if i'm merciful, i'll do good to my enemies.
luke 6.33, 35-36 (niv), if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you! even sinners do that! but love your enemies, do good to them, then your reward will be great. be merciful, just as your FATHER is merciful.
if you want to be like GOD, be merciful. do good to those who do evil to you. that's exactly the opposite of what society says. society says, when people hurt you, hurt them back, get even! gossip about them, destroy them, anything you can. GOD says, "no, that's a reactor. be an actor not a reactor. you not only forgive that person, but be nice to the guy." that's what JESUS would do. but that's so hard to do!
the next time you go to work, that guy who is constantly criticizing you, who is really a jerk, the bible says you're to do good to that person.
how would it be if every time he criticized you, you complimented him? you go to school and those people who are putting you down for being a CHRISTian, every time they put you down, you build them up, say something nice to them and encourage them. that would blow their minds! that's what JESUS says to do. that's what being merciful is. you return good for evil.
why? the best way to eliminate an enemy is to turn him into a friend. smother them with kindness. they don't know how to handle it because the world does not respond that way. they don't know what to do with it. all of a sudden, you're in control of the situation. you're on the offense, not the defense. you're acting, not reacting.
just a thought from the front porch…
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
how do you respond to people who hesitate in their faith?...
jude 1.22 in the niv says, be merciful to those who doubt and the message says, go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.
the most likely time you're going to doubt or hesitate in your faith is when you are hurting, when you are in pain. when you're really hurting, you say, "where is GOD? HE's not hearing my prayer. maybe HE doesn't care. maybe HE doesn't even exist!"
now if you have never had those doubts, then you've never been in very much pain. but if you've been in pain you know exactly what i'm talking about. doubts come in.
so what is the CHRIST like response to people who doubt? well, you don't debate them: "i'm going to prove to you that GOD exists!" that for sure is not the time to do that. you don't demean them, put them down, disown them – "you're not a CHRISTian if you're having doubts!" and you don't desert them.
what do you do? you show mercy or you go easy on them. you be understanding to them and you support them. show mercy to those who doubt when they're in pain.
just a thought from the front porch…
the most likely time you're going to doubt or hesitate in your faith is when you are hurting, when you are in pain. when you're really hurting, you say, "where is GOD? HE's not hearing my prayer. maybe HE doesn't care. maybe HE doesn't even exist!"
now if you have never had those doubts, then you've never been in very much pain. but if you've been in pain you know exactly what i'm talking about. doubts come in.
so what is the CHRIST like response to people who doubt? well, you don't debate them: "i'm going to prove to you that GOD exists!" that for sure is not the time to do that. you don't demean them, put them down, disown them – "you're not a CHRISTian if you're having doubts!" and you don't desert them.
what do you do? you show mercy or you go easy on them. you be understanding to them and you support them. show mercy to those who doubt when they're in pain.
just a thought from the front porch…
Thursday, October 29, 2009
do you care enough to get involved?...
if you help those who are hurting you also are showing mercy.
proverbs 3.27 (ms), never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is GOD's hand for that person.
mercy is practical assistance. there are people all around you who are hurting. when you feel sorry for those people, that's not being like CHRIST. but when you do something about it, that's being like CHRIST.
1 john 3.17-18 (lb), if someone who is supposed to be a CHRISTian has enough money to live well and sees a brother in need and won't help him, how can GOD's love be within him?…let's stop just saying we love people, let us really show it by our actions.
don't just say we love people, show it! do something real. let's really help people.
john wesley's motto: "do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." he was a man who made one of the greatest impacts on the world. he said when you see someone hurting, a merciful person does something about it.
somebody asked flip wilson one time, "what's your religion?" he answered, "i'm a JEHOVAH's bystander." he didn't want to get involved. i know a lot of JEHOVAH's bystanders.
remember the story that JESUS told of the good samaritan – the man who was mugged, thrown over to the side of the road? two guys walked by – "i can't get involved. sorry about what happened, but i can't get involved!" the third guy came, took action, took him to the holiday inn, left his american express gold card to take care of him and said, "i'll pay for it all." that's mercy.
JESUS is saying, happy are those who care enough to get involved.
just a thought from the front porch…
proverbs 3.27 (ms), never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is GOD's hand for that person.
mercy is practical assistance. there are people all around you who are hurting. when you feel sorry for those people, that's not being like CHRIST. but when you do something about it, that's being like CHRIST.
1 john 3.17-18 (lb), if someone who is supposed to be a CHRISTian has enough money to live well and sees a brother in need and won't help him, how can GOD's love be within him?…let's stop just saying we love people, let us really show it by our actions.
don't just say we love people, show it! do something real. let's really help people.
john wesley's motto: "do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." he was a man who made one of the greatest impacts on the world. he said when you see someone hurting, a merciful person does something about it.
somebody asked flip wilson one time, "what's your religion?" he answered, "i'm a JEHOVAH's bystander." he didn't want to get involved. i know a lot of JEHOVAH's bystanders.
remember the story that JESUS told of the good samaritan – the man who was mugged, thrown over to the side of the road? two guys walked by – "i can't get involved. sorry about what happened, but i can't get involved!" the third guy came, took action, took him to the holiday inn, left his american express gold card to take care of him and said, "i'll pay for it all." that's mercy.
JESUS is saying, happy are those who care enough to get involved.
just a thought from the front porch…
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
it's a lot easier to criticize than to sympathize...
another way to show that you have mercy is to forgive those who have fallen.
when people make mistakes, do you rub it in? or do you rub it out? when people let you down, do you hold it over their head for the rest of their life, never let them off the hook? that's not mercy.
there was this man whose wife did a very foolish thing in the first six months of their marriage – a dumb decision. she repented of it and asked forgiveness but he never forgave her. he held it over her head, he kept reminding her of it, he used it to justify his own behavior, he abused her for 30 years verbally with this thing she had done. then one day she just left him.
colossians 3.13 (nlt), you must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. remember, the LORD forgave you, so you must forgive others.
it's interesting about forgiveness that when you're called to receive it, it feels so right; when you're called to give it, it feels so wrong. i don't want to forgive people, i want justice.
like the lady who had her picture taken at a photographer's. she brought it back and said, "it doesn't do me justice!" he said, "you don't need justice, you need mercy!"
if i'm patient, i will be forgiving to the fallen. it's a lot easier to criticize than it is to sympathize. it's a lot easier to point a finger than it is to lend a helping hand.
just a thought from the front porch…
when people make mistakes, do you rub it in? or do you rub it out? when people let you down, do you hold it over their head for the rest of their life, never let them off the hook? that's not mercy.
there was this man whose wife did a very foolish thing in the first six months of their marriage – a dumb decision. she repented of it and asked forgiveness but he never forgave her. he held it over her head, he kept reminding her of it, he used it to justify his own behavior, he abused her for 30 years verbally with this thing she had done. then one day she just left him.
colossians 3.13 (nlt), you must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. remember, the LORD forgave you, so you must forgive others.
it's interesting about forgiveness that when you're called to receive it, it feels so right; when you're called to give it, it feels so wrong. i don't want to forgive people, i want justice.
like the lady who had her picture taken at a photographer's. she brought it back and said, "it doesn't do me justice!" he said, "you don't need justice, you need mercy!"
if i'm patient, i will be forgiving to the fallen. it's a lot easier to criticize than it is to sympathize. it's a lot easier to point a finger than it is to lend a helping hand.
just a thought from the front porch…
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
how do you deal with peculiar people?...
here is JESUS’ fifth beatitude. matthew 5.7 (ph), happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them!
so how do i know if i'm showing mercy? if you give it you get it. if you don't give it, you don't get it.
one way to know is if i'm merciful, i will be patient with those who are peculiar.
i believe that in every life some weirdos must fall. maybe their elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, a good egg but a little cracked. how do you handle those kinds of obnoxious people? what does the bible say?
i thessalonians 5.14 (ms), gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. be patient with each person.
are you patient with everyone? the bible says if i'm merciful, i'll be patient with those who are peculiar.
so how can you be patient with those who are peculiar? you learn their background. when you understand where a person comes from, you stop saying, "look how far they've got to go, " and start saying, "look how far they've come!" that makes you a little more patient.
you look beneath the external behavior and look at the internal pain. because behind every peculiar behavior there's loneliness, hurt, depression, or a kind of anxiety that GOD says we need to look at.
