COME UNTO ME.......REST!

THE HECTIC PACE OF LIFE TODAY TENDS TO
WEARY A BODY AND SOUL. WITH ALL OF THE
EXPECTATIONS THAT WE PUT UPON OURSELVES,
IN ADDITION TO THOSE THAT OTHERS PUT UPON
US (INCLUDING THOSE THAT WE IMAGINE ARE
BEING PUT UPON US), OUR MINDS, SPIRITS, AND
BODIES OFTEN GET TIRED - WEARY AS JESUS
STATED IT.

BELOVED - CHRISTIAN FRIEND - CHILD OF GOD,
DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE DRAGGED INTO THE
WHIRLPOOL OF DESPAIR THAT SATAN AND HIS
MINIONS WOULD HAVE YOU DIZZYING YOURSELF
WITH!!

WORKING FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME, RUNNING
CHILDREN TO ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES, WHETHER
SCHOOL FUNCTIONS, SPORTS, SOCIAL OR CHURCH
GATHERINGS, OR WHATEVER, TOO OFTEN WE WHO
ARE "HIS" FIND OURSELVES BELONGING TO EVERYONE
EXCEPT HIM!!

HOW'S LIFE FOR YOU? BUSY? TOO BUSY?
ARE YOU TAKING ON MORE THAN YOU SHOULD?
CAN SOME OF YOUR "BUSYNESS" BE CUT BACK?
ARE THERE ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BE CUT OUT?
IS EVERYTHING YOU'RE "INTO" IMPORTANT OR
NECESSARY?

SOMETIMES EVEN TOO MUCH "CHURCH" INVOLVE-
MENT CAN BE JUST THAT - TOO MUCH!!
DON'T GET ME WRONG, THERE ARE SOME FOLK
THAT NEED TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN WHAT GOD
IS DOING AND WANTING TO DO IN THEIR PARISH
OR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, BUT BECAUSE THEY
DON'T - OTHERS HAVE TO "TAKE UP THE SLACK"!
AND OFTEN GOOD, QUALIFIED, CONCERNED,
WILLING PEOPLE STRRRRRRRRRRRETCH THEM-
SELVES TOO THIN DOING "GOD'S WORK"!!

DO YOU HEAR MY HEART?
AM I SPEAKING TO YOU?
WHETHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES OR CHRISTIAN
WORK, OR SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT SUCH AS CLUBS,
PTA, SPORTS, POLITICS, OR ANY OF A NUMBER OF
OTHER GOOD, SOUND, ACCEPTABLE THINGS, IT IS
SOOOOOOOOOOO EASY FOR YOU AND ME TO
"BE TOO BUSY" OR TO BE TOO MUCH "ON THE GO"!

WORKING TOO MANY HOURS.
WORKING TOO MANY JOBS.
TAKING ON "TOO MUCH".
TRYING TO "SAVE THE WORLD".
WANTING TO BE "MRS. OR MR. GOODBODY".

ARE YOU TIRED? EXASPERATED? WORN OUT?
ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE? WEARY?

JESUS SAYS, "COME TO ME ALL WHO ARE WEARY,
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST"! (MATTHEW 11:28)

INSTEAD OF TAKING TIME FOR EVERYBODY ELSE,
INCLUDING YOURSELF, YOUR SAVIOUR DESIRES
AND WANTS YOU TO COME ASIDE AND SPEND TIME
WITH HIM!!
WHETHER IT'S JUST SITTING AND MEDITATING,
OR SINGING A HYMN OR CHORUS, OR WORSHIPPING
HIM AND THE FATHER, OR PRAYING, OR READING
OR REMEMBERING SOME OF HIS WORDS, JESUS IS
DESIROUS OF HAVING YOU COME TO HIM AND
REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY!!

SLOW DOWN, FRIEND. EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES.
ASK HIM TO HELP YOU TO KNOW WHERE YOU NEED
TO SHORTEN YOUR LIST OF "TO DO" ITEMS, SO THAT
YOU CAN FIND TIME FOR HIS PRESENCE.
IS HE GETTING ENOUGH OF YOU?
IS HE GETTING ENOUGH OF YOUR TIME?
IS HE GETTING ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE?
IS HE GETTING YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION?

ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH OF HIM?
ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH OF HIS TIME?
ARE YOU ENJOYING THE FULLNESS OF HIS LOVE?
ARE YOU SPENDING TIME ALONE WITH HIM?

HE'S WAITING.

ANOTHER FAVORITE VERSE OF MINE IS IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT - "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT
I AM GOD". BE STILL.
SLOW DOWN. BE STILL. LISTEN. REACH UP.
FEEL HIS NEARNESS. BASK IN HIS LOVE.
EXCITE WITH HIS WORDS. "COME UNTO ME......."

THE GLORY OF THE LORD!!

I have always been intrigued by the passages in
the books of Kings and Chronicles that describe
the scene at the dedication of the Temple by Solomon.
It was such an awesome time, a time when God's
people had a visible reminder of the existence and
presence of God, and a place where they could both
worship and sacrifice to Him.
The priests, who were God's called-ones to minister
the traditional rites and rituals, and to bring the
word from God, as well as to enter the inner court
and Holy of Holies to represent the Israelites, were
unable to minister because of the CLOUD OF THE
PRESENCE OF GOD!
The people fell on their knees and faces and cried
out "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever."
I Kings chapter 8, verse 10 states that "when the
priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the
house of the Lord, so that the priests could not
continue ministering......for the GLORY OF THE LORD
filled the house of the Lord." (Caps mine)
Have you ever experienced such an event?
I have.
WHAT AN AWESOME, FEARFUL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!
I have been blessed to be in some church services when
God's presence was so heavy, like a cloud, that the
minister could not preach, the singers could not perform
their planned music, and the entire "order of service" had
to be scrapped so that God could "do His thing"!!
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE SAVED in such a time!
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE HEALED at such an event!
I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN SANCTIFIED AND
CLEANSED AND LIFTED during such services!
Were these occurrences confined to the Old Testament
and the Temple dedication, or the Tabernacle?
NO! I believe that God, our Father, Creator, and
Saviour wants to reveal Himself to us in such a
manner even yet TODAY! I believe that God would
come and visit His people in community with an
unusual demonstration of His presence and power
that only He can provide.
Orders of services are fine, schedules of worship
are good, being sure to include hymns and Bible
readings are important, but when peoples' hearts
are hungry for the presence of the Living God, I
believe that there is a time and purpose for us
to "LET GOD BE GOD" by entering into the Holy-
of-Holies ourselves, and to allow our hearts and
spirits to be enveloped with His love, power, and
grace and presence!
PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME - I would not
ever be encouraging the "manufacturing" of such
a happening, but it would be beneficial to all in
attendance to allow the "moving of the spirit" to
lead us into an "unplanned" (by man) time of just
sitting, standing, or kneeling in the "glory of the
Lord" as He offers and presents Himself to us!!
Am I saying that God is not present in a "structured"
church service? NO. God can and does use the
pre-ordered plan that He gives to the person who
sets the order of worship. BUT HE CAN AND WILL,
when we allow Him to, make Himself known to
each one of us individually, as well as the entire
congregation present in worship in ways that He,
and He alone can design!

Heard any juicy morsels lately?

