Breakfast For Your Soul

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am He.  I do nothing on My own but say only what the Father taught Me. And the One who sent Me is with Me—He has not deserted Me. For I always do what pleases Him.” Then many who heard Him say these things believed in Him.  Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

[John 8:28-31]

BELIEF IN THE MIDST OF A SEA OF UNBELIEF

Good Morning Beloved,

What a beautiful day!  I hope you’re having a good one.  “The people who believed in Him”, grabs my attention in this text.  To fully appreciate this, we have to read the whole chapter.  Remember the woman caught in the act of adultury?  Yeah… this exchange occurred after that.  The Pharisees questioned Jesus… relentlessly.  They were always trying to find a fault in Him.  Hoping that He would slip up and say or do something they could use against Him.  What ended up happening?  People in the crowd heard the truth and believed on Him.  In the middle of all of the great thinkers, powerful leaders and naysayers, people still believed.  In our society, the “great thinkers and powerful leaders” have become increasing wise and subtle in their tactics.  Same spirit… different methods.  Their goal is still to discredit Jesus.  Another strategy that I’ve noticed is to make Jesus seem boring and “uncool” (which is crazy… Jesus is the epitome of “cool”).  Have you noticed how folks are able to take somthing that should be common sense, and completely switch it upside down? (good evil.. evil good) My family and I love Orlando Florida.  While on vacation at Universal Studios, it began to downpour.  We’re used to seeing that, but what caught my attention… was that there was an entertainer on stage.. and the show was not canceled.  In the midst of pouring rain, lightning, and thunder … nobody moved.  They continued to rock to the guy on stage who spoke of all that was “messed up”.  He talked about current events… the oil spill, the wars, the immigration laws.  His solution to the problems… “give me some liquor in a big ‘ole cup so you and me can be what… Messed Up!” … seriously… that’s what he actually said.  I thought about how many folks skip church when it rains, or if it is too hot or too cold.  If someone gets on our nerves or we feel tired we skip it.  Interesting.  Not only were these folks braving the elements to see their guy, but they were HAPPY about it.  Mind you… the vast population had no umbrella or covering, but they were smiling, laughing, dancing and jumping up and down in excitement.  Nothing “dampened” their joy.  This is how it was with “the people” who heard Jesus, and how it should be with us as 21st century disciples of Jesus.  Food for thought, how do we present Jesus in our everyday life.  Honestly, are we unwittingly presenting Jesus as boring? ..an afterthought?  Do we carry the attitude that I’ve had my “fun” back in the day, now I’ve settled down, gotten serious and I’m living for God.  Is there something that is more interesting to us than God?  Do we not realize that God desires to be part of everything that we are part of ().  YEP.  We are, as Paul describes, “an ambassador in bonds”.  Think of it like this.. we’re handcuffed to Jesus.  Wherever we go, He goes.. Whatever we’re doing .. He’s doing.  Does that strike fear or faith in your heart?  He’s our friend to no end.  He is not frowning at us as we relax by the pool.  He is not standing outside when we’re in the annual Board Meeting.  He is a part of us.. so is His Word.  The goal is soul winning and the Bible tells us that those who win souls are wise.  He will use our personality and His Word that is imbedded in our heart to reach those around us.  Jesus said He would never leave nor forsake us. He also said that whoever is ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of in front of His Father and the Angels.  Stuff that tends to grab our headlines will be completely meaningless then.  We won’t care who’s sleeping with whom, how much so and so made in their last film, or the latest piece of juicy gossip.  It will all seem so silly.  We will see that it was all basically a distraction to keep us from what was truly important.  The Pharisees were well-educated and sharply dressed.  They appeared Holy men who had it “going on”.  Yet, people were able to look past their brilliance and see the Truth.  The good news is that we have the ability to do the same.  No matter what is going on around us, we are able to see Jesus.  We see His brilliance.  We believe Him even though we’ve never physically seen Him.  We know Him to be real.  We know His Word to be Truth.  We know that after all is said and done, He will stand alone … triumphant over every other school of thought.  We are blessed to know Him.  Let us be the ones who can stand in the storms of life, dancing, singing and smiling… knowing that the God of our Salvation has everything in control and will take that mess and squeeze a blessing out of it…

… and that Beloved is Good News!

