Go Ye!

 Humor and true story!  😅

     It was a Saturday night and four couples had gotten together to go out to eat and enjoy a few hours of hours of social time. They had agreed to meet at a restaurant which specialized in grilled steaks and seafood. The restaurant was full when they arrived. After waiting for a table to be cleared, they were finally seated. The table just so happened to be located in the center of the restaurant where they were readily seen and heard by most of the people at the other tables.  It didn’t take long for the couples to have the full attention of most of the patrons. They were all laughing and having a good time with one humorous story after another being told. During one of the comical jokes going around the table, one of the men in the group was in the middle of an uncontrollable laughing spell when he suddenly had to sneeze. The sneeze came on so quickly he did not have time to cover his mouth, and as he sneezed, his top front teeth propelled out of his mouth and landed in the middle of the lady’s lap sitting next to him. She was so taken by surprise that she immediately hollered out, “Oh! No! Your teeth are in my lap!” She made no effort to touch or remove them and by that time all those in the restaurant looked at the group and everyone was laughing as the man quickly reached over and retrieved his teeth.

     I can usually find humor in any embarrassing situation as long as the embarrassment is not on me. I suppose that why it is so hard to follow the whispering of the Lord when I suddenly feel an urge to tell someone I meet about Jesus, to openly bring up the topic of my feelings and love for Jesus, or to render a kind action when it is unknown what will be the outcome? Yet Jesus said, "Go, ye therefore..."
    In our Sunday School lesson today, the writer wrote, "God equips us, positions us, and calls us to live out our faith in Him as we invest the time, energy, and resources He has given us to make Him known."   This means that I must prepare, listen, and be alert in order to glorify God.  I need to be courageous in my faith, regardless of possible embarrassment.  

I'd Rather Have Jesus

     How fast we get addicted!  I left home without my cell phone.  When I realized it, I had no time to return for it.  My spouse was with me.  He had his, so I really had no need for mine, BUT I wanted it which made me irritated, to say the least.  I was on the verge of letting my "absent" phone ruin my day.  How stupid can I get?  
     My phone is for security purposes, it should not be what determines my joy.  There is nothing that is truly more the source of my joy than Jesus.  So often when I don't have what I want or forget to take with me what I want, I let these idols interfere and I forget, for a moment, that Jesus is with me at all times.  My joy is with Him. 
 
     This reminds of a song, I'd Rather Have Jesus.   So, if I don't have my phone, if I don't have a new car, if I don't live in the best of homes, if, if, if..... I'd rather have Jesus!

1. I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
   I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
   I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
   I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
   
   • Refrain:
     Than to be the king of a vast domain
     Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
     I’d rather have Jesus than anything
     This world affords today.
2. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
   I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
   I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
   I’d rather be true to His holy name
3. He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
   He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
   He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
   I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Sunday

     Sunday mornings are sometimes hard to "get up" and "get going".  Maybe, it is because Satan is roaming, looking for someone like me to entice away from God's church.  Yet, if I remember the words in Psalm 95 I am encouraged. "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving."  I know His presence is with me daily wherever I am, but on Sundays I am given an even greater opportunity to worship Him in His very house.

Oh come, let me adore Him,

 with love overflowing,  

  true love growing. 

Let me make a joyful noise,

 lifting up my voice in song,

 praising all day long.

Let me worship to glorify

 as done in days gone by.

Oh, let me come before Him with thanksgiving;

 in my soul, in my living.

Oh come, let me worship my one true God

 who walks where I trod.
Oh, come! Let me adore Him.
                 Mary Crisp Jameson
 

Remember Him

   How many times during the day do we really remember God? How often during the day do we take the time to talk with Him?  How often during the day do we really direct our attention toward God?   

   Remember Him

Remember Him before the dawn;
  before the light of sun,
  in the moments before they're gone.
Remember Him before the chirping of flighty birds;
  before the sounds of stirring;
  before the framing of unforgiving words.
Remember Him before noon-day's ray;
  before the heat of blazing sun;
  throughout the chores of day.
Remember Him before heaven's stars twinkle bright;
  before the moon brightens the dark; 
  whereby, seeking strength through restful night.
Remember Him before the grave;
  before the life turns to dust and ash;
  ever seeking the love Christ gave,
  the mortal soul to save. 
                    Mary Crisp Jameson

Ecclesiastes 12:1a "Remember now thy Creator..."

Diet Plan

     I need a good diet plan; one not requiring calorie counting or avoiding carbs.  There are all kinds of plans available, but I have not found one which works for me, and if it does, it is only temporary.  I need a total makeover way-of-life diet.
     I think my diet should be filled with a plate full of nutrients supplied by a craving for the Word.  I also need a taste for Christian living, a mouth-watering love for His work, and a lip-smacking dessert topped with a large spoon full of Jesus. 
     Maybe my diet should include:  D oing the work
                                                         I nvolvement in the Word
                                                         E nergy for the task
                                                         T elling the story of Christ
     If I should fail to lose weight on this plan, then I pray my seams will be bursting with love for Jesus, joy in my salvation, and peace within His grace.  If I fail to become slimmer, may my body be transformed with compassion for the sick, concern for the helpless, and consideration for all people.

A Good Job

     What motivates me to do a good job and to do it right?  First of all, my heart needs to be in it, or the completed result will be sloppily done.  Maybe, my determination to do a good job started early when my parents told me to clean my room.  Or maybe, I watched how they, themselves, completed tasks.  I wanted to meet their expectations.  That, in itself, placed a desire in my heart.  I was dependent upon them, needing their instruction, direction, and guidance.
     When I became a Christian, I also became dependent upon Christ and the Holy Spirit living within.  Although I have no desire to do a sloppy job in living a work for Christ, I admit that I often fail.  In my failure, I realize I will forever be dependent upon the Holy Spirit for instruction, direction, and guidance as I continually delve into the Word for knowledge and wisdom.  As a Christian and through Scripture, I have learned what God's expectations are, and I am motivated to meet His expectations. 
     My work should not be of the flesh, and I should resist willingly practicing these works.  
Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness. carousing, and anything similar.  I am warning you about these things - as I warned you before - that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." 
     My rewards or fruit for a good job is not only a sense of fleshly pride, but an attitude of the Spirit.  My desire is to build and develop my character upon these principles. 
Galatians 5:22-23, 26, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."
    
    

Inheritance

     The majority of folks make their own financial pathway; whereas, a few are fortunate to live a healthy lifestyle through inheritance.  In my case, I came to realize and appreciate how my parents lived conservatively so they could pass a little on to their children.  It was by love that they sacrificed their wants, desires, and often needs to do just this.  Some would say, "I will never receive an inheritance."  However, that is not the case.  All who believe "in the name of the only begotten Son of God" will receive an inheritance and this is far richer than any other inheritance received on this earth.

Romans 8:       
¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

What a happy time it will be when the following wonderful, promised inheritance occurs, and it will happen because of what was sacrificed for us. 

1 John 3:2  "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."