Friday, March 31, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Experience is the mother of wisdom.”
Author unknown
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
LUKE 10:38-42 NASB
Have you ever noticed how most social functions and fellowships and gatherings are organized, set-up, put-on, cleaned-up and tore-down by only a few people? People like to attend functions but few like to get dirty in the process. I can sure relate to Martha when it comes to AA meetings. Even though it would be nice to have more people involved in service work, I have come to realize that the ones that just sit there and soak up all the good spirituality that goes around the table are the reason for the function. I have noticed at times at meetings that I get a little discouraged because there are many who just come in, attend the meeting, get what they need, and leave. A few others and myself are left to put all the literature up, put the tables back in place, clean the coffee pot, turn the lights off, and lock the doors. Just like Martha at times I want to go to the Lords and say, “tell them to help me.” And the Lord might say to me, “Jerry, Jerry, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, and they have chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from them.” This morning I look at the importance of the whole thing. Is it washing the coffee pot? Or is it that someone might draw closer to God, stay sober, and live to help someone else? The truth is that if we didn’t have others to serve. We wouldn’t be of much use. The Life Recovery Bible sheds light on this passage of Scripture, share this with me……….
“There is a difference between being spiritually committed to recovery and being preoccupied with recovery. This story about Mary and Martha illustrates the difference. Martha was so busy “doing for others” that she had no time or energy left for simply being with Jesus. In all her doing, Martha even became irritated at Mary for not being equally busy. Mary on the other hand, took time out to listen to Jesus. Recovery must be a recovery from the heart, not just a recovery where we act compulsively to look the part.”
Wow, that really speaks to me. Will I slack up on the amount of service I do? Probably not. Will I not complain about others who just come and go? I hope so. If I humble myself in this matter God will do for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
“Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends, this is an experience you must not miss….Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 89
Much to do about nothing
Thought for the day: “Experience is the mother of wisdom.”
Author unknown
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
LUKE 10:38-42 NASB
Have you ever noticed how most social functions and fellowships and gatherings are organized, set-up, put-on, cleaned-up and tore-down by only a few people? People like to attend functions but few like to get dirty in the process. I can sure relate to Martha when it comes to AA meetings. Even though it would be nice to have more people involved in service work, I have come to realize that the ones that just sit there and soak up all the good spirituality that goes around the table are the reason for the function. I have noticed at times at meetings that I get a little discouraged because there are many who just come in, attend the meeting, get what they need, and leave. A few others and myself are left to put all the literature up, put the tables back in place, clean the coffee pot, turn the lights off, and lock the doors. Just like Martha at times I want to go to the Lords and say, “tell them to help me.” And the Lord might say to me, “Jerry, Jerry, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, and they have chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from them.” This morning I look at the importance of the whole thing. Is it washing the coffee pot? Or is it that someone might draw closer to God, stay sober, and live to help someone else? The truth is that if we didn’t have others to serve. We wouldn’t be of much use. The Life Recovery Bible sheds light on this passage of Scripture, share this with me……….
“There is a difference between being spiritually committed to recovery and being preoccupied with recovery. This story about Mary and Martha illustrates the difference. Martha was so busy “doing for others” that she had no time or energy left for simply being with Jesus. In all her doing, Martha even became irritated at Mary for not being equally busy. Mary on the other hand, took time out to listen to Jesus. Recovery must be a recovery from the heart, not just a recovery where we act compulsively to look the part.”
Wow, that really speaks to me. Will I slack up on the amount of service I do? Probably not. Will I not complain about others who just come and go? I hope so. If I humble myself in this matter God will do for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
“Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends, this is an experience you must not miss….Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 89
Thursday, March 30, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.”
Author unknown
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, “The harvest is truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your way: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.” (Luke 10:1-4)
Jesus not only had twelve disciples, but had as many as eighty-two. That is a large ministry. The support needed to keep eighty-two disciples up and ready must have been the work of many other people. They say for every soldier that goes into combat it takes nine behind the lines to support his mission. I know this to be true from my experiences in Vietnam. Most of the people in Vietnam during the war had logistic, command, supply, and support jobs for the infantry that walked the ground. Also in the Air Force it took hundreds of people to get one fighter jet airborne and ready for combat. As I study this scripture this morning I am made aware of a couple of aspects of Jesus’ ministry. One was that He sent out disciples by two’s ahead of Himself. I see this as a long range recon patrol used to prepare the people for Himself and His message of hope. They were to travel light. When you are in enemy territory you don’t need to be burdened by excess baggage. I find this to be very good advice today when carrying the message to alcoholics who are still drinking. Travel light and never go alone.
The other aspect of this scripture that caught my attention this morning is when Jesus said, “salute no man by the way.” Exactly what did He mean by that? When I was in the army I was taught to salute officers. I was taught to be quick about it, to do it with purpose, and to not slouch or do it in a sloppy manner. It was a show of respect for the rank of the person wearing it. I remember being told that we were saluting the rank and not necessarily the person. I did well in the army; after all I was a child of a career soldier and had spent my early childhood as a dependent of a soldier. I had no problem saluting the officers, it’s just that I respected some more than others. Those were the times when I saluted out of respect for the rank the person had obtained. Today I still find myself using the military salute as a greeting to other men. Often when I do I recall to my mind the words of Jesus, “salute no man by the way.” Today I have clarified this verse and realize that it is okay to salute someone else as a greeting and show of respect. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say on this verse:
“This does not imply the renunciation of common courtesies of life, for Christians must be courteous (1 Peter 3:8), but it does refer to those vain and tedious ceremonies by which Eastern manners consumed precious time and to no purpose. Greetings sometimes would be repeated 10 times with many bowing and asking of the health of everyone in the family.”
Many times the highlight of my day will be the greeting of another believer. Often I feel a sense of being lifted up, even when we don’t speak, but at a distance salute each other. Today I salute you for allowing me to share my experience, strength and hope. Sharing is a wonderful part of my recovery from alcoholism that strengthens each new day. God is still doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” MARTIN LUTHER
Long Range Recon Patrol
Thought for the day: “Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.”
Author unknown
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, “The harvest is truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your way: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.” (Luke 10:1-4)
Jesus not only had twelve disciples, but had as many as eighty-two. That is a large ministry. The support needed to keep eighty-two disciples up and ready must have been the work of many other people. They say for every soldier that goes into combat it takes nine behind the lines to support his mission. I know this to be true from my experiences in Vietnam. Most of the people in Vietnam during the war had logistic, command, supply, and support jobs for the infantry that walked the ground. Also in the Air Force it took hundreds of people to get one fighter jet airborne and ready for combat. As I study this scripture this morning I am made aware of a couple of aspects of Jesus’ ministry. One was that He sent out disciples by two’s ahead of Himself. I see this as a long range recon patrol used to prepare the people for Himself and His message of hope. They were to travel light. When you are in enemy territory you don’t need to be burdened by excess baggage. I find this to be very good advice today when carrying the message to alcoholics who are still drinking. Travel light and never go alone.
The other aspect of this scripture that caught my attention this morning is when Jesus said, “salute no man by the way.” Exactly what did He mean by that? When I was in the army I was taught to salute officers. I was taught to be quick about it, to do it with purpose, and to not slouch or do it in a sloppy manner. It was a show of respect for the rank of the person wearing it. I remember being told that we were saluting the rank and not necessarily the person. I did well in the army; after all I was a child of a career soldier and had spent my early childhood as a dependent of a soldier. I had no problem saluting the officers, it’s just that I respected some more than others. Those were the times when I saluted out of respect for the rank the person had obtained. Today I still find myself using the military salute as a greeting to other men. Often when I do I recall to my mind the words of Jesus, “salute no man by the way.” Today I have clarified this verse and realize that it is okay to salute someone else as a greeting and show of respect. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say on this verse:
“This does not imply the renunciation of common courtesies of life, for Christians must be courteous (1 Peter 3:8), but it does refer to those vain and tedious ceremonies by which Eastern manners consumed precious time and to no purpose. Greetings sometimes would be repeated 10 times with many bowing and asking of the health of everyone in the family.”
Many times the highlight of my day will be the greeting of another believer. Often I feel a sense of being lifted up, even when we don’t speak, but at a distance salute each other. Today I salute you for allowing me to share my experience, strength and hope. Sharing is a wonderful part of my recovery from alcoholism that strengthens each new day. God is still doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” MARTIN LUTHER
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “When a man does love his enemies, he knows that God has done a tremendous work in him, and everyone else knows it too.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (PSALM 91:2-3 KJV)
If God is my refuge, then I must be a refugee. Webster’s Dictionary defines refuge as this: “a shelter or protection from danger difficulty or etc.; a person or thing that gives shelter, help or comfort; a place of safety, shelter, a safe retreat.” The writer of the psalm says, “I will” say the Lord is my refuge. The writer “wills” to say that of God. It’s not just something he says because he has nowhere else to go in time of trouble. He “will,” say it. He makes a deliberate move in the direction of God and with his will, says of the Lord, “He is my refuge.” It is a deliberate action on behalf of the writer, and I also must make the decision and act upon with my will that God is my refuge. Many times in my life have sought refuge in various places, none of which lasted. It reminds me of Elijah as he made prophesy against Nineveh, and then went out in the desert hoping that the city would be destroyed. He found himself a little shade under a vine that had grown and leafed out. It was his refuge from the hot sun. Soon a little cutworm appeared and killed the vine that had provided him shade. Many times in life I have sought refuge in places just like that. I have checked into the psych ward at the VA hospital because I could not live life on life’s terms, only to be released back to my same old situation. I have gone to drug treatment and have used it as a refuge only to be released back to my same old situation. I have sought out friends and family to help in times of need, and used them as a refuge, only to discover later that I was still alone with myself. The refuge that I seek and have today is solid and does not wither in time, does not decay as years go by, does not change because of the situations in my life. God is my Refuge and my Shelter in the storm. I don’t have to run to it when the noisome pestilence occurs in my life. I carry my refuge with me, in my heart. God resides everywhere, but where I meet with God one-on-one is in my heart. This is where God is a refuge to me. I don’t have to go somewhere for comfort, I just turn to God and he is there. God does for me what I could not do for myself.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NASB
Moses spoke these words to all Israel just before he died. These are some of his last words. His emphasis was upon the fact that God goes with you, and will not fail or forsake you. Today this promise is just as valid with me as it was thousands of years ago when Moses spoke it. I don’t have to meet with God somewhere, when I will it, God meets with me. Thanks for letting me share, and thanks to my cousin Margaret who reminded me that God is my refuge……………….JRE
Refuge
Thought for the day: “When a man does love his enemies, he knows that God has done a tremendous work in him, and everyone else knows it too.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (PSALM 91:2-3 KJV)
If God is my refuge, then I must be a refugee. Webster’s Dictionary defines refuge as this: “a shelter or protection from danger difficulty or etc.; a person or thing that gives shelter, help or comfort; a place of safety, shelter, a safe retreat.” The writer of the psalm says, “I will” say the Lord is my refuge. The writer “wills” to say that of God. It’s not just something he says because he has nowhere else to go in time of trouble. He “will,” say it. He makes a deliberate move in the direction of God and with his will, says of the Lord, “He is my refuge.” It is a deliberate action on behalf of the writer, and I also must make the decision and act upon with my will that God is my refuge. Many times in my life have sought refuge in various places, none of which lasted. It reminds me of Elijah as he made prophesy against Nineveh, and then went out in the desert hoping that the city would be destroyed. He found himself a little shade under a vine that had grown and leafed out. It was his refuge from the hot sun. Soon a little cutworm appeared and killed the vine that had provided him shade. Many times in life I have sought refuge in places just like that. I have checked into the psych ward at the VA hospital because I could not live life on life’s terms, only to be released back to my same old situation. I have gone to drug treatment and have used it as a refuge only to be released back to my same old situation. I have sought out friends and family to help in times of need, and used them as a refuge, only to discover later that I was still alone with myself. The refuge that I seek and have today is solid and does not wither in time, does not decay as years go by, does not change because of the situations in my life. God is my Refuge and my Shelter in the storm. I don’t have to run to it when the noisome pestilence occurs in my life. I carry my refuge with me, in my heart. God resides everywhere, but where I meet with God one-on-one is in my heart. This is where God is a refuge to me. I don’t have to go somewhere for comfort, I just turn to God and he is there. God does for me what I could not do for myself.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NASB
Moses spoke these words to all Israel just before he died. These are some of his last words. His emphasis was upon the fact that God goes with you, and will not fail or forsake you. Today this promise is just as valid with me as it was thousands of years ago when Moses spoke it. I don’t have to meet with God somewhere, when I will it, God meets with me. Thanks for letting me share, and thanks to my cousin Margaret who reminded me that God is my refuge……………….JRE
Monday, March 27, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.”
