Wednesday, November 30, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Deal with the faults of others as gently as your own.”
CHINESE PROVERB
“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” PSALM 32:7 NASB
Remember when you were a kid how much fun it was to have a hiding place? I recall some of my best times playing were not with the toys that I had accumulated over the years that just sat there, but with two or three kitchen chairs and a couple of blankets. Remember how we used to set the chairs up and then drape the blankets over them to make our forts and hiding places. A nice large cardboard box could be a lot of fun when it was used as a hiding place. As I became a young adult I can remember using a car as a hiding place. I can remember times when I wouldn’t drive anywhere, but would just sit behind the wheel and hide. Rainy dark evenings were a real good time to hide in the front seat of my car. I’m not talking about hiding from someone or something, but just being in a place where I could be alone with my thoughts. Today I am never alone with my thoughts, I have the Father who keeps me and comforts me during my times of solitude. I realize today that I have really never been alone, the Father has always been there with me, even though there were times when I though I was all alone. I have several places today where I can escape to for solitude, peace, and quiet, but I have learned that my best hiding place I carry with me at all times. It’s a place in my heart where I meet with the Father, it’s a place where I have learned to go to when all hell breaks forth. I am sitting in my hiding place right now, and the feeling I have is very similar to when I was a child and I was under the chairs with the blankets draped over. It’s just God and myself, as we ponder David’s hiding place and the music that he sings of in his psalm. Song of deliverance, songs of freedom, songs of victory, songs about God doing for David what he could not do for himself…………………….JRE
“The worshiping heart does not create its Object. It finds Him here when it wakes from its mortal slumber in the morning of its regeneration.”
A.W. TOZER…………….The Pursuit Of God, page 53
“I should try to practice the presence of God. I can feel that He is with me and near me, protecting and strengthening me always. In spite of every difficulty, every trial, every failure, the presence of God suffices. Just to believe that He is near me brings strength and peace. I should try to live as though God were beside me. I cannot see Him because I was not made with the ability to see Him else there were no room for faith. But I can feel His spirit with me.”
HAZELDEN………………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
My hiding place
Thought for the day: “Deal with the faults of others as gently as your own.”
CHINESE PROVERB
“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” PSALM 32:7 NASB
Remember when you were a kid how much fun it was to have a hiding place? I recall some of my best times playing were not with the toys that I had accumulated over the years that just sat there, but with two or three kitchen chairs and a couple of blankets. Remember how we used to set the chairs up and then drape the blankets over them to make our forts and hiding places. A nice large cardboard box could be a lot of fun when it was used as a hiding place. As I became a young adult I can remember using a car as a hiding place. I can remember times when I wouldn’t drive anywhere, but would just sit behind the wheel and hide. Rainy dark evenings were a real good time to hide in the front seat of my car. I’m not talking about hiding from someone or something, but just being in a place where I could be alone with my thoughts. Today I am never alone with my thoughts, I have the Father who keeps me and comforts me during my times of solitude. I realize today that I have really never been alone, the Father has always been there with me, even though there were times when I though I was all alone. I have several places today where I can escape to for solitude, peace, and quiet, but I have learned that my best hiding place I carry with me at all times. It’s a place in my heart where I meet with the Father, it’s a place where I have learned to go to when all hell breaks forth. I am sitting in my hiding place right now, and the feeling I have is very similar to when I was a child and I was under the chairs with the blankets draped over. It’s just God and myself, as we ponder David’s hiding place and the music that he sings of in his psalm. Song of deliverance, songs of freedom, songs of victory, songs about God doing for David what he could not do for himself…………………….JRE
“The worshiping heart does not create its Object. It finds Him here when it wakes from its mortal slumber in the morning of its regeneration.”
A.W. TOZER…………….The Pursuit Of God, page 53
“I should try to practice the presence of God. I can feel that He is with me and near me, protecting and strengthening me always. In spite of every difficulty, every trial, every failure, the presence of God suffices. Just to believe that He is near me brings strength and peace. I should try to live as though God were beside me. I cannot see Him because I was not made with the ability to see Him else there were no room for faith. But I can feel His spirit with me.”
HAZELDEN………………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
Monday, November 28, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Butterflies come to pretty flowers.”
KOREAN PROVERB
“And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”
MATTHEW 15:29-31 KJV
“Cast them down at Jesus’ feet.” People brought their family, friends and those who were in need, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet. I am sure that some came on their own abilities and cast themselves down at the feet of Jesus. “Not one person ever went away from His feet without a blessing,” I read this in the Dake Bible this morning. How true this is. I cannot recall in Scriptures where one person who was at the feet of Jesus ever left the same as they came. There are those who didn’t and don’t receive from Jesus, but they cannot be found at His feet. I find in scripture where there are those like the Pharisees’ who approach Jesus from a position, from some lofty place and they try to snare the Lord and shame Him, they leave with nothing. Then I find in Scripture those like the rich young ruler who approach Jesus but keep their distance. They listen to His words but make a decision to go their own way in life. They also leave with nothing. Whether you came on your own or you were brought to the feet of Jesus you will receive your blessing. It takes a humble heart to be at the feet of someone. This is true in our relationships with others. We often find ourselves at the feet of our loved ones, our employers, our teachers, the courts, and the authorities. A humble position at the feet will receive a blessing. A lofty position must come back with a changed heart to receive. The healing powers that flow from the Father, through Jesus, to us, must be received with a humble heart. Intellectual comprehension will put up a shield in front of our spiritual heart and block the flow of love and healing. Only as we bow the knee, humble our hearts, and come to the feet of Jesus do we receive. No one, and I mean no one, left His feet without a blessing. Need a blessing today? Today I discovered where they can be found. At the feet of Jesus, God does for me what I could not do for myself………JRE
“Let us say it again: The universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And He is no strange or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call the pursuit of God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.”
A.W. TOZER…………………The Pursuit Of God, page 67
“True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith………..”
BILL W…………AA 12X12, page 33
At the feet
Thought for the day: “Butterflies come to pretty flowers.”
KOREAN PROVERB
“And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”
MATTHEW 15:29-31 KJV
“Cast them down at Jesus’ feet.” People brought their family, friends and those who were in need, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet. I am sure that some came on their own abilities and cast themselves down at the feet of Jesus. “Not one person ever went away from His feet without a blessing,” I read this in the Dake Bible this morning. How true this is. I cannot recall in Scriptures where one person who was at the feet of Jesus ever left the same as they came. There are those who didn’t and don’t receive from Jesus, but they cannot be found at His feet. I find in scripture where there are those like the Pharisees’ who approach Jesus from a position, from some lofty place and they try to snare the Lord and shame Him, they leave with nothing. Then I find in Scripture those like the rich young ruler who approach Jesus but keep their distance. They listen to His words but make a decision to go their own way in life. They also leave with nothing. Whether you came on your own or you were brought to the feet of Jesus you will receive your blessing. It takes a humble heart to be at the feet of someone. This is true in our relationships with others. We often find ourselves at the feet of our loved ones, our employers, our teachers, the courts, and the authorities. A humble position at the feet will receive a blessing. A lofty position must come back with a changed heart to receive. The healing powers that flow from the Father, through Jesus, to us, must be received with a humble heart. Intellectual comprehension will put up a shield in front of our spiritual heart and block the flow of love and healing. Only as we bow the knee, humble our hearts, and come to the feet of Jesus do we receive. No one, and I mean no one, left His feet without a blessing. Need a blessing today? Today I discovered where they can be found. At the feet of Jesus, God does for me what I could not do for myself………JRE
“Let us say it again: The universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And He is no strange or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call the pursuit of God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.”
A.W. TOZER…………………The Pursuit Of God, page 67
“True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith………..”
