Sunday, January 30, 2011

Is This Your Time?

"...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14b

No one knew after Vashti, Queen of King Ahasuerus in Shushan, refused to go to the King at his request, that the King would later choose Esther, a beautiful orphaned Jew, to be his new Queen. No one but God!

Mordecai had charge over her and treated her like his own daughter. She was his uncle's daughter and had neither mother nor father. He had told her not to speak of her heritage, and she obeyed.

When Mordecai later learned of the plot by Haman to destroy the Jews, he sent word to Esther about it and made her aware that this decree would affect her family, as well as herself in the palace, and that only she could make King Ahasuerus aware of what was happening. At first she refused, thinking of the danger she would have to place herself in to go before the King without being called. But Mordecai told her that this could be the reason God had allowed her to be in this position at this time. She needed to step up! And, she did!

Often times we are in a position to do things for God, but think only of ourselves and what others may think or do to us if we do something or stand up for God. It could be as simple as handing someone a track or working around the House of God or more involved like telling someone about your testimony and what Jesus did for you.  Did you ever stop to think that God has put you in a unique position at a specific time for a certain purpose? You may be the only one able to reach that special person at particular time. Will you tell God "no" or will you step up?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Take time to give God thanks!

Psalm 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Bothersome Sight!

It’s a bothersome sight when they arrive late
It makes one wonder if they even want to congregate.

It’s a bothersome sight when they set just inside
Are they not rejoiceful that Christ was crucified?

It’s a bother some sight when the hymns are sung
My oh my they all look so numb.

It’s a bothersome sight when the preachings aright
Why many snooze and say nite nite.

It’s a bothersome sight when the invitations are gave
Why the alters remain empty, barren, and grave.

It’s a bothersome sight when the services dismiss
 For too many lives still wander amiss.

- T. Price

 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

- Hebrews 10:25 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

God only gives three answers to prayer:

1. "Yes!"

2. "Not Yet!"
3. "I have something better in mind!"

Friday, January 14, 2011

First time sledding!
Phil. 4:7

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Be Ye Separate

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, 2 Corinthians 6:17a

The Word of God tells us that we should be separated from the world. We shouldn't look like them, act like them, or talk like them. We should be distinguishable from them.

In Verse 14 of the same chapter, we are told: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? We aren't to marry an unbeliever, but also we shouldn't be hanging out with them either. Remember your parents telling you "you are who your friends are"? If you're hanging around unbelievers, you'll look, act, and talk like them - AND no one will be able to recognize you're not one of them.

This separation is also known as Sanctification.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

If Jesus Came to Your House

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do?
Oh, I know you’d give Him your nicest room – this honored Guest,
And all the food you’d serve to Him would be the very best;
And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there,
That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare.

But – when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your Heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?
Would you turn off the television and hope He hadn’t heard?
And wish you hadn’t uttered that loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder – if the Saviour spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they’d stay away ‘til His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you!

- Author Unknown

Sunday, January 2, 2011

What's that noise in the distance?

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. 
Ezra 3:12-13

 
I found this passage interesting this morning. It struck me that the priests, Levites and the older men were weeping at the sight of the new temple. They knew how glorious the old temple was, and the new one didn't compare. They also knew that the glory of the LORD used to be with Israel day and night, but now, even though they had His mercy, they had not His glory.

How much like America is this scenario? The older Christians and the few Fundamental Christians know how much the Glory of the Lord has left this great land. The older Christians remember the revivals that swept our country years ago, and lasted for weeks, not three days. The younger Fundamental Christians hunger for this type of revival, but we're maybe getting crumbs of it here and there. All the while, the contemporary Christians are jumping up and down, waiving their hands, crying out with joy over something they think is great - and they are oblivious to the shouting and cries of sorrow around them.  AND, those who are not considered Christians at all, look at the whole and cannot distinguish the two apart.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  
2 Corinthians 6:17-18