WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU TRULY HAPPY?

ARE YOU HAPPY?  IF SO, HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT STATE?
WHAT DID IT TAKE TO SATISFY YOU TO THE LEVEL OF
CONTENTMENT AND JOY THAT YOU CURRENTLY OWN?

NOT HAPPY?  WHY NOT?  WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET YOU
OUT OF YOUR DOLDRUMS AND INTO AN ATTITUDE OF
PLEASANTNESS?

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT "GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
IS GREAT GAIN."
AGAIN, "......LEARN.....TO BE CONTENT."

WHAT EVENT(S), WHAT FRIENDSHIPS, WHAT POSSESSIONS
WOULD YOU NEED TO PUT A SMILE IN YOUR HEART AND
ON YOUR FACE, CONTINUALLY?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LACKING? 
ARE YOU IN POOR HEALTH?
DO YOU NOT HAVE "ENOUGH" MONEY?
ARE YOU FRIENDLESS AND ALONE?
DO OTHERS OFTEN DISAPPOINT YOU?

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY?

HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO YOU HAVE?
HOW MANY PAIRS OF PANTS ARE IN YOUR CLOSET?
HOW MANY COLORS OF TOPS ARE IN YOUR BUREAU?
HOW BIG IS YOUR LIBRARY?
DO YOU NEED MORE TIES?  (careful, now)
IS THE WEATHER SUITING YOU?  DOES IT EVER?
HOW MANY PAIRS OF SOCKS DO YOU OWN?
HOW MANY BELTS?  WHY?
ARE THESE THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU "HAPPY"?
COULD YOU DO WITH LESS AND STILL BE "HAPPY"?
HOW MUCH LESS?

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY?

CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT PEOPLE IN MOST OF THE
OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD HAVE A LOT LESS
THAN YOU HAVE!  CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?  WHAT
IF YOU LIVED THERE AND HAD ONLY ONE PAIR OF
SHOES (or none) TO WEAR, ONLY ONE TUNIC OR
BERKA, A PIECE OF ROPE TO HOLD YOU PANTS ON,
NO ACCESS TO A RITE-AID TO PURCHASE HAIR
PRODUCTS OR MAKEUP, ETC.  WHAT IF YOUR
WATER SUPPLY WAS "SUSPECT", BUT IT WAS THE
ONLY ONE YOU HAD?

GETTING MY DRIFT?  WE ARE SOOOO BLESSED!
IN LIGHT OF THE TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN, IT
BEHOOVES US TO TAKE INVENTORY OF THOSE
"THINGS" THAT WE THINK WE NEED, MANY OF
WHICH WE COULD EASILY DO WITHOUT, AND
CURTAIL EXPENSES, REDUCE OUR WARDROBES,
LIVE MORE SIMPLY, AND EVEN THINK ABOUT
PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE "MELTDOWN" OF
OUR WAY OF LIFE!?!

THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR CAN ONLY USE ONE PAIR
OF SHOES, ONE SUIT OR DRESS, ETC.
YOU CAN'T TAKE THE REST TO HEAVEN - YOU'LL
GET A NEW WARDROBE THERE, ANYWAY!
AND THE REST OF YOUR "STUFF" WON'T GAIN YOU
ANY "POINTS" UP THERE! 


CAN YOU BE HAPPY WITH LESS?  ARE YOU BEING
A GOOD STEWARD OF GOD'S BLESSINGS AND
ENABLINGS?  REMEMBER WHEN JESUS SENT
HIS DISCIPLES OUT WITH ONLY THE COAT ON
THEIR BACKS AND A SINGLE PAIR OF SANDALS?

COULD YOU BE JESUS' DISCIPLE?  ARE YOU?  AM I?
WHOA, THAT'S HITTING CLOSE TO HOME.

I BELIEVE THAT GOD'S MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE
IS TO LIVE MORE FRUGALLY, MORE SIMPLY, MORE
HOLY AND LESS-ATTACHED LIVES.  THINK ABOUT
IT.  PRAY ABOUT IT.

WHAT WOULD JESUS HAVE YOU CHANGE AND
STILL MAKE YOU HAPPY, OR EVEN HAPPIER?  CAN
YOU LIVE THE "JESUS-LIFE" WITH A LOT LESS THAN
YOU CURRENTLY POSSESS?  "THINGS" TAKE SO
MUCH CARE AND CONSUME SO MUCH OF OUR
TIME AND THOUGHTS, THAT WE NEED TO COMMIT
OURSELVES AND OUR POSSESIONS TO OUR SAVIOUR!!

