Why does it take so long for man to learn anything? A question for the ages. Man still hasn’t learned a lot. Just look at the world and you’ll understand. God knew that man had to adsorb a little information at time. All at once would just bounce off his brain. Jesus took 12 men and taught them for 3 years so they could function as the church. The bible says here a little info, there a little info. A lot of people began to follow Jesus and He wanted to make sure they understood what they were doing. They began to follow because of the miracle of the loaves. Which He did twice, feeding over 5000 people. Also they followed because of the healings He performed. Jesus wanted people to really understand the cost. He said if you want to follow me, you have to deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me. If you would save yourself, you will lose your life. But if you lose your life for My sake and the gospel, you will save your life. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? If you deny Me before men, I will deny you before My Father in heaven. Learn a little at a time, here a little, there a little.
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There are people among us that actually work for God. Their professional life is working in the kingdom of God. There are a lot of people you will never see. Those that clean the church or mow the grass at the church and pastor’s home. Those people who serve cookies to the children in Sunday school. People who open and close the church doors. There was a man who by all rights we would consider him a slow learner. He wanted to help with the children’s scouting program. He was my assistant scout leader. He loved playing with the children and they loved him too. He has since gone on to be with the Lord. There are people who pray. God has someone to pray for those who are in need of prayer. And from across the world, God gets someone to pray. You will never know who that person is until you reach heaven. Yes there are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. But you already know about them. But there are people who work in the shadows for the kingdom of God. Are you one them? If you are I salute you. If you aren’t, I ask you to volunteer. All you have to do is ask God and He will place you in His service.
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As you are raised in a certain culture, you believe that your culture is the best. Everybody else comes in at second place. Many people carry this even further and ostracize people of different colors or races. Do you know the difference between people all over the world? About that much. There is no difference. Yes, yes, some are males, some are females, some are tall, some are short, some are heavy set, some are skinny, some are different colors, some speak different languages, and some don’t smell too good. And know what difference is between them all. Hold up your right hand, clinch your fist, and hold out your thumb and first finger. Separate them about an inch apart. That is how much difference there is. There is no difference between people. God made everyone. And He didn’t make junk. But man has made rules and regulations to separate people. Those rules and regulations are about money and acquiring things. God warns about judging people. He said the judgements to whom you apply to people will be applied to you. God is the judge of all things. He alone judges righteously. Take a second look at that person that you thought was unreachable or untouchable. See them with God’s eyes.
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Have you ever stopped and looked at nature. All the plants and animals in this world are very interesting. I stopped on my way home yesterday and took pictures of clouds. The sun was behind a formation. It had an opening and the sun shone through. It was quite striking. I like to look at clouds right before a storm. That is when then are the most beautiful. I talked about the Cherokee Roses on my street. There is an innate beauty about them. You want to guess why? It not because man put fertilizer on them. You know that is what man does a lot in this world. Guess why nature is so beautiful. It is because God created it for Himself and for us. You know that God create all things to share in His life. This includes us. But have you ever considered the Lilies of the field which are beautiful today and thrown into the fire tomorrow. We can’t grow anything by command. We can’t speak to our hair and change the color. We can’t add any years to our lives at all. But God who created all of this can. And He will see to our needs as well or better than the lilies of the fields. For we are worth more to God than anything. Trust and believe Him.
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Jesus had just finished ministering when He and the disciples crossed over the Sea of Galilee. They came to Capernaum. A leader in the town came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He asked Him to come to his house because his daughter was dying. Jesus said yes. On the way many people found out that Jesus was in town and came out to see Him. The crowd was so great that they pressed against Jesus. There in the crowd was a little women who had been sick for 12 years. No doctor was able to help her. She said to herself if I can only touch the hem of His garment. I will be made whole. She pressed through the crowd and finally touched the hem. Jesus immediately stopped and asked who had touched Him. The disciples almost laughed because of all the people. Jesus asked again. The little women shaking came to Jesus and fell at His feet. She explained what had happened. Jesus lifted her up and said, be of good cheer for thy faith has made you whole. Go in Peace. She believed and did what it took to reach God. Because of her faith, she received her healing. This is not a fairy tale, but actually how to touch God and receive your healing. Though you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, if you will say unto the mountain be thou removed and doubt not. It shall be done by your Father in heaven.