romans 15.7 (nlt) says, accept each other just as CHRIST has accepted you.
merciful people are accepting people. they're not quick to criticize, to judge. they realize that hurtful people are hunting people.
just a thought from the front porch…
so how do i know if i'm showing mercy? if you give it you get it. if you don't give it, you don't get it.
one way to know is if i'm merciful, i will be patient with those who are peculiar.
i believe that in every life some weirdos must fall. maybe their elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, a good egg but a little cracked. how do you handle those kinds of obnoxious people? what does the bible say?
i thessalonians 5.14 (ms), gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. be patient with each person.
are you patient with everyone? the bible says if i'm merciful, i'll be patient with those who are peculiar.
so how can you be patient with those who are peculiar? you learn their background. when you understand where a person comes from, you stop saying, "look how far they've got to go, " and start saying, "look how far they've come!" that makes you a little more patient.
you look beneath the external behavior and look at the internal pain. because behind every peculiar behavior there's loneliness, hurt, depression, or a kind of anxiety that GOD says we need to look at.
romans 15.7 (nlt) says, accept each other just as CHRIST has accepted you.
merciful people are accepting people. they're not quick to criticize, to judge. they realize that hurtful people are hunting people.
just a thought from the front porch…
Monday, October 26, 2009
what is the right way to treat people?...
we have been looking at the 8 attitudes that lead us to real happiness that JESUS gave in HIS first sermon. four of them deal with our relationship to GOD and the other four deal with our relationship to each other. this fifth one deals with our relationship with each other.
matthew 5.7 (ph), happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them!
JESUS is saying, you get what you give. it's the law of direct return. if you criticize other people, they're going to criticize you. if you're friendly to other people, they're going to be friendly to you. if you're merciful to other people, they'll be merciful to you. if you want to be happy, treat people right.
and what is the right way to treat people? be merciful.
then what is mercy? mercy is love in action.
it's more than just an attitude, more than just feeling sorry for people. it's doing something.
another way to state this verse is (ms), you're blessed when you care. at the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
it is the law of direct return.
the bible also says GOD is a merciful GOD. notice psalm 145.8 (ms), GOD is all mercy and grace – not quick to anger, is rich in love. if you want to be like GOD, you have to learn to be merciful.
just a thought from the front porch…
matthew 5.7 (ph), happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them!
JESUS is saying, you get what you give. it's the law of direct return. if you criticize other people, they're going to criticize you. if you're friendly to other people, they're going to be friendly to you. if you're merciful to other people, they'll be merciful to you. if you want to be happy, treat people right.
and what is the right way to treat people? be merciful.
then what is mercy? mercy is love in action.
it's more than just an attitude, more than just feeling sorry for people. it's doing something.
another way to state this verse is (ms), you're blessed when you care. at the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
it is the law of direct return.
the bible also says GOD is a merciful GOD. notice psalm 145.8 (ms), GOD is all mercy and grace – not quick to anger, is rich in love. if you want to be like GOD, you have to learn to be merciful.
just a thought from the front porch…
Sunday, October 25, 2009
do you want all of GOD there is?...
for the word hungry here in this 4th beatitude in matthew 5.6 (ph), where JESUS says, happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, there are two words in the greek for hungry.
one of them means, "i want a bite of something – give me a piece of bread." the other meaning in the greek is "i want the whole loaf."
guess which one JESUS uses here. this says, "i want all of GOD there is!"
JESUS says "happiness comes for people who say, `i want all of GOD there is. i want to know HIM in his fullness. i'm not satisfied with having a little blessing here or there. i want HIM as the center of my life.'" that is the person who will be fully satisfied.
is that you?
just a thought from the front porch…
one of them means, "i want a bite of something – give me a piece of bread." the other meaning in the greek is "i want the whole loaf."
guess which one JESUS uses here. this says, "i want all of GOD there is!"
JESUS says "happiness comes for people who say, `i want all of GOD there is. i want to know HIM in his fullness. i'm not satisfied with having a little blessing here or there. i want HIM as the center of my life.'" that is the person who will be fully satisfied.
is that you?
just a thought from the front porch…
Saturday, October 24, 2009
what does a loss of appetite indicate?..
some of you say, "i used to have a hunger for GOD. i remember when i first became a CHRISTian. i devoured the bible. i read it and loved it. you couldn't keep me away from CHRISTians. i wanted to be at church all the time. i had a hunger. but i don't have it anymore."
a loss of appetite indicates illness. in a hospital, when somebody won't eat, they are seriously ill. a sign that they're getting better is they want to start eating again.
some of you say, "i'm a CHRISTian, but, if i were honest, i just don't have that appetite for GOD. i don't have this deep desire to know GOD or read the bible or get to know HIM. i don't have that hunger any more."
i'll tell you why. you're filling yourself on junk food. you have bought into the culture. you’re doing the same thing everybody else is doing. and you're filling yourself with things, attitudes, and events that don't last or satisfy.
maybe you need to go on a media fast to get your SPIRITual hunger back.
when was the last time you sat in your car and turned the radio off just to talk to GOD while you're driving on the freeway? when was the last time you walked into your house and didn't automatically turn on the television? if you're filling yourself with all the world has to offer -- the books, the tapes, the records, the videos and all that – it's no wonder that you're filled and you have no appetite for the things that really count in life. you are pigging out on junk food.
just a thought from the front porch…
a loss of appetite indicates illness. in a hospital, when somebody won't eat, they are seriously ill. a sign that they're getting better is they want to start eating again.
some of you say, "i'm a CHRISTian, but, if i were honest, i just don't have that appetite for GOD. i don't have this deep desire to know GOD or read the bible or get to know HIM. i don't have that hunger any more."
i'll tell you why. you're filling yourself on junk food. you have bought into the culture. you’re doing the same thing everybody else is doing. and you're filling yourself with things, attitudes, and events that don't last or satisfy.
maybe you need to go on a media fast to get your SPIRITual hunger back.
when was the last time you sat in your car and turned the radio off just to talk to GOD while you're driving on the freeway? when was the last time you walked into your house and didn't automatically turn on the television? if you're filling yourself with all the world has to offer -- the books, the tapes, the records, the videos and all that – it's no wonder that you're filled and you have no appetite for the things that really count in life. you are pigging out on junk food.
just a thought from the front porch…
Friday, October 23, 2009
GOD works in our lives according to our desires...
do you hunger for the things of GOD? do you really want to know HIM or is GOD just a convenience for you, like a little sip every sunday morning? "that's all i need. i want five cents worth of GOD." or do you hunger: "i've got to have GOD in all of my life. i want all that HE has to offer."
the fact is, you are as close to GOD as you want to be. don't blame it on anybody else. if you're not close to GOD, it's not GOD's fault, or your parent's fault, or your wife's fault, or your husband's fault, your children's fault. you are as close to GOD as you want to be, because GOD always works in our lives according to our desires.
if you don't know GOD in his fullest it's because you’ve chosen not to. HE works in our lives according to our desires. blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty to know him. they will be fully satisfied.
it is amazing to me how so many CHRISTians have a "take it or leave it" attitude toward SPIRITual food. they want GOD when it's convenient.
most CHRISTians have enough faith to bug them but not to bless them. it's enough faith to make them miserable, so they can't just go out and sin. but they don't have enough to really enjoy life either.
they are enough of a CHRISTian to not want to go to the party where everybody is getting drunk and going home with somebody else's wife. they're not into that. but on the other hand, they don't have enough faith to really enjoy life in it's fullest. HE's just a little appetizer.
is that true of you?
just a question from the front porch…
the fact is, you are as close to GOD as you want to be. don't blame it on anybody else. if you're not close to GOD, it's not GOD's fault, or your parent's fault, or your wife's fault, or your husband's fault, your children's fault. you are as close to GOD as you want to be, because GOD always works in our lives according to our desires.
if you don't know GOD in his fullest it's because you’ve chosen not to. HE works in our lives according to our desires. blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty to know him. they will be fully satisfied.
it is amazing to me how so many CHRISTians have a "take it or leave it" attitude toward SPIRITual food. they want GOD when it's convenient.
most CHRISTians have enough faith to bug them but not to bless them. it's enough faith to make them miserable, so they can't just go out and sin. but they don't have enough to really enjoy life either.
they are enough of a CHRISTian to not want to go to the party where everybody is getting drunk and going home with somebody else's wife. they're not into that. but on the other hand, they don't have enough faith to really enjoy life in it's fullest. HE's just a little appetizer.
is that true of you?
just a question from the front porch…
Thursday, October 22, 2009
do you want to know how to save time and money?..
nothing is worse than to feel like "i've got everything and i'm very self satisfied" and never understand that you're missing out on the greatest thing in life. what a tragedy that would be!
the fact is when you were born, GOD gave you a physical appetite to keep you alive. if you didn't have an appetite you'd just shrivel up and die. it's good to be hungry; hunger is a good part of life. it keeps you alive. HE gave you a physical appetite to fulfill physical needs.