ERIC HOFFER
And another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said unto him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
LUKE 9:61-62 NASB
Share with me what Finis Dake has to say about this scripture. “Jesus knew that if he returned home he would likely submit to the unbelieving relatives who would weep, reproach, ridicule, and tempt him to give up such an idea.”
Have you ever been headed in a direction in life and decided to maybe put things on hold. Or maybe you just go back to something else for a while, something familiar and easier. I have, and I have found that often I never make it back to my original plans and destination. Many times when we get side tracked, playing catch up over whelms us and we never get back into the groove that we were in. I recall in 1974 when I graduated college with an Associates degree, that I decided to work for one semester and then go to the university. I never made it to the university. I recall in 1983 when I was doing time for a DWI, that I came to know Jesus Christ and allowed the Lord to work in my life daily. When I headed home from jail, I looked back to my old life and friends. My Bible remained closed for the next two years. For the next 11 years I went to drug and alcohol treatment several times and I always had someone at home while I was in treatment taking care of my place and animals. I always returned to my old life. In 1998 I went to treatment for the last time and returned home with the Lord in my heart. We have been plowing daily. I don’t want to look back, go back, or return to my old life. With the love and support of my family, my church, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and new friends that I have met on this road of happy destiny, I have not had a desire to go back or even want to return to the life before. I love the smell of the newly exposed earth when it has been freshly plowed. It has a natural odor that is not offensive. I enjoy looking at the rocks that get turned up as the soil is exposed. I also like the feel of the loose soil sifting through my fingers as I prepare it for use. It’s all fresh and new, and so is my life today. I keep plowing daily and keep my eyes looking ahead. That old weed infested, damp and soured rocky soil of my past was never right for spiritual growth anyway. Today God is helping me plow areas of my life that I could never plow myself……………JRE
“Brethren I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 NASB
“There is a difference between devotion to a person and devotions to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
The smell of freshly plowed earth
Thought for the day: “Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.”
ERIC HOFFER
And another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said unto him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
LUKE 9:61-62 NASB
Share with me what Finis Dake has to say about this scripture. “Jesus knew that if he returned home he would likely submit to the unbelieving relatives who would weep, reproach, ridicule, and tempt him to give up such an idea.”
Have you ever been headed in a direction in life and decided to maybe put things on hold. Or maybe you just go back to something else for a while, something familiar and easier. I have, and I have found that often I never make it back to my original plans and destination. Many times when we get side tracked, playing catch up over whelms us and we never get back into the groove that we were in. I recall in 1974 when I graduated college with an Associates degree, that I decided to work for one semester and then go to the university. I never made it to the university. I recall in 1983 when I was doing time for a DWI, that I came to know Jesus Christ and allowed the Lord to work in my life daily. When I headed home from jail, I looked back to my old life and friends. My Bible remained closed for the next two years. For the next 11 years I went to drug and alcohol treatment several times and I always had someone at home while I was in treatment taking care of my place and animals. I always returned to my old life. In 1998 I went to treatment for the last time and returned home with the Lord in my heart. We have been plowing daily. I don’t want to look back, go back, or return to my old life. With the love and support of my family, my church, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and new friends that I have met on this road of happy destiny, I have not had a desire to go back or even want to return to the life before. I love the smell of the newly exposed earth when it has been freshly plowed. It has a natural odor that is not offensive. I enjoy looking at the rocks that get turned up as the soil is exposed. I also like the feel of the loose soil sifting through my fingers as I prepare it for use. It’s all fresh and new, and so is my life today. I keep plowing daily and keep my eyes looking ahead. That old weed infested, damp and soured rocky soil of my past was never right for spiritual growth anyway. Today God is helping me plow areas of my life that I could never plow myself……………JRE
“Brethren I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 NASB
“There is a difference between devotion to a person and devotions to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
Friday, March 24, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Failure is the path of least persistence.”
Author unknown
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” (Luke 9:25 KJV)
I recall in my early adult life between the years 1966 and 1976, when I was between the ages of twenty and thirty; that I often thought and dreamed of how the world would be in the future. I knew that with the technology that was available we would live very comfortable, have cures for all diseases, and be at peace through out the entire world. Here it is forty years later and life is very much like it was then. Life is even worse in many areas. Why have we not obtained world peace, found cures for diseases, and live in a natural environment that is stable, safe, and secure? I had dreams of a Utopia that never came true, or did they? Last night at an AA meeting I had my eyes opened up to my search for Utopia. I must first define Utopia as Webster’s Dictionary sees it. “Utopia is a place, an imaginary island described in a book by the same name by Sir Thomas Moore, and as having a perfect political and social system. Also any idealized place, state, or situation of perfection.” There you have it, I was having dreams of Utopia, or the perfect place I thought this world was headed toward. Later as I experimented with drugs and alcohol, the escape from reality often led me to this imaginary place of Utopia. Little did I know at that time that I was on the path to addiction and enslavement. Later on between the ages of thirty and forty I began to see that things were not going to change much unless I changed on the inside. I began to see that a Utopia could exist but it would be on the inside of me, and not something on the outside of me. That “situation of perfection” as described by Webster could exist in my heart, but only by God’s forgiveness of myself, my forgiveness of myself, and my forgiveness of my fellow man. These three aspects of forgiveness and acceptance brought about a peace of mind, soul, and spirit that improves my view of the world today. Many years I spent searching for something that existed within me all along. All I had to do was stop escaping from reality by using alcohol and drugs, and believe in a loving God that would do for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“Most of us feel we need look no further for Utopia. We have it with us right here and now. Each day my friend’s simple talk in our kitchen multiplies itself in a widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men.”
BILL W. ……………………. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 16
“Clinging to selfish ambition and worldly desires will destroy us. Paradoxically, giving up one’s life in a relationship with God through Jesus is the only way of finding ultimate meaning a purpose. This teaching opposes our natural inclinations and can only be accepted by faith. But if we submit our will to God’s will, we will begin to experience the meaningful life that God wants us to have.”
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1220
Utopia
Thought for the day: “Failure is the path of least persistence.”
Author unknown
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” (Luke 9:25 KJV)
I recall in my early adult life between the years 1966 and 1976, when I was between the ages of twenty and thirty; that I often thought and dreamed of how the world would be in the future. I knew that with the technology that was available we would live very comfortable, have cures for all diseases, and be at peace through out the entire world. Here it is forty years later and life is very much like it was then. Life is even worse in many areas. Why have we not obtained world peace, found cures for diseases, and live in a natural environment that is stable, safe, and secure? I had dreams of a Utopia that never came true, or did they? Last night at an AA meeting I had my eyes opened up to my search for Utopia. I must first define Utopia as Webster’s Dictionary sees it. “Utopia is a place, an imaginary island described in a book by the same name by Sir Thomas Moore, and as having a perfect political and social system. Also any idealized place, state, or situation of perfection.” There you have it, I was having dreams of Utopia, or the perfect place I thought this world was headed toward. Later as I experimented with drugs and alcohol, the escape from reality often led me to this imaginary place of Utopia. Little did I know at that time that I was on the path to addiction and enslavement. Later on between the ages of thirty and forty I began to see that things were not going to change much unless I changed on the inside. I began to see that a Utopia could exist but it would be on the inside of me, and not something on the outside of me. That “situation of perfection” as described by Webster could exist in my heart, but only by God’s forgiveness of myself, my forgiveness of myself, and my forgiveness of my fellow man. These three aspects of forgiveness and acceptance brought about a peace of mind, soul, and spirit that improves my view of the world today. Many years I spent searching for something that existed within me all along. All I had to do was stop escaping from reality by using alcohol and drugs, and believe in a loving God that would do for me what I could not do for myself…………………..JRE
“Most of us feel we need look no further for Utopia. We have it with us right here and now. Each day my friend’s simple talk in our kitchen multiplies itself in a widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men.”
BILL W. ……………………. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 16
“Clinging to selfish ambition and worldly desires will destroy us. Paradoxically, giving up one’s life in a relationship with God through Jesus is the only way of finding ultimate meaning a purpose. This teaching opposes our natural inclinations and can only be accepted by faith. But if we submit our will to God’s will, we will begin to experience the meaningful life that God wants us to have.”
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1220
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.” BEN FRANKLIN
And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?”