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There is a story in the bible about Moses going to Pharaoh after the plague of frogs came upon the Egyptians. God used frogs because it was one of Egyptian gods. The plague was great and there were frogs everywhere. Pharaoh asked Moses to pray and ask God to remove the frogs. Moses said ok, when do you want them gone? Pharaoh said something interesting. He said tomorrow. After everything that had happened and the destruction the frogs brought, he said tomorrow. When people come face to face with their sins, many times they will balk. Even though they know that it was the sin that got them into trouble in the first place. They will balk. Standing in the presence of God seeing your sins clearly isn’t something that feels good. You see everything. It is exposed by the light of God. God wants us to ask forgiveness so He can restore us to His kingdom. But isn’t it funny that man wants to run and hide from God. Just as Adam did in the Garden of Eden. The only way we can be set free is to face our sins in the presence of God. He will forgive and cleanse our hearts so we can live the good life He has promised. Think about it one more night with the frogs or not.
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Have you ever heard your name called throughout eternity? It is an eerie thing. I would turn to see who was calling me. So many times there was no one around or that knew my name. Who knew my name to call to me like that? I went to a beach one night to enjoy the silence. And I heard my name being called in the pounding of the surf. I began to reason in myself who could call my name like that. I came to a conclusion that there is only one person who could call like that. And I wondered why He would be calling me. I was no prize catch. I was no good even to myself. Why would anyone bother with me? What did they want? The answer was very simple. It was me. I knew it had to be God calling. When He called again, I said ok show me why you are calling me. And He did. He sent two men into my life to explain why God would be interested in me. It took a while for it to sink into my thick skull. But it did. When I first started I knew nothing. I had to read just to find out what was about. That was 37 years ago. And I still hear my name being called throughout eternity. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that anyone who would believe will have everlasting life. This promise was made to you forever.
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One of Napoleon’s generals won a battle because as he told his troops to march to the sounds of the guns. American General George Custer believed the same thing. He won many battles during the Civil War. It has been my battle cry since I began. I would never look for trouble, but when it showed up I faced it head on. I have been in so many battles that no one has ever seen or heard. The battles I fought weren’t bloody like D-Day, but saved as many lives as I could. I have faced enemies large and small. They have always done one thing for me to make me angry. As a wild boar would turn and rend the person, so did I did to the devil and his cohorts. I would run head long into the battle, because God promised me I would come out on the other side. And even if I didn’t I still would have stopped the devil’s plans. The devil isn’t all powerful. If the devil wants to do something he has to go to God and ask permission. The only way he can defeat us is if a person gives him permission. Our faith coupled with the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword dividing asunder soul and spirit. If you want to join the battle, you are going to have to train in the word of God. You start by trusting and believing God Himself and let Him led you into battle.
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Jesus had just finished preaching to a multitude. He told His disciples let us get into the boat and go to other side. We are talking about Sea of Galilee in Israel. These guys were rowing across. The Sea of Galilee is about 14 miles across. It would take a while to row across. Like most inland lakes, a storm arose. All these men are experienced fishermen. They have lived and worked in good or bad weather. But this storm was particularly bad. They all became afraid. Jesus on the other hand was sleeping on the rear of the boat. At first they didn’t wake Him up. But the storm got really bad. Finally they went to Jesus and woke Him. They started pleading their case about the storm. Jesus reacted differently than they expected. He rebuked them. He said what is wrong with you. Why are you afraid? Why don’t you have faith? Jesus rebuked the storm and said, Peace be still. They looked at Him and said who is this man that the storm obeys? Jesus said greater thing shall you do because I go to My Father. If that is true, then why are you afraid and why don’t you have faith?
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There is a lot being said about PTSD. What is being said is mostly about veterans of our wars. For the longest time it was called Shell Shocked. There are cases in the US Civil War of it. In WWII, it was called Battle Fatigue. At first no one wanted to even recognize that it existed. But when it became prevalent, people had to say that it did indeed exist. I have a friend who was a US Marine rifleman at Khe Sanh in Vietnam. He smokes cigarettes and walks everywhere he goes. He can’t hold job. He doesn’t like to be around crowds of people. But what he saw at Khe Sanh was horrendous. Most of his friends were blown to pieces. All the survivors were moved to Da Nang. Which also fell. He came home but his mind was still in Vietnam. This condition not only happens to soldiers, it also happens to people everywhere. The school shootings that have taken place over past few years. The bombing in Boston at the Marathon or the most recent was the shootings in South Carolina at the church. People thought they were safe in that church. Now they are not. The horror or fear that can come on a person because of such events can be overwhelming. Overwhelming to the point that a person can’t function at all. God says, in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” God will answer us if we pray and ask.
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