HE also gave you a SPIRITual appetite to know HIM and only JESUS can satisfy that hunger. only JESUS can produce ultimate satisfaction in your life. sex can't. money can't. getting your picture on the cover of people magazine can't. having a nice home can't. having your kids get straight a's and be very proud of them can't. being famous, being powerful, having all the pleasures, taking club med vacations, none of those things produce ultimate satisfaction in your life. because it's a SPIRITual need.
there's a GOD-shaped vacuum in you and only GOD can fill it. the sooner you learn that the better because you'll save a lot of time and a lot of money.
notice the promise. HE says in matthew 5.6 (ph), happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, for they will be truly satisfied.
GOD is saying "satisfaction guaranteed!" if GOD can't guarantee it, nobody can!
your hunger for happiness is met in knowing GOD and being known by HIM and in loving GOD and being loved by HIM and developing a relationship with HIM and finding out the purpose for which you were put on this earth. as you seek HIM, you find that happiness and that satisfaction. HE will not turn you down!
just a thought from the front porch…
the fact is when you were born, GOD gave you a physical appetite to keep you alive. if you didn't have an appetite you'd just shrivel up and die. it's good to be hungry; hunger is a good part of life. it keeps you alive. HE gave you a physical appetite to fulfill physical needs.
HE also gave you a SPIRITual appetite to know HIM and only JESUS can satisfy that hunger. only JESUS can produce ultimate satisfaction in your life. sex can't. money can't. getting your picture on the cover of people magazine can't. having a nice home can't. having your kids get straight a's and be very proud of them can't. being famous, being powerful, having all the pleasures, taking club med vacations, none of those things produce ultimate satisfaction in your life. because it's a SPIRITual need.
there's a GOD-shaped vacuum in you and only GOD can fill it. the sooner you learn that the better because you'll save a lot of time and a lot of money.
notice the promise. HE says in matthew 5.6 (ph), happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, for they will be truly satisfied.
GOD is saying "satisfaction guaranteed!" if GOD can't guarantee it, nobody can!
your hunger for happiness is met in knowing GOD and being known by HIM and in loving GOD and being loved by HIM and developing a relationship with HIM and finding out the purpose for which you were put on this earth. as you seek HIM, you find that happiness and that satisfaction. HE will not turn you down!
just a thought from the front porch…
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
what do you do when you're hungry?
john 6:35(niv), he who comes to ME will never go hungry... he who believes in ME will never be thirsty.
john 4:13 (ms), anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst
three words come...believe... drink. and the point is that appetites are not filled until you do something about it. you can be hungry, your stomach growling... but you'll stay hungry until you take action. get up, get some food, put it in your mouth and swallow it.
JESUS is saying here, you've got to take action. just like physical hunger, when you're hungry, you go eat food, when you're spiritually hungry you need to do three things – come, believe, drink. that's how you find satisfaction in life. first you come to ME – you come to CHRIST. second, you believe in CHRIST. third, you drink of CHRIST. i receive HIM into my life.
some of you have never done this – never taken these steps. you've never come to CHRIST and believed in HIM. you've believed about HIM, but there's a difference in believing about GOD and believing in GOD. i believe in hitler but i'm not a nazi. but i believe in CHRIST and i'm a CHRISTian – because i've committed my life to HIM. it's more than just a head knowledge. i believe.
some of you have never done that. have you realized yet that something's missing in your life? something is dramatically missing in your life.
in spite of all the success, and the apparent outward satisfaction, inside there is this undercurrent you know is there saying "i'm missing it! i'm not really satisfied. at the deepest level of my soul, in my gut, i know that there's got to be more to life than just get up, go to work, come home, watch tv and go to bed. there's got to be more." and there is.
maybe you'd say, "in spite of the fact that life seems relatively good in light of the rest of the world, there's this gnawing dissatisfaction that even when i'm the winner, even when i'm number one, i'm dissatisfied on the inside. there is not a real peace and contentment in there."
if you say that, i want to say to you, "congratulations! because he's creating a hunger in your life to know HIM."
just a thought from the front porch…
john 4:13 (ms), anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst
three words come...believe... drink. and the point is that appetites are not filled until you do something about it. you can be hungry, your stomach growling... but you'll stay hungry until you take action. get up, get some food, put it in your mouth and swallow it.
JESUS is saying here, you've got to take action. just like physical hunger, when you're hungry, you go eat food, when you're spiritually hungry you need to do three things – come, believe, drink. that's how you find satisfaction in life. first you come to ME – you come to CHRIST. second, you believe in CHRIST. third, you drink of CHRIST. i receive HIM into my life.
some of you have never done this – never taken these steps. you've never come to CHRIST and believed in HIM. you've believed about HIM, but there's a difference in believing about GOD and believing in GOD. i believe in hitler but i'm not a nazi. but i believe in CHRIST and i'm a CHRISTian – because i've committed my life to HIM. it's more than just a head knowledge. i believe.
some of you have never done that. have you realized yet that something's missing in your life? something is dramatically missing in your life.
in spite of all the success, and the apparent outward satisfaction, inside there is this undercurrent you know is there saying "i'm missing it! i'm not really satisfied. at the deepest level of my soul, in my gut, i know that there's got to be more to life than just get up, go to work, come home, watch tv and go to bed. there's got to be more." and there is.
maybe you'd say, "in spite of the fact that life seems relatively good in light of the rest of the world, there's this gnawing dissatisfaction that even when i'm the winner, even when i'm number one, i'm dissatisfied on the inside. there is not a real peace and contentment in there."
if you say that, i want to say to you, "congratulations! because he's creating a hunger in your life to know HIM."
just a thought from the front porch…
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
we need JESUS for us to survive...
john 4.13-14 (ms), JESUS said, "everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. the water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."
water is even more essential than food. you can go several weeks without food, but you can't go more than about three days without water. about 70% of your body is water. every cell in your body needs water to survive. you can't survive without water.
JESUS is saying "it's more than you want ME – you need ME. you need ME to survive. I am the living water. I am your bread I am your water. I made you and you can't make it without ME."
when you are thirsty, cost is immaterial. it doesn't matter what it costs, you've got to have it! this is what it means to hunger and thirst for GOD.
there are really three stages in your life: i want GOD in my life; i need GOD in my life; i've got to have GOD in my life because i can't make it without HIM.
HE made me and there's an emptiness in my life. i want to know the answers of the basic questions of life: who am i? why am i here? what's the purpose of life? who's GOD? what's going to happen?
those are gut level things that are not satisfied by going to a movie, having sex, or getting stoned. those are basic inner questions of life. that is a hunger to know GOD. that's what it means to hunger and thirst for GOD. i've got to have HIM in my life. i want to know HIM. i want to know why in the world i was put on this planet. where am i going when it's all over?
just a thought from the front porch…
water is even more essential than food. you can go several weeks without food, but you can't go more than about three days without water. about 70% of your body is water. every cell in your body needs water to survive. you can't survive without water.
JESUS is saying "it's more than you want ME – you need ME. you need ME to survive. I am the living water. I am your bread I am your water. I made you and you can't make it without ME."
when you are thirsty, cost is immaterial. it doesn't matter what it costs, you've got to have it! this is what it means to hunger and thirst for GOD.
there are really three stages in your life: i want GOD in my life; i need GOD in my life; i've got to have GOD in my life because i can't make it without HIM.