It's time for confession! As hard as it is to do,
I must admit to one ongoing weakness in my
character that I have struggled with for all of
my life, and which I believe I have made some
measurable progress with over the last few years.
That problem is negative speaking about another
person, which could and often does involve
GOSSIP!
I've asked God to give me a kinder, gentler spirit,
one which accepts every one of my fellow man,
but some people just make it hard to like them,
let alone love them as God's Word teaches us!
Heard any "good stuff" lately?
Proverbs chapter 18, verse 8 says, "The words of
a talebearer are like tasty trifles......." Do you
enjoy getting "the latest" on another person?
Especially if it's in a negative vein?
Are you often anxious to pass along what you
just heard? With a bit of embellishment, of course.
The issue is not just a matter of liking or not liking
a certain person or people, but our sinful human
nature seems to delight in another's plight.
Get my drift?
Are you spending an appreciable amount of time
on the phone daily to "catch up on the latest"?
Are you eager to see certain other people to get
their "news report" on mutual acquaintances?
Do you relish being the one who reports on
what you've heard or think you've heard, etc.?
How often do you add your commentary to
what someone has told you about another, making
it seem like "gospel", when it often is just lies
masking as news or truth?
Are you a talebearer?
Do you eagerly get the latest on certain persons
or a certain person so that you can take joy at
their problems or situation?
How many people do you not like, or dislike,
or even "hate"? Have you used that term when
speaking about another person? Why?
Verse 21 of our chapter says, "Death and life are
in the power of the tongue.....". Turn to the
New Testament book of James, chapter 3, please,
and read the first twelve verses. WOW!
Friend, let me caution you about a few things:
l. Gossip can cause you to have a hard heart.
2. Gossip can bring another person to ruin.
3. Gossip destroys friendships.
4. Gossip will interfere with God's workings.
5. Gossip will separate you from the Savior.
6. Gossip will limit who your friends are.
7. Gossip will cause you to be "branded".
8. Gossip can keep a group or church from
succeeding in its mission.
9. Gossip limits the positive efforts you need
to make on ensuring your salvation.
10. Gossip may ultimately keep you from
getting to Heaven!
STRONG WORDS, I know, but my concern is that
people of God, especially, allow the Holy Spirit
to control their tongues (hearts and minds first),
in order to preserve their eternal rewards!!
PRAY, and ask God to help you to inventory
your attitudes and actions, and help you to be
positive in your speech, making you an "uplifter"
rather than a "destroyer" of persons.

WHAT KIND OF AN EXAMPLE AM I?

In one of his letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul
encouraged his "son in the Lord" to "be an example
to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in
spirit, in faith, in purity." (I Timothy 4:12)
Writing of himself in other places, Paul exhorted,
"...join in following my example, and note those
who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."
(Philippians 3:17)
An even stronger imploring is found in First
Corinthians 4:16, where we read (in the New King
James Version), "....I urge you, imitate me."
POWERFUL, YET INTIMIDATING WORDS!
Some would think that the Apostle was being
arrogant or presumptious, but those who know
him from his other writings are easily convinced
that he knew what his position in Jesus afforded
him, and he was confident in his "spiritual skin".
DO YOU AND I DARE TO MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS?
Who is "following" you? For whom are you a "pattern"
to copy? Do you want other Christians to be like you?
HEAVY, HEY?
Seriously, your daily walk and your "Sunday talk" are
being watched by others, from your children to your
students, to those who share worship with you, and
into the streets and workplace and shops.
Some years ago I experienced embarrassment when
a local pastor that I knew of, but didn't know on a
personal basis, argued rather loudly with an employee
in a local hardware store about a lawnmower's price.
I was attending another church in that same town,
but shared corporate shame by his actions.
We need to ask ourselves what kind of Christians
our world perceives us as. Our lives bespeak of
our Saviour and Lord. WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK
OF HIM AS THEY WITNESS OUR LIVES?
Are you attentive in church?
Do you participate in services?
Is your "gift" to the Lord in the offering plate?
Are others "moved" by your devotion?
Is your church better because of you?
Will children remember your dedication?
Do your neighbors know where you go Sundays?
Do they know "why"?
Do your fellow-employees know that you're
"one of His"? How?
Does your speech honor your Lord?
IS YOUR LIFE & LIFESTYLE WORTH IMITATING?
First Corinthians 11:1 gives us another of the
statements of Paul, perhaps an even stronger one
than those previously quoted: "Imitate me, just
as I also imitate Christ."
Of course, we wouldn't want anyone to copy our
"non-Christian" behaviour or thoughts, but it
would be a blessing to know that others desire
to be "like Jesus", and "like me".
Wouldn't it be great to hear others say that they
want to be like you and me because we emulate
the Lord Jesus? What a glorious statement of
our life's example to hear such a declaration in
Heaven, namely that we represented our Saviour
well to others!!
In Paul's treatise to Titus he encouraged him to
"in all, show yourself to be a pattern of good works,
in doctrine, integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
(and) sound speech."
Remember, you are a walking, talking BILLBOARD
FOR JESUS! Advertise well, my friend.
I'm praying for you.

