Today’s Thought – October 26

WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

• How many of you would like your open heart surgery performed by a college kid whose surgical experience and knowledge amounted to the disection of frogs?

• How many of you would like your neighborhood nuclear power station operated by an engineering student whose sum total of nuclear theory exposure was Avogadro’s number?

• How many of you would like to travel the expressway in an automobile designed and built by a entrant into a junior high soapbox derby?

Its interesting that we require more scholarship, more learning, more education in the people whose jobs are superficial in comparison to the most important role of all–the teaching of the Word of God.

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Today’s Thought – October 24

PROVERBS 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Today’s Thought – October 19

Today’s Thought – October 17

A WISE HEART

A wise and understanding heart does not repay a hurt with a hurt. If it does, the heart is diminished. Fissures form. Love leaks out. Every pain given in return for one received, changes the contents of the heart. It is no longer defined by love, wisdom and understanding. It is redefined by the bearers of hurt and hate, pain and prejudice, meanness and madness, sorrow and sadness. You give away control of your very own heart.

The despair of being hurt is healed by overcoming it, not clinging to the hurt and inflicting more of it on the world. When darkness is added to darkness, no one can see, no one can love. Everyone loses.

Love is not always warm and fuzzy. Sometimes it’s the integrity we hold on to when we’re tempted to strike back. Sometimes it’s the honor that keeps us from exchanging the valuable contents of our heart for the harsh satisfaction of lashing back.

No, the way of love is not always easy, but when night falls, dawn is assured.

The integrity and honor of a wise and understanding heart, rises with the sun of a new day.

“Because you have asked for understanding to discern judgment. I have given you a wise and understanding heart.” 1 Kings 3:11-12

Terry McPherson

Today’s Thought – October 15

DOVES AND SNAKES

I have hunted doves and encountered snakes. Doves are about as dumb an animal as God created (and just as tasty) which makes them easy prey. I’ve narrowly avoided being bitten by snakes twice, both times by sneak attack.

Interesting thing about the dove is its a gentle creature, just as gentle as a snake is smart.

I spoke to a friend just recently who sat in his church listening to the assistant pastor talk about blessings from God. I listened incredulously as he related that the young man had said that he had been given a brand new laptop computer from one church member, $500 from another, and that anyone in the congregation who did such to “God’s man” would receive great reward and blessing as a result.

The congregation’s reaction was one of acquiescence; my friend said all he could do was shake his head in wonder.

Jesus mentioned that we should be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves,(Matthew 10:16b), but I sincerely think we are often the opposite.

We Christians today seem to have earned our reputation.

Today’s Thought – October 12

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS SOME OFFENSIVE IMAGERY.

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Today’s Thought – October 11

 

TROUBLE TREE

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck
refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied, “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing’s for sure, those troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”

“Funny thing is,” he smiled,” when I come out in the morning to pick ’em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”

1Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Author: Unknown

Today’s Thought – October 10

UNCHANGEABLE GOD

When I come to work we give a “weather report” on the boss’s latest mood. We will quip, “Stormy today!” in which case everyone knows to steer clear and not engage the boss in any way to avoid lightening strikes. “Sunny and fair” seems a rare condition, but there are times…

A boss that changes from one moment to another is hard to trust. You are constantly on guard, trying to measure or detect the latest mood. Fortunately for us, our God is not that way.

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Immutable: The perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change in essence, attributes, consciousness, will, and promises. No change is possible in God, because all change must be to better or worse, and God is absolute perfection. No cause for change in God exists, either in Himself or outside of Him.Psalm 102:27

But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Hebrews 6:17 & 18

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
There is no reason for God to change. When something is perfect it is best to leave it alone and avoid causing it to lose it’s perfection.

Todays Thought – October 2

MISSING

“Do you know where John is?” I noticed it was very quiet.

“I thought he was with you!” came the panic tinged reply.

“Johhhn!” I dashed out of the den into the kitchen, then into the dining room.

By this time the whole house was mobilized, all of us rushing around looking for the diminutive toddler.

“He’s not here!”

The shock contracting my chest was so crushing I could hardly breath.

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What would you do if your child or one of your family members disappeared? In the above scenario it could only be imagined what would unfold for this family the longer tiny John was missed. Immediately the family would rush outside, 911 would be dialed, and family, friends and the community would be mobilized.But, ever notice th difference in the reaction in your own church, among your spiritual family? A young Christian disappears from the flock–what happens? Does anyone notice? Does anyone care?

Matthew 18:1213 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep , than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

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Here is a related post from a friend!

Today’s Thought – October 1

 

DIRTY JOB

There is a great show on the discovery channel called “Dirty Jobs – With Mike Rowe”  The episodes have such names as:  “Worm Dung Farmer”, “Avian Vomitologist” and “Garbage Pit Technician.”  I keep waiting for the episode “Diaper Changer” because I can attest that it is one of the least appealing jobs I have ever encountered.  

My daughter was about 2 months old when she went over two days without a messy diaper.  Up until that time, I had changed many.  After about a day and a half we grew very concerned and made an appointment at the pediatrician.  The pediatrician administered treatment and it wasn’t long before I was presented once again with that wondrous “gift” of a dirty diaper.  I have never been so happy to see one/change one in my life!

When a child is birthed into the family of God, they are a spiritual baby.  They will do things that spiritual babies do–things that are natural for them to do.   The mature Christian’s honest expectation is that the baby Christian SHOULD have inconveniently messy diapers (sin) because it is their nature.  Growing out of diapers is a gradual change that comes about with maturity, and just like I was with my daughter, it should even be cause for consternation to see an abrupt and unnatural change in baby behavior.  How contrary this thought is from prevailing philosophies within the church of God today who birth babies then expect immediate change!

1Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.