HE made me and there's an emptiness in my life. i want to know the answers of the basic questions of life: who am i? why am i here? what's the purpose of life? who's GOD? what's going to happen?
those are gut level things that are not satisfied by going to a movie, having sex, or getting stoned. those are basic inner questions of life. that is a hunger to know GOD. that's what it means to hunger and thirst for GOD. i've got to have HIM in my life. i want to know HIM. i want to know why in the world i was put on this planet. where am i going when it's all over?
just a thought from the front porch…
Monday, October 19, 2009
JESUS is what you need...
john 6.35 (ms), JESUS said, "I am the BREAD of LIFE. the person who aligns with ME hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever."
wonder bread! as you know bread is the basic essential of life. you can live on bread and water. this is the basic essential food of life. have you noticed that in a famine they fly stuff in and the first thing they unload is flour to make bread?
and JESUS is saying "I'm the BREAD of LIFE! I'm it. what you really need to live is ME! I can meet your needs. you're looking for everything else, but I'm the BREAD of LIFE, I'm the essential. I'm what you need. you need ME and you can't do without ME."
there is a new age movement these days. one of the things they say is "find satisfaction in yourself." "find happiness within."
that is so stupid! when you are physically hungry do you tell your stomach, "feed yourself!" does that work?
no, you have to go to an outside source to get some food to feed yourself. when there is a spiritual vacuum in your life you don't say to yourself, "be your own god!" that leaves you just as empty as before.
you have to go to an outside source, to GOD, who made you and created you with that vacuum so you would know HIM and love HIM and be loved by HIM. HE is the BREAD of LIFE.
just a thought from the front porch…
wonder bread! as you know bread is the basic essential of life. you can live on bread and water. this is the basic essential food of life. have you noticed that in a famine they fly stuff in and the first thing they unload is flour to make bread?
and JESUS is saying "I'm the BREAD of LIFE! I'm it. what you really need to live is ME! I can meet your needs. you're looking for everything else, but I'm the BREAD of LIFE, I'm the essential. I'm what you need. you need ME and you can't do without ME."
there is a new age movement these days. one of the things they say is "find satisfaction in yourself." "find happiness within."
that is so stupid! when you are physically hungry do you tell your stomach, "feed yourself!" does that work?
no, you have to go to an outside source to get some food to feed yourself. when there is a spiritual vacuum in your life you don't say to yourself, "be your own god!" that leaves you just as empty as before.
you have to go to an outside source, to GOD, who made you and created you with that vacuum so you would know HIM and love HIM and be loved by HIM. HE is the BREAD of LIFE.
just a thought from the front porch…
Sunday, October 18, 2009
what you eat will either fill you or statisfy you?..
stop eating spiritual junk food. quit looking for things in life that don't satisfy, don't meet the need.
isaiah 55.2 (niv), why spend your money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
he's saying, quit wasting your time and your money on things of the world that really don't satisfy. what you are really looking for is GOD. stop eating junk food!
there is a plant that grows in australia. the spores of this clover fern can be made into bread and portage. it contains no protein, carbohydrates or vitamins, the essentials for sustaining life. those who depend upon it for food will have their stomachs filled but they eventually die.
do you know the difference between being filled and being satisfied? i lived 15 years in las vegas which is the artificial adult amusement capital of the world. there are more things to fill up your time and your money and people move from pleasure to pleasure, thrill to thrill, thinking, "this is going to be the answer in my life! this is what is going to make me satisfied!" and it doesn't last! it's a temporary high.
it's interesting that our appetites are influenced by our associations. you get around hungry people, you get hungry. whoever you hang out with is what you're hungry for.
if you hang out with people who like the world's junk food, that's what you're going to be into. if you want to have an appetite for GODly things get around people who have a GODly appetite. it's contagious. SPIRITual hunger is contagious.
do you want to be more hungry for the things of GOD? then get around people who are hungry for the things of GOD. SPIRITual hunger is contagious, so get around people who have a hunger for the LORD and you'll find SPIRITual hunger.
just a thought from the front porch…
isaiah 55.2 (niv), why spend your money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
he's saying, quit wasting your time and your money on things of the world that really don't satisfy. what you are really looking for is GOD. stop eating junk food!
there is a plant that grows in australia. the spores of this clover fern can be made into bread and portage. it contains no protein, carbohydrates or vitamins, the essentials for sustaining life. those who depend upon it for food will have their stomachs filled but they eventually die.
do you know the difference between being filled and being satisfied? i lived 15 years in las vegas which is the artificial adult amusement capital of the world. there are more things to fill up your time and your money and people move from pleasure to pleasure, thrill to thrill, thinking, "this is going to be the answer in my life! this is what is going to make me satisfied!" and it doesn't last! it's a temporary high.
it's interesting that our appetites are influenced by our associations. you get around hungry people, you get hungry. whoever you hang out with is what you're hungry for.
if you hang out with people who like the world's junk food, that's what you're going to be into. if you want to have an appetite for GODly things get around people who have a GODly appetite. it's contagious. SPIRITual hunger is contagious.
do you want to be more hungry for the things of GOD? then get around people who are hungry for the things of GOD. SPIRITual hunger is contagious, so get around people who have a hunger for the LORD and you'll find SPIRITual hunger.
just a thought from the front porch…
Saturday, October 17, 2009
why does GOD want us hungry?...
we are looking at the 4th beatitude that JESUS gave us. matthew 5.6 (ms), you're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for GOD. HE's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
so how do we work up a good appetite or hunger for GOD?
deuteronomy 8.3 (lb) GOD humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna... HE did it to help you realize that real life comes by obeying every command of GOD.
the children of israel . . . charlton heston led them across the red sea (!), over into the desert, they're wandering around for forty years. there are no taco bells in sinai. they got hungry and GOD provided manna.
notice it says, "GOD let them get hungry." HE let them get hungry so they would recognize their need for HIM, and depend on HIM. GOD lets you get hungry. GOD allows problems in your life to get your attention, to see that you really need HIM. HE uses a variety of circumstances.
the bible says, "happy are the hungry, those are the people GOD is trying to get their attention."
GOD uses problems to get your attention to say, "look! what you want is not pleasure, not possessions, not performance. it's ME. I made you with a GOD shaped vacuum and i want to meet that need." happy are the hungry! GOD's getting ready to do something in your life.
notice it says, "GOD humbled you." hungry people are humble people. a hungry man on the street doesn't care for linens and napkins. he just says, "give me food!"
hunger is painful but it motivates. if you've got a problem, congratulations! GOD wants you to recognize your real hunger is to know HIM.
just some thoughts from the front porch…
so how do we work up a good appetite or hunger for GOD?
deuteronomy 8.3 (lb) GOD humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna... HE did it to help you realize that real life comes by obeying every command of GOD.
the children of israel . . . charlton heston led them across the red sea (!), over into the desert, they're wandering around for forty years. there are no taco bells in sinai. they got hungry and GOD provided manna.
notice it says, "GOD let them get hungry." HE let them get hungry so they would recognize their need for HIM, and depend on HIM. GOD lets you get hungry. GOD allows problems in your life to get your attention, to see that you really need HIM. HE uses a variety of circumstances.
the bible says, "happy are the hungry, those are the people GOD is trying to get their attention."
GOD uses problems to get your attention to say, "look! what you want is not pleasure, not possessions, not performance. it's ME. I made you with a GOD shaped vacuum and i want to meet that need." happy are the hungry! GOD's getting ready to do something in your life.
notice it says, "GOD humbled you." hungry people are humble people. a hungry man on the street doesn't care for linens and napkins. he just says, "give me food!"
hunger is painful but it motivates. if you've got a problem, congratulations! GOD wants you to recognize your real hunger is to know HIM.
just some thoughts from the front porch…
Thursday, October 15, 2009
what is your real hunger?
what is the secret for your satisfaction, your happiness?
psalm 37.4 (tev) says, seek your happiness in the LORD, and HE will give you your heart's desire.
don't seek happiness, seek GOD. happiness is a by-product of seeking GOD. if you make happiness your goal in life, you're going to miss it. you don't find it just looking for it. usually this is the last place we look. we look to everything else and then finally say, "well, i'll try GOD. maybe i'll find happiness there."
so how do you experience real satisfaction in life? you need to recognize your real hunger.
what is it that's missing in my life? what is it that's not there? a lot of people really don't know what they want in life.
the bible says we are spiritual beings and GOD made us to love HIM and to know HIM and be loved by HIM. nothing will take the place of that. there is no substitute.
you need to recognize what your real hunger is. your hunger is your spiritual being and you hunger for GOD. the sooner you recognize that, the better.
just a thought from the front porch…
psalm 37.4 (tev) says, seek your happiness in the LORD, and HE will give you your heart's desire.
