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Will I judge you or ….
We have a choice. We live in a culture where we are all critics. It is an easy trap to fall into to judge people. We don’t like to use the word “judge” but that is what it is all about. Jesus is clear that we shouldn’t live that way.
The choice to make is love. We must love and not judge.
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”~~ Mother Teresa
Not caring …
It is easier to deal with someone who clearly hates you than someone who just doesn’t care. We have an enemy who hates us and yet we go through most days ignoring that. We have a Father who loves like there is no tomorrow. Humans seem to have the unique capacity for apathy.
May I love like my Father.
“The opposite of love is not hate, its indifference.” ~~C.S. Lewis
A lot of small things
We are called to love by our Master Jesus. That is an every moment kind of calling. It is a lot of little things. Of course, in God’s world, that adds up to a lot.
In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love. -Mother Teresa
Do we trust God as much as He trusts us?
You know you feel this way some days. But, God does trust us. Think about it. Everything that is happening in our life is for our good.
Do we trust Him as much as He trusts us?
“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.” ~~Mother Teresa
Where does joy come from?
We want joy in our life. We want peace.
Do we long for God? Does our heart yearn to know what God wants us to do today?
Then we will know joy and peace.
“God can not give us joy and peace apart from Himself cause there is no such thing.” -C.S. Lewis
How can you do anything other than obey?
God doesn’t make us do anything. It is all voluntary. It is our choice.
Have you seen Him? How can you do anything other than obey?
“Jesus never insists on obedience, but when we truly see Him we will instantly obey Him.” ~~ Oswald Chambers
What should I worry about as a parent?
As parents, we worry about all kinds of things. We fret. We get angry.
Here is something to think (worry … ) about. Our children are watching us. The examples we set or don’t tell the story.
May our children see loving parents, grounded in God.
“Don’t worry that your children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” ~Robert Fulghum
Our mission is love
Jesus challenges us to love everyone, all the time.
Jesus challenges us to love God, with a passion that can’t be replicated.
“Because we love something else more than this world, we love even this world more than those who know no other.” ~~C. S. Lewis
How does change begin?
The family is the core of values and all teaching. If you spend time together as family, the truth comes through. This is real and it is not to be ignored.
“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” ~~Ronald Reagan
How will others come to know God?
This is an amazing truth. God wants us to love everyone we know or come in contact with.
How will they come to know God? Through our love of them.
“To love another person is to help them love God.” ~~Soren Kierkegaard
“We have guided missiles and misguided men.” ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.
So sad but true.
May God guide is in His path of love.
“We have guided missiles and misguided men.” ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Christ the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.” ~~Charles Wesley
“Christ the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.” ~~Charles Wesley
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” ~~Pope John Paul II
“Easter says you can put truth in the grave but it won’t stay there.” ~~Clarence W. Hall
Some great Easter quotes: He Is RISEN! He is Risen indeed!
He Is RISEN! He is Risen indeed!
Christ the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.
- Charles Wesley
God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’
- Billy GrahamJesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
- John 11:25-26If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.
- Timothy KellerEaster says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.
- Clarence W. HallI believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
- C.S. LewisThe devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…He’s risen!
- Charles R. SwindollThe resurrection completes the inauguration of God’s kingdom. . . . It is the decisive event demonstrating thet God’s kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven. The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it.”
- N.T. WrightA man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.
- Mahatma GandhiThe great gift of Easter is hope – Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake.
- Basil Humebecause, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- Romans 10:9Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.
- Charles H. SpurgeonOur Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.
- Martin LutherSalvation is the root–the resurrection is the fruit.
- T.D. JakesFor what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-6We are adopted into God’s family through the resurrection of Christ from the dead in which he paid all our obligations to sin, the law, and the devil, in whose family we once lived. Our old status lies in his tomb. A new status is ours through his resurrection.
- Sinclair B. FergusonNow if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 6:8-11Before the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals only on certain occasions for special tasks. But now, after the Resurrection, Christ through the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of every believer to give us supernatural power in living our daily lives.