BILL W…………AA 12X12, page 33
Friday, November 25, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
1 PETER 5:5-7 NASB
In these Scripture verses we find Peter speaking on humility. How odd it seems to me to find this trait in the apostle Peter. The Peter who I find in Scripture during the first years of the ministry of Jesus, is someone who is arrogant, who speaks without thinking, carries a sword and uses it, and has trouble getting along with his fellow workers in the ministry. What happened that brought about a change in the attitude of Peter? Peter penned these words some thirty years after Jesus first called peter into the ministry. I am sure that some of the change in Peter came as a natural process of growing up in spiritual maturity. But I also think that Peter had a spiritual awakening the night of the trial of Jesus. Peter had denied his friends, had denied Jesus, and had lied about whom he was. Jesus had told Peter that he would do this, but Peter could not see the truth until it happened. I find this to be true with myself at times. I fail to see the truth until it happens, and then it hurts because of the suddenness of its occurrence. How humbling it is to come to the realization, that what we thought to be so, is not so. As I grow older physically and also grow spiritually, I am learning to look for the road signs that point to the way of truth. They are there but can be missed when I spend too much time thinking only of myself. Being humble does not mean that we won’t be exalted, it just means that we won’t exalt ourselves. What words of wisdom Peter leaves for us from his personal experiences. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” Not when I think I should be exalted, but at the proper time. In these times God does for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
HUMILITY PRAYER
Author unknown
Lord, I am far too much influenced by what people think of me.
Which means that I am always pretending to be either richer or smarter or nicer than I really am.
Please prevent me from trying to attract attention.
Don’t let me gloat over praise on the one hand or be discouraged by criticism on the other.
Nor let me waste time weaving imaginary situations in which the most heroic, charming, witty person present is myself.
Show me how to be humble of heart like you.
AA Step Seven: “Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.”
Civility cost nothing
Thought for the day: “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
1 PETER 5:5-7 NASB
In these Scripture verses we find Peter speaking on humility. How odd it seems to me to find this trait in the apostle Peter. The Peter who I find in Scripture during the first years of the ministry of Jesus, is someone who is arrogant, who speaks without thinking, carries a sword and uses it, and has trouble getting along with his fellow workers in the ministry. What happened that brought about a change in the attitude of Peter? Peter penned these words some thirty years after Jesus first called peter into the ministry. I am sure that some of the change in Peter came as a natural process of growing up in spiritual maturity. But I also think that Peter had a spiritual awakening the night of the trial of Jesus. Peter had denied his friends, had denied Jesus, and had lied about whom he was. Jesus had told Peter that he would do this, but Peter could not see the truth until it happened. I find this to be true with myself at times. I fail to see the truth until it happens, and then it hurts because of the suddenness of its occurrence. How humbling it is to come to the realization, that what we thought to be so, is not so. As I grow older physically and also grow spiritually, I am learning to look for the road signs that point to the way of truth. They are there but can be missed when I spend too much time thinking only of myself. Being humble does not mean that we won’t be exalted, it just means that we won’t exalt ourselves. What words of wisdom Peter leaves for us from his personal experiences. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” Not when I think I should be exalted, but at the proper time. In these times God does for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
HUMILITY PRAYER
Author unknown
Lord, I am far too much influenced by what people think of me.
Which means that I am always pretending to be either richer or smarter or nicer than I really am.
Please prevent me from trying to attract attention.
Don’t let me gloat over praise on the one hand or be discouraged by criticism on the other.
Nor let me waste time weaving imaginary situations in which the most heroic, charming, witty person present is myself.
Show me how to be humble of heart like you.
AA Step Seven: “Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.”
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
GHANDI
“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitude away. And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up unto a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
MATTHEW 14:22,23 KJV
Ever had a day when things just didn’t go right? Ever had a busy day when it was one thing after another all day long and then at last the evening comes and you are alone. Just being alone with God, and our thoughts and prayers, we find the stress to evaporate off like steam lifting off boiling water. Many times in Scriptures we can find Jesus alone in a solitary place. Jesus understood the importance of being alone. When we are in crowds, whether it be multitudes or just a few, we draw from each other. Being with others whether it be many or a few requires that we be attentive and communicate somehow, this interaction has a draining affect on our being and our spirituality. As Jesus went upon the mountain to pray he might have reflected on His day. The day had not started out the best. He had just received the news that John, who was known as the Baptist, had been killed. After hearing of it He and the disciples got in a ship and departed to a desert place, some place where they could be alone. As they traveled, the large crowd that had been listening to Jesus as he taught them, continued to follow along the shoreline. There was no being alone. The Bible says that even though Jesus and the disciples wanted to be alone, He still had compassion on them and healed their sick. This must have continued to drain Jesus and the disciples. That is why when it was all over and everyone was sent home including the disciples, Jesus went upon a mountain apart to pray. Jesus needed to be alone and so do we at times. This morning as I sit alone looking out my window at this fall day and the birds as they scamper around the feeders, I realize that I am alone with my Father and the living Word of God. I am aware of the stress of yesterday as it lifts off like steam lifting off boiling water. I need this time and I am grateful for the Word of God that explains, at times I need to be alone. It is times like these that God does for me what I could not do for myself……………………JRE
In the morning we think of the hours to come. Perhaps we think of our day’s work and the chances it may afford us to be useful and helpful, or of some special problem that it may bring. Possibly today will see a continuation of a serious and as yet unresolved problem left over from yesterday. Our immediate temptation will be to ask for specific solutions to specific problems, and for the ability to help other people as we have already thought they should be helped. In that case we are asking God to do it our way. Therefore we ought to consider each request carefully to see what its real merit is. Even so, when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each one of them this qualification: “…if it be Thy will.” We ask simply that throughout the day God place in us the best understanding of His will that we can have for that day, and that we be given the grace by which we may carry it out.
BILL W…………A. A. 12X12, page 102
“Congress recommends a day of thanksgiving and praise so that the people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and join their prayers, that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, to forgive our sins and to enlarge His kingdom which consists in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1777 (Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee)
Steam lifting off boiling water
Thought for the day: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
GHANDI
“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitude away. And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up unto a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
MATTHEW 14:22,23 KJV
Ever had a day when things just didn’t go right? Ever had a busy day when it was one thing after another all day long and then at last the evening comes and you are alone. Just being alone with God, and our thoughts and prayers, we find the stress to evaporate off like steam lifting off boiling water. Many times in Scriptures we can find Jesus alone in a solitary place. Jesus understood the importance of being alone. When we are in crowds, whether it be multitudes or just a few, we draw from each other. Being with others whether it be many or a few requires that we be attentive and communicate somehow, this interaction has a draining affect on our being and our spirituality. As Jesus went upon the mountain to pray he might have reflected on His day. The day had not started out the best. He had just received the news that John, who was known as the Baptist, had been killed. After hearing of it He and the disciples got in a ship and departed to a desert place, some place where they could be alone. As they traveled, the large crowd that had been listening to Jesus as he taught them, continued to follow along the shoreline. There was no being alone. The Bible says that even though Jesus and the disciples wanted to be alone, He still had compassion on them and healed their sick. This must have continued to drain Jesus and the disciples. That is why when it was all over and everyone was sent home including the disciples, Jesus went upon a mountain apart to pray. Jesus needed to be alone and so do we at times. This morning as I sit alone looking out my window at this fall day and the birds as they scamper around the feeders, I realize that I am alone with my Father and the living Word of God. I am aware of the stress of yesterday as it lifts off like steam lifting off boiling water. I need this time and I am grateful for the Word of God that explains, at times I need to be alone. It is times like these that God does for me what I could not do for myself……………………JRE
In the morning we think of the hours to come. Perhaps we think of our day’s work and the chances it may afford us to be useful and helpful, or of some special problem that it may bring. Possibly today will see a continuation of a serious and as yet unresolved problem left over from yesterday. Our immediate temptation will be to ask for specific solutions to specific problems, and for the ability to help other people as we have already thought they should be helped. In that case we are asking God to do it our way. Therefore we ought to consider each request carefully to see what its real merit is. Even so, when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each one of them this qualification: “…if it be Thy will.” We ask simply that throughout the day God place in us the best understanding of His will that we can have for that day, and that we be given the grace by which we may carry it out.
