Can a broken heart serve you as well as a whole one? Does sorrow serve a purpose in our lives? How do we carry on when sorrow surround us? What do we do when death visits our doorstep? Who is immune to death and sorrow? Life is precious. We all want to live and prosper. When I was young I was invincible. No one could stop me. I took on foes that fell before me. I could fight all through the night. It seemed that sorrow only strengthen me. When I entered an arena my enemies shook with fear. My experiences strengthen my resolve. I walked with giants. Then tell me why the death of my younger brother hurts so much. Cancer took him and I couldn’t stop it. He lived a good life. He raised his children and had grandchildren. He loved his family and did anything for them. He loved the Lord and live the life before mankind. He was to me a giant among men. I will see him again when I cross over to the other side. He has become part of that great cloud of witnesses that watches from heaven. He took his final breathe this afternoon and crossed over. I know that Jesus came for him and I told him so. God is faithful to all that He promised us. Precious in His sight is the death of one of His children. God has proved this to me over and over again. I will miss my brother until I see him again. I love you brother.
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For thousands of years, when a son reached a certain age he was expected to join his father in the family business. This would give the son a trade and way of earning a living. Even after there were universities, this was how young people began to live in the live in the world around them. Many people still do this today, they take over their father’s business. As you well known, young women were to follow their mothers and learn for her the household and raising children. Most young women don’t know that in God’s economy, a young wife could own her own business. She could make money separate from her husband. She was in charge of the home and the children. A couples home belong to the wife. Her husband was a partner, though God made him responsible for all decisions made in the home. God wanted harmony in the home. Each partner was to be satisfied with the relationship. When Jesus was 12 years old, He went with His earthy parents to Jerusalem for the Passover. When it was over his parents packed up and began the journey home to Nazareth. They believe Jesus was with his cousins in the caravan. After they journeyed a day, they stopped for the night, but Jesus wasn’t there. They went back to Jerusalem to find Him. After three days they found Him in the Temple discussing the law with the priests. His momma fussed at Him for not telling them. And Jesus said, I must be about My Father’s business. The statement is as truth today as it was then. Are you about your Father’s business?
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A crucible is a trial by fire. It is where a person is tested to the limit of their endurance. Sometimes they are tested beyond their limit. It is to find out what the person is made of. Even if the person fails, it still shows what is in your heart. It is a trial that you don’t want to go through. For the most part it is always necessary for the person’s future life. Fortunately or unfortunately, we go through many crucibles. It is a simple as leaving home or starting a family or joining the military. Sometimes it is as hard as watch a relative die of cancer or your parents dying. Your life will never be the same again. For better or worse, it will change the way you look at life. When Cain told God after he had killed his brother Abel, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer to the question is yes. Are we linked together in some invisible way? Again the answer is yes. God says we are watchmen on the wall and if we don’t sound the alarm to protect our brother and sisters. We are guilty of their blood just like Cain was guilty of Abel’s blood. So what is your crucible? Are you able to make it to the other side?
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You know I am married and have 4 sons. They are all grown and only one is married. My father died when my oldest son was only 6 months old. None of my children ever had the chance to know my dad. That was one thing I had asked God for is that I would live long enough for my grandchildren to know me. My first grandchild was born 2 months ago. His name is Noah. He was 22 inches and has big hands and feet. His fingers are half the size of mine. This boy is going to be very tall. It is funny that my mom was 5 feet 4 inches tall and my dad was 6 feet. His dad and brothers were all over 6 feet tall. My daughter in law’s family are all very big men. We are talking 6 feet 5 inches or better. My grandson is going to be very tall. By the way I’m only 5 feet 6 inches tall. I took after my mom’s side of the family. But God has been faithful to his promise to me. And I know that God is faithful to whatever promise He makes to us. All you have to do is trust Him and believe. I have a grandson and he is a cute little fellow.
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I’ve been watching a fishing show. I like to fish. I tell the truth I’m not that good at fishing. I like to be on the water where there is a silence. The only thing you hear is fish jumping or the occasional duck or bird. The noise of humanity isn’t on the lake. What you hear is God’s creation. The show I was watching the guy was fishing in brackish water not quite in the Gulf of Mexico. He was catching large red fish. They were just beautiful. You know that about half of all the apostles were fishermen. They fished on the Sea of Galilee. They had been fishing all day and hadn’t caught anything. Jesus was preaching on the shore and asked Peter if He could use his boat to preach from. Peter said ok. When Jesus had finished He asked Peter to cast out into the deep and let down his nets. Peter said that they hadn’t caught anything all day, but at your word I will do it. Peter and his fellow fishermen went and cast their nets. They filled their boats with fish to overflowing. Peter came to the realization that he was a sinful man. He went to Jesus and said so. Jesus said follow me and I will make you a fishers of men. The realization of being separated from God by sin is the beginning of your life with God.
