Tuesday, February 28, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Exaggeration is truth that has lost its temper.”
KAHIL GIBRAN
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 NASB
The New American Standard and the New International Version of the Bible both use the word “secret” in the scripture verses that I study this morning. I went to Strong’s Greek dictionary and I find nothing about the apostle Paul learning a secret. What I find is that the Greek word mueo is used and its meaning is simply to learn, teach or instruct. The King James and the New King James both use the word learn. It ain’t no secret! The word secret reads well there, but I find it to put some kind of mystical hidden agenda into Paul’s revelation that is just not there. I am not against these modern translations, I find them helpful and use them, and, enjoy them very much. It’s just that if, there is a secret, and I want to know what it is. When it comes to Jesus Christ and my walk with Him, don’t keep any secrets from me. Don’t leave me in the dark about something. That is just not scriptural. The Apostle Paul had learned it, just didn’t come to him in some bolt of lightening, there was no secret about it. It was a process of daily living, of going without and having abundance. Many of us in our lives experience ups and downs of various kinds. It is not always food and money that vary. At times it may be our health, and at other times our emotions. At times it may be our relationships with others, and at other times it may be our relationship that we have with our self. The apostle Paul learned and was taught how to deal with the ups and downs of life, and that was to know and be aware of where his real strength came from. It came from Jesus Christ. When I let Jesus come into my life one of the first soothing experiences was to have the high and low points that I experienced, be brought into perspective to the over all picture I had of my life. Last Saturday evening I had the pleasure to attend Max Lucado’s church in San Antonio. I remember him saying that we need to sit in Christ, and he went on to explain what it means to sit. Sitting is when we put our total weight on another object. This is what Paul did and his highs and lows of life were able to be tolerated. Today I am able to apply this same teaching about Jesus to my life, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” It ain’t no secret, God does for me what I could not do for myself…………………………JRE
“Love and tolerance of others is our code.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
It ain't no secret
Thought for the day: “Exaggeration is truth that has lost its temper.”
KAHIL GIBRAN
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 NASB
The New American Standard and the New International Version of the Bible both use the word “secret” in the scripture verses that I study this morning. I went to Strong’s Greek dictionary and I find nothing about the apostle Paul learning a secret. What I find is that the Greek word mueo is used and its meaning is simply to learn, teach or instruct. The King James and the New King James both use the word learn. It ain’t no secret! The word secret reads well there, but I find it to put some kind of mystical hidden agenda into Paul’s revelation that is just not there. I am not against these modern translations, I find them helpful and use them, and, enjoy them very much. It’s just that if, there is a secret, and I want to know what it is. When it comes to Jesus Christ and my walk with Him, don’t keep any secrets from me. Don’t leave me in the dark about something. That is just not scriptural. The Apostle Paul had learned it, just didn’t come to him in some bolt of lightening, there was no secret about it. It was a process of daily living, of going without and having abundance. Many of us in our lives experience ups and downs of various kinds. It is not always food and money that vary. At times it may be our health, and at other times our emotions. At times it may be our relationships with others, and at other times it may be our relationship that we have with our self. The apostle Paul learned and was taught how to deal with the ups and downs of life, and that was to know and be aware of where his real strength came from. It came from Jesus Christ. When I let Jesus come into my life one of the first soothing experiences was to have the high and low points that I experienced, be brought into perspective to the over all picture I had of my life. Last Saturday evening I had the pleasure to attend Max Lucado’s church in San Antonio. I remember him saying that we need to sit in Christ, and he went on to explain what it means to sit. Sitting is when we put our total weight on another object. This is what Paul did and his highs and lows of life were able to be tolerated. Today I am able to apply this same teaching about Jesus to my life, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” It ain’t no secret, God does for me what I could not do for myself…………………………JRE
“Love and tolerance of others is our code.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
Monday, February 27, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Scatter with one hand; gather with two.”
WELSH PROVERB
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
1 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NASB
I have heard the term “God loves a cheerful giver” used many times when the offering is taken up in churches. Today as I study this scripture, I am able to look deeper and see that the apostle Paul was not just talking about having a smile on your face as you drop your check or money into the plate as it passes by. Paul was talking about our spiritual heart, and the conditions under which we offer of our bounty or our harvest. Paul asked that our giving not be grudgingly. I read this as meaning that if we give, not to harbor some resentment because of the amount or because of the fact that we had to give. Paul then speaks of compulsion, now there’s a term I can relate to.
Webster defines compulsion as, “a compelling or being compelled; coercion; driving force; an irresistible, repeated, irrational impulse to perform some act.”
A repeated irrational impulse to perform some act, this is the part of the word compulsion that I can relate most to. During my active addiction to alcohol and drugs I repeatedly drank and used over and over realizing that it was killing me, but found it irresistible, and difficult to stop. I was scattering with one hand and reaping with two. The pain that became a part of my every day living by far doubled the pleasure. Today I understand the word compulsion when it comes to giving back to God, I must not be coerced, compelled, driven or forced into giving, it is a matter of the heart. I must scatter cheerfully with one hand; therefore I will reap cheerfully with two hands. Today I see where two pennies given with a heart full of love will bountifully reap more than two dollars given because of compulsion and habit, or because it felt like a tooth was being pulled.
The spiritual principle of sowing bountifully and reaping bountifully has been tried, tested, and proven true in my life. I don’t want to go back to being a grudgingly resentful giver. Today I am grateful for cheerful attitudes in my life. I have found that they must be nurtured and maintained. The Word of God shows me how. Today God is still doing for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.”
PROVERBS 11:24 NASB
“Fear of economic insecurity will leave us.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
Not grudgingly or under compulsion
Thought for the day: “Scatter with one hand; gather with two.”
WELSH PROVERB
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
1 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NASB
I have heard the term “God loves a cheerful giver” used many times when the offering is taken up in churches. Today as I study this scripture, I am able to look deeper and see that the apostle Paul was not just talking about having a smile on your face as you drop your check or money into the plate as it passes by. Paul was talking about our spiritual heart, and the conditions under which we offer of our bounty or our harvest. Paul asked that our giving not be grudgingly. I read this as meaning that if we give, not to harbor some resentment because of the amount or because of the fact that we had to give. Paul then speaks of compulsion, now there’s a term I can relate to.
Webster defines compulsion as, “a compelling or being compelled; coercion; driving force; an irresistible, repeated, irrational impulse to perform some act.”
A repeated irrational impulse to perform some act, this is the part of the word compulsion that I can relate most to. During my active addiction to alcohol and drugs I repeatedly drank and used over and over realizing that it was killing me, but found it irresistible, and difficult to stop. I was scattering with one hand and reaping with two. The pain that became a part of my every day living by far doubled the pleasure. Today I understand the word compulsion when it comes to giving back to God, I must not be coerced, compelled, driven or forced into giving, it is a matter of the heart. I must scatter cheerfully with one hand; therefore I will reap cheerfully with two hands. Today I see where two pennies given with a heart full of love will bountifully reap more than two dollars given because of compulsion and habit, or because it felt like a tooth was being pulled.