- Billy GrahamIn short, I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.
- Lee StrobelTwo thousand years ago, in the Middle East, an event occurred that permanently changed the world. Because of that event, history was split. Every time you write a date, you’re using the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the focal point.
- Rick WarrenTomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger than the wrong, the right; Faith and Hope triumphant say Christ will rise on Easter Day.
- Phillips BrooksIt was inevitable that Jesus Christ should be crucified. It was also inevitable that He should rise again.
- H.R.L. SheppardWe live and die; Christ died and lived!
- John StottWe know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
- Romans 6:9Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.
- Paul ChappellThe truth of the resurrection gives life to every other area of gospel truth. The resurrection is the pivot on which all of Christianity turns and without which none of the other truths would much matter. Without the resurrection, Christianity would be so much wishful thinking, taking its place alongside all other human philosophy and religious speculation.
- John MacArthurLet us consider this settled, that no one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection.
- John CalvinThe resurrection is not merely important to the historic Christian faith; without it, there would be no Christianity. It is the singular doctrine that elevates Christianity above all other world religions.
- Pastor Adrian RogersWhoever reads the New Testament seriously, or gives thought to the impact which the apostles made upon their generation, must acknowledge that one outstanding historic event alone spurred that small band of 11 ordinary men to an amazing task of evangelization in their generation. Defying every obstacle, loss of home, persecution, even death itself, they evidenced the supreme relevance in their ministry of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Erling C. Olsen:The atonement, or forgiveness of sin once and for all achieved on the cross, weighs in, and heavily. But the atonement is onfirmed, ratified, sealed, and made enduringly good by virtue of Christ’s rising from death. Our justification hinges on a risen life, present in us now because Christ is present with us now.
- Paul F.M. Zahl
“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.” ~~Carl Sandburg
God has many ways to speak to us. This is one of the perfect ways He does every day. We must celebrate life. It is God’s gift.
“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.” ~~Carl Sandburg
“You’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose.” ~~Lou Holtz
Is Jesus dominating more today than the day before?
Is Jesus dominating more today than the day before? Is Jesus dominating every interest in my life? Is it happening?
So here is a check list:
- Is Jesus dominating how I go about my work? Do I check with Him before I make decisions about my focus during the day?
- Is Jesus dominating what my family is spending time doing?
- Is Jesus dominating what I do in my spare time? Do I check with Him first?
May I allow Jesus to rule my life, every interest I have.
“Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life?” ~~Oswald Chambers
Are we focused on Jesus?
Are we focused on Jesus?
When Peter was, walking on the water, all was fine. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he started to sink.
Are we focused on Jesus?
“When you are brought face to face with a difficult situation and nothing happens externally, you can still know that freedom and release will be given because of your continued concentration on Jesus Christ.”
–Oswald Chambers
“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” ~~Albert Einstein
How do you stop God?
How do you stop God?
You don’t. When He wants to do something, He will.
“You might as well try and dam Niagara Falls with toothpicks as to stop the reform wave sweeping our land.”
—– Billy Sunday
What about that pat on the back?
It is so very true that the things that irritate us the most about others are the very things that challenge us. You would think we would get it but some days, even looking in the mirror, we miss it.
We all love for people to notice how good we are. It makes us feel better. The pat on the back is nice. It is, however, pride if we let getting kudos drive our behavior. Our motivation must be to please God not to get compliments from others. That is all there is to it.
“The more pride we have, the more other people’s pride irritates us” – C. S. Lewis
“Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.” ~~Wally “Famous” Amos
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” ~~C. S. Lewis
Do you want more courage?
We all need more courage. We should pray to be bolder.
What does it take for more courage in our lives? Faith!
We must believe our Father has great things in mind for us.
“A man of courage is also full of faith.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero.
“Do not trust all men, but trust men of worth; the former course is silly, the latter a mark of prudence.” ~~Democritus
Will I stop now?
We have “to do” lists but when God talks, we need “to stop” lists.