ON BEING "THE KING'S CUPBEARER"!

While attending the Thursday evening Bible study
at our church, the subject being the book of Nehemiah
and the rebuilding project that God led him to lead,
I am struck with the position and posture that the
man, Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes
(I love saying that name) held during his service.
Upon further comtemplation based on what one
would gather from the text in chapters 1 & 2, we
could gain "volumes" of information and inspiration
from the dedication that Nehemiah put into his job.
And from the conversations that he had with the
King, it makes you feel challenged to consider what
your relationship is with your "employer", as a
Christian in the workplace.
What position of respect have you earned in the
eyes of your supervisor(s) or fellow-employees?
While the mindset of worldlings is to just do what
is necessary or required to "get by" and keep your
job, we who are "King's Kids", heirs and joint-heirs
of the Kingdom of God, ought to be giving our best
to our employment!!
Are we good examples?
Are we conscientious workers?
Do we do our jobs gladly & willingly?
Do we earn our pays?
Do we claim time which we didn't work?
Do we set a standard for others to follow?
Do we "extend" our breaks or lunches?
Do we "appropriate" office supplies for home?
Are we taking Jesus to work with us?
Does our work ethic speak of our testimony?
Are we thankful that we have a job?
Getting my drift? We who "name the Name" should
be "model" employees! Without "wearing our religion
on our sleeves or foreheads", people should be able
to see that we belong to God, and that we do our job
well, because we are His!
"Religion" or our Christianity, is not just for church or
Sunday School class or Bible Study, if it's worth having
at all, it's worth having IN ALL! In all that you do, the
Scriptures exhort us, DO AS UNTO THE LORD!!
Whether playing sports, recreating at the playground,
shopping at the grocery store, working in our yards
or gardens, at the repair shop, attending ballgames,
or wherever, you represent your Lord and Saviour!!
BE HONEST - IF YOU WERE AN EMPLOYER, WOULD
YOU HIRE YOU TO WORK FOR YOU? Selah.

"He who has a generous eye......"

It's all over the news about the 7.0 earthquake
that hit our neighbor, Haiti. How utterly horrible
and devastating! The pictures are sometimes
almost too much to look at, what with the human
suffering in particular that we can see and feel
as the newscasts report the tragedy.
My heart is warmed, however, at the largess of
people all over the world, Americans especially,
who have been giving of their time, airplanes,
medical supplies, debris removal equipment,
and most importantly, MONEY!
Most of us are limited as to sending the needed
supplies and physical assistance required, but
we have picked up our phones and given, (not
pledged) our $10 donations repeatedly, until
millions of dollars have been collected immediately
for the relief efforts. How amazing! I have long
believed that our country, with its Christian
background and flavor, is the biggest donor to
hurting peoples around the globe, but this latest
outreach is A MIRACLE!!
Jesus said that we should "Do unto others as you
would have others do unto you.", the Golden Rule
as it's often referred to, and it is so gratifying to
see how we have responded and are responding
to the hurts and needs of Haiti.
Granted, the island nation has not been a "close"
friend over the years, what with dictators and
corrupt government officials suppressing the
populace and stealing their assets, as well as
the assistance provided on a regular basis by
caring peoples from the U.S.A. and elsewhere,
but the toll of human suffering, from deaths to
injuries to loss of family members, let alone the
witnessing of all the horrible scenes, has brought
out "the best" in us, and I thank God for it!!
Proverbs chapter 22, verse 9 says, "He who has
a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his
'bread' to the poor." (Bread punctuation mine.)
The pictures of suffering and the heartfeltness of
it have caused fellow-humans to sense and
respond to the needs of a devastated people, and
may God Bless Us, Everyone, for reaching out to
ease the pain and loss and suffering of Haitians.
I'M PROUD OF YOU & GOD IS PLEASED!!