The spiritual principle of sowing bountifully and reaping bountifully has been tried, tested, and proven true in my life. I don’t want to go back to being a grudgingly resentful giver. Today I am grateful for cheerful attitudes in my life. I have found that they must be nurtured and maintained. The Word of God shows me how. Today God is still doing for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.”
PROVERBS 11:24 NASB
“Fear of economic insecurity will leave us.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
Friday, February 17, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.”
PROVERBS 19:17 NASB
In this scripture verse the word gracious is used in the New American Standard, the word pity is used in the King James, and the word kind is used in the New International Version. This scripture has a promise connected to it, and that is why I have a desire to fully understand what is meant. I don’t read into this verse anything about it being just about money. Although money and material wealth could be a part of being gracious and showing pity and kindness, this is not just about money being lent and repaid. The promise is that we will be repaid for our good deeds. In the early seventies I was a student of Hinduism. I was a vegetarian, did yoga exercises and meditated. One of the principles of Hinduism was the idea of cause and effect, or as they refer to it, karma. Your karma was everything you did. If you created good karma you received good karma. Likewise we receive bad karma for bad karma. Around twelve years later at a time when I was broken, pitiful, and unlovable, it was shared with me, how that God loves me even when I have been bad. What a concept, this superceded the law of karma. In my spiritual life it was like a plane taking off from the earth. The law of gravity says that anything with weight will be drawn to the earth. An airplane supercedes this law by having a wing or airfoil, which allows air to travel across the shorter distance of the wing at the same time it travels across the longer distance of the wing creating a lift. The lift raises the plane above the law of gravity. Jesus has created a win win situation in my life. Grace stoops down and loves me when I am not loveable. That concept just blew me away. It wasn’t totally about what I did or didn’t do. It was and is about my heart. Today I don’t choose to do bad, but when it happens God’s grace helps me back on my feet. The Hebrew word use for gracious, pity and kind is chanan, and it comes from a root word that means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior and to favor. The scripture says that God will repay us when we do this. The truth is that God did it for us first. God did for me what I could not do for myself……………………JRE
“God’s creation cannot subsist without God’s abundant grace. God has given human beings the sacred responsibility of mediating God’s grace.”
VIGEN GUROIAN
Bend or stoop in kindness
Thought for the day: “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.”
PROVERBS 19:17 NASB
In this scripture verse the word gracious is used in the New American Standard, the word pity is used in the King James, and the word kind is used in the New International Version. This scripture has a promise connected to it, and that is why I have a desire to fully understand what is meant. I don’t read into this verse anything about it being just about money. Although money and material wealth could be a part of being gracious and showing pity and kindness, this is not just about money being lent and repaid. The promise is that we will be repaid for our good deeds. In the early seventies I was a student of Hinduism. I was a vegetarian, did yoga exercises and meditated. One of the principles of Hinduism was the idea of cause and effect, or as they refer to it, karma. Your karma was everything you did. If you created good karma you received good karma. Likewise we receive bad karma for bad karma. Around twelve years later at a time when I was broken, pitiful, and unlovable, it was shared with me, how that God loves me even when I have been bad. What a concept, this superceded the law of karma. In my spiritual life it was like a plane taking off from the earth. The law of gravity says that anything with weight will be drawn to the earth. An airplane supercedes this law by having a wing or airfoil, which allows air to travel across the shorter distance of the wing at the same time it travels across the longer distance of the wing creating a lift. The lift raises the plane above the law of gravity. Jesus has created a win win situation in my life. Grace stoops down and loves me when I am not loveable. That concept just blew me away. It wasn’t totally about what I did or didn’t do. It was and is about my heart. Today I don’t choose to do bad, but when it happens God’s grace helps me back on my feet. The Hebrew word use for gracious, pity and kind is chanan, and it comes from a root word that means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior and to favor. The scripture says that God will repay us when we do this. The truth is that God did it for us first. God did for me what I could not do for myself……………………JRE
“God’s creation cannot subsist without God’s abundant grace. God has given human beings the sacred responsibility of mediating God’s grace.”
VIGEN GUROIAN
Thursday, February 16, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If you would get ahead, be a bridge.”
WELCH PROVERB
Very early the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” Looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold here is the place where they laid Him. But go tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of your to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
MARK 16:2-7 NASB
“They came to the tomb, they were saying to one another, they saw, they were amazed.” The “they” that Mark is referring to is Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome the mother of James and John. These three women had gone to the tomb where they had laid the body of Jesus to anoint the body with sweet spices. Of course the tomb had been opened, not to let the resurrected body of Jesus out, but to allow them to look in. They had no idea that the tomb would be open because they had asked one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us.” They looked in the tomb, saw an angel and were amazed. I guess so, who wouldn’t be amazed? What I have found amazing about these scripture verses this morning is what the angel had to say to them. He told them, “Go tell His disciples and Peter.” Why did the angel single out Peter and mention him separately? The New American Standard has this verse in quotes within quotes, which means that the angel was quoting Jesus. Why the disciples and Peter? Wasn’t Peter a disciple also? I went to the Dake Reference Bible and came up with this commentary. Share this with me.
“Peter, it is most likely, would not consider himself worthy of the name disciple, seeing he had done what none of the rest (not even Judas) had done; denied positively, then denied contemptuously, and then denied blasphemously his Master. He was therefore specially mentioned by Jesus, to assure him of the Lord’s compassion, forgiveness, and restoration to the apostolic office he had rashly forfeited by his instability. All this was predicted, so now his re-conversion must also be fulfilled so that he could ‘strengthen the brethren,’ (Lk 22:31-32) in the trying days ahead”
If Peter could be re-converted and restored to a useful position within the Church, then there is room for all who have stumbled and stubbed their toes. Today I think of Peter who got ahead and then became a bridge for us all to cross. The Welch Proverb that is found above sticks in my spiritual gullet today. “If you would get ahead, be a bridge.” This is not about getting ahead but about laying ourselves down so that others may use us to get to a better position. Whether it is material or spiritual matters not, being of service is what matters. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself……………………….JRE
Be a bridge
Thought for the day: “If you would get ahead, be a bridge.”
