As we enter the final week of the year 2010, what is on our mind; are we looking back on the year that was or are we looking ahead to the year that will be? Are we thinking of how good the year was in 2010 or are we telling ourselves that we are looking forward to a better year in 2011? Here's a thought: why not think about the blessings that the Lord has blessed us with in 2010 and the trials and tribulations that he helped us get through. Why not focus our minds on praising God for being able to get through another year and thank Him for his grace and mercy.
Around this time of year many people make New Year's Resolutions, vowing to work on themselves; whether it be through gaining or losing weight, saving more money, paying off their bills in order for them to have a peace a mind, among other things. Often times New Year's Resolutions don't get accomplished. About a month into the New Year, they may even forget the resolution they promised to themselves.
This week's Meditation Moments is about LIVING LIKE WE WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN IN 2011. If there is one thing that we can accomplish in 2011, it is showing the world that God is still God and He loves us. In 2 Cor. 5:16-17, Paul says, "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come." We, as Christians are in this world but we are not of this world. We think different, we talk different and we act different. We smile despite tribulation and we frown at sinful acts. We sorrow at our sin and we pray and ask the Lord to forgive us and keep moving and release the stress like we believe He will take care of it. If we are going to Live Like We Want to Go To Heaven, then we will go into the new year wanting to improve on the old sinful habits of 2010. We will study more in 2011 than we did in 2010, pray with a better mindset in 2011 than we did in 2010. With only four days to go in 2010 we will start preparing our mind to become a better child of God in 2011.
God said, through His prophet Isaiah in chap. 65:17-19, "Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more." Matthew Henry, in his biblical commentary said, "Good Christians must enjoy the comforts of this life, and their relations in this world, with a holy indifference." We are a part of the new Jerusalem, we are living in His holy temple. The world around us, that don't know God, can't comprehend such a change in attitude, personality and nature. They can't be released from their stress, they don't have the Real Shelter in the Storms of life, they don't have the true peace that passes all understanding. This is real change; the old way vs the new way, the old thinking vs. the new and better thinking, the old actions and reactions to the cares of life vs the new and better acts of wisdom in the midst of difficult situation through prayer and requests for wisdom to deal with all things. THIS IS HOW WE LIVE LIKE WE WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN!!! Live like Jesus!!! As we close this year and begin a new chapter, let's wake up January 1st saying, Thank you Lord for a new day and a new year, help me to be a better example for all those that I come in contact with on a daily basis in this new year. Help me to save souls and maintain my path toward heaven. And then say, I praise you, O God, for you are a blessing to my life. Live like you want to go to heaven in 2011. LET GOD BE GLORIFIED!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS THIS FINAL WEEK OF 2010!!!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Need For A Spiritual Reality Check- 12/20/2010
This week's Meditation Moments is a real exciting one. It is inspired by a lesson that I preached at the Freeport-Roosevelt Church of Christ in Long Island, NY. About a week ago I saw one of the sisters from that congregation and she informed me that she had video recorded it and posted on youtube. Well, that night when I got home I went on youtube, put my name in the search box and well, what do you know, there I was, looking handsome in my brown and peach Sunday best (LOL!) Anyway, I preached on the topic that is documented at the top of this blog article. We will focus our attention in this article on our need for a spiritual reality check.
One day there was a young man who had stolen a car. As he drove away he took it on a joy ride and after a while he parked the car in the driveway of his parent's house. Well, the owner of the car had reported the car stolen and the police got the description of the vehicle and went searching for it. As they drove around they eventually came to this house where the car was. They went up to the door and when they knocked the father came to the door, after a long conversation with the police the father was placed in handcuffs and taken away in the police cruiser. All along the boy stay in the distance and watched as this whole situation unfolded. Soon after, the son went to go and visit his father in jail and, in their conversation, asked him, "Why did you do this for me?", and the father answered, "so that you could have another chance to do right."
All too often in our lives we make mistakes, sometimes we know what the consequences are and do it anyway and sometimes we don't think about the consequences of things we do. Regardless of either one, we do need a rude awakening to help us to "come back to our senses" like the prodigal son had to do, we do need to be told, "sell all you have and give to the poor if you want to have eternal life," like the rich young ruler had to be told, and we do have to be told, "if we have ought with our brother, go and make it right before making your sacrifice at the alter," like we were encouraged to do in the sermon on the mount. No matter where we are in our lives, we are sinners and need to be reminded that our God came in the form of His One and Only Son so that He could die for us and take away our sins. I think we realize what He did for us but I think we forget to show True Spiritual Appreciation. You see, earthly appreciation is always commendable but when you show spiritual appreciation to God our Saviour earns greater commendation from Him.
In our lives, as we function under the earthly umbrella of life and liberty we must realize that He gave us this life and offered to us these liberties (freedom) and there greater reality check than when He checks us before we "wreck ourselves". I encourage you to look at and listen to the excerpts that are provided for your encouragement and spiritual build-up. God bless you and allow this week's Meditation Moments to grant you daily encouragement as that is what it is designed to do.
