective is our release, our growth.
God asked Abraham to offer Isaac. Not to exploit Abraham’s emotions or to destroy Isaac, but to take away forever Abraham’s fear that God might not have his best interest at heart. Only in worship do we draw close enough to discern God’s true nature and loving heart.
God gave Abraham no immediate monetary reward for worshiping Him, but the reward was immensely grander, God Himself!
JACK HAYFORD
********************
“……when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each one of them this qualification……… ‘if it be Thy will.’” A.A. 12X12 page 102
Friday, April 08, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.”………… David Starr Jordan
“Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How un-searchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. ROMANS 11:33-36 NASB
“God is the source (from Him), sustainer (through Him), and goal (to Him) of all things.
RYRIE NASB STUDY BIBLE page 1808
Can you give something to God that didn’t belong to God in the first place? How about our will? If I turn my will and my life over to the care of God, am I giving God something that only I have to give? I really don’t have an answer to this, but I know that Scripture says “from Him……are all things.” So I take it that even my will belonged to God, but God has made me a gift of the freedom of choice. What great love that is, of all the things that God could have given to me, God chose to let me be free. I think it is ironic how that out of my God given freedom I chose to build walls around me of self-centeredness, and prejudice of others. I was free to love just as God had loved me, but instead I kept everything inside. After thirty years of self-will run riot, which led to many addictions, the walls I had built up began to crumble, from the inside out. Having a self-inflicted broken heart was one of the best things to happen to me. With the walls being broken down little by little, what was entering to my soul was something that hadn’t been part of my life since I was a child. It was unconditional love. I chose that love today and choose to return it to the source, and it rebounds and rebounds and rebounds. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………….JRE
“We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 JOHN 4:19-20 NASB
********************
Thou has given so much to me,
Give me one more thing….a grateful heart,
Not thankful when it pleases me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But a heart
Whose pulse may be Thy praise.
GEORGE HERBERT
Source, sustainer, and goal
Thought for the day: “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.”………… David Starr Jordan
“Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How un-searchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. ROMANS 11:33-36 NASB
“God is the source (from Him), sustainer (through Him), and goal (to Him) of all things.
RYRIE NASB STUDY BIBLE page 1808
Can you give something to God that didn’t belong to God in the first place? How about our will? If I turn my will and my life over to the care of God, am I giving God something that only I have to give? I really don’t have an answer to this, but I know that Scripture says “from Him……are all things.” So I take it that even my will belonged to God, but God has made me a gift of the freedom of choice. What great love that is, of all the things that God could have given to me, God chose to let me be free. I think it is ironic how that out of my God given freedom I chose to build walls around me of self-centeredness, and prejudice of others. I was free to love just as God had loved me, but instead I kept everything inside. After thirty years of self-will run riot, which led to many addictions, the walls I had built up began to crumble, from the inside out. Having a self-inflicted broken heart was one of the best things to happen to me. With the walls being broken down little by little, what was entering to my soul was something that hadn’t been part of my life since I was a child. It was unconditional love. I chose that love today and choose to return it to the source, and it rebounds and rebounds and rebounds. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………….JRE
“We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 JOHN 4:19-20 NASB
********************
Thou has given so much to me,
Give me one more thing….a grateful heart,
Not thankful when it pleases me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But a heart
Whose pulse may be Thy praise.
GEORGE HERBERT
Thursday, April 07, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” C.S. LEWIS
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” ISAIAH 10:27 NKJV
You can accept Jesus Christ into you life once and have no need to continually do it again and again. Oh we might rededicate our life or make a new commitment again and again, but when we first believe in the forgiveness extended to us by the Father through the Son Jesus, and the finished work of the cross, we don’t have to go back and re-believe again and again. Relying on God is different, if I don’t make a decision to rely on God each day I can find myself out there thinking that I can do and handle it all on my own. Of course my own strength and emotions always get tweaked when I come up short of what I thought I could do on my own. At these times I often find myself turning to God in prayer and asking that the burden be lifted from me. Surprisingly many times as soon as I turn it over the burden is lessened. Once the burden is lessened I get new insight and new light shed on the matter. Then with renewed strength and emotions that have been reinforced with spirituality, I am able to get back in the race, and work on the problem. I find the problems more often than not to be centered in the self-will, self-reliance, self-thought, self-seeking, self-contempt, self-pity, and just plain me. May I continue to turn my life over to One who can see beyond what I see. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
********************
Lord,
I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup
Uncertain
in asking any small drop of refreshment.