WELCH PROVERB
Very early the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” Looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold here is the place where they laid Him. But go tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of your to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
MARK 16:2-7 NASB
“They came to the tomb, they were saying to one another, they saw, they were amazed.” The “they” that Mark is referring to is Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome the mother of James and John. These three women had gone to the tomb where they had laid the body of Jesus to anoint the body with sweet spices. Of course the tomb had been opened, not to let the resurrected body of Jesus out, but to allow them to look in. They had no idea that the tomb would be open because they had asked one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us.” They looked in the tomb, saw an angel and were amazed. I guess so, who wouldn’t be amazed? What I have found amazing about these scripture verses this morning is what the angel had to say to them. He told them, “Go tell His disciples and Peter.” Why did the angel single out Peter and mention him separately? The New American Standard has this verse in quotes within quotes, which means that the angel was quoting Jesus. Why the disciples and Peter? Wasn’t Peter a disciple also? I went to the Dake Reference Bible and came up with this commentary. Share this with me.
“Peter, it is most likely, would not consider himself worthy of the name disciple, seeing he had done what none of the rest (not even Judas) had done; denied positively, then denied contemptuously, and then denied blasphemously his Master. He was therefore specially mentioned by Jesus, to assure him of the Lord’s compassion, forgiveness, and restoration to the apostolic office he had rashly forfeited by his instability. All this was predicted, so now his re-conversion must also be fulfilled so that he could ‘strengthen the brethren,’ (Lk 22:31-32) in the trying days ahead”
If Peter could be re-converted and restored to a useful position within the Church, then there is room for all who have stumbled and stubbed their toes. Today I think of Peter who got ahead and then became a bridge for us all to cross. The Welch Proverb that is found above sticks in my spiritual gullet today. “If you would get ahead, be a bridge.” This is not about getting ahead but about laying ourselves down so that others may use us to get to a better position. Whether it is material or spiritual matters not, being of service is what matters. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself……………………….JRE
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Sum up at night what thou hast done by day.”
GEORGE HERBERT
Vindicate me, O LORD,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD;
I shall not slip.
Examine me O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
PSALM 26:1-2 NKJ
When David wrote this Psalm he spoke from a heart that had examined itself and found itself to be true to God. Self-examination is the hoe that keeps the weeds from growing and allows the soil of our heart to stay broken up and ready to receive the latter rains and spiritual nourishments. Our hearts are just like gardens. We must continually work in them to keep the soil loose, and to keep the weeds from taking over. Each year I plant a vegetable garden. There is nothing like having new potatoes and green beans; fresh cucumbers and bell peppers; squash, and ripe tomatoes; and don’t forget sweet corn on the cob dripping in butter that runs all the way to your elbows. Gardens are fun to put out but can create stress and sweat if not tended to on a regular basis. I can recall times when the hot mid-summer sun beats down and tries to cook everything before it is ready. During times like this I have to provide extra water to keep the garden alive. Many times after watering I notice how the sun has a tendency to bake the earth like clay. I have noticed that the weeds seem to flourish and grow with abundance during these times. Some weeds get such a grip on life that it is almost impossible to pull them out of the hard sun-baked soil. To avoid this stress and sweat I am learning to take the hoe down to the garden and invest in a little examination. Those old tough weeds give up pretty easy when they are only one inch tall. And so it is in my life today, my character defects and shortcomings are easier to deal with when they are small and in the beginning stages of their growth. Self-examination is the tool that I must take out daily and use to keep my heart open and free of negative influences. Influences that just seem to grow like weeds if allowed. Today with the help of the Word of God, I find that God is able to do for me, what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
“When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God’s forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS page 86
Self-examination is the hoe
Thought for the day: “Sum up at night what thou hast done by day.”
GEORGE HERBERT
Vindicate me, O LORD,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD;
I shall not slip.
Examine me O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
PSALM 26:1-2 NKJ
When David wrote this Psalm he spoke from a heart that had examined itself and found itself to be true to God. Self-examination is the hoe that keeps the weeds from growing and allows the soil of our heart to stay broken up and ready to receive the latter rains and spiritual nourishments. Our hearts are just like gardens. We must continually work in them to keep the soil loose, and to keep the weeds from taking over. Each year I plant a vegetable garden. There is nothing like having new potatoes and green beans; fresh cucumbers and bell peppers; squash, and ripe tomatoes; and don’t forget sweet corn on the cob dripping in butter that runs all the way to your elbows. Gardens are fun to put out but can create stress and sweat if not tended to on a regular basis. I can recall times when the hot mid-summer sun beats down and tries to cook everything before it is ready. During times like this I have to provide extra water to keep the garden alive. Many times after watering I notice how the sun has a tendency to bake the earth like clay. I have noticed that the weeds seem to flourish and grow with abundance during these times. Some weeds get such a grip on life that it is almost impossible to pull them out of the hard sun-baked soil. To avoid this stress and sweat I am learning to take the hoe down to the garden and invest in a little examination. Those old tough weeds give up pretty easy when they are only one inch tall. And so it is in my life today, my character defects and shortcomings are easier to deal with when they are small and in the beginning stages of their growth. Self-examination is the tool that I must take out daily and use to keep my heart open and free of negative influences. Influences that just seem to grow like weeds if allowed. Today with the help of the Word of God, I find that God is able to do for me, what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
“When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God’s forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS page 86
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Love isn't love until you give it away.”
JOHN H. MACDONALD JR. 1992
“He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.” PROVERBS 17:9 NASB
This morning my daily reading brought me to the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Proverbs. My spirit this morning seems to be open and receptive to the words of Solomon. The chapter is a nugget of wisdom dealing with many everyday behaviors. It speaks of food and strife, service and evildoers, grandchildren and sons, excellent speech and lying lips, returning evil for good, a friends love, a joyful heart and good medicine, wisdom and foolishness, and the gift of keeping silent. The ninth verse says, “He who conceals a transgression seeks love.” That verse in particular reached out to me because I did not understand it. I considered it to be dishonest and not upfront. Of all the words used to convey this proverb, love and friends are the most powerful. There is nothing any greater than love and a good friend. In my life Jesus occupies those positions. Others also demonstrate love and friendship, but they seem to come and go, some by birth some by death, some by introduction some by their own choice. Our family, friends and others seem to vary from time to time. It seems that we have some lifelong friends and many who drift in and out of our lives as the changing of the seasons. Does a loving friend conceal a transgression? Is this right? The whole thought is hinged on a comma. As a door is hinged to the frame, this thought of concealing a transgression is connected to the idea of separation. “He who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.” Now that part of the proverb I understand. If you squeal on someone it could cost you his or her love and friendship. The commentary by Charles Ryrie on this verse opened my eyes, share this with me, “Overlooking an offense may preserve a friendship, but one who takes advantage of such graciousness will cause the friendship to be broken.” My question to myself today is what is worth the price of losing a loving friend? I am guilty of losing friends because of my self-centered, selfish, pride. I feel the tug on my heartstrings from the Word of God this morning. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself. Thanks for letting me share…………………JRE
He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
PROVERBS 17:27-28 NASB
“God loves and cares for us, even to the least event and smallest need of life.”