don't seek happiness, seek GOD. happiness is a by-product of seeking GOD. if you make happiness your goal in life, you're going to miss it. you don't find it just looking for it. usually this is the last place we look. we look to everything else and then finally say, "well, i'll try GOD. maybe i'll find happiness there."
so how do you experience real satisfaction in life? you need to recognize your real hunger.
what is it that's missing in my life? what is it that's not there? a lot of people really don't know what they want in life.
the bible says we are spiritual beings and GOD made us to love HIM and to know HIM and be loved by HIM. nothing will take the place of that. there is no substitute.
you need to recognize what your real hunger is. your hunger is your spiritual being and you hunger for GOD. the sooner you recognize that, the better.
just a thought from the front porch…
these places won't satisfy you...
another of the wrong place to find lasting satisfaction is in performance. workaholics eventually learn this.
ecclesiastes 2.23 (lb), what does a man get for all his hard work? days full of sorrow and grief, and restless nights.
ecclesiastes 2.21 (ms), what's the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it?
there is a myth that says, "success produces satisfaction." but that's just not true. many successful people are very unsatisfied on the inside. after the thrill of winning, winning a whole lot, there comes that emptiness that... something's not there.
ecclesiastes 4.8 (tev) says, man is always working, never satisfied.
another wrong place is possessions.
today there are more products available than ever before and they all say "satisfaction guaranteed". twice as many products as there were ten years ago. are people twice as happy? no. a lady said one time, "even when i get what i want, it's not what i want. i'm dissatisfied."
ecclesiastes 5.10 (lb), he who loves money shall never have enough. the foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness.
the poor people say, "when i get enough money, then all of my problems will be solved." the rich know that's not true. at least the poor have hope. the rich people know that the happiness is not there.
just a thought from the front porch…
ecclesiastes 2.23 (lb), what does a man get for all his hard work? days full of sorrow and grief, and restless nights.
ecclesiastes 2.21 (ms), what's the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it?
there is a myth that says, "success produces satisfaction." but that's just not true. many successful people are very unsatisfied on the inside. after the thrill of winning, winning a whole lot, there comes that emptiness that... something's not there.
ecclesiastes 4.8 (tev) says, man is always working, never satisfied.
another wrong place is possessions.
today there are more products available than ever before and they all say "satisfaction guaranteed". twice as many products as there were ten years ago. are people twice as happy? no. a lady said one time, "even when i get what i want, it's not what i want. i'm dissatisfied."
ecclesiastes 5.10 (lb), he who loves money shall never have enough. the foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness.
the poor people say, "when i get enough money, then all of my problems will be solved." the rich know that's not true. at least the poor have hope. the rich people know that the happiness is not there.
just a thought from the front porch…
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
are you satisfied with your life?...
we are looking at the 8 attitudes for happiness that JESUS gave in HIS first sermon and the fourth one deals with this matter of our being satisfied. matthew 5.6 (ph), happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, for they will be fully satisfied!
we all have a spiritual hunger inside of us but we just don't call it that. we use phrases like "my life is empty", "i'm bored", "i'm restless", "something seems to be missing in my life", "there must be more to life than this".
even when things are going good, when there seems to be success in our life, there is this gnawing feeling on the inside – something's missing!
the rolling stones gave us our theme song, "i can't get no satisfaction". so why is it that so many people are so unsatisfied? why is it? well the bible says it's because we're looking in the wrong places.
one place we look is in pleasure. if i could just take a cruise... retire in luxury ... travel the world, then i'd be happy.
the bible says in ecclesiastes 1.8 (lb), no matter how much we see, we are never satisfied; no matter how much we hear, we are not content.
most ads on television appeal to this hunger for happiness. "the taste that satisfies." if that were true you'd only have to have one cup, you'd never need another cigarette.
how many of you have had a late night refrigerator raid? you get up, you go to the refrigerator. you don't know what you want but you're hungry. you open the door, you nibble on this, you nibble on that, nothing satisfies, nothing tastes good. you close the door, go back, get in bed and you're still hungry.
many people are that way in life to the point that they'll try anything. they'll break the rules. they'll go get drunk. they'll try one night stands.
hebrews 11.25 (niv) says, the pleasures of sin last a short time. they just don't last.
just a thought from the front porch…
we all have a spiritual hunger inside of us but we just don't call it that. we use phrases like "my life is empty", "i'm bored", "i'm restless", "something seems to be missing in my life", "there must be more to life than this".
even when things are going good, when there seems to be success in our life, there is this gnawing feeling on the inside – something's missing!
the rolling stones gave us our theme song, "i can't get no satisfaction". so why is it that so many people are so unsatisfied? why is it? well the bible says it's because we're looking in the wrong places.
one place we look is in pleasure. if i could just take a cruise... retire in luxury ... travel the world, then i'd be happy.
the bible says in ecclesiastes 1.8 (lb), no matter how much we see, we are never satisfied; no matter how much we hear, we are not content.
most ads on television appeal to this hunger for happiness. "the taste that satisfies." if that were true you'd only have to have one cup, you'd never need another cigarette.
how many of you have had a late night refrigerator raid? you get up, you go to the refrigerator. you don't know what you want but you're hungry. you open the door, you nibble on this, you nibble on that, nothing satisfies, nothing tastes good. you close the door, go back, get in bed and you're still hungry.
many people are that way in life to the point that they'll try anything. they'll break the rules. they'll go get drunk. they'll try one night stands.
hebrews 11.25 (niv) says, the pleasures of sin last a short time. they just don't last.
just a thought from the front porch…
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
HE gives power controlled by love...
how do i choose to react to those people who hurt me?
JESUS says that happiness belongs to people with self-control. you say, "that leaves me out! i can't control my reactions! i can't get them under control!" right. but i know somebody who can help you get them under control.
2 timothy 1.7 (ncv), GOD did not give us a SPIRIT that makes us afraid but a SPIRIT of power and love and self-control.
GOD says, when I put my SPIRIT in you, the results are three fold: power, love, self-control. the secret of controlling your reaction is letting GOD's SPIRIT fill your life moment by moment. HE'll break all those bad habits, all those patterns of reacting, all those old ways of being negative, defensive, reacting in fear, in anger, in sarcasm. HE can break all those old patterns in your life and fill your life with power, love, self-control.
that is meekness. power controlled by love. even though you could blow them away you don't. JESUS is the prime example of this. we're talking about the lifestyle of JESUS CHRIST. HE's hanging on the cross and HE could have called ten thousand angels. HE could have blown up the world.
power controlled by love. this is the happy, relaxed, stress reduced type of life style. you roll with the punches. things don't fluster you because you're in control of your reactions even though you can't control the situation.
some of you are stressed out. you're stressed out by relationships. what do you need more than anything else? you need to develop the quality of meekness, the quality of controlling my reactions by the SPIRIT of GOD. when HE comes into my life HE gives me power controlled by love.
just a thought from the front porch…
JESUS says that happiness belongs to people with self-control. you say, "that leaves me out! i can't control my reactions! i can't get them under control!" right. but i know somebody who can help you get them under control.
2 timothy 1.7 (ncv), GOD did not give us a SPIRIT that makes us afraid but a SPIRIT of power and love and self-control.
GOD says, when I put my SPIRIT in you, the results are three fold: power, love, self-control. the secret of controlling your reaction is letting GOD's SPIRIT fill your life moment by moment. HE'll break all those bad habits, all those patterns of reacting, all those old ways of being negative, defensive, reacting in fear, in anger, in sarcasm. HE can break all those old patterns in your life and fill your life with power, love, self-control.
that is meekness. power controlled by love. even though you could blow them away you don't. JESUS is the prime example of this. we're talking about the lifestyle of JESUS CHRIST. HE's hanging on the cross and HE could have called ten thousand angels. HE could have blown up the world.
power controlled by love. this is the happy, relaxed, stress reduced type of life style. you roll with the punches. things don't fluster you because you're in control of your reactions even though you can't control the situation.
some of you are stressed out. you're stressed out by relationships. what do you need more than anything else? you need to develop the quality of meekness, the quality of controlling my reactions by the SPIRIT of GOD. when HE comes into my life HE gives me power controlled by love.
just a thought from the front porch…
Monday, October 12, 2009
are you in control of your situation?...
the best definition of meekness in the bible is proverbs 16.32 (cev), controlling your temper is better than being a hero who captures a city.
so what determines your emotions? can you control your own emotions or does somebody else? your emotions are either controlled by circumstances or by character. it's your choice.