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“He Reigns”, Kevin LaVar & One Sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPDUvrKIRtY

“Like Never Before”, William Murphy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aNRxUDxfsI

“All Hail The King”, Shekinah Glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwB-Q4F89RM

“Well Done”, Tye Tribbett & GA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3uwlVfReVA

“I Desire More”, Crystal Aiken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3nWrD2nF9o

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Good Morning Beloved,

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the Goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

 …and you know what happened right after Jesus finished telling this parable?  A mother comes with her two sons and asks Jesus to give her sons positions of authority within His Kingdom.  I can imagine seeing Jesus with a wide-eyed expression, as if to say, now did she hear anything I just said… He was preparing them for the harvest of souls that would come to believe in Him.  Those words He spoke then, are for us today as well. There are people who may come to Jesus in the eleventh hour…. but their reward will be the same as those who have been serving God for years.  The human spirit does not like that… it wants to be recognized, favored and set apart.  I’ve heard people say that God couldn’t possibly be blessing certain people, and that so and so will never come to faith in Jesus as rotten as they are… I can’t say that.  The ‘vineyard’, meaning planet earth, belongs to God… Remember the conversation God had with Job?  I love that!  That means that no matter how shady and shaky this rock (and it’s inhabitants) get, we still have an eternal hope that it is all going according to plan.  We have been blessed to be a blessing in the earth (Roman 8:28).  Sounds simple?  What’s wrong with simple?.. I like simple…. The message of the Gospel is simple… “God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16]… There is a plan in place, designed to turn our faces and our hearts away from the only One who has all power.  We are encouraged to put our trust in finite people with limited powers.  Remember there is a balance…. whatever you see, whatever you hear, never forget that you have a God who sees more than you ever will, His Power is never failing, His Plan for us is perfect, and the end result will be good.

 ….and that there… is Good News!

 U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

 

Cartoonist’s Comment:

The Kingdom of God, the Church, is an oasis in the middle of the dry desert of the world. God invites those who are thirsty to come and partake of His bounteous table.

Cartoonist’s Comment:

This verse makes a correlation between praising God and receiving a harvest. Whatever it is that you are believing God for, don’t forget to praise Him and thank Him for it in advance.

 

Cartoonist

Mike Waters

mike@joyfultoons.com

www.joyfultoons.com

www.cafepress/joyfultoonsshop.com

Good Morning Beloved,

“…..nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. [2 Timothy 1:12 ]

Powerful words.  Completely life changing, soul reviving, and mind regenerating if we allow ourselves to soak in them.  The first step is believing in God.  Many voices will try to plant doubt and unbelief against God in your heart.  We may try to ignore them, but they are working to an extent.  The number of people who have turned away from God is staggering.  Not surprising.. the bible spoke of a “time when they would not endure sound doctrine”.  The difference is a subtle matter of perception, that could mean life or death in the long run.  If God, who is sovereign, tells you not to do something.. it is a sin, we have two choices.  We can (1) obey or (2) disobey.  The good news, is that when we disobey and drift away from God, He has provided a way for us to get back to him.. “forgive me Lord, in Jesus name”.  I have listened to people who want to argue about their “pet” sins and why their stuff is not wrong, and how “people should just be allowed to live their life”.  Perception.  Fast forward to the final day.  The person who allowed God to change their heart toward Him will be so glad they did.  Everything we experience here on earth is only a dim reflection of the absolute joy of heaven. Think on the best day you can remember … now multiply that millions of times over and you have only scratched the surface of the glory God has waiting for you.  It would “blow” our minds, we can’t handle it now.  However, for the person, who wasted their life mocking God, desecrating the bible, vilifying God’s people, blaspheming the name of Jesus…. words can not adequately describe the horror of that day for them… and there will be no turning back at that point.  Many of them will wish they had taken heed, but it will be too late.  That is why we have a right to celebrate each new day.  It is another chance that God have given us to accept what He has for us.  Another day to get to know Him.  Another day to share Him with those around us, in whatever personality He has given us. There is an acceleration in the earth, things are moving at lightening speed, but remember… what we have given to God… He is able to keep it… He is able to keep us…..

Cartoonist’s Comment:

There are plenty of voices in this world telling us that we are going to fail. But if we keep our attention on the Lord and His Word, and trust in Him, we will succeed.