HENRY EDWARD MANNING
Tug on my heartstrings
Thought for the day: “Love isn't love until you give it away.”
JOHN H. MACDONALD JR. 1992
“He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.” PROVERBS 17:9 NASB
This morning my daily reading brought me to the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Proverbs. My spirit this morning seems to be open and receptive to the words of Solomon. The chapter is a nugget of wisdom dealing with many everyday behaviors. It speaks of food and strife, service and evildoers, grandchildren and sons, excellent speech and lying lips, returning evil for good, a friends love, a joyful heart and good medicine, wisdom and foolishness, and the gift of keeping silent. The ninth verse says, “He who conceals a transgression seeks love.” That verse in particular reached out to me because I did not understand it. I considered it to be dishonest and not upfront. Of all the words used to convey this proverb, love and friends are the most powerful. There is nothing any greater than love and a good friend. In my life Jesus occupies those positions. Others also demonstrate love and friendship, but they seem to come and go, some by birth some by death, some by introduction some by their own choice. Our family, friends and others seem to vary from time to time. It seems that we have some lifelong friends and many who drift in and out of our lives as the changing of the seasons. Does a loving friend conceal a transgression? Is this right? The whole thought is hinged on a comma. As a door is hinged to the frame, this thought of concealing a transgression is connected to the idea of separation. “He who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.” Now that part of the proverb I understand. If you squeal on someone it could cost you his or her love and friendship. The commentary by Charles Ryrie on this verse opened my eyes, share this with me, “Overlooking an offense may preserve a friendship, but one who takes advantage of such graciousness will cause the friendship to be broken.” My question to myself today is what is worth the price of losing a loving friend? I am guilty of losing friends because of my self-centered, selfish, pride. I feel the tug on my heartstrings from the Word of God this morning. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself. Thanks for letting me share…………………JRE
He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
PROVERBS 17:27-28 NASB
“God loves and cares for us, even to the least event and smallest need of life.”
HENRY EDWARD MANNING
Monday, February 13, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.”
ERIC HOFFER
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” PROVERBS 16:32 NASB
As I came across this proverb of Solomon today, I reflect on my past and myself. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.” This lesson I find that I am still learning. As I look back I can see where anger was a survival tool, or so I thought it to be. When I was a teenager hanging out on the streets of Kansas City in the early sixties, anger was one of the mediums of _expression. It seemed to be accepted if someone was uptight, even if it was not justified. Then when I got drafted into the Army, my anger was refined, controlled, and pointed in a specific direction. It was still accepted if kept within the bounds of military use. My problems with anger in my life came after I returned from Vietnam. The next fifteen years were spent not really knowing what this raging fire within me was all about. Oh I got involved with the Flower Children of the sixties and claimed that love and peace were the answers to all life’s problems, but that had to be only on the surface because anger still would show up at times and be completely in control. In control out of control might be a better way to describe it. The next part of the proverb referring to ruling my spirit is directly proportional to my level of anger. I would like to point out here that Solomon did not say that anger was bad or evil, but that quick anger is a weakness. Some anger, not violence, has been used in the business world for an individual to be more competitive, and produce a better product. The apostle Paul said in the Book of Ephesians to be angry and sin not. Anger is an emotion that people will experience from time to time, it’s how we handle it that is of importance. I am learning that my anger has no right to hurt anyone in any way. I must rule my spirit. What a life long everyday job that has turned out to be. He who rules his spirit is better than he who captures a city. I am reminded of reading about Alexander the Great who at the young age in his early thirties, had captured and controlled for Greece, most of the known western and eastern world. He died of alcohol poisoning in his thirties, he could not conquer his own spirit. Being a delivered recovering alcoholic, I realize today that I cannot afford the luxury of anger. I must resolve any anger quickly to keep it from growing and becoming a festering open wound. Solomon’s family life might not have been the best example for us to use, and his worship of God later in his life might not have been one of our better examples, but he did live in peace. I think that he understood the consequences of hasty anger in a person’s life. Today with the reading of the Word of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit I find help in putting out the raging fire of anger that is within. God is doing for me, something, that in past times I could not do for myself…………JRE
“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”
NUMBERS 6:24-26 TLB
Slow to anger is better
Thought for the day: “Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.”
ERIC HOFFER
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” PROVERBS 16:32 NASB
As I came across this proverb of Solomon today, I reflect on my past and myself. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.” This lesson I find that I am still learning. As I look back I can see where anger was a survival tool, or so I thought it to be. When I was a teenager hanging out on the streets of Kansas City in the early sixties, anger was one of the mediums of _expression. It seemed to be accepted if someone was uptight, even if it was not justified. Then when I got drafted into the Army, my anger was refined, controlled, and pointed in a specific direction. It was still accepted if kept within the bounds of military use. My problems with anger in my life came after I returned from Vietnam. The next fifteen years were spent not really knowing what this raging fire within me was all about. Oh I got involved with the Flower Children of the sixties and claimed that love and peace were the answers to all life’s problems, but that had to be only on the surface because anger still would show up at times and be completely in control. In control out of control might be a better way to describe it. The next part of the proverb referring to ruling my spirit is directly proportional to my level of anger. I would like to point out here that Solomon did not say that anger was bad or evil, but that quick anger is a weakness. Some anger, not violence, has been used in the business world for an individual to be more competitive, and produce a better product. The apostle Paul said in the Book of Ephesians to be angry and sin not. Anger is an emotion that people will experience from time to time, it’s how we handle it that is of importance. I am learning that my anger has no right to hurt anyone in any way. I must rule my spirit. What a life long everyday job that has turned out to be. He who rules his spirit is better than he who captures a city. I am reminded of reading about Alexander the Great who at the young age in his early thirties, had captured and controlled for Greece, most of the known western and eastern world. He died of alcohol poisoning in his thirties, he could not conquer his own spirit. Being a delivered recovering alcoholic, I realize today that I cannot afford the luxury of anger. I must resolve any anger quickly to keep it from growing and becoming a festering open wound. Solomon’s family life might not have been the best example for us to use, and his worship of God later in his life might not have been one of our better examples, but he did live in peace. I think that he understood the consequences of hasty anger in a person’s life. Today with the reading of the Word of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit I find help in putting out the raging fire of anger that is within. God is doing for me, something, that in past times I could not do for myself…………JRE
“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”
NUMBERS 6:24-26 TLB