BILL W…………A. A. 12X12, page 102
“Congress recommends a day of thanksgiving and praise so that the people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and join their prayers, that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, to forgive our sins and to enlarge His kingdom which consists in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1777 (Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee)
Monday, November 21, 2005
In God We Trust
Thought for the day: “Make haste slowly.” SUETONIUS
“You englarge my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.”
PSALM 18:36 NASB
The Eighteenth Psalm is one of the longest songs in the Book of Psalms. The occasion is when David was delivered from all his enemies. At least that is what the heading on the Psalm says. At that point in David’s life he might have been delivered from all his external enemies, but he had one more enemy to overcome and that was himself. Later on down the road David got caught up in adultery, murder, his own pride, turmoil between his children, wives that he did not get along with, and with plain old stress in living life on life’s terms. He just thought he was delivered from all his enemies; his greatest enemy lay hidden deep within his heart only to come alive after being fed and nurtured by his self-centered pride. How true I find this to be in my life also. As I overcome on a daily basis some of the problems that have caused great harm and pain in my life, like alcohol and drug addiction, I sometimes fail to realize that the greatest enemy of all may lie hidden within my heart. This enemy may only need to be fed by over-confidence and pride, which will cause it to raise its ugly head and speak. God truly has “enlarged my steps under me and my feet have not slipped,” but I know from experience that if I run I could possibly get out of control and fall down. Today I need to think about making haste slowly, and remembering that my greatest enemy might just be myself. When I surrender the battle and allow God to have the victory, then God is able to do for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, and I will sing praises to Your name.”
PSALM 18:49 NASB
“Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. We may as well try to instruct leprosy out of our system. There must be a work of God in destruction before we are free. We must invite the cross to do its deadly work within us. We must bring our self-sins to the cross for judgment. We must prepare ourselves for an ordeal of suffering in some measure like that through which our Savior passed when He suffered under Pontius Pilate.”
A.W. TOZER…………..The Pursuit Of God, page 43
“I appoint a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God…..to ask Him that He would pour out His Holy Spirit on all ministers of the gospel; that He would spread His light of Christian Knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth and that He would establish these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue.”
GOVERNOR THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1779
In God we trust ………….thanks for letting me share…………JRE
Friday, November 18, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”
MATTHEW 13:51-52 KJV
Exactly what was Jesus talking about in these verses of Scripture? This morning as I study these verses I realize that out of the words that Jesus spoke, I find these two verses unfamiliar. This is a parable and it is the last of many parables that Jesus spoke to the people in a teaching by the sea. After having sent the multitude away, Jesus then went into the house and spoke to His disciples about the meaning of some of the parables and He add a few more in His teaching. This last parable leaves me thinking. As I reach into my resources of study Bibles I find that I like what the Dake Bible has to say. Share this with me:
“Christ authorizes His disciples to be scribes.”
“This parable illustrates the fact that the kingdom of heaven truths are a mixture of new and old doctrines which will enable disciples to be qualified scribes in the realm of profession.”
“Mixture of old and new truths. Ministers must thoroughly understand truth and be able to dispense it abroad. ‘Things new and old’ is a Jewish idiom of great plenty.”
God invested everything in Jesus so that I could be set free. My victory comes only through the finished work of the cross and not by any thing that I have done. Except believe. I was a slave and the price paid for my freedom was taken care of when I was flat broke spiritually. God did for me what I could not do for myself, and that is why I look at each word that Jesus spoke as having great value. For me some Scriptures need to be meditated upon over and over and over again just to get a small glimpse of the meaning. We all have treasures in our life. Some are brand new, and some are very old that have been passed down from generation to generation. God uses this example as a way of teaching us that all things are important, the old teachings as well as the new. The concept of accepting and using the “old” is difficult for young people to grasp. That is because they don’t have much recollection and experience to draw from. We think of grade school, middle school, high school, and college as being teaching intervals of four years. As I get older I realize that in my life teaching intervals come in periods of twenty years and more, and they contain the old and the new both. The old and the new bring balance to any doctrine. Thanks for letting me share……………..JRE
“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act.”
A. W. TOZER…………The Pursuit Of God, page 120-121
The old and the new
Thought for the day: “Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”
MATTHEW 13:51-52 KJV
Exactly what was Jesus talking about in these verses of Scripture? This morning as I study these verses I realize that out of the words that Jesus spoke, I find these two verses unfamiliar. This is a parable and it is the last of many parables that Jesus spoke to the people in a teaching by the sea. After having sent the multitude away, Jesus then went into the house and spoke to His disciples about the meaning of some of the parables and He add a few more in His teaching. This last parable leaves me thinking. As I reach into my resources of study Bibles I find that I like what the Dake Bible has to say. Share this with me:
“Christ authorizes His disciples to be scribes.”
“This parable illustrates the fact that the kingdom of heaven truths are a mixture of new and old doctrines which will enable disciples to be qualified scribes in the realm of profession.”
“Mixture of old and new truths. Ministers must thoroughly understand truth and be able to dispense it abroad. ‘Things new and old’ is a Jewish idiom of great plenty.”
God invested everything in Jesus so that I could be set free. My victory comes only through the finished work of the cross and not by any thing that I have done. Except believe. I was a slave and the price paid for my freedom was taken care of when I was flat broke spiritually. God did for me what I could not do for myself, and that is why I look at each word that Jesus spoke as having great value. For me some Scriptures need to be meditated upon over and over and over again just to get a small glimpse of the meaning. We all have treasures in our life. Some are brand new, and some are very old that have been passed down from generation to generation. God uses this example as a way of teaching us that all things are important, the old teachings as well as the new. The concept of accepting and using the “old” is difficult for young people to grasp. That is because they don’t have much recollection and experience to draw from. We think of grade school, middle school, high school, and college as being teaching intervals of four years. As I get older I realize that in my life teaching intervals come in periods of twenty years and more, and they contain the old and the new both. The old and the new bring balance to any doctrine. Thanks for letting me share……………..JRE
“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act.”
A. W. TOZER…………The Pursuit Of God, page 120-121
Thursday, November 17, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Mediocrity is climbing molehills without sweating”
Icelandic proverb
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
ISAIAH 55:10-11 NIV
The Word of God is like the rain and snow that water the earth and make the flowers grow and bloom. These flowers later produce seed and nourishment for those who continue to sow and plant. But without water, nothing will grow, absolutely nothing! There are many variables that cause things to grow on this earth. There are seeds, soil, sunlight, and water, and each of these must be available or growth and harvest do not take place. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Word of God as water in the form of rain and snow. I find many times that rainy days make me depressed and uncomfortable. How about a big snow that halts all plans and brings everything to a standstill? When we fail to see the big picture and think only of our small plans and how they have been disrupted, we fail to bring into view the large old trees that need every drop of moisture, we fail to see the tiny little flowers that brighten our day in the early springtime, and we fail to see that even we ourselves would perish quickly without water and moisture. I love the Word of God and I am lifted up by the promises, and encouraged by the examples that I find within the Scriptures. But, I am also at times stopped in my tracks by the storms and deep snows of the Word. When my agenda is headed in a self-centered direction many times the driven rains and icy snows of the Word of God cause my plans to come to a halt. Of course I selfishly wonder why this is happening to me, and why can’t I go with the flow like everybody else? Then I see the little flowers in my life bloom, and I begin to see the bigger picture. When I see the streams flowing clear and a not stagnant, and the dams removed, I begin to see the bigger picture. When I realize that others are coming to me for seed, I then begin to see the bigger picture. When I see the rain and snow of the Word of God water the lives of others and they bring their seed to me to plant, I begin to see the bigger picture. A rainstorm or a snowstorm has never washed away the big picture; it just brings it to color and growth. May I be grateful for the uncomfortable times brought about by the rain and snows of the Word. May I realize that flowers and seed will result. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“Be thou exalted” (Psalm 21:13) is the language of the victorious spiritual experience. It is a little key to unlock the door to great treasures of grace. It is central in the life of God in the soul. Let the seeking man reach a place where life and lips join to say continually, “Be thou exalted,” and a thousand minor problems will be solved at once. His Christian life ceases to be the complicated thing it had been before and becomes the very essence of simplicity. By the exercise of his will he has set his course, and on that course he will stay as if guided by an automatic pilot. If blown off course for a moment by some adverse wind, he will surely return again as by a secret bent of the soul. The hidden motions of the Spirit are working in his favor, and “the stars in their courses” (Judges 5:20) fight for him. He has met his life problem at its center, and everything else must follow along.