If only I’d known You better
I’d have come running with a bucket.
NANCY SPIEGELBERG
Relying on God
Thought for the day: “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” C.S. LEWIS
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” ISAIAH 10:27 NKJV
You can accept Jesus Christ into you life once and have no need to continually do it again and again. Oh we might rededicate our life or make a new commitment again and again, but when we first believe in the forgiveness extended to us by the Father through the Son Jesus, and the finished work of the cross, we don’t have to go back and re-believe again and again. Relying on God is different, if I don’t make a decision to rely on God each day I can find myself out there thinking that I can do and handle it all on my own. Of course my own strength and emotions always get tweaked when I come up short of what I thought I could do on my own. At these times I often find myself turning to God in prayer and asking that the burden be lifted from me. Surprisingly many times as soon as I turn it over the burden is lessened. Once the burden is lessened I get new insight and new light shed on the matter. Then with renewed strength and emotions that have been reinforced with spirituality, I am able to get back in the race, and work on the problem. I find the problems more often than not to be centered in the self-will, self-reliance, self-thought, self-seeking, self-contempt, self-pity, and just plain me. May I continue to turn my life over to One who can see beyond what I see. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
********************
Lord,
I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup
Uncertain
in asking any small drop of refreshment.
If only I’d known You better
I’d have come running with a bucket.
NANCY SPIEGELBERG
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Aspire to God with short but frequent outpourings of the heart; admire His bounty; invoke His aid; cast yourself in spirit at the foot of His cross; adore His goodness; treat with Him of your salvation; give Him your whole soul a thousand times a day.” Francis de Sales
“Take the Helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit.”
Found within the Scripture verses of Ephesians 6:17-18 NASB
“Aspire to God with short but frequent outpourings of the heart.” When I came across this quote this morning it reminded me of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I don’t spend long hours in prayer. I know that I probably should, and I have a desire to have a closer prayer life with the Father, but it seems that at this place in my walk with the Lord I find myself many times throughout the day communing with God. Oh I have a time of prayer in the morning but I don’t have calluses on my knees as a result of that prayer time. I have heard that they called the apostle James “camel knees” because of his many hours in prayer and the result of that time. I usually sit in my chair and talk to God silently, with time spent just quietly in meditation. I know that more of this quiet time would be good for me, but my self-will and ego seems to stir after several minutes and I distract myself. I then usually start reading from my place in the Word of God. But all throughout the day I am continually brought back to that place of communion with God, that place of quiet solitude, where only God and I exist. I am so grateful for this great country where I have the freedom to worship God how I want, when I want and with whom I want. The opportunity is mine all day long, to draw closer and closer to my Heavenly Father. Sometimes I find it to be as simple as please in the morning and thank-you all day long. God must be doing for me what I could not do for myself………JRE
“When I think upon my God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.”
FRANZ JOSEF HAYDN………….Composer 1732-1809
“To God, a miracle of change in a person’s life is only a natural happening. But it is a natural happening operated by spiritual forces. There is no miracle in personalities too marvelous to be an everyday happening. But miracles happen only to those who are fully guided and strengthened by God. Marvelous changes in peoples natures happen so simply, and yet they are free from al other agencies than the grace of God. But these miracles have been prepared for by days and months of longing for something better. They are always accompanied by a real desire to conquer self and to surrender one’s life to God.”