Friday, February 10, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The years teach much which the days never know.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Just prior to the arrest of Jesus He went to the garden of Gethsemane with Peter, John, and James and prayed. Share this scripture with me. He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” Then He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
MARK 14:35-38 NKJ
As I study this portion of Scripture this morning, I zero in on “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” I notice that the English word spirit is not capitalized so I take it not to mean the Holy Spirit. As I go the original Greek word use I am able to get a clearer understand of what Jesus meant. The Greek word is pneuma. We get our medical term pneumonia from this word. The Greek word comes from a root word meaning current of air, breath, or a breeze. It also means spirit as in a ghost, or what would be considered the rational soul of humans. It also has a meaning of the mind, and in this instance I feel this is what Jesus meant. The reason that I say this is because it was late at night and the disciples had had a long day with the preparation for the Passover meal and the actual serving and eating of the meal. Last year I had an opportunity to take part in a Jewish Passover meal and it was an all day occasion. The eating of the meal took around three hours itself. This was not fast food. Jesus had taken the three disciples to a place by themselves, and asked that they would watch and pray for a short while. Their bodies were so exhausted that they dozed off. Have you ever had an occasion where you should stay awake but your old eyelids droop more and more and eventually, you loose consciousness and drift off into sleep. Sure, we all have. Our mental facilities want to stay awake, but our body, our flesh, has a way of pulling us the direction it wants. Jesus understood this and that is why after He found them sleeping the second time He said, “Sleep on.” The lesson that I learn from this is that I must prepare my mind for the tug of the flesh, and it will tug from time to time. I am a delivered alcoholic and drug addict, and I still need to sure up my mind daily with the realization that the flesh has a power pull on the mind if allowed. That is why I choose to ally my mind, soul, emotions, memory, and will, with the Holy Spirit of God. In any battle it is wise to have allies to help overcome the enemy. Today I choose the Holy Spirit, and God will do for me what I could not do for myself………………………JRE
“We can go through all the activities of our day in joyful awareness of God’s presence with whispered prayers of praise and adoration flowing continuously from our hearts.” RICHARD J. FOSTER
“Love and tolerance of others is our code.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
Heavy eyelids
Thought for the day: “The years teach much which the days never know.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Just prior to the arrest of Jesus He went to the garden of Gethsemane with Peter, John, and James and prayed. Share this scripture with me. He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” Then He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
MARK 14:35-38 NKJ
As I study this portion of Scripture this morning, I zero in on “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” I notice that the English word spirit is not capitalized so I take it not to mean the Holy Spirit. As I go the original Greek word use I am able to get a clearer understand of what Jesus meant. The Greek word is pneuma. We get our medical term pneumonia from this word. The Greek word comes from a root word meaning current of air, breath, or a breeze. It also means spirit as in a ghost, or what would be considered the rational soul of humans. It also has a meaning of the mind, and in this instance I feel this is what Jesus meant. The reason that I say this is because it was late at night and the disciples had had a long day with the preparation for the Passover meal and the actual serving and eating of the meal. Last year I had an opportunity to take part in a Jewish Passover meal and it was an all day occasion. The eating of the meal took around three hours itself. This was not fast food. Jesus had taken the three disciples to a place by themselves, and asked that they would watch and pray for a short while. Their bodies were so exhausted that they dozed off. Have you ever had an occasion where you should stay awake but your old eyelids droop more and more and eventually, you loose consciousness and drift off into sleep. Sure, we all have. Our mental facilities want to stay awake, but our body, our flesh, has a way of pulling us the direction it wants. Jesus understood this and that is why after He found them sleeping the second time He said, “Sleep on.” The lesson that I learn from this is that I must prepare my mind for the tug of the flesh, and it will tug from time to time. I am a delivered alcoholic and drug addict, and I still need to sure up my mind daily with the realization that the flesh has a power pull on the mind if allowed. That is why I choose to ally my mind, soul, emotions, memory, and will, with the Holy Spirit of God. In any battle it is wise to have allies to help overcome the enemy. Today I choose the Holy Spirit, and God will do for me what I could not do for myself………………………JRE
“We can go through all the activities of our day in joyful awareness of God’s presence with whispered prayers of praise and adoration flowing continuously from our hearts.” RICHARD J. FOSTER
“Love and tolerance of others is our code.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
Thursday, February 09, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his brother.”
KAHIL GIBRAN
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” HEBREWS 2:1 KJV
Forty years ago on a cold dark February day, at six o’clock in the morning, I entered the Armed Forces building in Kansas City Missouri. It was a small building compared to the Post Office and Union Station which were both diagonally across Broadway. At that time in my life I had many fears and doubts, I was being drafted into military service and the Vietnam War was raging over the horizon. I had already had my pre-induction physical and this was my induction physical. They told me to bring a few items such as toothbrush, comb, soap, shampoo, and a couple changes of clothes, and that my chances of going to military service were very probable. After all day of being tested and examined I was walked over in front of the post office with about one hundred other guys to wait for the busses that were to take us to Fort Leonard Wood. I spent three days there to be issued my military clothing and to get shots; I was then bussed with several hundred other men to Fort Campbell Kentucky. It was after mid-night, pitch black, and raining when we arrived. As we walked off the busses into the rain there was mass confusion taking place. These army sergeants were running around hollering, screaming, and shouting names. Some were our names and others were names that I would rather not mention. The confusion was only in our minds, they soon had us lined up and organized into groups. We were totally soaked as they marched us to our new home. We arrived wet and miserable in front of our two storied, wooden, coal heated barracks. The fun had just begun. During the next eight weeks I started hearing words that I had never heard and have never forgot. I remember one sergeant named Sgt. Crozer, he was a 101st Airborne Recondo and he said, “You need to heed to what I tell you, and it would behoove you to act upon it. It will save your life.” I was not familiar with the words heed and behoove, but I understood the term “it will save your life.” I started paying attention because I did not want to die. This was fundamental stuff, and to live I would need a solid foundation built upon these military principles. Two and a half years later I returned from Vietnam. Having a working knowledge of the fundamentals of infantry training contributed to my return. Heeding and behooving paid off. Today my battles are different, and as I come across the word heed in the Book of Hebrews I reflect, and I know what the word means. The writer of the Book of Hebrews goes on to explain what was to be heeded, share this with me.
“For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witnesses, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” HEBREWS 2:2-4 KJV
That is a question, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” My answer for myself is that I need to heed and behoove, and God will do for me what I can’t do for myself…………………JRE
“Lord, help me do with a smile the things that I have to do anyway, Amen.”
Tammy Storrie
Heed and behoove
Thought for the day: “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his brother.”
