There's a hot new program that has swept America, with today's title. The whole show tests the players ability to make the best deal with the banker....MMMMM (I'll bet you think I starting in on the bail out again, nope, read on). There are 26 cases (if my memory is clicking today) and the contestant chooses the "one" he/she believes has the million dollar prize. The rest of the show is dedicated to the banker trying to buy that case as the player opens the other 25 cases one at a time. A game of chance, luck, hopes and mostly sad endings.
I opened with this today because of the recent rash of murder/suicides that have been sweeping across our great land. One tragedy in California was being attributed to job losses.
On another talk show this week I heard of a mother whose credit card debt had been so excessive that her only perceived way out was to attempt (note the word attempt, praise God) suicide. Her hubby and family knew nothing of the debt so when she had no more money to pay her debt her only way out (so she thought) was to kill herself???
The Bible says..."There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."
Do you wonder as I do, how sad it must be to desire to die because you may loose your material possessions. Or because you have fallen behind on your payments. Can I say this to all of you..... IT IS ONLY STUFF!!!!! STUFF CAN BE REPLACED! LET THE STUPID STUFF GO............You are of far more value than anything you can purchase or owe!
Read Matthew 6:19-33.... These are THE priorities for our lives. Anything else is a cheap, lying immitation. When we pin all our hopes and dreams of life and success on $$$$, materialism, jobs/positions and or stuff, and they pass away (which they will) then we are left without a plan. Ours has just been crushed under the feet of life and circumstance. What are we to do??? What hope do we then have??? None if we choose the same path!
But there is a better plan! It is God's plan, not man's. The Bible says that "the fool has said in his heart there is no God." Sadly, many have taken the road to foolishness today. They have pinned their hopes on that which will not satisfy. When it vanishes, that is not the time to die but it is an opportunity to live! For the first time in your life you can choose life! Here's the "secret" verse..... (note, God's secrets are often out in the open)
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
You see, there are priorities. There is an order to life. Our Creator has a plan. A fool proof plan for life. HE must be first. We must rightly relate to HIM. That is THE priority of life.
Once that is settled then we can begin the journey that will bring us, our marriages, our families and even our nation true, lasting fulfillment. Until then we will continue in the game of life seeking by chance and circumstance to make the deal with the banker. Sadly, all his deals end in death.....
As for me and my house, NO DEAL!
I Trust CHRIST and I pray you will too!
Blessings
Bruce
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
You've Saved the Best For Last
Today's treasure will be found in John 2:1-12. Take a few minutes and read this as we go mining together.
This, for those of you who are into the chronological stuff, is the first recorded miracle of Jesus Christ. He has made His way to Cana for a wedding ceremony. As He was celebrating with the others, the wedding family apparently ran out of wine.
Now we are not going to "debate" whether it was alcoholic or non alcoholic as that is not the real message of this event. They had a house full of people and they ran out of beverage. Quickie Mart was out of the question. Delivery was not even in the equation. This was a problem, a BIG problem for the family. This would have affected this young couple for the rest of their lives, socially. This is how they would be remembered!
Mary came to Jesus and informed Him of the problem and in perfect "mother" fashion procees to tell the others what to do. By now you know that He had them fill the water pots with H2O, which they did "to the brim" and then HE immediately said draw it out!
The master of the banquest, (toast master) then withdrew some and tasted it. To his surprise it was the best of the day! It was sooooo good that he then called and complimented the bridegroom! They had gone from potential disgrace to social embrace all because of Jesus. Their testimony would not be one of disgrace but of blessing. And though they wouild get credit for it, they knew it was all of grace!
Two things I want us to consider.... ONE, verse 10....You have kept the good wine until now!!!! Isn't that just like the Lord? Doesn't He often save His best for us to the last. I have heard it said (simply means I can't remember their name) that God is rarely early but is always right on time! HE does save HIS best for last. Each and every day with HIM brings a new understanding of His truths, His plans, His purposes, and of God Himself! Ending ultimately with us entering His home and His incredible presence.
We live so much in the world that we forget that Jesus has come to make us into children of the Most High God. Live today as if something better is on the way! It is! Each an every day...His mercies are new! His grace is sufficient! One day it will all fade away as we enter into the greatest of all Human engagements..... HIS HOME! But I refuse to live like some cultist who sells all and lives in a pup tent, waiting. But I choose to live each and every day with HIM leading the way. Nothing is impossible.....for HIM!