And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”
When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
LUKE 8:43-48 NASB
The old saying “God helps those who help themselves,” cannot be found in the Bible. That does not make the statement false just because it cannot be found in the Bible. The statement, “God helps those who cannot help themselves,” also cannot be found exactly this way in the Bible. That does not make it false either. The facts are that neither of these statements can be found in Scripture worded this way, the truth is that both are true. My pastor preached on facts and truth few weeks ago. The facts may appear one way, but that is not always the truth. The fact today is that this is the third day of spring; the truth is that it is thirty degrees outside with evidence of a light dusting of snow last night. Today I observe the truth in the statement that “God helps them that help themselves.” It is clearly evident in the case of the woman that had a hemorrhage of blood that could not be healed by anyone. Do you think she would have been healed if she had just sat there as Jesus passed by? Possibly she might have, and then again possibly not. She made an effort, she helped herself as the Healer and the healing passed by. God helped her because she helped herself. Want to hear something that might sound a little strange? The obsession to drink alcohol and use drugs could not be removed from me until I stopped drinking and using drugs. I had to help myself before God could help me. I have free will and always will. By seeking God first, and then not taking the first drink or using, God was able to do for me what I could not do for myself by removing the obsession to drink and use. There was a thousand miles between God and myself and it stayed that way until I took the first step. And then instantly I received help. Only after I became willing to take the first step and receive my healing did God heal me. Today I realize that there is no limit to God’s healing. Those who want it, those who need it, and those who might not know they want or need it, all fit in the same category with God. They are His children and He loves them. God wants for them what they can do for themselves if it is in His will, or what they cannot do for themselves if it is in His will. Thanks for letting me share, God still does for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
This is what Finis Dake has to say about the woman’s faith. Share this with me….jre
“Thy faith, He knew He had not been exercising any particular faith in this case, so He recognized that she had faith enough to get her healing. Too many people are looking to the faith of the preacher or the one who prays instead of getting and exercising personal faith. And this is why few people are getting such healing today. One wonderful thing about the gospel is that it is personal. When others fail or do not even try to exercise faith to help one in time of need the individual needing help can still get what he needs and wants if it is at all covered by the promises of God. One must learn to make it a personal matter, and see to it that he, himself is meeting the conditions of the gospel and answered prayer.”
THE DAKE BIBLE page 68
Ther first step
Thought for the day: “He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.” BEN FRANKLIN
And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?”
And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”
When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
LUKE 8:43-48 NASB
The old saying “God helps those who help themselves,” cannot be found in the Bible. That does not make the statement false just because it cannot be found in the Bible. The statement, “God helps those who cannot help themselves,” also cannot be found exactly this way in the Bible. That does not make it false either. The facts are that neither of these statements can be found in Scripture worded this way, the truth is that both are true. My pastor preached on facts and truth few weeks ago. The facts may appear one way, but that is not always the truth. The fact today is that this is the third day of spring; the truth is that it is thirty degrees outside with evidence of a light dusting of snow last night. Today I observe the truth in the statement that “God helps them that help themselves.” It is clearly evident in the case of the woman that had a hemorrhage of blood that could not be healed by anyone. Do you think she would have been healed if she had just sat there as Jesus passed by? Possibly she might have, and then again possibly not. She made an effort, she helped herself as the Healer and the healing passed by. God helped her because she helped herself. Want to hear something that might sound a little strange? The obsession to drink alcohol and use drugs could not be removed from me until I stopped drinking and using drugs. I had to help myself before God could help me. I have free will and always will. By seeking God first, and then not taking the first drink or using, God was able to do for me what I could not do for myself by removing the obsession to drink and use. There was a thousand miles between God and myself and it stayed that way until I took the first step. And then instantly I received help. Only after I became willing to take the first step and receive my healing did God heal me. Today I realize that there is no limit to God’s healing. Those who want it, those who need it, and those who might not know they want or need it, all fit in the same category with God. They are His children and He loves them. God wants for them what they can do for themselves if it is in His will, or what they cannot do for themselves if it is in His will. Thanks for letting me share, God still does for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
This is what Finis Dake has to say about the woman’s faith. Share this with me….jre
“Thy faith, He knew He had not been exercising any particular faith in this case, so He recognized that she had faith enough to get her healing. Too many people are looking to the faith of the preacher or the one who prays instead of getting and exercising personal faith. And this is why few people are getting such healing today. One wonderful thing about the gospel is that it is personal. When others fail or do not even try to exercise faith to help one in time of need the individual needing help can still get what he needs and wants if it is at all covered by the promises of God. One must learn to make it a personal matter, and see to it that he, himself is meeting the conditions of the gospel and answered prayer.”
THE DAKE BIBLE page 68
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Praise the young and they will blossom.”
IRISH PROVERB
“And they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”
LUKE 8:35 KJV
Every time I read this account of the man from Gadara, I can’t help but reflect on my own life, and the years that I spent not in my right mind. I wasn’t totally out of my mind all the time, or completely insane, but there were thoughts and moments when I would be a great distance from reality. Hind vision is 20/20 and as I look back I can see that the dimmest of these times, and the most painful of these times, were a result of emotional insecurity, influences of drugs and alcohol, and a lifestyle that was totally self-centered. When I came back from Vietnam in 1968 at the age of twenty-one years old, I separated myself from ever being told what to do again, or so I thought. I headed in my own direction with no plans, no goals, and no real ambition except to be comfortable and get high. I went to college in the fall of 1968 and completed one year being financed by the GI Bill. I lived on thirty dollars a week, and it didn’t take long to realize that being comfortable and getting high wasn’t going to happen. The next fall I went to work at a steel plant in Kansas City, I was able to get high then, but was not comfortable. I then decided that I didn’t care much for the dirty work at the steel plant and decided to go back to college. For two years I attended on the GI Bill living on forty-five dollars a week at that time. Life was a little more comfortable, but I was sure poor. All this time I had thoughts and dreams that were distant from reality. Fueled by drugs and alcohol these little bursts of insanity would sooth the emotional insecurity that I was experiencing. I was not in my right mind. My self-centered lifestyle soon led to incarceration and legal problems that would follow me for the rest of my life. In 1983 I got a glimpse of Jesus living in someone else’s eyes, it was a moment of clarity for me. It was like being handed a new pair of glasses with which to look at myself. As I looked inside myself I saw a big empty space, a space large enough to contain the God that had created the universe. And all I found there was a little sad boy pouting because things didn’t go his way. I allowed Jesus Christ to walk into that big empty space and help that little boy to grow up to be a man. Today I am still growing and find that man attending church and AA meetings, and “at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.” God has done for me what I could not do for myself………….JRE
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS page 60
“In waiting we begin to get in touch with the rhythms of life, stillness and action, listening and decisions. They are the rhythms of God. It is in the everyday and the commonplace that we learn patience, acceptance, and contentment.”
RICHARD J. FOSTER
His feet
Thought for the day: “Praise the young and they will blossom.”
IRISH PROVERB
“And they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”
LUKE 8:35 KJV
Every time I read this account of the man from Gadara, I can’t help but reflect on my own life, and the years that I spent not in my right mind. I wasn’t totally out of my mind all the time, or completely insane, but there were thoughts and moments when I would be a great distance from reality. Hind vision is 20/20 and as I look back I can see that the dimmest of these times, and the most painful of these times, were a result of emotional insecurity, influences of drugs and alcohol, and a lifestyle that was totally self-centered. When I came back from Vietnam in 1968 at the age of twenty-one years old, I separated myself from ever being told what to do again, or so I thought. I headed in my own direction with no plans, no goals, and no real ambition except to be comfortable and get high. I went to college in the fall of 1968 and completed one year being financed by the GI Bill. I lived on thirty dollars a week, and it didn’t take long to realize that being comfortable and getting high wasn’t going to happen. The next fall I went to work at a steel plant in Kansas City, I was able to get high then, but was not comfortable. I then decided that I didn’t care much for the dirty work at the steel plant and decided to go back to college. For two years I attended on the GI Bill living on forty-five dollars a week at that time. Life was a little more comfortable, but I was sure poor. All this time I had thoughts and dreams that were distant from reality. Fueled by drugs and alcohol these little bursts of insanity would sooth the emotional insecurity that I was experiencing. I was not in my right mind. My self-centered lifestyle soon led to incarceration and legal problems that would follow me for the rest of my life. In 1983 I got a glimpse of Jesus living in someone else’s eyes, it was a moment of clarity for me. It was like being handed a new pair of glasses with which to look at myself. As I looked inside myself I saw a big empty space, a space large enough to contain the God that had created the universe. And all I found there was a little sad boy pouting because things didn’t go his way. I allowed Jesus Christ to walk into that big empty space and help that little boy to grow up to be a man. Today I am still growing and find that man attending church and AA meetings, and “at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.” God has done for me what I could not do for myself………….JRE
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS page 60
“In waiting we begin to get in touch with the rhythms of life, stillness and action, listening and decisions. They are the rhythms of God. It is in the everyday and the commonplace that we learn patience, acceptance, and contentment.”
RICHARD J. FOSTER
Monday, March 20, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Better to ask twice than to lose your way.”
DANISH PROVERB
“Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sickness: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
LUKE 8:1-3 NASB
Why would the ministry of Jesus need support from His followers? He was the creator of the universe, and could command money to be found in the mouths of fish. He could feed thousands with just a few loaves of bread. He could raise the dead, calm the seas, and cause darkness to come upon the earth in the middle of the day. The supporting of His ministry must have been a small matter compared to all these other events, so why did He let these women support Him? For me the answer can be found in what we call in AA, service work. Being on the fringe of something doesn’t bring the security, rewards, and satisfaction of being totally involved and centered in a ministry. I would rather suspect that these women who contributed their support to the ministry did not lack for anything, their well must have stayed full as they dipped and gave, as it was necessary. After all they were giving to Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides all to all. What a pleasure it must have been for them to offer their support and have it received. There is really no way to pay back physically or materially the healing that takes place spiritually, when we allow Jesus to remove from us our burdens. Mary Magdalene stayed with Jesus right up to the very end of His earthly life and was one of the first to visit the empty tomb. Also Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. She was a devoted follower who had been set free from demonic bondage. This morning as I study these Scripture verses I have made a discovery about Mary Magdalene. I have heard it said that she was a prostitute. The truth is that there is no scripture to back that up. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in all four of the Gospels, and only in the Gospels, and not once is she referred to as a prostitute. At times I wonder how some of these ideas about the Bible get started. What I do know is that when God’s Grace bows down and loves us regardless of what we’ve done or said, we fall in love with love, and want to be part of the sharing of that great love. Today I choose not to be on the fringe, but within the ministry of love, because God has done for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
“All God’s glory and beauty come from within, and there He delights to dwell. His visits there are frequent, His conversations sweet, His comforts refreshing, His peace passing all understanding.”