A. W. TOZER…………The Pursuit Of God, page 97
“Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward.”
BILL W.
The Big Picture
Thought for the day: “Mediocrity is climbing molehills without sweating”
Icelandic proverb
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
ISAIAH 55:10-11 NIV
The Word of God is like the rain and snow that water the earth and make the flowers grow and bloom. These flowers later produce seed and nourishment for those who continue to sow and plant. But without water, nothing will grow, absolutely nothing! There are many variables that cause things to grow on this earth. There are seeds, soil, sunlight, and water, and each of these must be available or growth and harvest do not take place. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Word of God as water in the form of rain and snow. I find many times that rainy days make me depressed and uncomfortable. How about a big snow that halts all plans and brings everything to a standstill? When we fail to see the big picture and think only of our small plans and how they have been disrupted, we fail to bring into view the large old trees that need every drop of moisture, we fail to see the tiny little flowers that brighten our day in the early springtime, and we fail to see that even we ourselves would perish quickly without water and moisture. I love the Word of God and I am lifted up by the promises, and encouraged by the examples that I find within the Scriptures. But, I am also at times stopped in my tracks by the storms and deep snows of the Word. When my agenda is headed in a self-centered direction many times the driven rains and icy snows of the Word of God cause my plans to come to a halt. Of course I selfishly wonder why this is happening to me, and why can’t I go with the flow like everybody else? Then I see the little flowers in my life bloom, and I begin to see the bigger picture. When I see the streams flowing clear and a not stagnant, and the dams removed, I begin to see the bigger picture. When I realize that others are coming to me for seed, I then begin to see the bigger picture. When I see the rain and snow of the Word of God water the lives of others and they bring their seed to me to plant, I begin to see the bigger picture. A rainstorm or a snowstorm has never washed away the big picture; it just brings it to color and growth. May I be grateful for the uncomfortable times brought about by the rain and snows of the Word. May I realize that flowers and seed will result. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“Be thou exalted” (Psalm 21:13) is the language of the victorious spiritual experience. It is a little key to unlock the door to great treasures of grace. It is central in the life of God in the soul. Let the seeking man reach a place where life and lips join to say continually, “Be thou exalted,” and a thousand minor problems will be solved at once. His Christian life ceases to be the complicated thing it had been before and becomes the very essence of simplicity. By the exercise of his will he has set his course, and on that course he will stay as if guided by an automatic pilot. If blown off course for a moment by some adverse wind, he will surely return again as by a secret bent of the soul. The hidden motions of the Spirit are working in his favor, and “the stars in their courses” (Judges 5:20) fight for him. He has met his life problem at its center, and everything else must follow along.
A. W. TOZER…………The Pursuit Of God, page 97
“Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward.”
BILL W.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “When everything goes dead wrong, look and see if you are not facing in the wrong direction.”
Grapevine……….March 1952, page 40
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes, You have established Your strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and revengeful cease.
PSALM 8:1-2 NASB
God is Lord of all from infants and nursing babes to the extremes of the heavens. I find it difficult to picture this in my finite mind. The only way I can get a grip on the term “from eternity to eternity,” is by faith. No other way, my mind just won’t give me a picture of what that means. That doesn’t mean I can’t see it though, the eyes of my heart get the picture in full color. The apostle Paul understood having vision with the heart, In his letter to the Ephesians he spoke of heart vision, share this with me: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might” (Eph 1:18-19 NASB). I just can’t get a grip on the concept of the strength of His might with my natural eyes. I am so thankful for the gift of faith. It did not just appear in my life, I had to reach a point where my natural limits were exhausted. Having done all I could for myself on my own power, I was defeated by the rampant natural drives of drink, food, and sex. These natural drives when functioning within the will of God are good and fruitful. But when they are allowed to flourish on their own, they can become abusive and destructive for the body, soul and spirit. Having reached the end of the natural I knew there must be more to life, that is when hope came in view and it was not with the natural eyes. The small spark of wanting something out of reach can and will be touched only by faith. That’s what Paul said, “open the eyes of my heart so I will know what is hope”. That, was paraphrased by me, but I can use in improving my heart vision. I wear glasses in the natural and they help me see, but at times my heart vision when focused on the Word of God is very clear. The problems in life seem to be when I apply this spiritual eyesight to the natural. I am learning more each day as I walk in faith. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Now, if faith is the gaze of the heart at God, and if this gaze is but the raising of the inward eyes to meet the all-seeing eyes of God, then it follows that it is one of the easiest things possible to do. It would be like God to make the most vital thing easy and place it within the range of possibility for the weakest and poorest of us.”
A. W. TOZER…………The Pursuit Of God, page 87
God placed faith within the reach of us all, how blessed we are. Thanks for letting me share…………jre
Heart Vision
Thought for the day: “When everything goes dead wrong, look and see if you are not facing in the wrong direction.”
Grapevine……….March 1952, page 40
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes, You have established Your strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and revengeful cease.
PSALM 8:1-2 NASB
God is Lord of all from infants and nursing babes to the extremes of the heavens. I find it difficult to picture this in my finite mind. The only way I can get a grip on the term “from eternity to eternity,” is by faith. No other way, my mind just won’t give me a picture of what that means. That doesn’t mean I can’t see it though, the eyes of my heart get the picture in full color. The apostle Paul understood having vision with the heart, In his letter to the Ephesians he spoke of heart vision, share this with me: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might” (Eph 1:18-19 NASB). I just can’t get a grip on the concept of the strength of His might with my natural eyes. I am so thankful for the gift of faith. It did not just appear in my life, I had to reach a point where my natural limits were exhausted. Having done all I could for myself on my own power, I was defeated by the rampant natural drives of drink, food, and sex. These natural drives when functioning within the will of God are good and fruitful. But when they are allowed to flourish on their own, they can become abusive and destructive for the body, soul and spirit. Having reached the end of the natural I knew there must be more to life, that is when hope came in view and it was not with the natural eyes. The small spark of wanting something out of reach can and will be touched only by faith. That’s what Paul said, “open the eyes of my heart so I will know what is hope”. That, was paraphrased by me, but I can use in improving my heart vision. I wear glasses in the natural and they help me see, but at times my heart vision when focused on the Word of God is very clear. The problems in life seem to be when I apply this spiritual eyesight to the natural. I am learning more each day as I walk in faith. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Now, if faith is the gaze of the heart at God, and if this gaze is but the raising of the inward eyes to meet the all-seeing eyes of God, then it follows that it is one of the easiest things possible to do. It would be like God to make the most vital thing easy and place it within the range of possibility for the weakest and poorest of us.”
