Revelation 12:11

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

Thinking of the trials in life we can get overwhelmed. Fixing our eyes upon Jesus we can safely journey to victory. We should not love our lives more than Him. We should be willing to lay down our life for Him, because He did so for us. No greater love hath a man, than to lay down his life for his friends.

Self-Indulgence

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." (Matthew 23:25)

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." (Ezekiel 16:49)

Self-indulgence is a topic that saddens me because I see much of it going on in the United States. We are enticed daily to give in, in fact we are encouraged to do it. Life is not about how much stuff we gain here on planet Earth. It is not about sexual agenda or how we look. It is not about status, money or power. It is about helping our family, our neighbors, our friends and enemies. It is about showing God's love.

Is your car a status symbol or a useful vehicle?
Is your house a status symbol or a home where people are loved?
Are your clothes defining you or are you defining your clothes?
Are you driven by money or are you driven by character?
Does your job title give you pride or do you put pride into your job?
Is it about popularity or willingness to be a true friend?

Please dear Lord, keep me from the sin of over indulgence. Let me have pure thoughts and let me not eat the bread of idleness. Help me to love others and strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. In Jesus name...Amen.

Written Words

I read an article in the Los Angeles Times today by Melissa Magsaysay titled "Next Time, Make it Personal". The article talked about the great art of letter writing and how it is getting lost through the age of electronics. Here is a quote from the article...

"I have 250 friends on Facebook. I'm not bragging (that's nothing compared to most people), but I'm a bit baffled by how I can have so many "friends" without ever having received a handwritten letter from even one of them. I faithfully send thank you, sympathy and even "Hey, how are you?" notes to people I value. And the mailman's not delivering much in return.

Maybe Facebook has made us too apathetic to remember what being real frineds is like. We've gone from meeting in person to talking on cellphones to e-mailing to texting to Friendster-ing to Facebook-ing...

Writing a note by hand is a deliberate, gracious act that's more about thought than speed - the polar opposite of a BBM or text message. And because it's full of "inconveniences" - finding a stamp, then a mailbox, not to mention the recipient's home address - it's a process that brings the cream of your social network to the top. They're the ones who are worth the time, the ones who'd also make time for you."

"When you receive something on a card, no matter what is written, you take it more seriously. You know it was thoughtful, personal and more considered," says Jonathan Arnold, general manager of Dempsey & Carroll, a high-end New York-based stationery company."

I thought this article was very interesting. It got me thinking about God and the Bible. It also got me to thinking about what I taught Eric when I first started teaching him World History this year. The history book taught about beginning of civilization and how a written language was a very important part of it. Written language is a gift from God. Without it, we would not have the scriptures. God took the time through the Holy Spirit to make sure He communicated with us. He made sure that it was down on paper so that we could all read of His great love for us. Yes, our Lord is the cream of the crop, gracious and a person that makes time for us. Lets make sure we hold His written words close to our heart.

Bestowed Not Attained

This is a quote from the book "Changed Into His Likeness" by Watchman Nee.

"To will is present with me, to do that which is good is not." He has not seen that everything is offered to him in Christ, nor how full that provision is. The secret is receiving, not doing. The way through is not by the exercise of the will but by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2)." (pg. 100)

"Victory, life, salvation, all is bestowed, not attained. When you are born into a wealthy home, it is very difficult to be poor! You are rich; you were born that way."

We have never worked for our salvation, gradually scaling the heights until we attained to it. The Lord sought and saved us. Victory over sin is the same; it is received, not worked for. Oh, may we learn to praise God that He has provided for us such a bounty in Christ!" (pg. 101)

Pulling Into Home

How do you feel when you are pulling into the driveway at your home? Hopefully you get a good feeling that is full of love and safety. When I pulled into the driveway of my home I got that feeling tonight. I usually get it after being out in the world and feeling like I don't fit in. I know when I get home, I am loved. I know when we get to Heaven it is going to feel like pulling into home. I can't wait!

Reading in Amos

Today, I read the Old Testament, book of Amos.

"I sent you hunger, says the Lord, but it did no good, you still would not return to me. (Amos 4:6)

"I hate your show and pretence - your hypocrisy of "honoring" me with your religious feasts and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and thank offerings. I will not look at your offerings of peace. Away with your hymns of praise - they are mere noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is." (Amos 5:21-23)

The Lord does not want to be a token, nor a religion. He wants to have a personal relationship with us. He sent His only son to pay the price for our sins. Oh Lord, how I long for you in this dry and weary land. How I long to obey you, to worship you with my life. My heart desires to please you. Oh Lord, please let my life honor you, let my heart love you and nothing else.