HAZELDEN……………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Short but frequent outpourings of the heart
Thought for the day: “Aspire to God with short but frequent outpourings of the heart; admire His bounty; invoke His aid; cast yourself in spirit at the foot of His cross; adore His goodness; treat with Him of your salvation; give Him your whole soul a thousand times a day.” Francis de Sales
“Take the Helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit.”
Found within the Scripture verses of Ephesians 6:17-18 NASB
“Aspire to God with short but frequent outpourings of the heart.” When I came across this quote this morning it reminded me of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I don’t spend long hours in prayer. I know that I probably should, and I have a desire to have a closer prayer life with the Father, but it seems that at this place in my walk with the Lord I find myself many times throughout the day communing with God. Oh I have a time of prayer in the morning but I don’t have calluses on my knees as a result of that prayer time. I have heard that they called the apostle James “camel knees” because of his many hours in prayer and the result of that time. I usually sit in my chair and talk to God silently, with time spent just quietly in meditation. I know that more of this quiet time would be good for me, but my self-will and ego seems to stir after several minutes and I distract myself. I then usually start reading from my place in the Word of God. But all throughout the day I am continually brought back to that place of communion with God, that place of quiet solitude, where only God and I exist. I am so grateful for this great country where I have the freedom to worship God how I want, when I want and with whom I want. The opportunity is mine all day long, to draw closer and closer to my Heavenly Father. Sometimes I find it to be as simple as please in the morning and thank-you all day long. God must be doing for me what I could not do for myself………JRE
“When I think upon my God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.”
FRANZ JOSEF HAYDN………….Composer 1732-1809
“To God, a miracle of change in a person’s life is only a natural happening. But it is a natural happening operated by spiritual forces. There is no miracle in personalities too marvelous to be an everyday happening. But miracles happen only to those who are fully guided and strengthened by God. Marvelous changes in peoples natures happen so simply, and yet they are free from al other agencies than the grace of God. But these miracles have been prepared for by days and months of longing for something better. They are always accompanied by a real desire to conquer self and to surrender one’s life to God.”
HAZELDEN……………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Monday, April 04, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Starting afresh patiently and in good cheer and hope is the mark of the Christian. One of the helpful definitions of Christianity is this: the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” JOHN B. COBURN
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
HABAKKUK 3:17-19 KJV
I can start again anytime I want. I don’t have to start over. I just start again. I really like the quote by John B. Coburn, “the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” I was reading this morning in the Book of Roman where the apostle Paul said that the “good that he wants to do he did not” (Rom. 7:19), so I take it that Paul had to start again many days just like the rest of us. What an awesome God we serve that realizes that we will do things wrong from time to time and allows us to start again anytime we come to the realization, that we are wrong and turn from the wrong. I think the prophet Habakkuk understood this idea when he said that even though everything goes wrong, he will still rejoice in his LORD. He went on to say that the LORD God is his strength and will make his feet like hinds feet. Do you know what a hind is? A hind is a female deer. Reading this verse reminds me of yesterday afternoon. I live in the country and when I came home from church my dog Molly was outside barking her head off. I went out to see what she was excited about and I saw several deer up in the woods gracefully leaping and moving away from Molly. With ease they bound through the trees and underbrush seemingly only to leap and bound from the high places. Within a few seconds they were out of sight. When life seems to go the wrong way, if we trust in the Lord God, we will be made like hinds feet and leap gracefully from one situation to the next. I am grateful that God allows me to start again, and not have to start over. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
ILLUSION
There’s a heap o’ joy in living,
When we’re living as we should;
And the greatest joy is giving,
Where it does the greatest good;
And we come to this conclusion,
As the more of life we see,
It is merely and illusion,
When we live it selfishly.
It’s the old, but truthful story,
If we strive for great success,
And we win, it lacks the glory,
If we won by selfishness,
For we find life’s sweetest pleasure,
After all is said and done,
When we give in fullest measure,
Of the riches we have won.