GOD BLESS YOU - I'M PRAYING FOR YOU (AND MYSELF).

WHAT THE HELL, ROB BELL?

An avant-garde pastor from Michigan has been promulgating
a teaching that has tickled the ears of not only the 7,000
members of his Mars Hill Bible Church, but has been catching
the fancy of others who have heard him speak, and who are
reading his new book.

Rob Bell, creator of the "Nooma" videos which we have used
in our teen Sunday School class, is publicly expressing his
inner belief that the place known biblically as "HELL", may
very well not exist!  Humph.

It's called "universalism", a teaching that Jesus was crucified
for everyone, and that their accepting of Him or his sacrifice
is not essential to their eternal salvation.  Huh?

Akin to the doctrine of Calvinism, namely "eternal security",
this teaching has the portent of sending souls to their
damnation, rather than trust in the finished work of Christ
and accepting Him, followed by obeying His teachings.

Why would all those people want to hear such heresy?
JESUS TAUGHT THE REALITY OF HELL AND THE
AWFUL TORMENT OF THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO GO THERE!

Is Rob Bell smarter than Jesus?
Is Rob Bell holier than Jesus?
Is Rob Bell closer to the Father than Jesus?
Has Bell had a "revelation" not given to Jesus Christ?
I THINK NOT.

Scripture talks of those who want to hear aberrations of the
truth.  We are warned not to have our "ears tickled" by
those who preach a FALSE GOSPEL, that other than what
Jesus and the Apostles taught.

ROB BELL IS DANGEROUSLY PUSHING PEOPLE CLOSE
TO THE PRECIPICE OF ETERNAL HELLFIRE!

Do I understand the concept of Hell?  NO.  Do I believe
that there are "levels" of existence after this life, depending
on what kind of people we are?  NO.  Am I happy about
the fact that those "outside of Christ" are facing an
awful, uncertain, everlasting fate?  NO.  Are you?

If, indeed the Bible is the Word Of God, then we have no
choice but to accept its teachings.  Pity the person who
"adds to or takes away" from its teachings.  We have no
other or better or surer guide to God and spirituality than
Holy Scriptures.  Those who try to change its teachings
are in danger of being "anathema"!

I would rather that Bell change the name of his church -
to what I won't suggest, only that the word "Bible"
should be deleted.  The whole truth or stop speaking.

WARNING:  I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE POTENTIAL MISLEADING OF SOULS AS TO
THEIR ETERNAL FATE.

Rob Bell, carefully consider and weigh your words - God
will not take lightly the responsibility that you're taking
upon yourself - it could cost you dearly.

Friend, pray for Rob and all of his adherents. 

OH DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?

As time marches (trudges) on, and I approach old age,
I am blessed by the "three score years and ten" that I have
already attained. 

LIFE IS FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD! 

But the Christian must face the reality and the prospect of
leaving this life and "transferring" to the next life.  I often
refer to my previous wife, Jayne's passing, as she
"having graduated to Glory".

DEATH is a foreboding and forbidding word.  It signifies
for many the END of things.  But it is not the end, rather
the BEGINNING for the person of faith, the one who
has put her or his trust in Jesus Christ, the purveyor of
God, the Father's, plan of SALVATION!

Actually, for we who "are His", passing on to the next
level, or to the life beyond, (or entering eternal life) is to
be welcomed and desired, not feared or shunned.

In the "Shepherd's Psalm", we are admonished that
"though (we) walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, (we) will fear no evil (bad thing)."  Psalm 23 in
the Old Testament of the Bible.

A Christian friend of mine has been heard often lately
saying things like, "My bags are packed, I'm ready to go."
Her reference here is to the end of time, what with all
of the turmoil that we hear, see, and read about daily in
the media.  It does have a tendency to "wear on one's
spirit", this constant negativity that life sometimes brings.

ARE YOU READY TO GO?  WILL DYING BE A
BLESSING OR CURSE FOR YOU?

For the believer, as "the Resurrection chapter" (I Corin-
thians, chapter 15), rhetorically speaking, "death, where
is your sting, grave where is your victory?"  Death, or
passing on into eternity and Heaven, does not hurt!  The
grave is not the end!  As Jesus could not be bound by
the placing of His body in the tomb, neither will we be
bound to rot and be destroyed by death or burial!!