KAHIL GIBRAN
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” HEBREWS 2:1 KJV
Forty years ago on a cold dark February day, at six o’clock in the morning, I entered the Armed Forces building in Kansas City Missouri. It was a small building compared to the Post Office and Union Station which were both diagonally across Broadway. At that time in my life I had many fears and doubts, I was being drafted into military service and the Vietnam War was raging over the horizon. I had already had my pre-induction physical and this was my induction physical. They told me to bring a few items such as toothbrush, comb, soap, shampoo, and a couple changes of clothes, and that my chances of going to military service were very probable. After all day of being tested and examined I was walked over in front of the post office with about one hundred other guys to wait for the busses that were to take us to Fort Leonard Wood. I spent three days there to be issued my military clothing and to get shots; I was then bussed with several hundred other men to Fort Campbell Kentucky. It was after mid-night, pitch black, and raining when we arrived. As we walked off the busses into the rain there was mass confusion taking place. These army sergeants were running around hollering, screaming, and shouting names. Some were our names and others were names that I would rather not mention. The confusion was only in our minds, they soon had us lined up and organized into groups. We were totally soaked as they marched us to our new home. We arrived wet and miserable in front of our two storied, wooden, coal heated barracks. The fun had just begun. During the next eight weeks I started hearing words that I had never heard and have never forgot. I remember one sergeant named Sgt. Crozer, he was a 101st Airborne Recondo and he said, “You need to heed to what I tell you, and it would behoove you to act upon it. It will save your life.” I was not familiar with the words heed and behoove, but I understood the term “it will save your life.” I started paying attention because I did not want to die. This was fundamental stuff, and to live I would need a solid foundation built upon these military principles. Two and a half years later I returned from Vietnam. Having a working knowledge of the fundamentals of infantry training contributed to my return. Heeding and behooving paid off. Today my battles are different, and as I come across the word heed in the Book of Hebrews I reflect, and I know what the word means. The writer of the Book of Hebrews goes on to explain what was to be heeded, share this with me.
“For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witnesses, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” HEBREWS 2:2-4 KJV
That is a question, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” My answer for myself is that I need to heed and behoove, and God will do for me what I can’t do for myself…………………JRE
“Lord, help me do with a smile the things that I have to do anyway, Amen.”
Tammy Storrie
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “When we give the Word of God space to live in our heart, the Spirit of God will use it to take root, penetrating the earthiest recesses of our lives.”
KEN GIRE
“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”
1 JOHN 2:27 NASB
“You have no need for anyone to teach you.” Wow, if I took that out of context I could lead myself astray fairly easy. As I study this scripture today I find that it is about our conduct, our thoughts, our attitude, and our actions after we receive Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As a child, most times I knew right from wrong. This was taught to me by various ways. My parents let me know when my behavior was wrong and took measures to insure it would not happen again. When once again I would behave in a like manor I would receive a similar punishment and eventually I would learn the lesson. As a child I also learned from the other children. Our friends and those we associate with will let us know when we are out of line with the flow. Many times peer pressure is not always correct, but it remains a large influence on our lives. As a child I also learned from trial and error. You don’t touch a hot stove too many times before you learn that stoves are hot. As I became older I was taught and learned from those who had authority over me. Those that instructed me were my teachers, coaches, employers, policemen, and military leaders. All of my instruction and teachings up to this point came from a source outside of myself. Oh I had a voice within myself that let me know when I was wrong, but it had mostly been taught by others and by my own experiences. In 1983 when I allowed the love of God to enter my life through Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross, I also received the anointing that comes only by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that gave me rebirth and nurtured my understanding of the Word of God. For once in my life I was receiving instruction from the inside, from the Holy Spirit and from my spirit. It was not of an outside influence. It was an inside job. After reading the Word of God and practicing spiritual principles in all my affairs, I knew when my thoughts or behaviors were wrong. That doesn’t mean that I always corrected myself, but I knew. Where as before I didn’t always know and needed correction from some outside influence. Today I still keep myself open to teachings. I find the Holy Spirit uses my pastor, my AA sponsor and mentor, my family, and my friends to get the instructions into my heart. My spirit receives it and agrees that this is good. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
Charles Ryrie has a commentary on this, share this with me:
You have no need for anyone to teach you. The Spirit whom they had received would teach them how to distinguish truth from error (John 1613). The Spirit may use human teachers to accomplish this (Eph. 4:11-14). NASB Ryrie Study Bible, page 1994
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
AA Step Twelve, Alcoholics Anonymous page 60
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature, the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.”
RACHEL CARSON
Practicing spiritual principles
Thought for the day: “When we give the Word of God space to live in our heart, the Spirit of God will use it to take root, penetrating the earthiest recesses of our lives.”
KEN GIRE
“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”
1 JOHN 2:27 NASB
“You have no need for anyone to teach you.” Wow, if I took that out of context I could lead myself astray fairly easy. As I study this scripture today I find that it is about our conduct, our thoughts, our attitude, and our actions after we receive Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As a child, most times I knew right from wrong. This was taught to me by various ways. My parents let me know when my behavior was wrong and took measures to insure it would not happen again. When once again I would behave in a like manor I would receive a similar punishment and eventually I would learn the lesson. As a child I also learned from the other children. Our friends and those we associate with will let us know when we are out of line with the flow. Many times peer pressure is not always correct, but it remains a large influence on our lives. As a child I also learned from trial and error. You don’t touch a hot stove too many times before you learn that stoves are hot. As I became older I was taught and learned from those who had authority over me. Those that instructed me were my teachers, coaches, employers, policemen, and military leaders. All of my instruction and teachings up to this point came from a source outside of myself. Oh I had a voice within myself that let me know when I was wrong, but it had mostly been taught by others and by my own experiences. In 1983 when I allowed the love of God to enter my life through Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross, I also received the anointing that comes only by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that gave me rebirth and nurtured my understanding of the Word of God. For once in my life I was receiving instruction from the inside, from the Holy Spirit and from my spirit. It was not of an outside influence. It was an inside job. After reading the Word of God and practicing spiritual principles in all my affairs, I knew when my thoughts or behaviors were wrong. That doesn’t mean that I always corrected myself, but I knew. Where as before I didn’t always know and needed correction from some outside influence. Today I still keep myself open to teachings. I find the Holy Spirit uses my pastor, my AA sponsor and mentor, my family, and my friends to get the instructions into my heart. My spirit receives it and agrees that this is good. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
Charles Ryrie has a commentary on this, share this with me:
You have no need for anyone to teach you. The Spirit whom they had received would teach them how to distinguish truth from error (John 1613). The Spirit may use human teachers to accomplish this (Eph. 4:11-14). NASB Ryrie Study Bible, page 1994
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
AA Step Twelve, Alcoholics Anonymous page 60
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature, the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.”
RACHEL CARSON
Monday, February 06, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “One does evil enough when one does nothing good.”
