check yourself
Topic: actually 2001
2 timothy 2:20-22

in a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. if a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an
instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

a pattern...
Topic: actually 2001
***sometimes i'll read large chunks of Scripture at a time and start to notice patterns - such was the case today as i was reading luke 18-20, check out these two passages:

luke 18:15

some people brought their little children for Jesus to bless. but when his disciples saw them doing this, they told the people to stop bothering him.

luke 18:38-39

so the blind man shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" the people who were going along with Jesus told the man to be quiet. but he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have pity on me!"

***so, my mind had already been kinda turning in this direction ever since Bible study in luke 6 a few weeks back - and the idea of "do not judge" and how it fits in the context - i have to ask myself - do i sometimes play "god" and pick and choose who it is that i tell about Jesus? am i cynical about some, thinking "they'll never believe" - check the peoples reaction in this one:

luke 19:5-7

when Jesus got there, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down! i want to stay with you today." Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus. everyone who saw this started grumbling, "this man Zacchaeus is a sinner! and Jesus is going home to eat with him."

***hmmmmmm - how easy it is for Jesus' followers to sound a lot like the Pharisees.... how about us? do we really trust God or do we just share with those that we think might believe Him? then the question becomes - how do WE know whose life God wants to work in? let's be careful not to be hypocrits and judges - instead let's be salt and light for everyone and servants of all! our ministry is to EVERYONE

a story... with a moral... call me aesop.
Topic: actually 2001
so i got stuck in the snow the other night, tryin to get up a big hill that i just couldn't make - i tried all sortsa stuff - i backed up and got a run again and again - but i couldn't do it - finally, i
just backed up a smaller hill (rear wheel drive) but that only led me to another hill - and as i prepared for that ascent - i got stuck in a ditch - after all that effort, i was stuck.

i walked for a while and then got a ride home. i dropped into bed exhausted with the van off in a ditch and myself feeling equal parts frustrated,
defeated and humiliated...

early the next morning, i was awakened by my father saying "let's go get the van" - so we did. now to say that i was not full of confidence about the success of our mission would be an understatement - i had tried so much - i knew that even if we got it
out of the ditch - we WERE NOT making it up the hill (i mean, when i tried callin AAA the night before they told me "our drivers won't go down in there"!!!) but me and dad are gonna get it out?!?!?

well, to make a long story a little shorter - i pushed it out of the ditch and dad drove it right up the hill! - no problem!!! - i was shocked,
but once again reminded, my dad's a really good driver...

so where does this all leave me, us? well, aside from my confidence still being a bit bruised...i am reminded of the fact that we all have a Father who is infinitely more skilled than we are. too many
times in our lives, we try to tackle situations our own way and we get exhausted and defeated and humiliated and frustrated - and we wind up thinkin "i just can't do it", well, that's right - i CAN'T - but "nothing is impossible with God" - so i need to let Him be in control. He can handle the situation...

i peter 5:7
cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

ii corinthians 12:9
but he said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." therefore i will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

hebrews 4:16
let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

the difference
Topic: actually 2001
one thing that sets us apart as christians is how we react to difficult, even unfair situations.....

i peter 2:18-25

servants, you must obey your masters and always show respect to them. do this, not only to those who are kind and thoughtful, but also to those who are CRUEL. God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him. you don't gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. but God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good. after all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for YOU. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. although he was abused, he NEVER tried to get even. and when he suffered, he made NO threats. instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly. Christ carried the burden of OUR sins. he was nailed to the cross so that we would stop sinning and start living right. by HIS cuts and bruises, YOU are healed. you had wandered away like a sheep. now you have returned to the one who is your shepherd and protector.

a prayer
Topic: actually 2001
psalm 63

you are my God, i worship you.
in my heart, i long for you,
as i would long for a stream
in a scorching desert.
i have seen your power
and your glory
in the place of worship.
your love means more
than life to me,
and i praise you.
as long as i live,
i will pray to you.
i will sing joyful praises
and be filled with excitement
like a guest at a banquet.
i think about you
before i go to sleep,
and my thoughts turn to you
during the night.
you have helped me,
and i sing happy songs
in the shadow of your wings.
i stay close to you,
and your powerful arm supports me.

how do YOU respond to circumstance?
Topic: actually 2001
job 1:6-2:10

one day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, "Satan, where have you been?"

Satan replied, "i have been going all over the earth."

then the Lord asked, "what do you think of my servant Job? no one on earth is like him - he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil."

"why shouldn't he respect you?" Satan remarked. "you are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. you make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face."

the Lord replied, "all right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don't harm Job." then Satan left.