THOMAS A KEMPIS
Fall in love with love
Thought for the day: “Better to ask twice than to lose your way.”
DANISH PROVERB
“Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sickness: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
LUKE 8:1-3 NASB
Why would the ministry of Jesus need support from His followers? He was the creator of the universe, and could command money to be found in the mouths of fish. He could feed thousands with just a few loaves of bread. He could raise the dead, calm the seas, and cause darkness to come upon the earth in the middle of the day. The supporting of His ministry must have been a small matter compared to all these other events, so why did He let these women support Him? For me the answer can be found in what we call in AA, service work. Being on the fringe of something doesn’t bring the security, rewards, and satisfaction of being totally involved and centered in a ministry. I would rather suspect that these women who contributed their support to the ministry did not lack for anything, their well must have stayed full as they dipped and gave, as it was necessary. After all they were giving to Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides all to all. What a pleasure it must have been for them to offer their support and have it received. There is really no way to pay back physically or materially the healing that takes place spiritually, when we allow Jesus to remove from us our burdens. Mary Magdalene stayed with Jesus right up to the very end of His earthly life and was one of the first to visit the empty tomb. Also Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. She was a devoted follower who had been set free from demonic bondage. This morning as I study these Scripture verses I have made a discovery about Mary Magdalene. I have heard it said that she was a prostitute. The truth is that there is no scripture to back that up. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in all four of the Gospels, and only in the Gospels, and not once is she referred to as a prostitute. At times I wonder how some of these ideas about the Bible get started. What I do know is that when God’s Grace bows down and loves us regardless of what we’ve done or said, we fall in love with love, and want to be part of the sharing of that great love. Today I choose not to be on the fringe, but within the ministry of love, because God has done for me what I could not do for myself……..JRE
“All God’s glory and beauty come from within, and there He delights to dwell. His visits there are frequent, His conversations sweet, His comforts refreshing, His peace passing all understanding.”
THOMAS A KEMPIS
Friday, March 17, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The road to a friend's house is never long.”
DANISH PROVERB
Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”
When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’”
At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard; the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
LUKE 7:19-23 NASB
As I study this scripture some questions comes to my mind. Why did John the Baptist question who Jesus was? Were not their mothers friends and possibly related? Had they not heard of each other as they grew up? Did not John say that the Messiah was coming? Did not John baptize Jesus in the Jordan River and experience the Spirit of God descend on Him? Did not John hear the Father’s voice at that time say, “Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.” So then why did John at this time question who Jesus was? I don’t know, but I have come to some conclusions about the matter. You see, John was in prison and had been put there unjustly. Some were afraid of the truth that he spoke, and John was arrested. They later executed him. John’s situation was grim, and I know from experience that sitting in a jail cell with no way of knowing or controlling what is happening on the outside, leads a person to doubt many things. At times like this my mind played tricks on me. I always imagined the worst and fear would run rampant through my heart. Maybe John was thinking that Jesus was doing all these great miracles, and was demonstrating the Power of God in His life, then why didn’t He just spring him from prison? Myself I don’t know why, if Jesus could raise the dead, surly He could spring John from prison. I refuse to think long on why. I do know that Jesus sent John word, the Word, and that must have brought peace to every question and doubt he had ever had. John had been in the right place at the right time in his ministry. He had done everything right in preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus Himself said that John was the greatest prophet to ever live, and he died in prison! Oh, but he must have died with peace in his spirit. Maybe John was temporarily spiritually blind, but he received his sight; temporarily spiritually lame, but walked again; temporarily a spiritual leper, but became clean; temporarily spiritually deaf but heard again; temporarily spiritually dead but lived eternally; temporarily spiritually poor, but heard the good news and became rich. John was not offended in what he heard and was blessed. I can relate to John’s prison experience, I too received sight in a cell. When John heard the Word of God it set him free. When I heard the Word of God it set me free, and still sets me free. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
“We begin to see that God’s love has been present all the time, just waiting for us to accept it.” NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, Basic Text page 46
Peace to every question and doubt
Thought for the day: “The road to a friend's house is never long.”
DANISH PROVERB
Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”
When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’”
At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard; the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
LUKE 7:19-23 NASB
As I study this scripture some questions comes to my mind. Why did John the Baptist question who Jesus was? Were not their mothers friends and possibly related? Had they not heard of each other as they grew up? Did not John say that the Messiah was coming? Did not John baptize Jesus in the Jordan River and experience the Spirit of God descend on Him? Did not John hear the Father’s voice at that time say, “Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.” So then why did John at this time question who Jesus was? I don’t know, but I have come to some conclusions about the matter. You see, John was in prison and had been put there unjustly. Some were afraid of the truth that he spoke, and John was arrested. They later executed him. John’s situation was grim, and I know from experience that sitting in a jail cell with no way of knowing or controlling what is happening on the outside, leads a person to doubt many things. At times like this my mind played tricks on me. I always imagined the worst and fear would run rampant through my heart. Maybe John was thinking that Jesus was doing all these great miracles, and was demonstrating the Power of God in His life, then why didn’t He just spring him from prison? Myself I don’t know why, if Jesus could raise the dead, surly He could spring John from prison. I refuse to think long on why. I do know that Jesus sent John word, the Word, and that must have brought peace to every question and doubt he had ever had. John had been in the right place at the right time in his ministry. He had done everything right in preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus Himself said that John was the greatest prophet to ever live, and he died in prison! Oh, but he must have died with peace in his spirit. Maybe John was temporarily spiritually blind, but he received his sight; temporarily spiritually lame, but walked again; temporarily a spiritual leper, but became clean; temporarily spiritually deaf but heard again; temporarily spiritually dead but lived eternally; temporarily spiritually poor, but heard the good news and became rich. John was not offended in what he heard and was blessed. I can relate to John’s prison experience, I too received sight in a cell. When John heard the Word of God it set him free. When I heard the Word of God it set me free, and still sets me free. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
“We begin to see that God’s love has been present all the time, just waiting for us to accept it.” NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, Basic Text page 46
jralphengland@yaho.com
Thought for the day: “The road to a friend's house is never long.”
DANISH PROVERB
Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”
When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’”
At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard; the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
LUKE 7:19-23 NASB
As I study this scripture some questions comes to my mind. Why did John the Baptist question who Jesus was? Were not their mothers friends and possibly related? Had they not heard of each other as they grew up? Did not John say that the Messiah was coming? Did not John baptize Jesus in the Jordan River and experience the Spirit of God descend on Him? Did not John hear the Father’s voice at that time say, “Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.” So then why did John at this time question who Jesus was? I don’t know, but I have come to some conclusions about the matter. You see, John was in prison and had been put there unjustly. Some were afraid of the truth that he spoke, and John was arrested. They later executed him. John’s situation was grim, and I know from experience that sitting in a jail cell with no way of knowing or controlling what is happening on the outside, leads a person to doubt many things. At times like this my mind played tricks on me. I always imagined the worst and fear would run rampant through my heart. Maybe John was thinking that Jesus was doing all these great miracles, and was demonstrating the Power of God in His life, then why didn’t He just spring him from prison? Myself I don’t know why, if Jesus could raise the dead, surly He could spring John from prison. I refuse to think long on why. I do know that Jesus sent John word, the Word, and that must have brought peace to every question and doubt he had ever had. John had been in the right place at the right time in his ministry. He had done everything right in preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus Himself said that John was the greatest prophet to ever live, and he died in prison! Oh, but he must have died with peace in his spirit. Maybe John was temporarily spiritually blind, but he received his sight; temporarily spiritually lame, but walked again; temporarily a spiritual leper, but became clean; temporarily spiritually deaf but heard again; temporarily spiritually dead but lived eternally; temporarily spiritually poor, but heard the good news and became rich. John was not offended in what he heard and was blessed. I can relate to John’s prison experience, I too received sight in a cell. When John heard the Word of God it set him free. When I heard the Word of God it set me free, and still sets me free. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
“We begin to see that God’s love has been present all the time, just waiting for us to accept it.” NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, Basic Text page 46
Peace to every question and doubt
Thought for the day: “The road to a friend's house is never long.”
DANISH PROVERB
Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”
When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’”
At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard; the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
LUKE 7:19-23 NASB
As I study this scripture some questions comes to my mind. Why did John the Baptist question who Jesus was? Were not their mothers friends and possibly related? Had they not heard of each other as they grew up? Did not John say that the Messiah was coming? Did not John baptize Jesus in the Jordan River and experience the Spirit of God descend on Him? Did not John hear the Father’s voice at that time say, “Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.” So then why did John at this time question who Jesus was? I don’t know, but I have come to some conclusions about the matter. You see, John was in prison and had been put there unjustly. Some were afraid of the truth that he spoke, and John was arrested. They later executed him. John’s situation was grim, and I know from experience that sitting in a jail cell with no way of knowing or controlling what is happening on the outside, leads a person to doubt many things. At times like this my mind played tricks on me. I always imagined the worst and fear would run rampant through my heart. Maybe John was thinking that Jesus was doing all these great miracles, and was demonstrating the Power of God in His life, then why didn’t He just spring him from prison? Myself I don’t know why, if Jesus could raise the dead, surly He could spring John from prison. I refuse to think long on why. I do know that Jesus sent John word, the Word, and that must have brought peace to every question and doubt he had ever had. John had been in the right place at the right time in his ministry. He had done everything right in preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus Himself said that John was the greatest prophet to ever live, and he died in prison! Oh, but he must have died with peace in his spirit. Maybe John was temporarily spiritually blind, but he received his sight; temporarily spiritually lame, but walked again; temporarily a spiritual leper, but became clean; temporarily spiritually deaf but heard again; temporarily spiritually dead but lived eternally; temporarily spiritually poor, but heard the good news and became rich. John was not offended in what he heard and was blessed. I can relate to John’s prison experience, I too received sight in a cell. When John heard the Word of God it set him free. When I heard the Word of God it set me free, and still sets me free. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE
“We begin to see that God’s love has been present all the time, just waiting for us to accept it.” NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, Basic Text page 46
Thursday, March 16, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thoughtfor the day: “Hate the sin and love the sinner.”
MAHATMA GANDHI
Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now therefore I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people.”