Did I hear an "Amen"?  Oh, a chorus of "Amens"!!

To be sure, each day has its contingent of blessings and
joys, but the spirit tires of life and its vicissitudes and
trials, but "Joy comes in the morning!" as one writer
declares!  Another stated, "There will be PEACE in
the valley"!

Accept life as it's given to you, and count your many
blessings, to be sure, but do not struggle when this
time on earth is through - THERE ARE BETTER
TIMES AHEAD - in the Kingdom of God and  in the
fullness of His eternal presence and blessings!

One of the dearest times of my life, and of my years
in the ministry, was being in the room with Dorothy
Graf and her husband, Henry, when she was 'going
home'.  She had such a peaceful countenance and
approach about her, and that has resonated in my
spirit and memory ever since.  As the Scriptures
say, "How beautiful in the sight of the Lord is the
(homecoming) death of His saints." 

Ready?  I am.

GOD LOVES "GAYS"

Without question, the most famous quotation in the
Bible is John, chapter 3, verse 16. We often witness
this reference at sporting events on signs that
spectators display to get others' attention. I'm not
sure that everyone watching knows exactly what
that passage of Scripture says, but for our purpose
here, I quote - "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.".

In a nutshell, these words of Jesus about himself are
encouraging every one of us to know the love of the
Father who devised the great PLAN OF SALVATION
whereby we can be assured of forgiveness of our
sins, acceptance into God's eternal family, a life of
"sinlessness", and the promise of living eternally in
God's planned Kingdom! WOW! That's great!

You and I, friend, can have all of the wrongs of our
pasts erased and forgotten, and we can receive the
enablement to live better, quieter, more peaceful,
and guilt-free lives! WOW! That's great!

I BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE WORD
OF GOD, GIVEN TO MANKIND BY INSPIRATION OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT, 3RD MEMBER OF THE GODHEAD,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHOWING US GOD'S PERFECT
PLAN FOR YOU AND ME!

What we know about the beginning of creation and
time as our race knows it, is that God made us male
and female, "in His image", and "after His likeness".
Despite the "fall" of Satan (Lucifer) from Heaven and
from God's grace, we have had put into effect for us
the way back into God's graces and blessings!

The Bible (Holy Scripture) says nothing about a
third or fourth gender being created by God. "Male"
and "Female" are how we began, and we were instructed
to populate and replenish the earth with offspring. In
other words, be married in holy matrimony to one of
the "opposite sex", have children, and raise (rear) a
family according to the laws and ordinances of God!
That in no way means that those who cannot or who
choose not to have children are incurring the
displeasure of God, or that those who choose to
remain celibate (such as priests) are wrong, rather,
as the Bible says, they can concentrate more on living
"the Godlife" in those states.

Scripture is replete with warnings and admonitions
against "turning the proper use of our bodies" to
other than God's original purpose and plan.

DOES GOD LOVE GAYS? YES!
Does He approve of their lifestyles? NO!
Are there those, both "churched" and "unchurched"
who claim that they are God's just as much as any
others? Yes. But their rationale is shoddy, to put it
kindly, and their belief that God will welcome into
Heaven those who choose to live contrary to His
plan, lacks merit.

HOW DO GAYS BECOME "GAY"? I propose a number
of factors, many or all of which have already been
advanced by others more schooled and knowledgeable
than myself, but I do so with compassion, and a longing
to see others "come into the light" and be God's child
in the truest sense of the word - by spiritual rebirth!

l. A lack of a strong male parent.
2. A domineering mother.
3. Absence of a proper male role model.
4. A doting or uninvolved mother.
5. Contact at an early age with a homosexual.
6. Lack of proper Christian upbringing.
7. Little or no knowledge of the Bible.
8. Unacceptance or bullying in school.
9. No friends of the same gender growing up.
10. Loneliness.
11. Influence of today's television programs.
12. Society's removal from Christian principles
and beliefs and practices.
13. Watering down by sociologists of the negative
effects and outcomes of being "gay".
14. Humanism.
15. Attempts by some to "churchize" or "Christianize"
homosexuality.
16. Lack of fear of the eternal consequences of "living
in sin".
17. Failure to acknowledge that God exists.
18. Refusal to admit that the spiritual law of "cause
and effect" will lead to dysfunctional living.
19. Feelings of discomfort or dissatisfaction with
one's appearance and/or attraction to the
other sex.
20. Acceptance of Satan's lies, such as the one he
posed to Eve in the Garden of Eden.