What does God causing a doubt mean? How does He do that? It is the difference between my doing something absent hearing from God versus have heard from God, I am doing something. We must admit that many times we just move ahead without having heard from God. God can and will cause doubt about that at some point. When that happens, the best thing is to stop immediately.
“Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.” ~~Oswald Chambers
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” ~~Steve Jobs
“A Diplomat is a Man who Always Remembers a Woman’s Birthday but Never Remembers her Age” ~Robert Frost
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen” – Winston Churchill
What makes the man?
We sometimes make the mistake that the circumstances we go through, the trials of life so to speak, give us character. That circumstances make us who we are.
That is a false way of seeing life. It is who we are, in God and through His grace, that defines us. It is our character, not circumstances, that makes us who we are.
“Character, not circumstances, makes the man.” ~~Booker T. Washington
Related articles
- Booker T. Washington (mustardseedbudget.wordpress.com)
- A Moment’s Reflection (2voices1song.com)
- His Excellency (dtobooks.wordpress.com)
What if there is no plan B in God’s mind?
It is so very easy to fall into the trap that someone else will change what we so love to complain about. Surely they will.
Or will they?
What if they don’t?
What if God is depending on me to be the one to start the change?
What if there is no plan B in God’s mind?
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~~ Gandhi
Are we taking Jesus teaching seriously?
It is a completely unreasonable question. At the core of it, Jesus is completely unreasonable with us. Will we take Him seriously?
It is a challenge. Read what He has to say in “Jesus Sayings“. Will take it all seriously?
“If we are going to do the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way, we must take Jesus’ teaching seriously: He does not want us to press on to the greatest place unless He Himself makes it impossible to do otherwise.”
– Francis Schaeffer in a sermon entitled The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way
Related articles
- Biteszie Biography About a Man of Giant Faith (joshualeehenry.com)
- I Just Thank You Lord (ubebetternotbitter.wordpress.com)
- Evensong ~ January 19, 2013 (ronpogue.typepad.com)
“Legislation cannot make you love me, but legislation can restrain you from lynching me, and I think that is kind of important.“ ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.
“It is true that behavior cannot be legislated, and legislation cannot make you love me, but legislation can restrain you from lynching me, and I think that is kind of important. “ ~~Martin Luther King, Jr. (Speech at Oberlin College (1964)
“Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” – Albert Einstein.
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~~Albert Einstein
“It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ~~Albert Einstein
There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. – Derek Jeter
On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait, and waiting–died -George W. Cecil
This is so powerful. May I go in and take, with God’s help, the promised land.
On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait, and waiting–died -George W. Cecil
“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff.” ~Frank Zappa
“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” – Pericles
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” ~~Dr. Seuss
Is Jesus increasing?
Oswald Chambers makes an amazing point. Is my witness about myself or about Jesus?
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not. ~~Oswald Chambers
Love is about action
“Love is not about concepts; love is about action. The only way to master love is to practice love.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” ~~Albert Einstein
We have all been in situations where fear took over. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of being found out we are a fraud.
We couldn’t move forward.
We have also experienced freedom from fear. Working in an environment where we know it is ok to try something new. Knowing we will learn something valuable if it doesn’t work.
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” ~~Albert Einstein
Related articles
- Einstein said …. (fernexpressblog.fernmitchell.com)
- Sixty years ago, Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel (newstatesman.com)
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“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” ~Michelangelo Buonarroti
The work of Michelangelo is stunning. Clearly a man of creative vision and huge artistic talent. This sums it all up I think.
Of course I love the reference to the angel. God give us great talent. We can see but will we carve?
Jesus challenges us to see and carve.
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” ~Michelangelo Buonarroti
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- November 1 1512 Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling opens to public (craighill.net)
- Beethoven and Michelangelo: Colossal Utopianism (wqxr.org)
In honor of Dale Carnegie’s birthday (Nov 24th) – “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”
Fun is important. Happiness is worth it’s weight in gold.
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” ~~Dale Carnegie