Job's sons and daughters were having a feast in the home of his oldest son, when someone rushed up to Job and said, "while your servants were plowing with your oxen, and your donkeys were nearby eating grass, a gang of Sabeans attacked and stole the oxen and donkeys! your other servants were killed, and i was the only one who escaped to tell you."

that servant was still speaking, when a second one came running up and saying, "God sent down a fire that killed your sheep and your servants. i am the only one who escaped to tell you."

before that servant finished speaking, a third one raced up and said, "three gangs of Chaldeans attacked and stole your camels! all of your other servants were killed, and i am the only one who escaped to tell you."

that servant was still speaking, when a fourth one dashed up and said, "your children were having a feast and drinking wine at the home of your oldest son, when suddenly a windstorm from the desert blew the house down, crushing all of your children. i am the only one who escaped to tell you."

when Job heard this, he tore his clothes and shaved his head because of his great sorrow. he knelt on the ground, then worshiped God and said: "we bring nothing at birth; we take nothing with us at death. the Lord alone gives and takes. praise the name of the Lord!" in spite of everything, Job did not sin or accuse God of doing wrong.

when the angels gathered around the Lord again, Satan was there with them, and the Lord asked, "Satan, where have you been?"

Satan replied, "i have been going all over the earth."

then the Lord asked, "what do you think of my servant Job? no one on earth is like him - he is truly a good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil. and he hasn't changed, even though you persuaded me to destroy him for no reason."

Satan answered, "there's no pain like your own. people will do anything to stay alive. try striking Job's own body with pain, and he will curse you to your face."

"all right!" the Lord replied. "make Job suffer as much as you want, but just don't kill him." Satan left and caused painful sores to break out all over Job's body - from head to toe.

then Job sat on the ash heap to show his sorrow. and while he was scraping his sores with a broken piece of pottery, his wife asked, "why do you still trust God? why don't you curse him and die?"

Job replied, "don't talk like a fool! if we accept blessings from God, we must accept trouble as well." in all that happened, Job never once said anything against God.

parabalas (sorry, bad humor...)
Topic: actually 2001
Luke 8:11-18
this is the meaning of the parable:

the seed is the word of God.

those along the path are the ones WHO HEAR, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they MAY NOT BELIEVE and BE SAVED.

those on the rock are the ones who RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY when they hear it, but they have NO ROOT. they believe FOR a WHILE, but in the time of testing THEY FALL AWAY.

the seed that fell among thorns stands for those who HEAR, but as they go on their way they are CHOKED by LIFE'S WORRIES, RICHES, and PLEASURES, and they DO NOT MATURE.

but the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who HEAR THE WORD, RETAIN IT, and BY PERSEVERING PRODUCE a CROP.

no one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. for there is NOTHING hidden that will not be disclosed,
and NOTHING concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. therefore CONSIDER CAREFULLY HOW YOU LISTEN. whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.

faith in the new year
Topic: actually 2001
hebrews 11:6
and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those
who earnestly seek him.

**** since this is the first verses email of 2001 - please allow me
a little logical progression (review for some of you)

1. pleasing God is a good thing

2. we must have faith to please God
???????? what is faith? - hebrews 11:1 "now faith IS being SURE OF
WHAT WE HOPE FOR and CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE."

** there are two specific parts of our faith that 11:6 talks about
A. believing God exists.
B. believing God rewards those who earnestly seek him.

????????? is A. good enough? well, according to james 3:19 "you
believe that there is only one God. good! even the demons believe
that and shudder."

we need A. and B.

hmmmm - if i believe God rewards those who earnestly seek him, and a
reward is a good thing and pleasing God is a good thing, maybe i
should earnestly seek him? OF COURSE I SHOULD EARNESTLY SEEK HIM! (but what does the word "earnestly" mean? - let's ask our good
friend Mr. Dictionary...)

"earnestly" - serious in effort; showing depth and sincerity of
feeling; of serious importance, or demanding serious attention

**** well, there you have it. make up your mind today to make 2001 a
year of faith for you - a year in which you "earnestly" seek God -
where do you look? start in His Word and in prayer - go to sunday
school, church, youth group, Bible club, etc. (wherever you can to
learn more about Him) - place your hope and trust in Him and in Him
alone! have a great 2001 :)

2 timothy 1:9-10
God saved us and chose us to be his holy people.
we did nothing to deserve this,
but God planned it because he is so kind.
even before time began,
God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us.
now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God.
Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us good news.
it shines like a light and offers life that never ends.