This leads me to the second treasure I see in this passage....it is found in verse 5...Mary says to the servants, "Whatever He says to you do it." Have you ever seen that? Why did she say that? How did she know they would need to be told that? MY OPINION.... This is what I think! Mary had seen Jesus perform miracles before. Perhaps so many times that she knew that what He may ask, may seem absurd, illogical, old fashioned, uncool, or whatever adjective you may choose. She had learned to just do what HE says and something AWESOME would happen.
Why can't we do that today? Why not? Why do we question? Why do we seek some othe way? I saw just recently where a pastor had a full article on a recent book he had written about bringing business principles into the church to make it successful. Certainly have seen many go this road and make lot's of money in recent years. Many churches mirror the business community of today. But where has the power gone? Where has the love for Jesus gone? Where has just simple obedience gone in today's culture? What is wrong with just obeying the Lord and waiting on Him to move? It may not be attractive to the world but childlike obedience is beautiful to God! That's the One we want to make smile!
That is what they did. While they may have had to wait a little while or perhaps suffer a little with stress because of the unknown, they were still blessed to see HIM provide far above all they could have asked or even thought. Let's just practice simple obedience to His word and His Spirits' inner promptings and see what HE will do in our lives! You may find that HE has saved the best for last......for you!
Eph 3:20-21
Blessings
Bruce
This, for those of you who are into the chronological stuff, is the first recorded miracle of Jesus Christ. He has made His way to Cana for a wedding ceremony. As He was celebrating with the others, the wedding family apparently ran out of wine.
Now we are not going to "debate" whether it was alcoholic or non alcoholic as that is not the real message of this event. They had a house full of people and they ran out of beverage. Quickie Mart was out of the question. Delivery was not even in the equation. This was a problem, a BIG problem for the family. This would have affected this young couple for the rest of their lives, socially. This is how they would be remembered!
Mary came to Jesus and informed Him of the problem and in perfect "mother" fashion procees to tell the others what to do. By now you know that He had them fill the water pots with H2O, which they did "to the brim" and then HE immediately said draw it out!
The master of the banquest, (toast master) then withdrew some and tasted it. To his surprise it was the best of the day! It was sooooo good that he then called and complimented the bridegroom! They had gone from potential disgrace to social embrace all because of Jesus. Their testimony would not be one of disgrace but of blessing. And though they wouild get credit for it, they knew it was all of grace!
Two things I want us to consider.... ONE, verse 10....You have kept the good wine until now!!!! Isn't that just like the Lord? Doesn't He often save His best for us to the last. I have heard it said (simply means I can't remember their name) that God is rarely early but is always right on time! HE does save HIS best for last. Each and every day with HIM brings a new understanding of His truths, His plans, His purposes, and of God Himself! Ending ultimately with us entering His home and His incredible presence.
We live so much in the world that we forget that Jesus has come to make us into children of the Most High God. Live today as if something better is on the way! It is! Each an every day...His mercies are new! His grace is sufficient! One day it will all fade away as we enter into the greatest of all Human engagements..... HIS HOME! But I refuse to live like some cultist who sells all and lives in a pup tent, waiting. But I choose to live each and every day with HIM leading the way. Nothing is impossible.....for HIM!
This leads me to the second treasure I see in this passage....it is found in verse 5...Mary says to the servants, "Whatever He says to you do it." Have you ever seen that? Why did she say that? How did she know they would need to be told that? MY OPINION.... This is what I think! Mary had seen Jesus perform miracles before. Perhaps so many times that she knew that what He may ask, may seem absurd, illogical, old fashioned, uncool, or whatever adjective you may choose. She had learned to just do what HE says and something AWESOME would happen.
Why can't we do that today? Why not? Why do we question? Why do we seek some othe way? I saw just recently where a pastor had a full article on a recent book he had written about bringing business principles into the church to make it successful. Certainly have seen many go this road and make lot's of money in recent years. Many churches mirror the business community of today. But where has the power gone? Where has the love for Jesus gone? Where has just simple obedience gone in today's culture? What is wrong with just obeying the Lord and waiting on Him to move? It may not be attractive to the world but childlike obedience is beautiful to God! That's the One we want to make smile!
That is what they did. While they may have had to wait a little while or perhaps suffer a little with stress because of the unknown, they were still blessed to see HIM provide far above all they could have asked or even thought. Let's just practice simple obedience to His word and His Spirits' inner promptings and see what HE will do in our lives! You may find that HE has saved the best for last......for you!
Eph 3:20-21
Blessings
Bruce
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