Having A Cause Greater Than Yourself

Is there not a cause? 1 Samuel 17:29 NKJV

How could David stand up to a giant everybody else was running from? Because God's people were being threatened, and everybody around him was afraid to tackle the problem. When you're confronted with a situation that needs to be changed, what is it that makes you rise up and say, "I'm going to do something about this"? Having a cause greater than yourself! Refusing to live trapped in fear or the small dimensions of a self-centered world!

A survey was conducted among people who lived to be over 100. Now you'd expect to read about health diets, miracle drugs and strenuous exercise. But the thing all these centenarians had in common was - purpose. They had a compelling reason to get out of bed in the morning. Paul writes: "For to me to live is Christ… (Philippians 1:21 NKJV). For Paul, that was it! To exalt His name and promote His kingdom. Too many of us are like the guy who said, "No matter what I'm working on, I'd rather be doing something else.'" Are you like that? Or do you have a cause great enough to focus your energies and strong enough to keep you going when the odds are stacked against you?

God made you for a mission. Have you discovered it yet? At age 12 Jesus said, "I must be about my Father's business" (Luke 2:49). Twenty-one years later, dying on the cross, He announced, "It is finished!" (John 19:30 NKJV). These two statements frame a totally fulfilled, God-glorifying life. So ask God to reveal to you His purpose for your life. Until you find it you haven't lived, and until you fulfill it you're not ready to die.


Note: The article above is taken from daily devotion email from The Word for Today brought by TheVine in association with The Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc, New Zealand and UCB International Ltd

Christian and Halloween

I have been very concerned (in fact troubled) to come to know about how the young people among the Christian community are beginning to embrace Halloween as another celebration and participate in it without knowing the background and the spiritual implication of such celebration. Reading their blog posting and facebook updates gives a lot of inside how these celebration has penetrated into our community.

History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics in Ireland. The Celtic people were very conscious of the spiritual world and had their own ideas of how they could gain access to it. Their two main festival were Beltane at the beginning of summer (May 1), and Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) at the end of summer (Nov. 1). They believed Samhain was a time when the division between the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished. According to Celtic Mythology during this festivals the normal order of the universe is suspended, the barriers between the natural and the supernatural are temporarily removed, the hell open and all divine beings and the spirits of the dead move freely among men and interfere sometimes violently, in their affairs. The Celtic priests who carried out the rituals in the open air generally performed their rituals by offering sacrifices, usually of crops and animals, but sometimes of humans, in order to placate the gods; ensuring that the sun would return after the winter; and frightening away evil spirits.

As believers, we are called to "Test everything." Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Have you noticed how costumes and masks are getting generally more bloody, gory, and depraved each year? Unfortunately, the gruesome and grotesque and the occult are increasingly glorified in our society, not only on Halloween, but throughout the year in horror movies and in television programs. All of them portray evil. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:11 that we Christians are to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." and also in Romans 12:2 ""Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Some says we need to change our approach by following the trend and Halloween just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone? Is it really just fun celebration? Vandalism and disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween. Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real and we can read it in the online news. Who but Satan could inspire such evil actions?

Tom Sanguinet, former high priest in the Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said "The modern holiday we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches’ New Year. It was a time when the "spirits" (demons) were supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting the earth planet." He went on to say, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus."

We Christian need to Wake Up and learn to seek for the Truth because it is only the Truth that can set us free. Halloween is the night of evil and those who love the Lord Jesus Christ should have nothing to do with it. The Scriptures tells us to "Abstain from all appearance of evil." [1Thess. 5:22]. We are all accountable for our choices and decisions. Ignorance is no excuse. The choice is up to you. Do you struggle with giving it up because "it's just fun" and an innocent opportunity to dress up crazy and partying with our friends? I pray that you would seek the Lord and ask of Him to show you the truth.

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." It is important for us to know the background of such festival before even participating in it. Some may against my view and say that it is an opportunity for us to share the gospel. I believe we need to look back the condition of our heart and ultimate purpose in participating in such celebration. It is really reaching out or it is otherwise?

Be Blessed.

Stop Complaining!!!

Complain will always bring us disfavor. It is better to be a model of self-reliance than an object of someone else pity. By complaining of past offenses, we open the door to new ones. If we are shrewd, we will never tell the world of our failures or defeats without showing how we overcame them.

One two-letter word holds volumes of meaning:

If I had his money, I could do big things.

If I hadn't gotten sick, I would have won the sales contest.

If my parents had loved me more, I wouldn't be so messed up.

If my children loved me more, I wouldn't be such a nervous wreck.

If we had a nickel for every time someone used an if clause to complain about his or her life, you could retire wealthy right now.

Complaints and excuses fill the lives of some people. Nothing is ever good enough. No one is ever loving enough. No meal is tasty enough. No report is clear enough. No benefit is adequate enough. No book or movie is entertaining enough. And rather than endure the least little disappointment, it seems to be the person's choice of therapy to whine loud and long.

The problem with complaining is that it does no good. Certainly a person has every right to go "on record" by disagreeing with personal opinions, policies, and such. But when overruled or outvoted, then the person need to be a bit more gracious and less vocal.

Once the cycle of complaining begins, life only gets worse and worse. Think about it. To what lengths will we go to avoid spending time or work with someone who is a chronic complainer.