A. W. TOZER…………The Pursuit Of God, page 87
God placed faith within the reach of us all, how blessed we are. Thanks for letting me share…………jre
Monday, November 14, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Daily strength comes from above and lateral strength comes from the sources provided from above.”
JAMES W. DAKE (uncle Jimmy)
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. It then says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 12:43-45 NIV
In these Scripture verses Jesus is talking to the religious leaders of the day who had accused Him of casting out demons by being involved in demonic activity Himself. They couldn’t have been more wrong. Jesus went on to say that a house divided against itself would not stand, in other words if He used demons to cast our demons it would not work. Jesus finishes up His talk with the leaders by telling them that once demons are cast out they will come back in force if the house or the mind is left unoccupied. I can surely relate this to my alcoholism and the progressive nature of the problem. It’s not what you stop that counts, it’s what you start. Just stopping drinking is only a beginning. I must then continue to fill the spiritual void with the Word of God, with words of encouragement and instruction from those who have been successful in their recovery; And through prayer and meditation the invitation for God and the Holy Spirit to come occupy. If I keep myself filled up there won’t be room for alcohol and all the problems that I seem to drag into my life because of it. In my life it is most assuredly what I started that is working, not what I quit. Today I just want to give praise for a loving God of second chances; For the inspiring, instructive, and filling Word of God; For the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that has always been therein my life; For a loving church that supports me knowing all along about my past; And for a family that never let up in their support and their believing in me. It’s hard to keep the house swept and unoccupied with all these resources available. God is truly doing for me what I could not do for myself. Thanks for letting me share……………………………JRE
“PERFECT” HUMILITY
For myself, I try to seek out the truest definition of humility that I can. This will not be the perfect definition, because I shall always be imperfect. At this writing, I would choose one like this:
“Absolute humility would consist of a state of complete freedom from myself, freedom from all claims that my defects of character now lay so heavily upon me. Perfect humility would be a full willingness, in all times and places, to find and to do the will of God.”
When I meditate upon such a vision, I need not be dismayed because I shall never attain it, nor need I swell with presumption that one of these day its virtues shall all be mine.
I only need dwell on the vision itself, letting it grow and ever more fill my heart. This done, I can compare it with my last-taken inventory. Then I get a sane and healthy idea of where I stand on the highway to humility. I see where I stand on the highway to humility. I see that my journey toward God has scarce begun.
As I thus get down to my right size and stature, my self-concern and importance become amusing. BILL W……. As Bill Sees It, page 106……From the Grapevine, June 1961
Occupied
Thought for the day: “Daily strength comes from above and lateral strength comes from the sources provided from above.”
JAMES W. DAKE (uncle Jimmy)
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. It then says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 12:43-45 NIV
In these Scripture verses Jesus is talking to the religious leaders of the day who had accused Him of casting out demons by being involved in demonic activity Himself. They couldn’t have been more wrong. Jesus went on to say that a house divided against itself would not stand, in other words if He used demons to cast our demons it would not work. Jesus finishes up His talk with the leaders by telling them that once demons are cast out they will come back in force if the house or the mind is left unoccupied. I can surely relate this to my alcoholism and the progressive nature of the problem. It’s not what you stop that counts, it’s what you start. Just stopping drinking is only a beginning. I must then continue to fill the spiritual void with the Word of God, with words of encouragement and instruction from those who have been successful in their recovery; And through prayer and meditation the invitation for God and the Holy Spirit to come occupy. If I keep myself filled up there won’t be room for alcohol and all the problems that I seem to drag into my life because of it. In my life it is most assuredly what I started that is working, not what I quit. Today I just want to give praise for a loving God of second chances; For the inspiring, instructive, and filling Word of God; For the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that has always been therein my life; For a loving church that supports me knowing all along about my past; And for a family that never let up in their support and their believing in me. It’s hard to keep the house swept and unoccupied with all these resources available. God is truly doing for me what I could not do for myself. Thanks for letting me share……………………………JRE
“PERFECT” HUMILITY
For myself, I try to seek out the truest definition of humility that I can. This will not be the perfect definition, because I shall always be imperfect. At this writing, I would choose one like this:
“Absolute humility would consist of a state of complete freedom from myself, freedom from all claims that my defects of character now lay so heavily upon me. Perfect humility would be a full willingness, in all times and places, to find and to do the will of God.”
When I meditate upon such a vision, I need not be dismayed because I shall never attain it, nor need I swell with presumption that one of these day its virtues shall all be mine.
I only need dwell on the vision itself, letting it grow and ever more fill my heart. This done, I can compare it with my last-taken inventory. Then I get a sane and healthy idea of where I stand on the highway to humility. I see where I stand on the highway to humility. I see that my journey toward God has scarce begun.
As I thus get down to my right size and stature, my self-concern and importance become amusing. BILL W……. As Bill Sees It, page 106……From the Grapevine, June 1961
Thursday, November 10, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Seize from every moment its unique novelty, and do not prepare your joy.” ANDRE GIDE
Then Job answered the LORD and said, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” JOB 42:1-2 NASB
I just finished reading the book of Job with new eyes. In times past when I read Job I thought so much of it to be profound statements from wise men of the times. This time I took in consideration the attitude of those speaking before I listened to the words. What a difference someone’s words make when we know where they come from. Job had four friends that must have cared dearly for him, otherwise they would not have spent so much time with him in his suffering. Job had lost all possessions, all income, all his children, and only had a wife that was difficult to get along with. Sounds like my life and many other alcoholics that I have known. Of course our afflictions were brought on, by our own making. Job’s friends meant well and they said many things that were true, but their attitudes were ones of blame and they tried to instill guilt and shame into Job’s suffering, causing even more emotional pain upon the man. Friends are like that at times, we mean well but our words come out wrong and sharp. This may be because we are always looking for something or someone to blame for our troubles and the troubles of the world. We’re looking out past our nose for the source of troubles and we think that six inches the other direction lays the solution, in the mind. What we need to do is drop down from the nose about fifteen inches and turn inward to the spiritual heart, the center of our being, and work from there. Job’s friends all said wonderful words of wisdom, but the attitude was wrong. It is like baking a beautiful cake and using salt instead of sugar. It might look good, but it won’t taste good at all. Attitude is everything whether we are looking out or looking in. My pastor uses an illustration of flying airplanes for this. He say that, “Your altitude is determined by your attitude.” In flying they call the angle the plane is in reference to the earth the attitude. With attitude the plane climbs or descends, and so it is in our lives, our attitude determines if we climb or descend. I have found that Job was not blameless in his situation either. His attitude was bringing him down also. He discloses at the first that his fear was a factor, and later I saw the pride of Job shine through in his words. You may not see this, and I may be wrong. I am open to be corrected. Job’s answers and the change needed in his life came about only after it was all said and done, and he repented. It doesn’t say specifically what he repented or turned from, but I think some of it must have been his attitude. This change of attitude was just a start, later Job prayed for his friends. How difficult it must be to pray for those close to us who have come against us meaning well. Anyway, I don’t really know where this was headed today, but I am grateful for the lessons I am learning about attitudes. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
“God loves to look at us, and loves it when we will look back at Him. Even when we try to run away from our troubles…..God will find us, bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure…….. God will find a way to let us know that He is with us in this place, wherever we are.” KATHLEEN NORRIS
We “constructively criticized” someone who needed it, when our real motive was to win a useless argument. Or, the person concerned not being present, we thought we were helping others to understand him, when in actuality our true motive was to feel superior by pulling him down. We sometimes hurt those we love because they need to be “taught a lesson,” when we really want to punish. We were depressed and complained we felt bad, when in fact we were mainly asking for sympathy and attention. This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom.
