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.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
"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!!
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!!
Monday, January 11, 2010
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"!
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"!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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.
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.
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