By all means, change the things you can to make your surrounding a better place. But when we can't do anything, then keep our complains to ourselves. Whining is worthless. Silence, on the other hand can be golden.

Bathsheba-Gate

Then it happened...2 Samuel 11:2 NKJV

David's 'Bathsheba-gate' began when he let down his guard. The Bible says, 'Then it happened.' What an opening line! David was fifty-two. Like a lot of us in middle age, maybe he wondered, 'Do I still have it?' Whatever he thought, he wasn't on guard; and the devil knew it.

David had lived victoriously for twenty years, 'Then it happened.' Be careful, yesterday doesn't guarantee your success today. David saw Bathsheba that night, but it's what he didn't see that shipwrecked him. He didn't see that his sin would cause four of his children to die (the baby, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah) or that it would split his kingdom in half and make him a murderer. That's the problem with sin. If you're looking at things you ought not to look at, you're not seeing the whole picture. It's what you don't see that will hurt you.

So David devises plan A, plan B and plan C to cover up his sin. Plan A was to bring Bathsheba's husband Uriah home from battle to spend the weekend with his wife, so that the baby would appear to be his. But it didn't work. Plan B, getting him drunk and trying to send him home, didn't work either. Plan C wasn't so tame; it was murder. Tragically, this plan worked. 'I'd never do that,' you say. You'd be amazed what you'd do in a moment of weakness! The fire of sex is meant for the fireplace of marriage. Once it leaves there, somebody's going to get burned.

Bottom line: 'let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall' (1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV).

Be Blessed.

Note: The article above is taken from daily devotion email from The Word for Today brought by TheVine in association with The Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc, New Zealand and UCB International Ltd

Do the best we can!

A Christian man was walking to church one night when he encountered four boys loitering on the street corner. He invited them to go to the service with him. They did, and each of the boys also agreed to return to church with him the next Sunday. They became the nucleus of a Sunday school class the man began to teach.

Years later, a group of the man's friends decided to try to contact the four boys to see what had happened in their lives and to invite them to write a special birthday letter to their teacher to be read at a surprise party. Their letters revealed that one of them had become a missionary to China, one was the president of the Federal Reserve Bank, one was the private secretary to President Herbert Hoover, and the fourth was President Hoover himself!

If you were to hold a handful of pine nuts in your hand today, you could not begin to predict which of the seeds might actually sprout and produce a giant tree. It is amazing that such a large tree might grow from such a small seed. The only was to tell which nuts have trees inside them is to plant them!

When you plant acts of kindness and generosity to others, you never know what mighty tree may grow from that small seed. That is why when we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. The Bible says in Colossians 3:23 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men".

I want to share with you the lyrics from a beautiful called "Thank you" by Ray Boltz.

Be Blessed.

Thank You by Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me;
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
We turned and saw a young man running
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

(Chorus)

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

(Chorus)

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."

Chorus:
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

You're A W.I.P

Now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. - 1 John 3:2 NCV

The surest way to get discouraged is to compare yourself with others. The Bible says, "Don't compare yourself" (Galatians 6:4 CEV), because some people will look like they're doing a better job and you'll get disheartened, while others won't be as effective and you'll become proud. "Concentrate on doing your best… (2 Timothy 2:15 TM). That way, "You will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and… won't need to compare yourself… (Galatians 6:4 NLT). All the apples on a tree don't ripen at the same time. Paul says, 'knowledge and understanding' take time (Philippians 1:9-10).

One successful author says, "When I began writing, I found myself fumbling with that part of myself. 'I want to be a writer,' I'd think, 'but I have to get this number of books published and this number of good reviews first.' It can take years and many successes in any new area… before we can confidently say to ourselves and others, 'I am'… what has God called you to do? Don't wait until you're successful… Start now by saying you are what you want to become… Yes, you've much to learn… and you may not be an expert… but you don't have to be, to say those two little words I am."

John writes: "Now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future" (1 John 3:2 NCV). God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines and imperfect people to do His perfect will. So, push ahead, cut yourself some slack, and remember you're a W.I.P. - a work-in-progress!


Note: The article above is taken from daily devotion email from The Word for Today brought by TheVine in association with The Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc, New Zealand and UCB International Ltd

All our dream can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them.

Glenn Cunningham was born on a Kansas farm and educated in a one-room schoolhouse. He and his brother were responsible for keeping the school's fire going. One morning as the boys poured kerosene on the live coals to get the fire started before school, the stove blew sky high.

Glenn rushed toward the door, but then realized his brother had fallen and wasn't moving. He rushed back to help, suffering terrible burns in the process. In the end, his brother died, and Glenn was hospitalized with severe burns on his legs.

The tragedy seemed to mark an end to Glenn's dream of running track. Still, he was determined to walk again - which the doctors had said wouldn't happen - but he did! Then, he began to run. Through many periods of discouragement and disappointment Glenn kept running, even faster.

He mastered the mile. Eventually, he set his sights on the international record for his distance, and he broke it! He finally held the world record of his dreams.

What kept Glenn running? He dedicated his races to the memory of his brother, as he was determined to transform the greatest tragedy of his life into a blessing. He may have had scarred leg, but he had a whole heart.

The bible says in 1 Chronicles 28:20 "....Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you..."

Be Blessed.