GOD HAS NO "UNEMPLOYMENT LINE"

Despite all of the promises that have been made,
our country's unemployment percentage continues
to climb, now at 10.8%!! Though 3 million jobs
were promised us, over 4 million have been lost!
HAPPY TO REPORT, however, that there is no
lack of opportunity in God's Kingdom! We all
have been given an assignment. We all have a
"job to do". We all are expected to "punch in"
and get busy! We all have a "payday" ahead!
As long as our Lord Jesus holds off His return,
you and I, as "ambassadors for Christ", have been
"hired" as it were, to represent Him to the lost
souls in the world around us.
IT'S YOUR APPOINTED DUTY, friend of mine,
to tell others by your lifestyle and conversation
how WONDERFUL JESUS IS, and what HE CAN DO
for them!!
It's not a hard task, really, it's quite a pleasurable
one - just living out the Christlife that you and I
have been adopted into through His life & death!
LIVE JESUS!
SING JESUS!
TALK JESUS!
THINK JESUS!
WALK JESUS!
WRITE JESUS!
If indeed He is our Saviour and Lord, then it should
be quite "natural" (supernatural) for us to have Him
on our minds and in our activities regularly, daily!!
Whether at school, at work, in the market, on the
street, in a meeting, on the internet, writing cards
or letters, of just living our normal lives, those
around us who are LOST should be able to see, hear,
and know that JESUS MEANS SOMETHING TO US,
and that He can mean the same to them!!
In your business transactions, in your tax report,
in your speech, in your attitude(s), in your
expression(s), "let all that you do be to the GLORY
OF GOD"!
You have an assignment, a JOB, if you will, and
that is to help reach everyone you can, whether
directly or overtly, with THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
that JESUS SAVES and changes lives for the better
as well as for eternity!
WILL YOU ACCEPT YOUR ASSIGNMENT?
WILL YOU BE "HIRED" BY GOD" TO WORK FOR HIM?
I pray that you will.
Oh, yes, THERE IS A PAYDAY COMING, when we
stand before God at the Judgment, and we hear
those words, "Well done.....enter into the JOY
OF THE LORD!"

P.S. We represent our Saviour in our prayers,
speech, tithes, offerings, attendance at services,
encouragement to pastors and missionaries, and
in all that we are and do, including any service
that we can give Him, such as teaching, singing,
settup and cooking for dinners, inviting unsaved
to services, etc.
NO LINES! NO WAITING! YOU'RE "HIRED"!

WE NEED TO BE "PEOPLE OF 'THE BOOK'!"

I know that I've written something similar to this
before, but the timing is exquisite for another
attempt to get you into your Bible!
It's only January 5th, and there's plenty of time
for you to begin to read through the Word of God
this year! I have a plan.
I did the math, and I came up with 267 chapters
in the New Testament, and 950 in the O.T., give
or take a couple, perhaps.
That being the case, if you read one chapter in
the New Testament every morning, and 2 or 3
chapters in the Old Testament later in the day,
you'll probably finish the entire Bible before the
year is over!! WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!!
The only catch to it is this - if you are, or if you
become "a student of the Word", you may find
yourself spending some extra time in some
very interesting passages. "Falling behind" is NOT
a bad thing!
The idea is to get you to FALL IN LOVE with the
message(s) that God has had written and pre-
served for you! What a good way to start 2010!
There will be "snow days", vacation days, rainy
days, etc. when you can read ahead or even do
some catching up, but don't put yourself in any
pressure.
A notepad or journal next to your Bible as you
read is a good idea, as is another translation or
two. Feel free to make notes in the margins of
your Bible - you're further consecrating your
copy of God's Word by notating the invaluable
truths that He is showing you as you read!!
The reason for starting the day with the New
Testament is that it is "where you are" now in
life, with the words that you are living and
following now.
The Old Testament, replete with history and
prophecies, is still full of verses, psalms, and
soul-felt lessons from which you can benefit, too!
THE BIBLE HAS ROMANCE, POETRY, ADVENTURE,
HISTORY, BIOGRAPHIES, AND MUCH MORE FOR
YOU!! "Discover the Bible all over again", to borrow
a popular advertising phrase. You'll be the
better for it, trust me - you'll soon see!!

P.S. As helpful as your Pastor's sermons may be,
of those of the TV ministers, you need that regular
feeding on God's truths! Sunday School and weekly
Bible Study is helpful, too, but nothing can take the
place of you "hearing directly from God".
I'm praying for you.