Archive for the ‘ Christian Discipline ’ Category

Possible Does Not Mean Permissible

Each of us have wondered at some time, “Why is it that God answers some prayers and not others?”  Many great preachers have taught great sermons on this matter.  Sometimes the most simple explanation suffices in place of deep theological exhortations.  This is one possible simple explanation.

Everyone loves to hear a scripture like Mark 10:27 where it says, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”  This is good for our faith.  To know and believe that God can do anything should give us strength and hope.  That same scripture can be a problem when we have a need for something seemingly impossible and God does not come through for us.  Read the rest of this entry

More Than I Can Bear

The story is told of a man who goes to Jesus wanting to trade out his cross for a better one.  He tells the Lord, “I see the crosses others are carrying and theirs are much more bearable than mine.  Why does my cross have to be so cumbersome and heavy?  Other people carry their cross with ease and mine is hindering my day to day life.”  Jesus leads the man to a room full of crosses.  Some are big and others are small.  The man is instructed to put down his cross and then go select a new cross.  The only stipulation was once he made his selection he could never complain or exchange his cross again. He searches for hours on end.  The big crosses were just as he assumed  very large and very heavy.  He knew there was no way he could ever carry those crosses.  The smaller crosses were shockingly painful.  Some had stickers that constantly stuck you in the shoulder or back reminding you of the beams you were bearing.  Others were oddly shaped and rubbed the neck raw.  Finally the man came upon a cross that was perfect for him.  Read the rest of this entry

What Are You Saying?

At some point in time, every one of us has had someone say the following statement to us.  If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.  More than likely it was your mother.  It is one of those golden statements that you say to your children and they will say it to their children.  The reason being is because it is such a truthful statement.  There is enough negativity in our world and in our lives that we do not need to add to all the negativity. Read the rest of this entry

I Beleive In Evolution

I have a confession.  I believe in evolution.  We evolve.  Not as a race but in life in general.  I do not believe I came from a protein that was able to form on the back of a crystal.  I did not used to swing from trees.  My great, great, great grandfather never had a tail or lived in the oceans.  Yet we have evolved.  Evolution is defined as, “A process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage; especially a more advanced or mature stage.” Read the rest of this entry

A Habit of Prayer

We, by design, are creatures of habit.  There is a specific routine that we follow every morning.  We reach out automatically to turn on a light.  We do not think about where the light switch is, we just reach out to where we know it is.  It has been proven that it takes about 21 days to form a habit in your life.  When you move into a new house after 21 days you automatically reach for the light switch without thinking about where it is at.  Before then you rummage around in the dark until you find it. Read the rest of this entry

The Scaffolding Is Up

     In the building where I work they have begun to do some remodeling.  I am an avid remodeler.  Every house I have bought needed remodeling done to it.  But something caught my attention about this remodeling.  These men have been working for a week and have yet to rip out one piece of sheet rock, cut one piece of wood, or demolish a single old structure.  It is not their lack of accomplishments that have me intrigued, but rather their preparedness. Read the rest of this entry

Will You Join Me?

            This past week I sat and discussed scriptures and doctrine with a wonderful couple for over an hour and a half.  They were polite and kind, yet determined and knowledgeable of the scriptures.  We spent most of the conversation differentiating between gifts of the Spirit and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  I pray a seed was planted in their hearts that causes them to seek for more of God. Read the rest of this entry

If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me

A Lark and Her Young Ones
By Aesop
            A Lark had made her nest in the early spring on the young green wheat. The brood had almost grown to their full strength and attained the use of their wings and the full plumage of their feathers, when the owner of the field, looking over his ripe crop, said, “The time has come when I must ask all my neighbors to help me with my harvest.”
            One of the young larks heard his speech and related it to his mother, inquiring of her to what place they should move for safety.  “There is no occasion to move yet, my son,” she replied; “the man who only sends to his friends to help him with his harvest is not really in earnest.” Read the rest of this entry

Christ Did Not Die For You

        I love the story of the cross and how Jesus laid down His life for us.  When you truly understand that He died to give us life it make the message even more powerful.  2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says it best.  Paul said, “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (The Message). Read the rest of this entry