BILL W. …………….. A.A. 12X12 page 94
Your altitude is determined by your attitude
Thought for the day: “Seize from every moment its unique novelty, and do not prepare your joy.” ANDRE GIDE
Then Job answered the LORD and said, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” JOB 42:1-2 NASB
I just finished reading the book of Job with new eyes. In times past when I read Job I thought so much of it to be profound statements from wise men of the times. This time I took in consideration the attitude of those speaking before I listened to the words. What a difference someone’s words make when we know where they come from. Job had four friends that must have cared dearly for him, otherwise they would not have spent so much time with him in his suffering. Job had lost all possessions, all income, all his children, and only had a wife that was difficult to get along with. Sounds like my life and many other alcoholics that I have known. Of course our afflictions were brought on, by our own making. Job’s friends meant well and they said many things that were true, but their attitudes were ones of blame and they tried to instill guilt and shame into Job’s suffering, causing even more emotional pain upon the man. Friends are like that at times, we mean well but our words come out wrong and sharp. This may be because we are always looking for something or someone to blame for our troubles and the troubles of the world. We’re looking out past our nose for the source of troubles and we think that six inches the other direction lays the solution, in the mind. What we need to do is drop down from the nose about fifteen inches and turn inward to the spiritual heart, the center of our being, and work from there. Job’s friends all said wonderful words of wisdom, but the attitude was wrong. It is like baking a beautiful cake and using salt instead of sugar. It might look good, but it won’t taste good at all. Attitude is everything whether we are looking out or looking in. My pastor uses an illustration of flying airplanes for this. He say that, “Your altitude is determined by your attitude.” In flying they call the angle the plane is in reference to the earth the attitude. With attitude the plane climbs or descends, and so it is in our lives, our attitude determines if we climb or descend. I have found that Job was not blameless in his situation either. His attitude was bringing him down also. He discloses at the first that his fear was a factor, and later I saw the pride of Job shine through in his words. You may not see this, and I may be wrong. I am open to be corrected. Job’s answers and the change needed in his life came about only after it was all said and done, and he repented. It doesn’t say specifically what he repented or turned from, but I think some of it must have been his attitude. This change of attitude was just a start, later Job prayed for his friends. How difficult it must be to pray for those close to us who have come against us meaning well. Anyway, I don’t really know where this was headed today, but I am grateful for the lessons I am learning about attitudes. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
“God loves to look at us, and loves it when we will look back at Him. Even when we try to run away from our troubles…..God will find us, bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure…….. God will find a way to let us know that He is with us in this place, wherever we are.” KATHLEEN NORRIS
We “constructively criticized” someone who needed it, when our real motive was to win a useless argument. Or, the person concerned not being present, we thought we were helping others to understand him, when in actuality our true motive was to feel superior by pulling him down. We sometimes hurt those we love because they need to be “taught a lesson,” when we really want to punish. We were depressed and complained we felt bad, when in fact we were mainly asking for sympathy and attention. This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom.
BILL W. …………….. A.A. 12X12 page 94
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
“But remember the former days, when after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated…….For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”
HEBREWS 10:32,33,36 NASB
We have need of endurance. So many times when we experience some spiritual growth that lifts us up and sets us a notch above where we used to be, we go to a place where we’ve never been spiritually and the winds that blow against us seem new, different, and stronger than we have been accustomed to. Old battles that we’ve fought and won are easily fought and won again. We know how to overcome. But when a new battle arises because of our new growth spiritually, we will have the tendency to slide back to where we were comfortable in the fight. This is not progress and is a step back spiritually. Endurance is the way of overcoming. A retreat does not win the battle. By sometimes just holding the ground the enemy will tire and the victory will come. In my experiences, many times I have been right on the threshold of having a victory, but I pull out because I just don’t know how much longer the battle must go on. All of this retreating stuff was done when I fought all my battles alone. The U.S. Army has slogan “Army of One.” I have news for them and you, there is no such thing as an army of one in the natural. But in the spiritual there exists an Army of One, and I am not it. Endurance is nothing more than taking life one day at a time, realizing that I cannot do it alone, and using the many resources available. In my battles I have learned to obey my Commander in Chief and His commands. To rely on my recon units, they have been this way before. To never walk alone, but stay in the fellowship of believers. To call in the artillery and air strikes in the form of prayers from those who support me in my battles. But the most important part of the battle is to hold the ground. As God gives me spiritual light, use it to hold the spiritual ground. When I realize that I can’t do this alone, God does for me what I could not do for myself.
“And that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.”
1 SAMUEL 17:47 NASB
These are famous words of David as he came up against the giant Goliath. David realized that he didn’t fight the battle himself, but was just an instrument of the Living God. Thanks for letting me share………………..JRE
“Recovery is a process of discovery. We learn about ourselves, and we learn how to cope with the world around us. When we are sincere in our desire to allow our Higher Power to care for us, we begin to gain a sense of serenity. We notice a gradual change in our thinking. Our attitudes and ideas become more positive. Our world is no longer as distorted by self-pity, denial, and resentment. We are beginning to replace those old attitudes with honesty, faith and responsibility; as a result, we begin to see our world in a better light.”
NA…..It Works How And Why, page 33-34
Army of One
Thought for the day: “How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
“But remember the former days, when after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated…….For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”
HEBREWS 10:32,33,36 NASB
We have need of endurance. So many times when we experience some spiritual growth that lifts us up and sets us a notch above where we used to be, we go to a place where we’ve never been spiritually and the winds that blow against us seem new, different, and stronger than we have been accustomed to. Old battles that we’ve fought and won are easily fought and won again. We know how to overcome. But when a new battle arises because of our new growth spiritually, we will have the tendency to slide back to where we were comfortable in the fight. This is not progress and is a step back spiritually. Endurance is the way of overcoming. A retreat does not win the battle. By sometimes just holding the ground the enemy will tire and the victory will come. In my experiences, many times I have been right on the threshold of having a victory, but I pull out because I just don’t know how much longer the battle must go on. All of this retreating stuff was done when I fought all my battles alone. The U.S. Army has slogan “Army of One.” I have news for them and you, there is no such thing as an army of one in the natural. But in the spiritual there exists an Army of One, and I am not it. Endurance is nothing more than taking life one day at a time, realizing that I cannot do it alone, and using the many resources available. In my battles I have learned to obey my Commander in Chief and His commands. To rely on my recon units, they have been this way before. To never walk alone, but stay in the fellowship of believers. To call in the artillery and air strikes in the form of prayers from those who support me in my battles. But the most important part of the battle is to hold the ground. As God gives me spiritual light, use it to hold the spiritual ground. When I realize that I can’t do this alone, God does for me what I could not do for myself.
“And that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.”
1 SAMUEL 17:47 NASB
These are famous words of David as he came up against the giant Goliath. David realized that he didn’t fight the battle himself, but was just an instrument of the Living God. Thanks for letting me share………………..JRE
“Recovery is a process of discovery. We learn about ourselves, and we learn how to cope with the world around us. When we are sincere in our desire to allow our Higher Power to care for us, we begin to gain a sense of serenity. We notice a gradual change in our thinking. Our attitudes and ideas become more positive. Our world is no longer as distorted by self-pity, denial, and resentment. We are beginning to replace those old attitudes with honesty, faith and responsibility; as a result, we begin to see our world in a better light.”
NA…..It Works How And Why, page 33-34
Monday, November 07, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I; But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by.”