And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
EXODUS 33:12-14 NASB
Moses had some real concerns about the job that he had been asked to do. He was leading a very large group of people through the arid regions of the Sinai desert, and they were not happy campers. They complained that the water was bitter, and then they complained that there was no water. They complained that there was no food, and then they complained that they didn’t like the food they received. When Moses went up the mountain to talk with God, they thought he had been gone too long and they complained. What a bunch of gripers. They griped so much that it caused Moses to gripe also. We can’t help but be influenced by those around us that we care about. Scripture tells me that the solution is not in myself, or others. Moses knew that he was favored of God because he had been chosen and called to lead the people, and he wondered why if he was favored did he have all these problems. The answer to the problem that Moses had was “rest,” and of course God knew this. The people had wearied him to the point that he was depressed, upset, was experiencing self-pity, and felt alone. Have you ever been there? I have. Of course my problems were of my own making, brought on by decisions that I had made. Most of my self-imposed problems were the result of self-centered decisions involving the use of alcohol and drugs. I have learned that whatever my problem may be, or whatever the source of my problem may be, the “rest” that I need to overcome it has to be more than just a nap. Physical rest is good for the body, but upon waking the problem will flood backing to my mind. I don’t think when God told Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” that he meant he would get a good nights sleep. I, like Moses need more than just sleep; I need the mental, emotional, and especially spiritual rest that only can come from the Father. Remember how our earthly fathers would put their arms around us and pull us to them, how it made everything all right? Remember how when we would stumble and hurt that we would be picked up and everything would be better? Remember when we would skin our knee and our mama would blow on it and it would feel better? That is the kind of rest that I need. When I hurt I need my heart fixed, not sent to bed. Moses had the promise that he would not be alone and that he would have rest. I also am able to rest in God’s promises. God does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)
“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against the wind, but we must sail, and not drift, nor live at anchor.”
OLIVER WENDELL HOMES
How happy campers rest
Thoughtfor the day: “Hate the sin and love the sinner.”
MAHATMA GANDHI
Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now therefore I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people.”
And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
EXODUS 33:12-14 NASB
Moses had some real concerns about the job that he had been asked to do. He was leading a very large group of people through the arid regions of the Sinai desert, and they were not happy campers. They complained that the water was bitter, and then they complained that there was no water. They complained that there was no food, and then they complained that they didn’t like the food they received. When Moses went up the mountain to talk with God, they thought he had been gone too long and they complained. What a bunch of gripers. They griped so much that it caused Moses to gripe also. We can’t help but be influenced by those around us that we care about. Scripture tells me that the solution is not in myself, or others. Moses knew that he was favored of God because he had been chosen and called to lead the people, and he wondered why if he was favored did he have all these problems. The answer to the problem that Moses had was “rest,” and of course God knew this. The people had wearied him to the point that he was depressed, upset, was experiencing self-pity, and felt alone. Have you ever been there? I have. Of course my problems were of my own making, brought on by decisions that I had made. Most of my self-imposed problems were the result of self-centered decisions involving the use of alcohol and drugs. I have learned that whatever my problem may be, or whatever the source of my problem may be, the “rest” that I need to overcome it has to be more than just a nap. Physical rest is good for the body, but upon waking the problem will flood backing to my mind. I don’t think when God told Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” that he meant he would get a good nights sleep. I, like Moses need more than just sleep; I need the mental, emotional, and especially spiritual rest that only can come from the Father. Remember how our earthly fathers would put their arms around us and pull us to them, how it made everything all right? Remember how when we would stumble and hurt that we would be picked up and everything would be better? Remember when we would skin our knee and our mama would blow on it and it would feel better? That is the kind of rest that I need. When I hurt I need my heart fixed, not sent to bed. Moses had the promise that he would not be alone and that he would have rest. I also am able to rest in God’s promises. God does for me what I could not do for myself……………JRE
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)
“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against the wind, but we must sail, and not drift, nor live at anchor.”
OLIVER WENDELL HOMES
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Nice words are free, so choose ones that please another's ears.”
VIETNAMESE PROVERB
The apostle Paul’s final thoughts as he writes his letter to the church at Philippi, share this with me.
“And now dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NLT
I have observed in my life that I must make an effort to think on thoughts that are good and pure. I have also noticed that thoughts that are bad and impure just seem to drift into my mind without ever having to think about them. Why is that I wonder? I think it must be conditioning and training that has taken place over the years, and the fact that there is so much negative thought in the world today. All the news whether it be world, national, state or local seems to be negative. There are some good reports of human interest, but they are few and far between. So mostly what we digest is not good stuff. Even when we meet and fellowship with our friend and neighbors, many times the conversations either start or come around to something negative. This is not all bad, because we need to know and have concerns for those we love. We also need to know what specific prayers need to be prayed. It seems to me that the negative stuff of life just seems to show up. The apostle Paul said to “fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.” The word “fix” to me implies that an effort is made, that you have to do something, that maybe you need to hold the thought to keep it in place. “Nice words are free,” but you have to work to hold on to them. The Vietnamese proverb that I ran across today really set me back about 39 years. Back to a time, when I was in the Army, and involved in the Vietnam War. I recall of those days using very few nice words to the Vietnamese people. I am sure that I must have at times, but what I recall today is the negative attitude I had about the whole business of war. Not that I was against the war at the time, I was a soldier and was honorable in my devotion to my unit and my country. It just seemed that “words of war” were more apt to bring survival than “nice words.” Today I realized that nice words are free, and words that are not so nice cost. They will cost you everything if not controlled. Today I realize that I must “fix,” I must hold in place the good and the good thoughts that I have. This way God is able to do for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
“True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control. Because Christ is with us and his return is certain, we can act calmly in pain and difficulty. Peace and joy come when we focus on those things that provide lasting value to our life. The more we commit ourself to knowing God’s will through prayer and study of his Word, the better prepared we are to help ourself and others in the process of recovery.”
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1438
“When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day.” ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS page 419
Vietnamese Proverb
Thought for the day: “Nice words are free, so choose ones that please another's ears.”
VIETNAMESE PROVERB
The apostle Paul’s final thoughts as he writes his letter to the church at Philippi, share this with me.
“And now dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NLT
I have observed in my life that I must make an effort to think on thoughts that are good and pure. I have also noticed that thoughts that are bad and impure just seem to drift into my mind without ever having to think about them. Why is that I wonder? I think it must be conditioning and training that has taken place over the years, and the fact that there is so much negative thought in the world today. All the news whether it be world, national, state or local seems to be negative. There are some good reports of human interest, but they are few and far between. So mostly what we digest is not good stuff. Even when we meet and fellowship with our friend and neighbors, many times the conversations either start or come around to something negative. This is not all bad, because we need to know and have concerns for those we love. We also need to know what specific prayers need to be prayed. It seems to me that the negative stuff of life just seems to show up. The apostle Paul said to “fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.” The word “fix” to me implies that an effort is made, that you have to do something, that maybe you need to hold the thought to keep it in place. “Nice words are free,” but you have to work to hold on to them. The Vietnamese proverb that I ran across today really set me back about 39 years. Back to a time, when I was in the Army, and involved in the Vietnam War. I recall of those days using very few nice words to the Vietnamese people. I am sure that I must have at times, but what I recall today is the negative attitude I had about the whole business of war. Not that I was against the war at the time, I was a soldier and was honorable in my devotion to my unit and my country. It just seemed that “words of war” were more apt to bring survival than “nice words.” Today I realized that nice words are free, and words that are not so nice cost. They will cost you everything if not controlled. Today I realize that I must “fix,” I must hold in place the good and the good thoughts that I have. This way God is able to do for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
“True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control. Because Christ is with us and his return is certain, we can act calmly in pain and difficulty. Peace and joy come when we focus on those things that provide lasting value to our life. The more we commit ourself to knowing God’s will through prayer and study of his Word, the better prepared we are to help ourself and others in the process of recovery.”
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1438
“When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day.” ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS page 419
Monday, March 13, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.”
AUGUSTE RODIN
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we not stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
ROMANS 5:1-2 NIV
A long as I can remember, having peace in my life was one of my goals. I haven’t always set out to have peace, but the stress of turmoil and disagreements always makes the serenity of peace desirable. There is nothing like the feelings of peace that flood in after some disagreement has been resolved. Hassles seem to drain our heart of peace, serenity, and the rest that we find in knowing that life is explainable, and the way it should be. Many times we have to work for the peace and serenity that we have. Often we must give up our feelings and give in to other views to have peace and serenity. Often there is pain to be experienced before peace can enter. From my own experiences I have found that humility often walks ahead of serenity, and that pain often walks ahead of humility. Once again I will say, “many times we have to work for the peace and serenity that we have,” but in the spiritual this is not the case. The apostle Paul said, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” No work, sweat or toil in that. But it is not necessarily something easy to do; it’s simple but not easy. There was a time in my life when I worked very hard to have peace with God. I was a vegetarian and did not eat meat for over two years; also I practiced yoga, breathing exercises and meditations daily. This was all an attempt to empty myself, and to reach a higher plane of existence. All of this work that I was doing was physically good, but spiritually I could not empty myself by myself. Wherever I was, there I was. Any guilt and remorse I had from my life up to that point always followed me around, and therefore any peace and serenity that I found was shallow. Only after being weighed down by my own attempts to find peace in God, did I come to the understanding that Jesus accomplished on the cross what I could not do for myself. I was forgiven and had “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Today regardless of what may happen in my personal life, the peace I have with God is solid. It is built upon the spiritual principle of forgiveness, God has done for me what I could not do for myself. ……..JRE
Please share with me what Lawrence O. Richards has to say about Romans 5:2, “We rejoice in the hope.”
Don’t let the word “hope” throw you. In our language “hope” is a word that suggests uncertainty. “I hope I’ll be able to go with you,” means I’d like to, but I don’t know if I can. A young woman’s “hope chest” was traditionally a place where she stored precious items she would use when, and if! she married. “Hope” to us is a maybe kind of thing.
But it is not this way in the New Testament. In fact, it’s just the opposite! Hope (elpis) is the settled and confident expectation that we will obtain a future good. Hope is being sure that what God has promised will be ours, even if today we only glimpse it from afar.
What a blessing to remember as we read the New Testament. Because of Jesus, we have hope. We know that we have a share in the glory of God.
LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
“The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come. The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that!” ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 153
Piece of peace
Thought for the day: “Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.”