"that makes me so mad... so sad... feel so bad..." circumstances are controlling how you feel. i choose to feel happy. i choose to not be depressed. happiness is a choice. you're emotions are either controlled by circumstances or by choices. meek people are self-controlled, controlling their reactions toward life.
JESUS promised, "happy are the people who can control their reactions, for they will inherit the earth." what does "inherit the earth" mean? you'll be in control of your situation. the world is yours. the person who has self-control of his emotions the world is his. he controls the situation because he's not controlled by it. if you are a meek person, you are no longer a victim. you control your choices.
you’ve heard the story of victor frankl, the famous psychiatrist, who went through auchwitz. he said, "they took my clothes, my wife, my kids, my wedding ring. i stood naked before the ss and i realized they can take everything in my life but they cannot take my freedom to choose how i will respond to them." that is a freedom you will always have. how do i react? how do i choose to react to those people who hurt me?
just a thought from the front porch…
so what determines your emotions? can you control your own emotions or does somebody else? your emotions are either controlled by circumstances or by character. it's your choice.
"that makes me so mad... so sad... feel so bad..." circumstances are controlling how you feel. i choose to feel happy. i choose to not be depressed. happiness is a choice. you're emotions are either controlled by circumstances or by choices. meek people are self-controlled, controlling their reactions toward life.
JESUS promised, "happy are the people who can control their reactions, for they will inherit the earth." what does "inherit the earth" mean? you'll be in control of your situation. the world is yours. the person who has self-control of his emotions the world is his. he controls the situation because he's not controlled by it. if you are a meek person, you are no longer a victim. you control your choices.
you’ve heard the story of victor frankl, the famous psychiatrist, who went through auchwitz. he said, "they took my clothes, my wife, my kids, my wedding ring. i stood naked before the ss and i realized they can take everything in my life but they cannot take my freedom to choose how i will respond to them." that is a freedom you will always have. how do i react? how do i choose to react to those people who hurt me?
just a thought from the front porch…
Sunday, October 11, 2009
let GOD take care of it...
so you’ve been hurt. the moment that you start retaliating, that you start seeking revenge, that you start trying to get even, you give up control of your life. you are no longer in control. you are reacting, not acting and that's a position of weakness. JESUS said the meek person knows how to let it go.
one of the clear examples in the bible is moses. numbers 12 he was being criticized and insulted and put down. the issue was that he married a black lady, zipporah was from ethiopia. it was an interracial marriage and moses' brother and sister didn't like it. they were griping. but moses refused to defend himself. he said, "GOD, i'm going to let you take care of this."
GOD always has better ways of getting even than we do. GOD said to miriam, "you like white skin? how about a lot of it?" and HE gave her leprosy. moses did not say a word. he would not retaliate.
GOD says be an actor not a reactor in how we respond to life. meekness is the ability to handle a hurt without retaliating.
just a thought from the front porch…
one of the clear examples in the bible is moses. numbers 12 he was being criticized and insulted and put down. the issue was that he married a black lady, zipporah was from ethiopia. it was an interracial marriage and moses' brother and sister didn't like it. they were griping. but moses refused to defend himself. he said, "GOD, i'm going to let you take care of this."
GOD always has better ways of getting even than we do. GOD said to miriam, "you like white skin? how about a lot of it?" and HE gave her leprosy. moses did not say a word. he would not retaliate.
GOD says be an actor not a reactor in how we respond to life. meekness is the ability to handle a hurt without retaliating.
just a thought from the front porch…
Friday, October 9, 2009
what is your response when someone hurts you?...
listen, you will have hurts in life. life hurts. you will be hurt by other people – intentionally many times. and the meekness issue is how do you respond to it?
romans 12.17, 21 (ms) says, don't insist on getting even… get the best of evil by doing good.
so what is your normal reaction when people hurt you intentionally? retaliate! get even! we're usually at our most creative best thinking up methods to get even. we are so good at thinking up creative strategies for revenge.
to retaliate is to react. they both start with "re" which is a response. a reaction. but to respond with forgiveness, even when they haven't asked for it, is to act, to take the initiative.
john powell, in his book, why am i afraid to tell you who i am?, said he was walking down the street with a friend and they stopped to get a paper. the man selling the paper was grumpy and discourteous, very rude. the friend, as he was walking away, said to the man, "you have a nice day, now!" john powell asked his friend, "is that man always that rude to you?" "yes". "are you always that nice to him?" friend said, "yes, i'm not going to let one man ruin my day."
booker t. washington, the great black scientist, faced prejudice all his life and he said, "i will never allow another man to control or ruin my life by making me hate him."
when you say, "you make me mad!" you are admitting that they are controlling your emotions. the other person has the power to control your emotions.
the moment that you start retaliating, that you start seeking revenge, that you start trying to get even, you give up control of your life. you are no longer in control. you are reacting, not acting and that's a position of weakness. JESUS said the meek person knows how to let it go.
just a thought from the front porch…
romans 12.17, 21 (ms) says, don't insist on getting even… get the best of evil by doing good.
so what is your normal reaction when people hurt you intentionally? retaliate! get even! we're usually at our most creative best thinking up methods to get even. we are so good at thinking up creative strategies for revenge.
to retaliate is to react. they both start with "re" which is a response. a reaction. but to respond with forgiveness, even when they haven't asked for it, is to act, to take the initiative.
john powell, in his book, why am i afraid to tell you who i am?, said he was walking down the street with a friend and they stopped to get a paper. the man selling the paper was grumpy and discourteous, very rude. the friend, as he was walking away, said to the man, "you have a nice day, now!" john powell asked his friend, "is that man always that rude to you?" "yes". "are you always that nice to him?" friend said, "yes, i'm not going to let one man ruin my day."
booker t. washington, the great black scientist, faced prejudice all his life and he said, "i will never allow another man to control or ruin my life by making me hate him."
when you say, "you make me mad!" you are admitting that they are controlling your emotions. the other person has the power to control your emotions.
the moment that you start retaliating, that you start seeking revenge, that you start trying to get even, you give up control of your life. you are no longer in control. you are reacting, not acting and that's a position of weakness. JESUS said the meek person knows how to let it go.
just a thought from the front porch…
what is the secret of intelligence?...
i've been privileged to travel all around the united states. i've talked to a lot of people. the wisest people that i know are the people who are the most eager, the most willing to learn. they have a teachable attitude. they don't think they know it all.
will rogers used to say, "i never met a man i didn't like." i honestly believe i’ve never met a person i couldn't learn from. every one of you could teach me something. we could teach each other. we've all had different experiences. every one is ignorant, just on different subjects. we need each other. you can learn from anybody if you just know the right questions.
proverbs 20.5 (ms) says, knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
ask questions. that's the secret of intelligence. learning to draw it out.
are you always learning, always growing? have you learned to learn from your kids? you can learn from your kids. do you realize you can learn from your in laws? my in laws taught me a lot. do you realize you can learn from your enemies? your biggest critics often help you out the most. unintentionally. they may mean to hurt you but GOD can use that criticism to teach you and make you more sensitive in a certain area even though they have a wrong motive for it.
meekness, we're teachable not unreachable.
proverbs 13:18 (ms), embrace correction and live an honored life.
sign i saw: "i'd rather change my mind and succeed than have my own way and fail." a meek person is not a weak person, a wimp, a casper milktoast. a meek person is understanding, not demanding; gentle, not judgmental; teachable, not unreachable.
just a thought from the front porch…
will rogers used to say, "i never met a man i didn't like." i honestly believe i’ve never met a person i couldn't learn from. every one of you could teach me something. we could teach each other. we've all had different experiences. every one is ignorant, just on different subjects. we need each other. you can learn from anybody if you just know the right questions.
proverbs 20.5 (ms) says, knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
ask questions. that's the secret of intelligence. learning to draw it out.
are you always learning, always growing? have you learned to learn from your kids? you can learn from your kids. do you realize you can learn from your in laws? my in laws taught me a lot. do you realize you can learn from your enemies? your biggest critics often help you out the most. unintentionally. they may mean to hurt you but GOD can use that criticism to teach you and make you more sensitive in a certain area even though they have a wrong motive for it.
meekness, we're teachable not unreachable.