GERMAN PROVERB
Jesus answered him. The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
MARK 12:29-30
The first of all commandments is hear…………..How are we going to know that God is one unless we hear with our physical ears, or we hear with our inner spiritual ears as we read the Word of God. How are we going to know that we first must love God unless we hear it? How are we going to know that God loves us unless we hear it? Until I came to the understanding, with all my soul and mind, that God loved me first and sharing that love back is number one; Until I came to that understanding, I gave credit to the good and bad things that happened in my life to fortune, fate, luck, or a result of my own will power. Some of that was true, not the luck, I don’t believe in luck anymore, but the self-will, which did result in many changes in my life was the cause of much anxiety. Today I understand that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God,” and as a result of that hearing I understand and have experienced how God can take anything that happens in my life and use it. God has taken the joyful times, times of companionship, fellowship, health, and prosperity and allowed me to share with others to use as a source of encouragement. God has also taken the painful times in my life, times of having a self-will that was out of control, times of emotional pain and loneliness, times of discouragement and defeat. God has taken these times, forgiven me, and helped me through them to see the sunny side of life again. God then makes it possible not to regret the past and to allows me to share my experience, strength and hope, to encourage those who have little hope. There was a time when I would have paraphrased that commandment as, Hear O Jerry, you are god, and you shall love yourself more than anything else. In those days, my life was a boiling pot of self-centered turmoil. Oh there were some good times, but the gloom permeated my soul, my mind, my strength, and my spirituality. This boiling pot had a lid of self-pity that kept everything inside, and kept God out. Only by taking off the lid of self-pity and pride, was God able to use my experiences as a fragrance of hope to reach others who were pressured by their own boiling pot. Self-pity does not encourage anyone. Only God could take my pity and pride and turn it around so it was useable. God did for me what I could not do for myself.
Well praise God; I started out this morning with the Hebrew word achad on my mind. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy and the Hebrew word used for one, found in “our God is one,” has a root meaning to be united. I take it to mean that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are united as One. God is One indeed. My direction today was to be about the unity of God, I instead became more united with God through love. Thanks for letting me share………………..JRE
“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 JOHN 4:19 NASB
“The very possibility of friendship with God transfigures life. This conviction…..tends inevitably to deepen every human friendship, to make it vastly more significant.”
HENRY CHURCHILL KING
A boiling pot with a lid of self-pity
Thought for the day: “One does evil enough when one does nothing good.”
GERMAN PROVERB
Jesus answered him. The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
MARK 12:29-30
The first of all commandments is hear…………..How are we going to know that God is one unless we hear with our physical ears, or we hear with our inner spiritual ears as we read the Word of God. How are we going to know that we first must love God unless we hear it? How are we going to know that God loves us unless we hear it? Until I came to the understanding, with all my soul and mind, that God loved me first and sharing that love back is number one; Until I came to that understanding, I gave credit to the good and bad things that happened in my life to fortune, fate, luck, or a result of my own will power. Some of that was true, not the luck, I don’t believe in luck anymore, but the self-will, which did result in many changes in my life was the cause of much anxiety. Today I understand that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God,” and as a result of that hearing I understand and have experienced how God can take anything that happens in my life and use it. God has taken the joyful times, times of companionship, fellowship, health, and prosperity and allowed me to share with others to use as a source of encouragement. God has also taken the painful times in my life, times of having a self-will that was out of control, times of emotional pain and loneliness, times of discouragement and defeat. God has taken these times, forgiven me, and helped me through them to see the sunny side of life again. God then makes it possible not to regret the past and to allows me to share my experience, strength and hope, to encourage those who have little hope. There was a time when I would have paraphrased that commandment as, Hear O Jerry, you are god, and you shall love yourself more than anything else. In those days, my life was a boiling pot of self-centered turmoil. Oh there were some good times, but the gloom permeated my soul, my mind, my strength, and my spirituality. This boiling pot had a lid of self-pity that kept everything inside, and kept God out. Only by taking off the lid of self-pity and pride, was God able to use my experiences as a fragrance of hope to reach others who were pressured by their own boiling pot. Self-pity does not encourage anyone. Only God could take my pity and pride and turn it around so it was useable. God did for me what I could not do for myself.
Well praise God; I started out this morning with the Hebrew word achad on my mind. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy and the Hebrew word used for one, found in “our God is one,” has a root meaning to be united. I take it to mean that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are united as One. God is One indeed. My direction today was to be about the unity of God, I instead became more united with God through love. Thanks for letting me share………………..JRE
“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 JOHN 4:19 NASB
“The very possibility of friendship with God transfigures life. This conviction…..tends inevitably to deepen every human friendship, to make it vastly more significant.”
HENRY CHURCHILL KING
Friday, February 03, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If you can't serve, you can't rule.”
BULGARIAN PROVERB
Solomon speaking on wisdom, share this with me:…JRE
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my door posts.
For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the LORD.
PROVERBS 8:34-35 NASB
I remember when I was a kid how I thought wisdom and knowledge were the same thing. As I got older I still related education and knowledge to those I thought were wise. And some people who are highly educated are truly wise. Part of wisdom is to seek instruction and learning. During the decades of the sixties and seventies, I was part of the sub-culture known as hippies. Somewhere during this time I began again to see wisdom as something different than what I had previously perceived. During those times we used to look at society as being plastic and not real. Today I realize that my view and my life style at that time also was not real. Most all of us who were part of that sub-culture have now blended into the main stream of society. We have brought some of the aspects of that sub-culture and have woven it into the American society of today. I am not saying that that was right, it is just what has happened. Many health issues that the hippies were aware of have become well know and regarded as useful today. Examples are our use of refined sugar, bleached wheat flour, too much red meat in our diet, not enough fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Back then we seemed to realize that the American society had health issues because of the way they lived. We came to know this because most of us chose our life style and with it we were considered as outcasts, and therefore many were unemployable. We were forced to live on brown rice, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, whole wheat bread we baked ourselves, and ate very little candy. Other kinds of munchies we did enjoy at times. I remember how much better I felt with this diet, and I thought of myself as wise for living that way. I pretty much rationalized the whole thing. I was not wise, because along with the health food came the abuse of drugs and a life style with no commitment to family values. Communal living seemed right. Today as I approach sixty years of age, I have a different view of wisdom. I am able top see where Jesus understood wisdom, He said “it is not what goes into the body that makes the difference, but what comes out of the body, because what comes out of the body comes out of the heart.” Today I understand that spiritual wisdom should be first, and natural wisdom will follow. Wisdom is having a heart that produces love and service toward my fellow man. I may gain much material wealth in this life, but what I take with me will be the service and love I extended toward others. Today I see wisdom in this concept. Thanks for letting me share and turn back the clock. Today the greatest piece of wisdom in my life is to know that God has and continues to do for me what I could not do for myself…….JRE
“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” DEUTERONOMY 8:3 NASB
Hippies
Thought for the day: “If you can't serve, you can't rule.”
BULGARIAN PROVERB
Solomon speaking on wisdom, share this with me:…JRE
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my door posts.
For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the LORD.