One day there was a young man who had stolen a car. As he drove away he took it on a joy ride and after a while he parked the car in the driveway of his parent's house. Well, the owner of the car had reported the car stolen and the police got the description of the vehicle and went searching for it. As they drove around they eventually came to this house where the car was. They went up to the door and when they knocked the father came to the door, after a long conversation with the police the father was placed in handcuffs and taken away in the police cruiser. All along the boy stay in the distance and watched as this whole situation unfolded. Soon after, the son went to go and visit his father in jail and, in their conversation, asked him, "Why did you do this for me?", and the father answered, "so that you could have another chance to do right."
All too often in our lives we make mistakes, sometimes we know what the consequences are and do it anyway and sometimes we don't think about the consequences of things we do. Regardless of either one, we do need a rude awakening to help us to "come back to our senses" like the prodigal son had to do, we do need to be told, "sell all you have and give to the poor if you want to have eternal life," like the rich young ruler had to be told, and we do have to be told, "if we have ought with our brother, go and make it right before making your sacrifice at the alter," like we were encouraged to do in the sermon on the mount. No matter where we are in our lives, we are sinners and need to be reminded that our God came in the form of His One and Only Son so that He could die for us and take away our sins. I think we realize what He did for us but I think we forget to show True Spiritual Appreciation. You see, earthly appreciation is always commendable but when you show spiritual appreciation to God our Saviour earns greater commendation from Him.
In our lives, as we function under the earthly umbrella of life and liberty we must realize that He gave us this life and offered to us these liberties (freedom) and there greater reality check than when He checks us before we "wreck ourselves". I encourage you to look at and listen to the excerpts that are provided for your encouragement and spiritual build-up. God bless you and allow this week's Meditation Moments to grant you daily encouragement as that is what it is designed to do.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Living Up To The Expectations
Abraham Lincoln once said, "The best thing about the future is that it only comes once." We know that in life there are uncertainties and then there are EXPECTATIONS. When we were growing up we were expected to learn all that we can from our parents so that we could be successful. When we started going to school we were expected to listen to the teacher, attend classes and do homework in order to be successful. Many of us are in school and many of us work, no matter which one it is, we are expected to do it in order to accomplish our goals. Notice: all these steps in life are expectations leading to success. Without expectation, though, there is no reaching. Without knowledge there is no teaching.
This brings us to the topic of this week's Meditation Moments, "Living Up To The Expectation." God has expectations for us to live up to. This topic has been inspired by my favorite passage of scripture, Philippians 4:13, Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ Who Strengthens Me." Paul had gone many trials, but before he even started preaching he was a killer of the ones that proclaimed the name of Christ. The same Christ that he passionately persecuted was the same Christ that he passionately preached about. He was imprisoned for preaching the Word of Christ. Now, to many of us, we would have expected him to falter under the pressure and keep with the "woe is me" attitude (like we do oftentimes) but Paul did what God expected him to do. He kept a positive spiritual attitude, was singing and praying in the prison with Silas in Philippi and saved a whole household, the Philippian jailor and his family.
You see, Jesus reminded us that we would have tribulation, he encouraged us through his brother James to "count it all joy in tribulation." He promised us that our victory is already His. So what are His expectations for us? He expects us to have a strong prayer life which shows our trust in Him. He expects us to show our faith through our actions when we function in our circle of life. He expects us to recognize the hope we have of heaven because Jesus died, was buried and rose again. Our expectation should be to do all that we can to fulfill His promises so that we could be with Him in heaven with all the righteous. Its not easy but it is possible, "all things are possible with Him." He makes things more certain and gives us full assurance. God didn't create us without expectation but He also didn't leave us without promise of reward for being ever-pleasing to Him. LET'S LIVE UP TO GOD'S EXPECTATIONS, HE EXPECTS GREATER THAN WE EXPECT OF OURSELVES!!!
This brings us to the topic of this week's Meditation Moments, "Living Up To The Expectation." God has expectations for us to live up to. This topic has been inspired by my favorite passage of scripture, Philippians 4:13, Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ Who Strengthens Me." Paul had gone many trials, but before he even started preaching he was a killer of the ones that proclaimed the name of Christ. The same Christ that he passionately persecuted was the same Christ that he passionately preached about. He was imprisoned for preaching the Word of Christ. Now, to many of us, we would have expected him to falter under the pressure and keep with the "woe is me" attitude (like we do oftentimes) but Paul did what God expected him to do. He kept a positive spiritual attitude, was singing and praying in the prison with Silas in Philippi and saved a whole household, the Philippian jailor and his family.
You see, Jesus reminded us that we would have tribulation, he encouraged us through his brother James to "count it all joy in tribulation." He promised us that our victory is already His. So what are His expectations for us? He expects us to have a strong prayer life which shows our trust in Him. He expects us to show our faith through our actions when we function in our circle of life. He expects us to recognize the hope we have of heaven because Jesus died, was buried and rose again. Our expectation should be to do all that we can to fulfill His promises so that we could be with Him in heaven with all the righteous. Its not easy but it is possible, "all things are possible with Him." He makes things more certain and gives us full assurance. God didn't create us without expectation but He also didn't leave us without promise of reward for being ever-pleasing to Him. LET'S LIVE UP TO GOD'S EXPECTATIONS, HE EXPECTS GREATER THAN WE EXPECT OF OURSELVES!!!
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