MAY 2000
"The Battle is HIS"
May 27, 2000
He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'" "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."
- 2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17 (NIV)
I don't know about you, but I love reading about history and wars. In my quiet time Bible studies this week, I am in the book of Chronicles. And, the other day, I was reading about King Jehoshaphat. Now, the king didn't walk his entire life in the service of God. But, during our study for this week, he is faced with an invasion of a huge army... Bible scholars think it was the second largest army ever gathered... coming to take Judah and Jerusalem. The king prayed and commanded the whole country to pray. Guess what happened? Yep. We won.
It's a whole lot like sitting at the station, waiting for the inevitable. The tones go off and dispatch is saying that it's a multiple alarm with people trapped. If you are serving the REAL CHIEF, you quickly say a prayer.
Upon arrival, you are in the midst of the biggest conflagration you have ever witnessed. Fire and heavy smoke everywhere. People screaming. At least a whole city block involved. And it it is just you and your few fellow "soldiers" against this "vast army of flame and destruction."
Our REAL CHIEF gives you these commands (from this week's verses):
Do not be afraid or discouraged (because of the size of this scene)
I am here to lead, to direct you
Take your positions (do your job)
Stand firm (with the confidence from your training)
So, listen to the REAL CHIEF. Soon you will hear "Signal 7-1"... fire is tapped out. You did your job... you simply listened and obeyed. The battle, from the very start, was HIS.
"Stop and Think"
May 20, 2000
"Abstain from all appearance of evil."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)
Another one of the stress producers that we invite into our own life, is that of doing something that we know, without a doubt, is something we shouldn't do.
The obvious list is what we consider the BIG no-no's: murder, adultery and the like. But, you and I both know, there are the "little" things...
speeding
"white lies"
keeping the extra change the clerk gave you by mistake
cursing
What a minute!!!??? SPEEDING??? Yep, God's Word says to "obey the laws of the land." Plus, you know that if you were to stop and really think about it, you know, deep inside, that what you are doing is wrong.
Now, I know you're saying "C'mon, Chap, you don't speed?" Moi??? hehehehehe Sure. Sometimes I look down and I am going over the posted limit. BUT, when I realize it, I slow down. Why? Because I want to be a living example of Christ. Huh? You're saying that "they didn't have cars back in Biblical times!" True. But, they had other laws. And, I am quite sure that Jesus observed them all. And, His Word tells us, in this week's verse to stay away from the very appearance of evil.
The other day, my daughter, Megan, and I were heading home from the store. She asked if we could stop by (my wife's friend's house) on the way home, so that she could play with that woman's daughter. I had to explain that it just wouldn't look good for a married man to be over at the house of a single woman. In explaining this to Megan, I used our verse for the week. In order to prevent gossip or innuendo, I had to stay away from the appearance of evil. Get it? Simply going over there wasn't evil. It just might APPEAR to be something it wasn't.
So, wanna avoid self-inflicted stress? Stop and Think.
"Who is My Mother?"
May 13, 2000
"While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
- Matthew 12:46-50 (NIV)
My family listens to a Christian radio station (what a surprise, huh? hehehehe) here in Houston (KSBJ 89.3 FM - click here to listen to them LIVE on the internet!). Their slogan is "God Listens." My, how true.
Anyway, they had a Mother's Day contest called "queen for a day." You wrote in and explained why your mom or wife should win. I, of course, submitted an email about Cindy. Well, she didn't win (the winner was announced yesterday). BUT, they did read my letter on the air. More importantly, Cindy heard it. So, I guess she did win.
The lady that actually won the contest was a living example of the truth that "God Listens." Her daughter wrote in and explained that her mother should win the contest. Why? Because the daughter had followed the ways of the world and was employed as a stripper. Instead of belittling or "disowning" her daughter, guess what her mom did? She prayed. For twelve long years she prayed for the salvation of her daughter. She prayed that her daughter would come to serve Jesus Christ.
In October of 1999, her daughter asked Christ into her heart. Today, she is a whole-hearted young woman living for Christ, instead of living for the world.
So, who is her mother? The one who was obedient. The one who did the will of God. The one who "prayed without ceasing."
This is for ALL of you moms out there...
...may Christ grant you a blessed day for all that you have done and all that you will do.
WITH LOVE, from your brother in Christ,
"I Want it All"
May 6, 2000
"To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness..."
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 (NIV)
I don't know about you, but I want it all. Now, that may seem covetous to some of you. And, you're right, it would be, if it was "stuff" that I wanted.
I think all of us, at some time or another have wanted material wealth... that new car... that bigger house. To make things all the more stressful, TV is throwing the big-money game shows at us; "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" (like, DUH?) and, worse yet; "Greed." Both of those shows place materialism as the #1 priority on America's heart.
You see, I have got to the point in my life where I want the "stuff" that is promised in our verse for this week. I really do want more wisdom (in how to act and react in a Godly manner). I really do want more and more knowledge of His Word and His ways. I already have the happiness of knowing Him.
Folks, America was founded on Godly principles... not on "Greed." We are the only country in the world who have money with God's name on it. And I truly believe that we can have it all in America again.
We just need to turn off the "Greed" and tell the world that "In God We Trust." And we can all do that by following the prescribed method from the book of Ecclesiastes - we must be men and women who strive to please Him. And, you ask, what pleases our Chief? One thing: believe in His Son whom He sent to die for you and for me.
Turn off the "Greed" and turn up the "need." The need to please Him. The need to claim the wisdom, the knowledge and the happiness that He promises to us.
On HIS Shift,
It is my prayer that the verses we discuss help each of you as it has helped me deal with the amount of stress we are all faced to deal with.
If you are not yet saved, I have Good News for you. Jesus loves you very much and His Holy Spirit is drawing you to Him. To learn more, click here.
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