AUGUSTE RODIN
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we not stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
ROMANS 5:1-2 NIV
A long as I can remember, having peace in my life was one of my goals. I haven’t always set out to have peace, but the stress of turmoil and disagreements always makes the serenity of peace desirable. There is nothing like the feelings of peace that flood in after some disagreement has been resolved. Hassles seem to drain our heart of peace, serenity, and the rest that we find in knowing that life is explainable, and the way it should be. Many times we have to work for the peace and serenity that we have. Often we must give up our feelings and give in to other views to have peace and serenity. Often there is pain to be experienced before peace can enter. From my own experiences I have found that humility often walks ahead of serenity, and that pain often walks ahead of humility. Once again I will say, “many times we have to work for the peace and serenity that we have,” but in the spiritual this is not the case. The apostle Paul said, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” No work, sweat or toil in that. But it is not necessarily something easy to do; it’s simple but not easy. There was a time in my life when I worked very hard to have peace with God. I was a vegetarian and did not eat meat for over two years; also I practiced yoga, breathing exercises and meditations daily. This was all an attempt to empty myself, and to reach a higher plane of existence. All of this work that I was doing was physically good, but spiritually I could not empty myself by myself. Wherever I was, there I was. Any guilt and remorse I had from my life up to that point always followed me around, and therefore any peace and serenity that I found was shallow. Only after being weighed down by my own attempts to find peace in God, did I come to the understanding that Jesus accomplished on the cross what I could not do for myself. I was forgiven and had “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Today regardless of what may happen in my personal life, the peace I have with God is solid. It is built upon the spiritual principle of forgiveness, God has done for me what I could not do for myself. ……..JRE
Please share with me what Lawrence O. Richards has to say about Romans 5:2, “We rejoice in the hope.”
Don’t let the word “hope” throw you. In our language “hope” is a word that suggests uncertainty. “I hope I’ll be able to go with you,” means I’d like to, but I don’t know if I can. A young woman’s “hope chest” was traditionally a place where she stored precious items she would use when, and if! she married. “Hope” to us is a maybe kind of thing.
But it is not this way in the New Testament. In fact, it’s just the opposite! Hope (elpis) is the settled and confident expectation that we will obtain a future good. Hope is being sure that what God has promised will be ours, even if today we only glimpse it from afar.
What a blessing to remember as we read the New Testament. Because of Jesus, we have hope. We know that we have a share in the glory of God.
LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
“The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come. The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that!” ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 153
Friday, March 10, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Let your words be purrs instead of hisses.”
FANNIE ROACH PALMER
The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this my son be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
The conclusion when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep his commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
ECCLESIASTES 12:11-14 NASB
Solomon wrote several of the Psalms, most of the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Of all of Solomon’s experiences, his vast riches, and his many wise sayings, these last few words from Ecclesiastes always strike me as the most meaningful. The words of wise men are like goads. We don’t hear much about goads these days. A goad is a tool that was used by those who herded animals. A goad was a stick that was sharpened to a point on one end and poked at the animal to direct its path. Today cattlemen and other ranchers and farmers use an electric prod called a Hot Shot, it is sort of like a stun gun on a stick. They will move the animals, and at times anything that is in contact with the animal. I know that this sounds cruel, but a two thousand pound bull that is exerting his own mind could become dangerous very quickly. They need to be headed in the right direction. And so it is with words of wisdom, they are like Hot Shots to our spirit that keep us from turning back and causing destruction. Solomon goes on to say that those who master these collections of words are like well-driven nails. A well-driven nail is anchored, it is very hard to pull. The house I live in is over one hundred years old, many of the boards used in the older parts of the house were sawn out of the native oak trees that are common to the Ozarks of Missouri. I am sure that many of the nails were driven when the lumber was green, because it is almost impossible to drive a nail in a seasoned oak board. In years past I have attempted to pull nails out of oak boards only to wear myself out trying or destroy the head of the nail in the process. A well-driven nail is anchored and will remain. So it is with words of wisdom that anchor us to life, those who adhere will be anchored as the storms come and go. And who is the giver of the words of wisdom? Solomon, who was considered the wisest man ever, says that these words of wise men are given by one Shepherd. I notice that Shepherd is capitalized, this means God. Today I am grateful for an all-wise loving God that has given wisdom to others so that it may be passed on and on. Today I want to be a nail that is anchored in life. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
Words of Jesus found in John 6:63 NASB, share this with me.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
“The power of individual choice is the secret of human responsibility. I can choose which line I will go on, but I have no power to alter the destination of that line once I have taken it, yet I always have the power to get off one line on to the other.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
Oswald Chambers is speaking of railway travel, I think? But to me it speaks of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. I had no way of changing the destination of my addictions which was death. But Praise God I was able to choose to catch the recovery train instead of the death train…………….JRE
Hot Shots to our spirit
Thought for the day: “Let your words be purrs instead of hisses.”
FANNIE ROACH PALMER
The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this my son be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
The conclusion when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep his commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
ECCLESIASTES 12:11-14 NASB
Solomon wrote several of the Psalms, most of the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Of all of Solomon’s experiences, his vast riches, and his many wise sayings, these last few words from Ecclesiastes always strike me as the most meaningful. The words of wise men are like goads. We don’t hear much about goads these days. A goad is a tool that was used by those who herded animals. A goad was a stick that was sharpened to a point on one end and poked at the animal to direct its path. Today cattlemen and other ranchers and farmers use an electric prod called a Hot Shot, it is sort of like a stun gun on a stick. They will move the animals, and at times anything that is in contact with the animal. I know that this sounds cruel, but a two thousand pound bull that is exerting his own mind could become dangerous very quickly. They need to be headed in the right direction. And so it is with words of wisdom, they are like Hot Shots to our spirit that keep us from turning back and causing destruction. Solomon goes on to say that those who master these collections of words are like well-driven nails. A well-driven nail is anchored, it is very hard to pull. The house I live in is over one hundred years old, many of the boards used in the older parts of the house were sawn out of the native oak trees that are common to the Ozarks of Missouri. I am sure that many of the nails were driven when the lumber was green, because it is almost impossible to drive a nail in a seasoned oak board. In years past I have attempted to pull nails out of oak boards only to wear myself out trying or destroy the head of the nail in the process. A well-driven nail is anchored and will remain. So it is with words of wisdom that anchor us to life, those who adhere will be anchored as the storms come and go. And who is the giver of the words of wisdom? Solomon, who was considered the wisest man ever, says that these words of wise men are given by one Shepherd. I notice that Shepherd is capitalized, this means God. Today I am grateful for an all-wise loving God that has given wisdom to others so that it may be passed on and on. Today I want to be a nail that is anchored in life. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
Words of Jesus found in John 6:63 NASB, share this with me.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
“The power of individual choice is the secret of human responsibility. I can choose which line I will go on, but I have no power to alter the destination of that line once I have taken it, yet I always have the power to get off one line on to the other.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
Oswald Chambers is speaking of railway travel, I think? But to me it speaks of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. I had no way of changing the destination of my addictions which was death. But Praise God I was able to choose to catch the recovery train instead of the death train…………….JRE
Thursday, March 09, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.” ECCLESIASTES 10:11 NASB
“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren, he who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” JAMES 4:10,11 NASB
Who are you to judge your neighbor? James is straightforward in his question. I find it to be like a two-edged sword, which cuts right to my heart. These words bypass my mind, my emotions, and my will, and go straight to the sore spot, my heart. The two-edged sword of the Word of God is truly a scalpel, and is able to delicately perform a heart transplant when willingly accepted, and allowed to work. This morning as my study brought me to the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s words about the snake and the snake charmer touched me. One of the comparisons I thought of when I read the word serpent, was my own tongue. And again I thought of the Native American reference to speaking with a forked tongue. Speaking with a forked tongue means to say something one time and say something else at another time. I am guilty. I am so quick to quote Jesus and to say, “judge not least you be judged,” but when things don’t go exactly like I think they should, I am quick to snap back with some opinion or personal observation. At times I am quick to give advice, which is really judging someone while being dressed up as intelligence. My old forked tongue finds itself blabbering again. Today I find that one of the daily lessons that I learn from the Word of God is to be aware of what I say, how I say it, and what I mean when I say it. The snake that is not charmed or trained, and under control, will surly bite the handler. When the snake wins there is no profit except in the lessons learned. I am grateful for a loving God that understands that sometimes I need to learn a lesson more that once before I am able to put it to use in my life. This is the Grace of God, and if it were not for grace, I could not survive the spiritual heart transplant. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………………JRE
Share this with me, it is from Lawrence O. Richard’s Devotional Commentary.
“Who are you to judge your neighbor?” James has called on us to live humble lives. Now he goes on to illustrate it. A person who is quick to judge another’s actions is not humble. He or she has clambered up on the Judge’s bench, grabbed God’s gavel, and pushed Him aside. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. Remember that when you feel tempted to judge others. You and I aren’t on the bench. We’re standing before the bar, beside the very person whose case we’ve arrogantly determined to try!
“A meek man is not a human mouse with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his mortal life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his won life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.” A.W. TOZER
My forked tongue
Thought for the day: “If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.” ECCLESIASTES 10:11 NASB
“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren, he who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” JAMES 4:10,11 NASB
Who are you to judge your neighbor? James is straightforward in his question. I find it to be like a two-edged sword, which cuts right to my heart. These words bypass my mind, my emotions, and my will, and go straight to the sore spot, my heart. The two-edged sword of the Word of God is truly a scalpel, and is able to delicately perform a heart transplant when willingly accepted, and allowed to work. This morning as my study brought me to the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s words about the snake and the snake charmer touched me. One of the comparisons I thought of when I read the word serpent, was my own tongue. And again I thought of the Native American reference to speaking with a forked tongue. Speaking with a forked tongue means to say something one time and say something else at another time. I am guilty. I am so quick to quote Jesus and to say, “judge not least you be judged,” but when things don’t go exactly like I think they should, I am quick to snap back with some opinion or personal observation. At times I am quick to give advice, which is really judging someone while being dressed up as intelligence. My old forked tongue finds itself blabbering again. Today I find that one of the daily lessons that I learn from the Word of God is to be aware of what I say, how I say it, and what I mean when I say it. The snake that is not charmed or trained, and under control, will surly bite the handler. When the snake wins there is no profit except in the lessons learned. I am grateful for a loving God that understands that sometimes I need to learn a lesson more that once before I am able to put it to use in my life. This is the Grace of God, and if it were not for grace, I could not survive the spiritual heart transplant. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………………JRE
Share this with me, it is from Lawrence O. Richard’s Devotional Commentary.
“Who are you to judge your neighbor?” James has called on us to live humble lives. Now he goes on to illustrate it. A person who is quick to judge another’s actions is not humble. He or she has clambered up on the Judge’s bench, grabbed God’s gavel, and pushed Him aside. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. Remember that when you feel tempted to judge others. You and I aren’t on the bench. We’re standing before the bar, beside the very person whose case we’ve arrogantly determined to try!
“A meek man is not a human mouse with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his mortal life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his won life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.” A.W. TOZER
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Gripefruit is not one of the fruit of the Spirit.”