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The principle of love is giving. Jesus was watching the treasury and the people that gave into it. The religious leaders were putting in a lot of money. Then a widow woman came and gave the equivalent of 4 cents. Jesus said to His disciples that the widow woman had given more than any one. He said the others have given out of their abundance, but the widow woman gave everything. This all goes back to trusting and believing God. Will He do what He has said? People have struggled over this for a long time. Things happen to us that we will not trust anyone or thing. But it is poor place to be. Our lives can’t function unless we trust. People take advantage of this, but they are to be pity above all. I have only found that people respond to genuine love. Not half-hearted gestures that don’t amount to anything. People respond to the giving of oneself completely to an effort or cause. When they see it is real. The act of given is true love, whether it is money or efforts. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe should have eternal life.
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When you look at man, you can see sorrow. There isn’t one person on this earth that hasn’t been touched with sorrow. A loss of a dream, a death in the family, war, famine, disease, betrayal, you can go on and on. It seems that games have trivialized death, destruction and sorrow. When I a person dies there is a mother or father or brother or sister who suffers sorrow. Sorrow isn’t something that you want to live with. But being prepare does help to sooth the sorrow. In the bible the disciples asked about the end of the world. Jesus told them about what would happen and He called this the beginning of sorrows. What is going to happen at the end is going to be horrendous. God says to live as if this were your last day on earth. He said then you would be prepared for what will happen. Most people don’t even understand what will happen on this earth. If you want to read what will happen, I suggest that you read the book of revelations. God has always given examples of what will happen. Noah was an example. God waited until Noah finished building the ark to flood the earth. It says that 8 people were saved and the rest of the earth was lost. The Beginning of Sorrows is coming.
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Isn’t it funny, unusual, would be a better word, how man becomes wilder if God doesn’t zap him right away. So many people think that just because God doesn’t punish them right away, that they have a pass from God. Just the contrary is the truth. God will give a person enough rope to hang themselves. Then the punishment will follow. Unfortunately sometimes it is utter destruction. God isn’t a toy or game or a weak person that can be trick by man. God knows before you even say it. So many people have chosen or more appropriately not chosen God and His way to their own shame. Going to church and putting money in the offering doesn’t make you a Christian. There are going to be so many people in the church that are going to be reject because they never knew Jesus. To become a son you have to trust and believe in God. The bible says that the heart of man is the most deceitful thing on earth. Not deceive yourself, God isn’t mock, nor is He a man to believe a lie. Choose God and choose life. See what He will do for you if you ask.
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This is a real treasure hunt. I will provide clues and you can figure them out. It is all over the earth. It comes in different sizes. It ranges from smelling good to stinking. It can be passive or dangerous. It can be a pleasure to look at or hideous. It is mobile, moves from place to place. It is alive but it does die. It can bring joy or pain. Some would call it intelligent. Some would call it stupid. It is always hard to control. There are no two alike. It is different but the same. Despite all events in the world it hasn’t disappeared. It seems to be growing in number. Have you guess what it is yet? You want to put your money where your mouth is? You can purchase it but it isn’t recommended. It is constantly changing. It isn’t the same every day. Have you figured it out yet? It is funny, unusual that the description fits a lot of things. Yet it only fits one thing. Are you ready to give up? No, ok here are a few more clues. I would not trust it as far as I could throw it. It has proven to be the most dangerous thing on this earth. Without God’s intervention, it is worth nothing. Did you get the answer yet? It is mankind. Matt.6:20-21 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(KJV).
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Life is precious, whether it is new or old. Today the people of the United States celebrate their Independence Day. For 400 years people have been coming to this country. They have come because they were looking for freedom. They came because of an opportunity to live their lives the way they wanted to. The freedom of speech, to be able to speak the truth. The freedom of worship, to honor God in their own way. The freedom from want, to be able to provide for your family. The freedom from fear, to be able to live their lives free from oppression. My family came to this country in the early 1600’s and settled in Boston, Mass. Each generation defended the rights of freedom against all enemies. Many lost their lives defending this country. Abraham Lincoln said it more eloquently than I could ever. In the Gettysburg Address, he said, “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
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