FRANK C. NELSON
Hinds feet
Thought for the day: “Starting afresh patiently and in good cheer and hope is the mark of the Christian. One of the helpful definitions of Christianity is this: the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” JOHN B. COBURN
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
HABAKKUK 3:17-19 KJV
I can start again anytime I want. I don’t have to start over. I just start again. I really like the quote by John B. Coburn, “the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” I was reading this morning in the Book of Roman where the apostle Paul said that the “good that he wants to do he did not” (Rom. 7:19), so I take it that Paul had to start again many days just like the rest of us. What an awesome God we serve that realizes that we will do things wrong from time to time and allows us to start again anytime we come to the realization, that we are wrong and turn from the wrong. I think the prophet Habakkuk understood this idea when he said that even though everything goes wrong, he will still rejoice in his LORD. He went on to say that the LORD God is his strength and will make his feet like hinds feet. Do you know what a hind is? A hind is a female deer. Reading this verse reminds me of yesterday afternoon. I live in the country and when I came home from church my dog Molly was outside barking her head off. I went out to see what she was excited about and I saw several deer up in the woods gracefully leaping and moving away from Molly. With ease they bound through the trees and underbrush seemingly only to leap and bound from the high places. Within a few seconds they were out of sight. When life seems to go the wrong way, if we trust in the Lord God, we will be made like hinds feet and leap gracefully from one situation to the next. I am grateful that God allows me to start again, and not have to start over. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
ILLUSION
There’s a heap o’ joy in living,
When we’re living as we should;
And the greatest joy is giving,
Where it does the greatest good;
And we come to this conclusion,
As the more of life we see,
It is merely and illusion,
When we live it selfishly.
It’s the old, but truthful story,
If we strive for great success,
And we win, it lacks the glory,
If we won by selfishness,
For we find life’s sweetest pleasure,
After all is said and done,
When we give in fullest measure,
Of the riches we have won.
FRANK C. NELSON
Friday, April 01, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
PROVERBS 31:8-9 NASB
I never use this page as a political soapbox, and I will not do that toady. My question is to myself, “What have I done? Why did I not speak up concerning what I truly felt about Terri Shiavo. I didn’t say anything to anyone. Nothing! I can not help but think that if a couple of million Christians, and others who felt she needed to live, would have packed up and headed to be by her side for a few days, that she would still be alive this morning. Oh there were probably thousands there protesting, but what if several million had showed up? How about her Mom and Dad, who had no say in whether their little girl lived or died. Can I feel their pain this morning? You bet I can. There is a lesson for me to learn in all of this, but at this point I am not exactly sure what it might be. I am sure that God will disclose more to me in time. I am grateful today for the feelings of compassion that I am experiencing, these feelings are truly from God. Jesus had great compassion for all people, what would He have done with Terri? Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
MOTHER TO SON
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor,
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now,
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
LANSTON HUGHES
Terri Shiavo
Thought for the day: Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
PROVERBS 31:8-9 NASB
I never use this page as a political soapbox, and I will not do that toady. My question is to myself, “What have I done? Why did I not speak up concerning what I truly felt about Terri Shiavo. I didn’t say anything to anyone. Nothing! I can not help but think that if a couple of million Christians, and others who felt she needed to live, would have packed up and headed to be by her side for a few days, that she would still be alive this morning. Oh there were probably thousands there protesting, but what if several million had showed up? How about her Mom and Dad, who had no say in whether their little girl lived or died. Can I feel their pain this morning? You bet I can. There is a lesson for me to learn in all of this, but at this point I am not exactly sure what it might be. I am sure that God will disclose more to me in time. I am grateful today for the feelings of compassion that I am experiencing, these feelings are truly from God. Jesus had great compassion for all people, what would He have done with Terri? Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
MOTHER TO SON
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor,
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now,
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
LANSTON HUGHES