Heard at Calvary Temple Church
(4) I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
(5) The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
(6) One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
ECCLESIASTES 4:4-6 NASB
As I came across these verses today from the Book of Ecclesiastes, I take time to reflect and ponder the meaning. Solomon said that labor done as a result of rivalry was vanity and striving after wind. The King James uses vexation of spirit. The Hebrew word that was translated striving and vexation is r`uwth, which has a meaning of grasping after. To grasp after the wind would be useless unless you had some way to capture and hold the wind. Rivalry can be a good thing if the purpose is not strictly greed, selfishness, or a motive that is only self-centered. I feel that a little competition is good, but we should never glory in our victory over another. As I type these words I am aware that I am guilty of this very thing. Too gloat over some accomplishment over another person is pride, and pride may lead to a quick downfall if not checked. The Holy Spirit rubs against the grain of pride and can make known the little things in our life that are just not in God’s will for us. A rivalry fueled by self-centered pride will produce two handfuls of wind, and what have you got? Nothing. I would rather have one handful of rest, now there is something I can use. Grasping after and capturing the wind is not easy, but it can be done. Flying kites is one example, sailboats are another. Another example of capturing the wind is the parachute. When I was in the Army I was a paratrooper and one of the great thrills of my life has been to rest in the sling of a parachute after having captured the wind. Today Jesus is like a parachute to me. A lifesaver that allows me to capture the winds of life so that they are not in vain. Knowing the Father, walking with Jesus daily, and having the Holy Spirit to keep me in check allows me to use many winds to my advantage, especially the winds of adversity. Today the winds of alcoholism and drug addiction that blew threw my life have been transformed into healing winds, and captured to be put to use by my Lord Jesus Christ. God has done for me what I could not do for myself. The happy balance for me is having a good handful of rest in God. Thanks for letting me share…………………..JRE
“The envy and competitiveness that motivate man’s achievements destroy inner tranquility.” LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
Catching the wind
Thought for the day: “Gripefruit is not one of the fruit of the Spirit.”
Heard at Calvary Temple Church
(4) I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
(5) The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
(6) One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
ECCLESIASTES 4:4-6 NASB
As I came across these verses today from the Book of Ecclesiastes, I take time to reflect and ponder the meaning. Solomon said that labor done as a result of rivalry was vanity and striving after wind. The King James uses vexation of spirit. The Hebrew word that was translated striving and vexation is r`uwth, which has a meaning of grasping after. To grasp after the wind would be useless unless you had some way to capture and hold the wind. Rivalry can be a good thing if the purpose is not strictly greed, selfishness, or a motive that is only self-centered. I feel that a little competition is good, but we should never glory in our victory over another. As I type these words I am aware that I am guilty of this very thing. Too gloat over some accomplishment over another person is pride, and pride may lead to a quick downfall if not checked. The Holy Spirit rubs against the grain of pride and can make known the little things in our life that are just not in God’s will for us. A rivalry fueled by self-centered pride will produce two handfuls of wind, and what have you got? Nothing. I would rather have one handful of rest, now there is something I can use. Grasping after and capturing the wind is not easy, but it can be done. Flying kites is one example, sailboats are another. Another example of capturing the wind is the parachute. When I was in the Army I was a paratrooper and one of the great thrills of my life has been to rest in the sling of a parachute after having captured the wind. Today Jesus is like a parachute to me. A lifesaver that allows me to capture the winds of life so that they are not in vain. Knowing the Father, walking with Jesus daily, and having the Holy Spirit to keep me in check allows me to use many winds to my advantage, especially the winds of adversity. Today the winds of alcoholism and drug addiction that blew threw my life have been transformed into healing winds, and captured to be put to use by my Lord Jesus Christ. God has done for me what I could not do for myself. The happy balance for me is having a good handful of rest in God. Thanks for letting me share…………………..JRE
“The envy and competitiveness that motivate man’s achievements destroy inner tranquility.” LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
Monday, March 06, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “God in His unspeakable providence has arranged that some received the holy reward of their toils even before they set to work, others while actually working, others again when the work was done, and still others at the time of their death. Let the reader ask himself which one of them was made more humble.”
JOHN CLIMACUS
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
EZEKIEL 36:26 NASB
The prophet Ezekiel spoke these words around 592 B.C. during the time that Israel was in captivity in Babylon. The prophecy concerns a new covenant between God and Israel that is to take place at the second coming of Christ. Like many prophetic scripture verses that I read, I not only read the historical view, which would be past and future, but when I read them many seem to speak to my own spirit and can be related to my own life, past, present and future. The Word of God speaks to me when I open my heart and allow it to live within me. Even the genealogies speak to me if I am patient and allow them to reach my heart. I will admit thought that many times with names and genealogies in the Bible, I have a tendency to skip along the surface like a flat rock thrown across the top of a still lake. This morning this prophecy to Israel speaks to me of my life, the way it was, and how it is now. At one time I was in captivity in my own self-imposed Babylon. My chemical addictions had me wrapped in chains. The joy and happiness that I had know in earlier days had escaped, and just to experience life without pain and emotional ups and downs, I had to use alcohol and drugs. Chemicals brought me up to a level where I was able to cope with life, and when they were gone the physical and emotions pain came rushing back in. That old Hee Haw song from the television show was ever true in my life, I often thought about it and laughed at it when I was high, but the truth was that it was just not funny. Share these words to the song with me, “Gloom despair and agony on me, deep dark depression excessive misery, if it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all, gloom despair and agony on my.” That could be the theme song of every person in the grips of chemical addiction. At the darkest point in my life I watched as a prison guard shed a tear telling me of Jesus. That tear softened my heart of stone and changed my life forever. I became born again, born of the Spirit of God. With a heart of flesh I learned to have compassion on others. A heart of flesh is soft and allows others to imprint upon it their life. I don’t want to go back to a heart of stone, to a life of gloom and despair. As I read the Word of God daily I find the light needed to walk each and every day, one day at a time. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………...JRE
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
PSALM 119:105 NASB
“A clear light seems to fall upon us all, when we open our eyes. Since our blindness is caused by our own defects, we must first deeply realize what they are. Constructive meditation is the first requirement for each new step in our spiritual growth.”
BILL W……….from a letter written in 1946
AS BILL SEES IT, page 10
Constructive meditation
Thought for the day: “God in His unspeakable providence has arranged that some received the holy reward of their toils even before they set to work, others while actually working, others again when the work was done, and still others at the time of their death. Let the reader ask himself which one of them was made more humble.”
JOHN CLIMACUS
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
EZEKIEL 36:26 NASB
The prophet Ezekiel spoke these words around 592 B.C. during the time that Israel was in captivity in Babylon. The prophecy concerns a new covenant between God and Israel that is to take place at the second coming of Christ. Like many prophetic scripture verses that I read, I not only read the historical view, which would be past and future, but when I read them many seem to speak to my own spirit and can be related to my own life, past, present and future. The Word of God speaks to me when I open my heart and allow it to live within me. Even the genealogies speak to me if I am patient and allow them to reach my heart. I will admit thought that many times with names and genealogies in the Bible, I have a tendency to skip along the surface like a flat rock thrown across the top of a still lake. This morning this prophecy to Israel speaks to me of my life, the way it was, and how it is now. At one time I was in captivity in my own self-imposed Babylon. My chemical addictions had me wrapped in chains. The joy and happiness that I had know in earlier days had escaped, and just to experience life without pain and emotional ups and downs, I had to use alcohol and drugs. Chemicals brought me up to a level where I was able to cope with life, and when they were gone the physical and emotions pain came rushing back in. That old Hee Haw song from the television show was ever true in my life, I often thought about it and laughed at it when I was high, but the truth was that it was just not funny. Share these words to the song with me, “Gloom despair and agony on me, deep dark depression excessive misery, if it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all, gloom despair and agony on my.” That could be the theme song of every person in the grips of chemical addiction. At the darkest point in my life I watched as a prison guard shed a tear telling me of Jesus. That tear softened my heart of stone and changed my life forever. I became born again, born of the Spirit of God. With a heart of flesh I learned to have compassion on others. A heart of flesh is soft and allows others to imprint upon it their life. I don’t want to go back to a heart of stone, to a life of gloom and despair. As I read the Word of God daily I find the light needed to walk each and every day, one day at a time. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………...JRE
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
PSALM 119:105 NASB
“A clear light seems to fall upon us all, when we open our eyes. Since our blindness is caused by our own defects, we must first deeply realize what they are. Constructive meditation is the first requirement for each new step in our spiritual growth.”
BILL W……….from a letter written in 1946
AS BILL SEES IT, page 10
Friday, March 03, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.”
A.W. TOZER
“And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the place guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:12-14 NLT
I am amazed at how God can use the most difficult situations that people seem to get into, and turn them around for good. I can remember times in my life when the choices that I made led me into bondage. Not just my own physical, mental, and spiritual bondage, but bondage enforced by family, friends, and the legal authorities. Without God in my life I would try and dig myself out, but only dug myself deeper. Have you ever had that feeling that the more you try doing something on your own, the bigger the problem gets. My problem was lack of direction and trying to carry the whole load myself. I have noticed that in my own life, my self-will will act like a protective barrier. I think it is some kind of physical or carnal survival instinct that kicks in when the going gets tuff. In my life at times it works like an umbrella on a hot sunny day. It keeps the sunlight of the Spirit from lighting my path. One thing about umbrellas on a hot sunny day, they also block the breeze. When life got too hot for me, I sought comfort somewhere else. The only rest I found was in the arms of a loving God. Once I rested comfortably God was able to let His light shine through me regardless of where I was. These days I attend an AA meeting in the prison down the road. My observation is that many are born again believers and have a strong witness for the Lord. No doubt they reach many on the outside that no one else can reach. Only God could work such a work from inside prisons bars. I like what the Life Recovery Bible has to say about this scripture, share this with me:
In retrospect, Paul could see that God had allowed the events of his life, both good and bad, to help him spread the Good News. If we take an honest look at our life, we may find the same to be true. Through our painful addiction we have gained the perspective needed to share the message of hope with others. Our personal story of deliverance is an essential tool for reaching others in need of recovery. As with Paul, our painful past and God’s powerful deliverance open the door to our serving God by helping others.”
TYNDALE LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1432
Each of us has personal experiences that only we can share with those in like situations. That is why when I read the term “one to another” in the Bible, I think on these things. Thanks for letting me share. God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself………………………..JRE
“Two men looked from prisons bars, one saw the mud the other saw the stars.”
Author unknown
The mud and the stars
Thought for the day: “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.”