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” JOHN 1:16-18 NASB
No one has seen God at any time. This statement can be taken many different ways. I took it for many years in a negative sense thinking that God cannot be seen. But today I know that God can be seen, just not at “any time.” The prophet Isaiah being inspired by the Holy Spirit said, “I am God and there is none like me. I make know the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come” (Isaiah 46:9-10 NIV). God is beyond time, and we live here on earth within the realms of time, so to see God at any time, totally, is beyond our limits. Moses spoke to God the Bible says, “face to face.” But when Moses asked God to show him all His glory, the answer was no. God told Moses that no man could see all of God and live. So God showed Moses just part of His glory as He passed by. Just part of God’s glory lit Moses up so much that he had to hide his face from the rest of the people. The total and full essence of God Almighty must be more powerful that our human flesh and minds can handle. But if you look, you can see some of God as He works in and though the lives of those who have come to know and accept the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the finished work of the Cross. When the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by. Watch as Christians bow down in prayer, you will see God passing by. You cannot separated God and His Word, and this morning as I feast on Scripture, I see God as I am being spoken to. I am too limited to experience totally all of God, but each day I get what I need form God if I seek, look, and listen. In these times I find that God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
PSALM 139:7-10 NIV
“God dwells in eternity but time dwells in god. He has already lived all our tomorrows as He has lived all our yesterdays. An illustration offered by C. S. Lewis may help us here. He suggests that we think of a sheet of paper infinitely extended. That would be eternity. Then on that paper draw a short line to represent time. As the line begins and ends on that infinite expanse, so time began in God and will end in Him.”
A. W. Tozer……..The Knowledge Of The Holy, page 39-40
When trees bow down
Thought for the day: “Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I; But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by.”
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” JOHN 1:16-18 NASB
No one has seen God at any time. This statement can be taken many different ways. I took it for many years in a negative sense thinking that God cannot be seen. But today I know that God can be seen, just not at “any time.” The prophet Isaiah being inspired by the Holy Spirit said, “I am God and there is none like me. I make know the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come” (Isaiah 46:9-10 NIV). God is beyond time, and we live here on earth within the realms of time, so to see God at any time, totally, is beyond our limits. Moses spoke to God the Bible says, “face to face.” But when Moses asked God to show him all His glory, the answer was no. God told Moses that no man could see all of God and live. So God showed Moses just part of His glory as He passed by. Just part of God’s glory lit Moses up so much that he had to hide his face from the rest of the people. The total and full essence of God Almighty must be more powerful that our human flesh and minds can handle. But if you look, you can see some of God as He works in and though the lives of those who have come to know and accept the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the finished work of the Cross. When the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by. Watch as Christians bow down in prayer, you will see God passing by. You cannot separated God and His Word, and this morning as I feast on Scripture, I see God as I am being spoken to. I am too limited to experience totally all of God, but each day I get what I need form God if I seek, look, and listen. In these times I find that God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
PSALM 139:7-10 NIV
“God dwells in eternity but time dwells in god. He has already lived all our tomorrows as He has lived all our yesterdays. An illustration offered by C. S. Lewis may help us here. He suggests that we think of a sheet of paper infinitely extended. That would be eternity. Then on that paper draw a short line to represent time. As the line begins and ends on that infinite expanse, so time began in God and will end in Him.”
A. W. Tozer……..The Knowledge Of The Holy, page 39-40
Friday, November 04, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The love of the Father is like a sudden rain shower that will pour forth when you least expect it, catching you up into wonder and praise.”
RICHARD J. FOSTER
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
PSALM 16:11 NIV
God has made known to me the path of life. For me the path of life is in knowing God. It is an amazing fact that when I walk with God, the path begins to smooth out the farther I go. I can relate this to something that an old AA sponsor once said to me. Arnie passed away a couple of years ago, but things that he said to me and behaviors that he instilled in my life still live on. Arnie told me that when I first got sober the path is wide and roomy, but it is very rough. As I would continue on in my sobriety there would be certain behaviors that I would need to cast out of my life. They were like stumbling stones in the way of my walk. As I would continue to walk with God the path would get narrower because of the changes in my behavior, but it would get smoother because of the stumbling stones that I had removed. Seven years later as I continue in my walk with God, I still run into stones in the path that could cause me o stumble. By taking a personal inventory of my character defects and assets, I am able to see the stumbling stones before I venture upon them. It’s a little work to stoop down, get a hold of the stone and cast it off the path, but the next time I pass that way it will be smooth. Today the path is narrow, but if I continue daily in the maintenance of my spiritual condition it will be smooth going. As God walks with me I find that help is there to do the things that I could not do for myself…………………JRE
AA STEP TEN
“Continue to take personal inventory and when wrong promptly admit it.”
“The awe that we sense or ought to sense when standing in the presence of a human being is a moment of intuition for the likeness of God which is concealed in His essence.”
ABRAHAM JOHHUA HESCHEL
Stumbling stones in the path
Thought for the day: “The love of the Father is like a sudden rain shower that will pour forth when you least expect it, catching you up into wonder and praise.”
RICHARD J. FOSTER
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
PSALM 16:11 NIV
God has made known to me the path of life. For me the path of life is in knowing God. It is an amazing fact that when I walk with God, the path begins to smooth out the farther I go. I can relate this to something that an old AA sponsor once said to me. Arnie passed away a couple of years ago, but things that he said to me and behaviors that he instilled in my life still live on. Arnie told me that when I first got sober the path is wide and roomy, but it is very rough. As I would continue on in my sobriety there would be certain behaviors that I would need to cast out of my life. They were like stumbling stones in the way of my walk. As I would continue to walk with God the path would get narrower because of the changes in my behavior, but it would get smoother because of the stumbling stones that I had removed. Seven years later as I continue in my walk with God, I still run into stones in the path that could cause me o stumble. By taking a personal inventory of my character defects and assets, I am able to see the stumbling stones before I venture upon them. It’s a little work to stoop down, get a hold of the stone and cast it off the path, but the next time I pass that way it will be smooth. Today the path is narrow, but if I continue daily in the maintenance of my spiritual condition it will be smooth going. As God walks with me I find that help is there to do the things that I could not do for myself…………………JRE
AA STEP TEN
“Continue to take personal inventory and when wrong promptly admit it.”
“The awe that we sense or ought to sense when standing in the presence of a human being is a moment of intuition for the likeness of God which is concealed in His essence.”
ABRAHAM JOHHUA HESCHEL
Thursday, November 03, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Your life is God’s gift to you, what you do with your life is your gift to God.” Unknown
“My son pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” PROVERBS 4:20-23 NIV
Just how do we guard our heart? What is a wellspring of life? In physical terms the cardiac pump known as the heart, is the wellspring of life. In spiritual terms the inner being, the center of our spiritual life is also known as the heart. So how do we go about guarding our heart? Solomon gives us the answer when he tells us to pay attention and listen closely. I have discovered that my heart is very similar to a computer, in the fact that whatever I program in will come out. The choice is mine, whatever I pay attention to, and whatever I listen to closely, will become part of my heart. Today my heart still has some trash in it that needs to be taken out, but I am trying not to bring as much home with me as I used to. When I was in the grips of self-centered thinking revolving around the bottle, smoke, and powder, the adverse affects of chemicals on my body, mind and spirit left me negative and hateful. I was feeding my body, which was feeding my heart. As I poured in depressing alcohol and negative stimulants into my system, the results were a heart that cared only for itself. Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak,” and that’s what others heard. They heard from poor me, gimmie, all about me, just for me, me too, me alone, and only me. I drug the trash home to my heart for years, and it didn’t get carried out to the curb over night. Today I have to guard my heart, not so much with physical things that enter, but with my mental thoughts and attitudes. I must be careful to pay attention to what I read, what I watch, and what I listen to. At times even an old song may trigger some stinking thinking brought on by a little bit of trash left in some corner of my heart. The filters of my heart must stay in place always. As I pay attention and listen to the words of Solomon today I realize the importance of being aware of my surroundings, and anything that may influence my heart. My prayer is that God will continue to do for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
A. A. STEP THREE: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
“Recovery literature reminds us that in our dependency illness, ‘we had been faithful, abjectly faithful to the God of Reason’ (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 54). In contrast, wise King Solomon wrote: ‘Lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5). Although intelligence and reason are precious gifts from God, our most important human relationship and spiritual issues are matters primarily of the heart and not the head.