proverbs 13:18 (ms), embrace correction and live an honored life.
sign i saw: "i'd rather change my mind and succeed than have my own way and fail." a meek person is not a weak person, a wimp, a casper milktoast. a meek person is understanding, not demanding; gentle, not judgmental; teachable, not unreachable.
just a thought from the front porch…
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
how about when someone corrects you?...
here is another area. how do you react when someone corrects you?
now meekness is a teachable spirit. meek people are eager to learn. meek people don't pretend they know it all. they know they don't know it all and they don't try to pretend they know it all.
james 1.19 (ms), lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.
that is such a great verse. it tells how to control your temper. if you do the first two, the third is automatic. if you lead with your ears, then follow up with your tongue, you will let anger straggle along in the rear but if you lead with your tongue, and then follow up with your ears you'll be quick to anger. you need to listen. use your ears. be teachable, not unreachable.
when your mate makes a constructive suggestion to you, how do you relate to it? do you get uptight, defensive?
listen, don't consider the source, consider the suggestion. meek people don't have all the answers. be very wary of people who have all the answers. those are people you need to be afraid of. they're dangerous.
are you open or closed to new ideas? are you open to change or closed to change? "we've always done it that way!" a meek person – when someone corrects you, you're teachable, not unreachable.
just a thought from the front porch…
now meekness is a teachable spirit. meek people are eager to learn. meek people don't pretend they know it all. they know they don't know it all and they don't try to pretend they know it all.
james 1.19 (ms), lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.
that is such a great verse. it tells how to control your temper. if you do the first two, the third is automatic. if you lead with your ears, then follow up with your tongue, you will let anger straggle along in the rear but if you lead with your tongue, and then follow up with your ears you'll be quick to anger. you need to listen. use your ears. be teachable, not unreachable.
when your mate makes a constructive suggestion to you, how do you relate to it? do you get uptight, defensive?
listen, don't consider the source, consider the suggestion. meek people don't have all the answers. be very wary of people who have all the answers. those are people you need to be afraid of. they're dangerous.
are you open or closed to new ideas? are you open to change or closed to change? "we've always done it that way!" a meek person – when someone corrects you, you're teachable, not unreachable.
just a thought from the front porch…
love is the key when you disagree...
so when someone disagrees with you how do you react? do you retreat in fear or attack in anger, or do you respond in love?
2 timothy 2.24-25 (niv) says meekness is a qualification for spiritual leadership, the LORD’s servant must not quarrel ... those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in hope that GOD will give them repentance.
the bible says that i am not to argue with people. i am not to get in a quarrel. i am to gently instruct and hope that GOD will give them a change of heart.
i am retired now but in the last church i pastored in las vegas, we said "in the essentials we have unity; in the non essentials we have liberty; in all things we have charity." we allowed for diversity in the body of CHRIST. different gifts. different strokes for different folks.
we need to be tender without surrender when somebody disagrees with us.
just a thought from the front porch...
2 timothy 2.24-25 (niv) says meekness is a qualification for spiritual leadership, the LORD’s servant must not quarrel ... those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in hope that GOD will give them repentance.
the bible says that i am not to argue with people. i am not to get in a quarrel. i am to gently instruct and hope that GOD will give them a change of heart.
i am retired now but in the last church i pastored in las vegas, we said "in the essentials we have unity; in the non essentials we have liberty; in all things we have charity." we allowed for diversity in the body of CHRIST. different gifts. different strokes for different folks.
we need to be tender without surrender when somebody disagrees with us.
just a thought from the front porch...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
are you angry when people disagree with you?...
attacking in anger is what some people do in dealing with disagreeable people .
they use verbal overkill, they explode people. everything is a win/lose situation.
gen. george s. patton wrote a book called, patton's principles for managers who mean it. got a lot of one-liners in it. one is: "you never fight a battle where winning doesn't make any difference. don't get into an argument over something that doesn't matter anyway."
proverbs 15.1 (ms), a gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
james 3:16-17 (cev), whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble... but the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, and gentle.
"gentle". that's the same word as "meek". meekness and gentleness means strength under control – a gentle giant.
an argumentative spirit indicates an ego problem. if you like to quarrel, if you like to get into arguments, you've got an ego problem.
JESUS says, that a person who is meek is happy because he is tender without surrender. meekness is learning to disagree agreeably. meekness is being able to walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye.
in a marriage, when two people agree on everything, one of them isn't necessary. you eat with a knife and a fork, not two knives. we need variety.
when people disagree with you, you can be passive, a doormat – "go ahead, have your way." – or you can fight them tooth and nail, blow up, get angry, fight back, be sarcastic.
just a thought from the font porch…
they use verbal overkill, they explode people. everything is a win/lose situation.
gen. george s. patton wrote a book called, patton's principles for managers who mean it. got a lot of one-liners in it. one is: "you never fight a battle where winning doesn't make any difference. don't get into an argument over something that doesn't matter anyway."
proverbs 15.1 (ms), a gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
james 3:16-17 (cev), whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble... but the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, and gentle.
"gentle". that's the same word as "meek". meekness and gentleness means strength under control – a gentle giant.
an argumentative spirit indicates an ego problem. if you like to quarrel, if you like to get into arguments, you've got an ego problem.
JESUS says, that a person who is meek is happy because he is tender without surrender. meekness is learning to disagree agreeably. meekness is being able to walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye.
in a marriage, when two people agree on everything, one of them isn't necessary. you eat with a knife and a fork, not two knives. we need variety.
when people disagree with you, you can be passive, a doormat – "go ahead, have your way." – or you can fight them tooth and nail, blow up, get angry, fight back, be sarcastic.
just a thought from the font porch…
Monday, October 5, 2009
what about disagreements?...
here is another one. how do you respond when someone disagrees with you? remember, meekness is strength under control.
the fact is, you can't please everybody in life. just about the time you get crowd a satisfied, crowd b gets upset. one minute you're the hero, the next minute you're the zero. disagreements happen so you need to learn to be tender without surrender.
the test of maturity is how do you handle disagreeable people, people who irritate you, people who like to contradict you, people who like to get in arguments, like to quarrel with you.
you have three alternatives:
you can retreat in fear,
you can attack in anger, or
you can respond in love.
you can retreat in fear.
listen. meekness is not compromising your convictions. you can be tender without surrender. it's not being passive, being a doormat, giving in, always letting the other person have their own way. that's not meekness, that's weakness.
just a thought from the front porch…
the fact is, you can't please everybody in life. just about the time you get crowd a satisfied, crowd b gets upset. one minute you're the hero, the next minute you're the zero. disagreements happen so you need to learn to be tender without surrender.
the test of maturity is how do you handle disagreeable people, people who irritate you, people who like to contradict you, people who like to get in arguments, like to quarrel with you.
you have three alternatives:
you can retreat in fear,
you can attack in anger, or
you can respond in love.
you can retreat in fear.
listen. meekness is not compromising your convictions. you can be tender without surrender. it's not being passive, being a doormat, giving in, always letting the other person have their own way. that's not meekness, that's weakness.
just a thought from the front porch…
Sunday, October 4, 2009
being disappointed in others...
so we are looking at JESUS’ third beatitude about being meek and our actions or reactions in certain situations in life.
such as, how do you handle when someone disappoints you?
romans 14.1 (ms) welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. and don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. remember, they have their own history to deal with. treat them gently.
happiness comes when you can accept people who have not attained your level of perfection. they don't have to reach up to your standards to be loved.
galatians 6.1-2 (ms), if someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. you might be needing forgiveness before the day's out…share their burdens.
how do you react when somebody messes up there life? do you get excited about it? "i told you so! i could see it coming! only a fool would have done that. i wouldn't have been that dumb." do you have a secret sense of satisfaction when other people blow it?
meekness is when people disappoint you, you are gentle, not judgmental.
the one thing that angered JESUS most, more than anything else in life, was self-righteous religious people who were always judging others.
just a thought from the front porch…
such as, how do you handle when someone disappoints you?
romans 14.1 (ms) welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. and don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. remember, they have their own history to deal with. treat them gently.
happiness comes when you can accept people who have not attained your level of perfection. they don't have to reach up to your standards to be loved.
galatians 6.1-2 (ms), if someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. you might be needing forgiveness before the day's out…share their burdens.