A.W. TOZER
“And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the place guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:12-14 NLT
I am amazed at how God can use the most difficult situations that people seem to get into, and turn them around for good. I can remember times in my life when the choices that I made led me into bondage. Not just my own physical, mental, and spiritual bondage, but bondage enforced by family, friends, and the legal authorities. Without God in my life I would try and dig myself out, but only dug myself deeper. Have you ever had that feeling that the more you try doing something on your own, the bigger the problem gets. My problem was lack of direction and trying to carry the whole load myself. I have noticed that in my own life, my self-will will act like a protective barrier. I think it is some kind of physical or carnal survival instinct that kicks in when the going gets tuff. In my life at times it works like an umbrella on a hot sunny day. It keeps the sunlight of the Spirit from lighting my path. One thing about umbrellas on a hot sunny day, they also block the breeze. When life got too hot for me, I sought comfort somewhere else. The only rest I found was in the arms of a loving God. Once I rested comfortably God was able to let His light shine through me regardless of where I was. These days I attend an AA meeting in the prison down the road. My observation is that many are born again believers and have a strong witness for the Lord. No doubt they reach many on the outside that no one else can reach. Only God could work such a work from inside prisons bars. I like what the Life Recovery Bible has to say about this scripture, share this with me:
In retrospect, Paul could see that God had allowed the events of his life, both good and bad, to help him spread the Good News. If we take an honest look at our life, we may find the same to be true. Through our painful addiction we have gained the perspective needed to share the message of hope with others. Our personal story of deliverance is an essential tool for reaching others in need of recovery. As with Paul, our painful past and God’s powerful deliverance open the door to our serving God by helping others.”
TYNDALE LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1432
Each of us has personal experiences that only we can share with those in like situations. That is why when I read the term “one to another” in the Bible, I think on these things. Thanks for letting me share. God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself………………………..JRE
“Two men looked from prisons bars, one saw the mud the other saw the stars.”
Author unknown
Thursday, March 02, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “God uses failure, sickness, breakdown, sin, personal tragedy, and sorrow to reduce His people to usefulness. Unless the servant of God learns to depend utterly on god and to forsake self-dependence of any kind, he or she remains too strong to be of much value.” ROBERT C. GIRARD
A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
ISAIAH 40:3-5 NASB
This morning as I read the Word of God, I came across this scripture in the Book of Luke. It originally was a prophecy spoken by Isaiah. This prophecy has two meanings; it was spoken to comfort the people of Judah as they were released from eighty years of captivity in Babylon. If also has a reference to John the Baptist, as he went ahead of Jesus preparing the people. I live in southern Missouri in the hill country of the Ozark Mountain Range. As I look out my window I remember the valley the runs north from the house. A creek flows through the valley with timber growing on either side. At one time, thirty years ago, it was possible to see all the way down the valley, but today highway US 60 blocks some of the view. The highway rises up eighty feet from the floor of the valley. To do this the highway department had to lower the hills to get the materials to raise the valleys; in the process the hills became lower. Traveling through these old hill used to be like ridding a roller coaster, but with our modern highways it is a smooth ride most of the time. John the Baptist was sent to smooth the path for Jesus. John had one message and that was repentance. You see, when we repent of our sins it makes the Lord’s path smother, we all become leveled and equal in spiritual likeness. I am also able to apply this scripture verse to my life as I lived it without Jesus, and my life as I live it with Jesus. Without Jesus my life was a spiritual desert. It was the same for miles and miles, with not much change in the scenery. Today with Jesus as my friend and constant companion the dry places are filled with rest areas, supplying cool flowing waters. My high places that I experienced are not manic and insane; I have been brought into reality by the Truth. My low places, which were places of depression and shame, remorse and guilt, loneliness and despair, these days are never lasting and are never experienced alone. God always makes a way for me to come back to the level where I belong. I would much rather travel the smooth highway, it is roomy and filled with companionship. It ever so gently climbs forward toward the goal. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.” (Luke 3:8 KJV) Have you ever wondered about this scripture verse? I read it as not just repenting and turning from our sins, but to bring the fruit or the evidence of it. To me it means not to just stop doing what was wrong, but to fix the damage that was done. That is fruit of repentance……..JRE
“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.” ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 59
Leveling and equal in spiritual likeness
Thought for the day: “God uses failure, sickness, breakdown, sin, personal tragedy, and sorrow to reduce His people to usefulness. Unless the servant of God learns to depend utterly on god and to forsake self-dependence of any kind, he or she remains too strong to be of much value.” ROBERT C. GIRARD
A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
ISAIAH 40:3-5 NASB
This morning as I read the Word of God, I came across this scripture in the Book of Luke. It originally was a prophecy spoken by Isaiah. This prophecy has two meanings; it was spoken to comfort the people of Judah as they were released from eighty years of captivity in Babylon. If also has a reference to John the Baptist, as he went ahead of Jesus preparing the people. I live in southern Missouri in the hill country of the Ozark Mountain Range. As I look out my window I remember the valley the runs north from the house. A creek flows through the valley with timber growing on either side. At one time, thirty years ago, it was possible to see all the way down the valley, but today highway US 60 blocks some of the view. The highway rises up eighty feet from the floor of the valley. To do this the highway department had to lower the hills to get the materials to raise the valleys; in the process the hills became lower. Traveling through these old hill used to be like ridding a roller coaster, but with our modern highways it is a smooth ride most of the time. John the Baptist was sent to smooth the path for Jesus. John had one message and that was repentance. You see, when we repent of our sins it makes the Lord’s path smother, we all become leveled and equal in spiritual likeness. I am also able to apply this scripture verse to my life as I lived it without Jesus, and my life as I live it with Jesus. Without Jesus my life was a spiritual desert. It was the same for miles and miles, with not much change in the scenery. Today with Jesus as my friend and constant companion the dry places are filled with rest areas, supplying cool flowing waters. My high places that I experienced are not manic and insane; I have been brought into reality by the Truth. My low places, which were places of depression and shame, remorse and guilt, loneliness and despair, these days are never lasting and are never experienced alone. God always makes a way for me to come back to the level where I belong. I would much rather travel the smooth highway, it is roomy and filled with companionship. It ever so gently climbs forward toward the goal. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.” (Luke 3:8 KJV) Have you ever wondered about this scripture verse? I read it as not just repenting and turning from our sins, but to bring the fruit or the evidence of it. To me it means not to just stop doing what was wrong, but to fix the damage that was done. That is fruit of repentance……..JRE
“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.” ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 59
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” PROVERBS 22:6 NIV
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.
After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Fathers house?”
LUKE 2:41-49 NIV
These are the first recorded words of Jesus. He was a young boy of twelve years old. The King James uses the words Father business instead of Father house. Neither one is in the Greek that Luke wrote, but Strongs Greek dictionary says that the word affairs was added to make it clearer. Before when I read this account of the boy Jesus getting lost from his parents I often thought of disobedience or a child that was being disrespectful to his parents. Today I come away with a different view as I search the Greek for meaning in some of the words. The history of twelve-year-old Jewish boys is different than what we might think. Share this with me from the Dake Bible, “At this age every boy became a ‘son of the law.’ Joseph fulfilled the law by paying 5 shekels in redemption money, which gave him the legal rights of ‘father,’ claiming the obedience of the boy.” It is almost like children being drafted into the church, but the parents could buy their way out. My guess is that children that were not redeemed by the 5 shekels had to stay in service to the temple. The word that really jumped out at me is the word used for “boy” in the boy Jesus. That Greek word is pais. It’s meaning is a child; specifically, a slave or servant, especially a minister to a king. For me this puts a different concept on the twelve-year old Jesus. He was of age to be a servant to the King, he was of age to be of service to God. His answer to his parents was not disrespectful, but honest.
Reading this scripture today has reminded me of the time when I was twelve years old. Last week I took a trip to San Antonio Texas where I spent the entire twelfth year of my life. I visited the streets that I used to roam as a young boy. At that time my life was in shambles, my parents were getting a divorce, and there was a raging going on inside of me that had no outlet. If only I could have been of service to Jesus. At twelve years old I smoked, drank, cussed, and was looking at pornography. Seeds were planted in those days that grew and grew. Twenty-five years later Jesus was able to trim away the negative harvest of those days. If only I could have been of service to Jesus back then. Today I am grateful that Jesus and I have a personal relationship, and that I have strength to draw from at all times. Strength that is not my own, but of a Power that is much greater than myself. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
I CHOOSE JOY………………..
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…….the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.” MAX LUCADO
Any problem as an opportunity to see God, that speaks to me……………JRE
The Boy Servant
Thought for the day: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” PROVERBS 22:6 NIV
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.
After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Fathers house?”
LUKE 2:41-49 NIV
These are the first recorded words of Jesus. He was a young boy of twelve years old. The King James uses the words Father business instead of Father house. Neither one is in the Greek that Luke wrote, but Strongs Greek dictionary says that the word affairs was added to make it clearer. Before when I read this account of the boy Jesus getting lost from his parents I often thought of disobedience or a child that was being disrespectful to his parents. Today I come away with a different view as I search the Greek for meaning in some of the words. The history of twelve-year-old Jewish boys is different than what we might think. Share this with me from the Dake Bible, “At this age every boy became a ‘son of the law.’ Joseph fulfilled the law by paying 5 shekels in redemption money, which gave him the legal rights of ‘father,’ claiming the obedience of the boy.” It is almost like children being drafted into the church, but the parents could buy their way out. My guess is that children that were not redeemed by the 5 shekels had to stay in service to the temple. The word that really jumped out at me is the word used for “boy” in the boy Jesus. That Greek word is pais. It’s meaning is a child; specifically, a slave or servant, especially a minister to a king. For me this puts a different concept on the twelve-year old Jesus. He was of age to be a servant to the King, he was of age to be of service to God. His answer to his parents was not disrespectful, but honest.
Reading this scripture today has reminded me of the time when I was twelve years old. Last week I took a trip to San Antonio Texas where I spent the entire twelfth year of my life. I visited the streets that I used to roam as a young boy. At that time my life was in shambles, my parents were getting a divorce, and there was a raging going on inside of me that had no outlet. If only I could have been of service to Jesus. At twelve years old I smoked, drank, cussed, and was looking at pornography. Seeds were planted in those days that grew and grew. Twenty-five years later Jesus was able to trim away the negative harvest of those days. If only I could have been of service to Jesus back then. Today I am grateful that Jesus and I have a personal relationship, and that I have strength to draw from at all times. Strength that is not my own, but of a Power that is much greater than myself. God has done for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
I CHOOSE JOY………………..
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…….the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.” MAX LUCADO
Any problem as an opportunity to see God, that speaks to me……………JRE