DOES GOD LOVE GAYS? YES.
DOES GOD LOVE ADULTERERS? YES.
DOES GOD LOVE THIEVES? YES.
DOES GOD LOVE MURDERERS? YES.
DOES GOD LOVE LIARS? YES.
DOES GOD LOVE GOSSIPERS? YES.

NEED I GO ON? The issue is not that God does
or does not love people, but that HE DOES NOT
CONDONE THEIR SINS OR SINFUL WAYS OF LIVING!
God says, "Whatever a (person) sows, he/she also reaps."

GOD LOVES YOU, FRIEND, AND IF YOU ARE
INVOLVED IN ANY ACTIVITY THAT IS WRONG, HE
WILL FORGIVE YOU (IF YOU ASK HIM TO), CLEAN
YOUR SLATE, AND GIVE YOU THE POWER TO LIVE
A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS!!

Jesus said, "Whoever comes to me I will not refuse."
Again, "He who the Son sets FREE is FREE INDEED."
Still, "You shall know THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH
WILL SET YOU FREE."
And He says, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the
LIFE."

Come to Jesus Christ today, friend. Accept His
finished sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary for your
sins and mine. LET HIM MAKE YOU A NEW CREATION!

The Bible says, "If anyone be in Christ, he/she is a
NEW CREATION, old things (ways) have passed away,
YES, and ALL THINGS have become NEW."
I pray for you to become a "new creation" today.
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I. Bill.

P.S. God's Word says "COME OUT" from among them
(sinners) and be separate." It's time to "come out"
for Jesus.

I SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS!

For decades now, there has been an ever-increasing
move/movement by organizations and our government(s)
to allow or give special rights to those who some deem to
be "different", namely those who have tendencies toward
physical or sexual involvement with those of their same
gender or sex.

Numerous local, national, and international groups have
been lobbying by various means to "get their message"
across and to "have their voices heard" by the general
public or the masses, or the majority of the population.
Marches, demonstrations, pressure on businesses and
governing bodies, etc. all have the same intention -
namely that of having the gay, lesbian, and homosexual
segment of our population accepted by granting the
identical privileges and rights that the so-called "straight"
citizenry possess.

This movement has been likened to women's suffrage,
prohitition, black equality, and the plight of illegal
immigrants, among others. Slowly but surely, the
"water is disintegrating the rock", as the old saying goes,
with more and more acceptance and support being
given to the homosexual causes with ever-increasing
fever and fervor.

I think that I understand the plight of the protestors
and proponents of the so-called "gay" rights militants,
and I agree that they have certain "inalienable" rights
to which they have not been party, for the most part.
I herewith offer my proposals for the granting of these
rights to the aforementioned:

1. Gays have the "RIGHT" to remain celibate, despite
their insistence on needing to interact.
2. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be counseled by qualified
persons or professionals as to how and why their
"tendencies" developed.
3. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be silent about their
aberrant thinking and behaviour.
4. Gays have the "RIGHT" to ask God for forgiveness.
5. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be mentally and spiritually
healed by the powers of the Scriptures and prayer.
6. Gays have the "RIGHT" to renounce their sin and
let God give them normal patterns of thinking, feeling,
and acting.
7. Gays have the "RIGHT" to become heterosexual and
live as God intended all men and women to live.
8. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be forgiven of all of their
sins, and to live a life unto God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
9. Gays have the "RIGHT" to reach out to others who
struggle with their sexual identities, with the hope of
rescuing them from lives of sin, and eternal damnation.
10. Gays have the "RIGHT" to keep to themselves and
not recruit our children, among others, to their
wrongful, SINFUL thinking and living.
11. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be guilt-free and live
with a clean/clear conscience.
12. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be ready to stand
before God when their time here is done, and/or to
be "rapture-ready" should Jesus return beforehand
to take His ransomed "home".
13. Gays have the "RIGHT" to be happy - and true
happiness is only available through the sacrifice
that Jesus offered up on Calvary's Cross!!!

May all of God's people pray for the healing of those
who have turned from righteousness, in whatever
manner, and seek their conversion to truth and
righteousness.

There you have it, my list of "GAY RIGHTS" that should
be posted in every public or private place where they
may congregate or matriculate, in the hopes of helping
them to be the IMAGE OF GOD that they were created
to be.