PROVERBS 8:34-35 NASB
I remember when I was a kid how I thought wisdom and knowledge were the same thing. As I got older I still related education and knowledge to those I thought were wise. And some people who are highly educated are truly wise. Part of wisdom is to seek instruction and learning. During the decades of the sixties and seventies, I was part of the sub-culture known as hippies. Somewhere during this time I began again to see wisdom as something different than what I had previously perceived. During those times we used to look at society as being plastic and not real. Today I realize that my view and my life style at that time also was not real. Most all of us who were part of that sub-culture have now blended into the main stream of society. We have brought some of the aspects of that sub-culture and have woven it into the American society of today. I am not saying that that was right, it is just what has happened. Many health issues that the hippies were aware of have become well know and regarded as useful today. Examples are our use of refined sugar, bleached wheat flour, too much red meat in our diet, not enough fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Back then we seemed to realize that the American society had health issues because of the way they lived. We came to know this because most of us chose our life style and with it we were considered as outcasts, and therefore many were unemployable. We were forced to live on brown rice, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, whole wheat bread we baked ourselves, and ate very little candy. Other kinds of munchies we did enjoy at times. I remember how much better I felt with this diet, and I thought of myself as wise for living that way. I pretty much rationalized the whole thing. I was not wise, because along with the health food came the abuse of drugs and a life style with no commitment to family values. Communal living seemed right. Today as I approach sixty years of age, I have a different view of wisdom. I am able top see where Jesus understood wisdom, He said “it is not what goes into the body that makes the difference, but what comes out of the body, because what comes out of the body comes out of the heart.” Today I understand that spiritual wisdom should be first, and natural wisdom will follow. Wisdom is having a heart that produces love and service toward my fellow man. I may gain much material wealth in this life, but what I take with me will be the service and love I extended toward others. Today I see wisdom in this concept. Thanks for letting me share and turn back the clock. Today the greatest piece of wisdom in my life is to know that God has and continues to do for me what I could not do for myself…….JRE
“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” DEUTERONOMY 8:3 NASB
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.”
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus the son of Timeaus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
MARK 10:46-52 NKJV
Blind Bartimaeus, he raised his sights and aimed above the mark. He not only aimed for Jesus the man, but he aimed above to the divine healing that Jesus brought because of His relationship with the Father. The crowd warned him to be quiet. After all, they were gathered together to get a chance to see Jesus, and did not need the commotion and distraction of a blind beggar. Trying to shut up blind Bartimaeus failed because he had his sights set above the mark. He just cried out all the more. When you aim above your target, and you are a distance from it, your chances of hitting it are better. Most rifles are zeroed in for a certain distance. When you shoot at a target that is at a greater distance than what the rifle is zeroed in at, you must aim higher. A person that fires the same rifle over and over will get acquainted the individual weapon, the ammunition that is used, and the trajectory that the round will travel. You learn how to hit the mark by aiming above it. If Bartimaeus had aimed through the crowd he would have not hit his intended mark, Jesus and divine healing. He aimed above anything that would hinder reaching the target. What I find amazing is how the people who tried to shut him up did an about face. When Bartimaeus hit his mark, Jesus called for him. And all of a sudden he was cool to the people who tried to hush him up. They said, “Be of good cheer, rise, He is calling you.” Bartimaeus then threw aside his garment, rose, and went to Jesus. He didn’t let some kind of beggars coat slow down his movement to Jesus. I can relate to this in my own life. I had a beggar’s coat, and it was all about me. The material that was used in the coat was made of self-centerdness. Across the shoulders and down the arms there was a hem of pride sown in. One pocket was full of envy, and the other was full of jealousy. The liner was made of self-pity; I kept this close to me at all times. The inside pockets which were hidden at all times, were kept full of alcohol and illegal drugs. When I came to the realization that Jesus was the answer to my blindness and my self-imposed prison, I too cast aside my beggar’s garment, rose and came to Jesus. At times I try and go back and put on my beggar’s coat, but staying in the Word daily and fellowship with other believers has made it possible to live without it. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
Share with me what Finis Jennings Dake had to say about this:
“A mark of great anxiety and joy to get to Jesus as quickly as possible. When men get this much in earnest in seeking God they will find Him without exception. The earnestness of the blind man surmounted all difficulties. How many today permit the smallest thing to hinder them in prayer and in obeying God! Blessed is the man that will not tolerate one thing hindering him from getting to God and getting answers to prayers that are in harmony with the promises and gospel provision. The more the man cried out the more his faith grew and the more he was hindered the more he was helped in taking hold of what he was desiring.”
Beggar's coat
Thought for the day: “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.”
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus the son of Timeaus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
MARK 10:46-52 NKJV
Blind Bartimaeus, he raised his sights and aimed above the mark. He not only aimed for Jesus the man, but he aimed above to the divine healing that Jesus brought because of His relationship with the Father. The crowd warned him to be quiet. After all, they were gathered together to get a chance to see Jesus, and did not need the commotion and distraction of a blind beggar. Trying to shut up blind Bartimaeus failed because he had his sights set above the mark. He just cried out all the more. When you aim above your target, and you are a distance from it, your chances of hitting it are better. Most rifles are zeroed in for a certain distance. When you shoot at a target that is at a greater distance than what the rifle is zeroed in at, you must aim higher. A person that fires the same rifle over and over will get acquainted the individual weapon, the ammunition that is used, and the trajectory that the round will travel. You learn how to hit the mark by aiming above it. If Bartimaeus had aimed through the crowd he would have not hit his intended mark, Jesus and divine healing. He aimed above anything that would hinder reaching the target. What I find amazing is how the people who tried to shut him up did an about face. When Bartimaeus hit his mark, Jesus called for him. And all of a sudden he was cool to the people who tried to hush him up. They said, “Be of good cheer, rise, He is calling you.” Bartimaeus then threw aside his garment, rose, and went to Jesus. He didn’t let some kind of beggars coat slow down his movement to Jesus. I can relate to this in my own life. I had a beggar’s coat, and it was all about me. The material that was used in the coat was made of self-centerdness. Across the shoulders and down the arms there was a hem of pride sown in. One pocket was full of envy, and the other was full of jealousy. The liner was made of self-pity; I kept this close to me at all times. The inside pockets which were hidden at all times, were kept full of alcohol and illegal drugs. When I came to the realization that Jesus was the answer to my blindness and my self-imposed prison, I too cast aside my beggar’s garment, rose and came to Jesus. At times I try and go back and put on my beggar’s coat, but staying in the Word daily and fellowship with other believers has made it possible to live without it. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
Share with me what Finis Jennings Dake had to say about this:
“A mark of great anxiety and joy to get to Jesus as quickly as possible. When men get this much in earnest in seeking God they will find Him without exception. The earnestness of the blind man surmounted all difficulties. How many today permit the smallest thing to hinder them in prayer and in obeying God! Blessed is the man that will not tolerate one thing hindering him from getting to God and getting answers to prayers that are in harmony with the promises and gospel provision. The more the man cried out the more his faith grew and the more he was hindered the more he was helped in taking hold of what he was desiring.”