“When we attempt to lean on our own understanding, we encounter numerous recovery barriers. How many times have we tried to think our way out of chronically painful emotions? How many times have we tried to reason our way past the emptiness of spiritual bankruptcy? All to no avail.
“Our decision ‘to turn our will an lives over to the care of God’ involves different forms of surrender. One important surrender is the surrender of an inflated sense of our own intellectual prowess. And so in Step 3 we learn to begin to lean, not on our own understanding, but on the God of our understanding.”
NELSON SERENITY BIBLE page 512
Wellspring of life
Thought for the day: “Your life is God’s gift to you, what you do with your life is your gift to God.” Unknown
“My son pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” PROVERBS 4:20-23 NIV
Just how do we guard our heart? What is a wellspring of life? In physical terms the cardiac pump known as the heart, is the wellspring of life. In spiritual terms the inner being, the center of our spiritual life is also known as the heart. So how do we go about guarding our heart? Solomon gives us the answer when he tells us to pay attention and listen closely. I have discovered that my heart is very similar to a computer, in the fact that whatever I program in will come out. The choice is mine, whatever I pay attention to, and whatever I listen to closely, will become part of my heart. Today my heart still has some trash in it that needs to be taken out, but I am trying not to bring as much home with me as I used to. When I was in the grips of self-centered thinking revolving around the bottle, smoke, and powder, the adverse affects of chemicals on my body, mind and spirit left me negative and hateful. I was feeding my body, which was feeding my heart. As I poured in depressing alcohol and negative stimulants into my system, the results were a heart that cared only for itself. Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak,” and that’s what others heard. They heard from poor me, gimmie, all about me, just for me, me too, me alone, and only me. I drug the trash home to my heart for years, and it didn’t get carried out to the curb over night. Today I have to guard my heart, not so much with physical things that enter, but with my mental thoughts and attitudes. I must be careful to pay attention to what I read, what I watch, and what I listen to. At times even an old song may trigger some stinking thinking brought on by a little bit of trash left in some corner of my heart. The filters of my heart must stay in place always. As I pay attention and listen to the words of Solomon today I realize the importance of being aware of my surroundings, and anything that may influence my heart. My prayer is that God will continue to do for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
A. A. STEP THREE: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
“Recovery literature reminds us that in our dependency illness, ‘we had been faithful, abjectly faithful to the God of Reason’ (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 54). In contrast, wise King Solomon wrote: ‘Lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5). Although intelligence and reason are precious gifts from God, our most important human relationship and spiritual issues are matters primarily of the heart and not the head.
“When we attempt to lean on our own understanding, we encounter numerous recovery barriers. How many times have we tried to think our way out of chronically painful emotions? How many times have we tried to reason our way past the emptiness of spiritual bankruptcy? All to no avail.
“Our decision ‘to turn our will an lives over to the care of God’ involves different forms of surrender. One important surrender is the surrender of an inflated sense of our own intellectual prowess. And so in Step 3 we learn to begin to lean, not on our own understanding, but on the God of our understanding.”
NELSON SERENITY BIBLE page 512
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”
C. S. LEWIS
“Be very careful, then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
EPHESIANS 5:15-21 NIV
Feelings will come and go, they will soar and they will sink. They will wander from person to person, group to group, and from idea to idea. They will also stay held inside a soul that does not want to be exposed for what is truly being felt. If we allow them, feelings will dictate how we spend our lives and will totally govern the directions that we take. That is why in my life it is so important to have a Power greater than myself that I can rely on, that will be the same day after day. My feelings are not totally under control these days, they still flare up and they still sink low, but I am learning that what ever I feel, it is not permanent. One thing I have noticed about life is that our feeling change from moment to moment, day to day. Feelings are like the weather in Missouri, if you don’t like the way it is, wait a day and it will change. Each morning as I spend some time in self-examination I become aware of feelings that swirl around inside my soul. Many are leftovers from days and months and even years prior to this time. Prayer is my answer for calming the storm of feelings that may be exposed. As the waves of feelings beat against the ship of my soul, by prayer I cast out my anchor to attach itself to the Rock of my life, God Almighty. The Rock keeps me from being tossed to an fro, and keeps my emotions and feelings from allowing me to drift aimless on the tide of my feelings. I need an anchor that is attached to something that cannot be moved. If I attach my self to others, I may be able to sway them one way or another. If I attach myself to institutions, they may change, crumble, or disappear. If I attach myself to knowledge, the lack of love leaves me feeling cold and alone. Only by having my anchor hooked on the Rock will I find peace and security from the battering waves of my feelings. By reaching out, God does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
“Today we have learned to harness the power of the atom, but very few of us have learned how to develop fully the power of prayer. We have not yet learned that a man can be more powerful on his knees than behind the most powerful weapons eve developed.
We have not learned that a nation is more powerful when it unites in earnest prayer to God than when its resources are channeled into weapons. We have not discovered that the answer to our problems can be through contact with the living God.
Weapons by themselves will not keep us safe or solve the world’s problems. Our basic problems are spiritual in nature, and only spiritual solutions will solve them. That is why prayer is so vital, for only God can change the human heart.
Who knows what might happen if millions of believers around the world availed themselves of the greatest privilege this side of Heaven, the privilege of intercessory prayer? Will you be one of them?”
BILLY GRAHAM
AA Step Eleven: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
Feelings
Thought for the day: “The great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”
C. S. LEWIS
“Be very careful, then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
EPHESIANS 5:15-21 NIV
Feelings will come and go, they will soar and they will sink. They will wander from person to person, group to group, and from idea to idea. They will also stay held inside a soul that does not want to be exposed for what is truly being felt. If we allow them, feelings will dictate how we spend our lives and will totally govern the directions that we take. That is why in my life it is so important to have a Power greater than myself that I can rely on, that will be the same day after day. My feelings are not totally under control these days, they still flare up and they still sink low, but I am learning that what ever I feel, it is not permanent. One thing I have noticed about life is that our feeling change from moment to moment, day to day. Feelings are like the weather in Missouri, if you don’t like the way it is, wait a day and it will change. Each morning as I spend some time in self-examination I become aware of feelings that swirl around inside my soul. Many are leftovers from days and months and even years prior to this time. Prayer is my answer for calming the storm of feelings that may be exposed. As the waves of feelings beat against the ship of my soul, by prayer I cast out my anchor to attach itself to the Rock of my life, God Almighty. The Rock keeps me from being tossed to an fro, and keeps my emotions and feelings from allowing me to drift aimless on the tide of my feelings. I need an anchor that is attached to something that cannot be moved. If I attach my self to others, I may be able to sway them one way or another. If I attach myself to institutions, they may change, crumble, or disappear. If I attach myself to knowledge, the lack of love leaves me feeling cold and alone. Only by having my anchor hooked on the Rock will I find peace and security from the battering waves of my feelings. By reaching out, God does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
“Today we have learned to harness the power of the atom, but very few of us have learned how to develop fully the power of prayer. We have not yet learned that a man can be more powerful on his knees than behind the most powerful weapons eve developed.
We have not learned that a nation is more powerful when it unites in earnest prayer to God than when its resources are channeled into weapons. We have not discovered that the answer to our problems can be through contact with the living God.
Weapons by themselves will not keep us safe or solve the world’s problems. Our basic problems are spiritual in nature, and only spiritual solutions will solve them. That is why prayer is so vital, for only God can change the human heart.
Who knows what might happen if millions of believers around the world availed themselves of the greatest privilege this side of Heaven, the privilege of intercessory prayer? Will you be one of them?”
BILLY GRAHAM
AA Step Eleven: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