P.S. - Bible references to reinforce my positions are
as follows: I Corinthians 6:9 - "....homosexuals will
not inherit the kingdom of God." Romans 1:27 & 28 -
"men burned in their lust for one another....commiting
that which is shameful....God gave them over....."
Leviticus 18:22 - "You shall not lie with a male as
with a woman. It is an abomination." Genesis chapter
19 - (both young and old men of Sodom demanded
to have Lot's visitors (angels perceived to be men)
come out so they could have homosexual relations
with them) - the reason the city was destroyed!

P.S.S. - You can be "free" from your bondage, my
homosexual friend, if you'll trust God through his
Son, Jesus Christ to set you free. The Bible says,
"He who the Son sets free is FREE INDEED."!

"The Lord is............I shall not want."

We all know it well - maybe too well. What do I
mean by that? From Sunday School's early years
on, we have read, recited, memorized, and become
very familiar with the 23rd Psalm - the "Shepherd's
Psalm" as many know it.
What is my point? How is it, if it is, possible to
become "too familiar" with God's word?
Methinks that the recitation of a standard passage
of Scripture may have lost our Father's intended
import and impact. Bear with me, please.

Can you quote the verses right now? What do they
do for you or mean to you as you vocalize the
words? Is there emotion or feeling as you say them
by rote? Is it a reality that every time you hear,
say or think of these verses that "warm, fuzzy feelings"
come over you? Or are these statements just a
ritual of childhood learning that have lost their
meanings with time and our aging?

For a minute or two, hear me out as I attempt to
make a point of just a small part of this "foundation" of
our Christian faith and lives.
Is God your shepherd? What exactly does a "shepherd"
do? Basically, he PROVIDES the essentials of existence
for his charges, right? What are those essentials?
Food. Housing. Health. Safety. Relationship.

Do you find yourself the possessor of these basic
ingredients of life, especially your spiritual life?
Physical and spiritual food - are they yours daily?
Housing - is there a roof over your head at night?
Health - do you give thanks for health, strength,
and healing?
Safety - particularly spiritual, but physical, too!
Relationship - are you on a personal, conversational
basis with your Heavenly Father?
ALL of these are yours, whether you presently possess
them all or not. They're promised to you! They're
offered to you! They're available to you!

WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?
My concern is that some of us seem to feel that we and
our children "have to have" so much of what "life" (the
world) is offering, that we feel like second-class citizens
if we aren't "keeping up" with our friends and neighbors.
TRUE? Hey? Isn't it?!

WHY must we have all of the latest electronic gadgets
and games?
WHY are our children preoccupied with entertainment?
WHY do we think that we ought to have or deserve the
"toys" and "playthings" that worldlings possess?
Do the "X-Boxes" and "Playstations", and "Wii's" and
"Gameboys", etc. please God? Do they glorify Him?
OR......are they taking us away from Him?
WHERE DOES A CHRISTIAN "DRAW THE LINE, or has
God already drawn it for us?

"The LORD is my shepherd,", and He sees to it that I
have all that I need!! My fear, Friend, is that "the games
people play" are taking us away from the sheepfold and
from the Shepherd's ideal for us. Ideal. Look it up.
You'll find that the word describes the ultimate experience
and life that God the Father and Jesus the Son has planned
and intended for you!!

Will our attractions and involvements with the things of
the world separate us from "God's best", and even worse,
take our children and the generations to come, should
Jesus tarry, even further away from "the Shepherd"?
The apostle Paul, writer of much of the New Testament,
through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, put it this
way, "I have learned in whatever state (condition,
situation, mindset) I find myself, TO BE CONTENT".

Are you "content" with what God has given you, offered
you, made available to you, blessed you with? Do the
blessings of your spirituality and walk with God over-
shadow the "things" of the world? Or are you "wanting"
possessions, activities, involvements, and relationships
that would deter you and interfere with a closer walk
with your Heavenly Father, and Jesus, the Son?

P.S. Please don't misunderstand me - Christians may
and do have "fun" in life! Despite what the unsaved
may think or use as an excuse not to accept Jesus as
Saviour, Christians do smile, laugh, enjoy a "good"
joke or story, play games and sports, participate in
"board" (not 'bored') games, etc. The Christian life
is FAR from unexciting and uneventful - quite to the
contrary - everyday is filled with insights, pleasure,
quality friendhips, spiritual growth and learning, and
MUCH, MUCH MORE!

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......."