how do you react when somebody messes up there life? do you get excited about it? "i told you so! i could see it coming! only a fool would have done that. i wouldn't have been that dumb." do you have a secret sense of satisfaction when other people blow it?
meekness is when people disappoint you, you are gentle, not judgmental.
the one thing that angered JESUS most, more than anything else in life, was self-righteous religious people who were always judging others.
just a thought from the front porch…
Friday, October 2, 2009
CHRISTians can be pretty demanding...
matthew 5.5 (niv), happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
so let’s take the thought that meekness is strength under control or all about our actions and see how that comes out in a practical way in our lives.
philippians 2.4-5 (niv) don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. you must have the same attitude that CHRIST JESUS had.
how do you treat people who serve you? waitresses, secretaries, clerks, tellers at the bank, fast food operators. are you understanding or demanding?
i have a real personal problem with people who say they are CHRISTians and they are cheap tippers. let me tell you something, if you are a poor tipper in restaurants, please, please don’t pray before your meal in thanks to GOD and please don’t ever tell the waitress you go to church.
stef, brett and marissa my kids have all been wait people and the going idea is that the longer the prayer before the meal the smaller the tip. that is a horrible witness. that is why when i go out to eat with someone, i try to take care of the tip. i want to be a good witness. i don’t want to be an embarrassment to GOD.
listen, CHRISTians have a reputation of being very, very pushy, very, very cheap, very rude, very demanding and not very understanding. the secret of great service is to treat people with respect.
just a thought from the front porch…
so let’s take the thought that meekness is strength under control or all about our actions and see how that comes out in a practical way in our lives.
philippians 2.4-5 (niv) don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. you must have the same attitude that CHRIST JESUS had.
how do you treat people who serve you? waitresses, secretaries, clerks, tellers at the bank, fast food operators. are you understanding or demanding?
i have a real personal problem with people who say they are CHRISTians and they are cheap tippers. let me tell you something, if you are a poor tipper in restaurants, please, please don’t pray before your meal in thanks to GOD and please don’t ever tell the waitress you go to church.
stef, brett and marissa my kids have all been wait people and the going idea is that the longer the prayer before the meal the smaller the tip. that is a horrible witness. that is why when i go out to eat with someone, i try to take care of the tip. i want to be a good witness. i don’t want to be an embarrassment to GOD.
listen, CHRISTians have a reputation of being very, very pushy, very, very cheap, very rude, very demanding and not very understanding. the secret of great service is to treat people with respect.
just a thought from the front porch…
i don't get it. i must be meek to be happy?
we have been looking at what JESUS said about happiness in HIS first sermon. in it HE gives eight attitudes that we are to have to really be happy. they are known as the beatitudes.
we have looked at the first two and now we are ready for the third one. matthew 5.5 (niv), blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
now again, from the surface it doesn’t make sense. if i’m meek i will inherit the earth. but the problem is in the definition. the word "meek" doesn't mean what it used to mean. today it's a slur. if you call a man meek, he'd be insulted. you don't put it on your resume.
so what does HE mean when HE says, "meek" ?
well it is important to see that meekness is not weakness.
there are only two men in the bible called meek – JESUS and moses and neither of them were pushovers.
meekness means strength under control.
the greek word referred to a wild horse tamed or medicine that could tame a fever. strength under control.
there was this hell's angel group that went into this bar. they walked in. there was a truck driver setting over in the corner eating his dinner. one of the hell's angels walked over to him, picked up the plate of spaghetti and smashed it on the driver's head. he took the guy's beer and poured it in his lap. the truck driver didn't do anything. got up, paid his bill and walked out. the hell's angel looked over to the bartender and said, "not much of a man is he?" the bartender said, "not much of a truck driver either. he just ran over twelve choppers going out of here!"
meekness is strength under control. JESUS said, "happy are those who don't over react to people."
just a thought from the front porch…
we have looked at the first two and now we are ready for the third one. matthew 5.5 (niv), blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
now again, from the surface it doesn’t make sense. if i’m meek i will inherit the earth. but the problem is in the definition. the word "meek" doesn't mean what it used to mean. today it's a slur. if you call a man meek, he'd be insulted. you don't put it on your resume.
so what does HE mean when HE says, "meek" ?
well it is important to see that meekness is not weakness.
there are only two men in the bible called meek – JESUS and moses and neither of them were pushovers.
meekness means strength under control.
the greek word referred to a wild horse tamed or medicine that could tame a fever. strength under control.
there was this hell's angel group that went into this bar. they walked in. there was a truck driver setting over in the corner eating his dinner. one of the hell's angels walked over to him, picked up the plate of spaghetti and smashed it on the driver's head. he took the guy's beer and poured it in his lap. the truck driver didn't do anything. got up, paid his bill and walked out. the hell's angel looked over to the bartender and said, "not much of a man is he?" the bartender said, "not much of a truck driver either. he just ran over twelve choppers going out of here!"
meekness is strength under control. JESUS said, "happy are those who don't over react to people."
just a thought from the front porch…
Thursday, October 1, 2009
3 commitments to receive comfort...
matthew 5.4 (niv), blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
comfort is available. not in pills, drinking, affairs, movies, books, whatever, but in GOD, in HIMself. if you will turn to HIM you will make it through the pain.
i want to invite you to make three commitments.
1st. open up your life to JESUS CHRIST. just say, "JESUS CHRIST, come into my life. i don't understand it all. i don't know what it all means. but i realize i'm not making it on my own power. i need you in my life.
JESUS CHRIST, put your SPIRIT in my life and give me the strength i need to be the person YOU want me to be and to help me through this pain. or the pain that may come this next week, or next month, or next year." open up your life to JESUS CHRIST and say yes.
when you go down in a submarine they pressurize the cabin. the pressure on the outside of the cabin would implode the submarine if they didn't equalize with pressure on the inside. when you're going through the pain, the only way to equalize the pressure put on you from the outside, is to be filled with GOD's SPIRIT on the inside. that equalizes the pressure so you don't cave in, in a crisis.
2nd. find a church family. you need to find a church where you can say, "that's my family. that's where i feel comfortable. i'm not going to just be a spectator. i'll be a participator. i'm going to join and get to know some people." if you don't get to know your church family, who's going to be there in your crisis? who's going to hang around you if you don't get with some people and let them know you -- you help them and they help you?
3. i challenge you to give your life away. realize that if GOD has helped you in a crisis HE wants you to share that with other people. if you've had kids that have gone off the deep end, open up and let people know about it, because everybody else has kids and some of them may go off the deep end and they need somebody who knows their pain. if you've gone through a divorce or had a problem with alcohol or you've gone through a failure at work or you've been through a major problem in life and lost a loved one, let that become a ministry in your life encouraging others.
just some thoughts from the front porch…
comfort is available. not in pills, drinking, affairs, movies, books, whatever, but in GOD, in HIMself. if you will turn to HIM you will make it through the pain.
i want to invite you to make three commitments.
1st. open up your life to JESUS CHRIST. just say, "JESUS CHRIST, come into my life. i don't understand it all. i don't know what it all means. but i realize i'm not making it on my own power. i need you in my life.
JESUS CHRIST, put your SPIRIT in my life and give me the strength i need to be the person YOU want me to be and to help me through this pain. or the pain that may come this next week, or next month, or next year." open up your life to JESUS CHRIST and say yes.
when you go down in a submarine they pressurize the cabin. the pressure on the outside of the cabin would implode the submarine if they didn't equalize with pressure on the inside. when you're going through the pain, the only way to equalize the pressure put on you from the outside, is to be filled with GOD's SPIRIT on the inside. that equalizes the pressure so you don't cave in, in a crisis.
2nd. find a church family. you need to find a church where you can say, "that's my family. that's where i feel comfortable. i'm not going to just be a spectator. i'll be a participator. i'm going to join and get to know some people." if you don't get to know your church family, who's going to be there in your crisis? who's going to hang around you if you don't get with some people and let them know you -- you help them and they help you?
3. i challenge you to give your life away. realize that if GOD has helped you in a crisis HE wants you to share that with other people. if you've had kids that have gone off the deep end, open up and let people know about it, because everybody else has kids and some of them may go off the deep end and they need somebody who knows their pain. if you've gone through a divorce or had a problem with alcohol or you've gone through a failure at work or you've been through a major problem in life and lost a loved one, let that become a ministry in your life encouraging others.
just some thoughts from the front porch…
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