The Three Little Pigs

     Most everyone, I am sure, remembers the children's story of the Three Little Pigs.  One built his house of straw, the other built his house of sticks, but the third one built his house of bricks.  The big bad wolf came along and blew down the house of straw and sticks, but he could not "huff and puff and blow" down the house made of bricks.
     I tell this story to relate it to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15  "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.  But each man must be careful how he builds on it.  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.  If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward .  If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
     This tell me that as a Christian and believer in Jesus, the Son of God, I am to put Jesus first in my life.  Then I am to perform all my work to the best that I can, being watchful to follow the Ten Commandments and apply the scriptures to my daily walk.   This also means I am to love others, put judgmental attitudes behind me, toss away criticism of others, steer away from gossip, and develop quality workmanship.  I am to be respectful, prompt, courteous, forgiving, and appreciative.  God expects me to build my foundation, not from hay and sticks, but bricks of gold and precious stones that cannot be burned.  He expects the best I have to offer both at home and on the job, always ready to share the wonderful story of salvation.  

4 More Days Until Thanksgiving

     I just read on Facebook a posting of 10 Life Lesson to remember this Thanksgiving.  They were:
1.  Always be grateful
2.  Share positivity
3.  Use words of praise
4.  Enjoy the little things
5.  Help when you can
6.  Expect miracles
7.  Appreciate who you've become
8.  Offer random acts of kindness
9.  Don't second guess yourself
10. Know you deserve the best

     I agree with all of these, and I am thankful for the people who present "good thinking."  I am even more thankful for the 10 commandments God gave to us.  These commandments were given many, many years ago, but they still apply to everyone today.   

            The 10 Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet. 

     My prayer is that all people will be thankful for the instructions we have been given, that we will apply these instructions, and that we will be "one people under God." 

HIS NAME

     One of the Ten Commandments is not to take the Lord’s name in vain.  There are so many more scriptures in the Bible that tell us to honor God’s name.  Psalms 111:9 tells us  “…holy and reverend is his name.”  In the example of the Lord’s prayer, it starts off as “Hallowed be your name.”   Yet so many Christians use God’s name either as a swear word or just plain cussing.  The tongue can be a powerful weapon and can show dishonor in so many ways when we use God’s name inappropriately.  Not only can our words either lift God up or tear down our ministry for Him, but it also can affect how we build our own homes. 
     The will of God is to be honored and praised.  Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.        

HIS NAME

The heavens declare His glory!

In a loud voice the angels announce, “Behold the Lamb!”

What a story!

Power, praise, and honor are given by His name.

To lift Him up should be our aim. 

 

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-

The Creator, Savior, Living Spirit- giving life upmost; 

To use His name in vain

After so much gain!

Your name, Oh Lord, your name-

To hear it used in vain should set your people aflame.

The sweet, sweet name of Jesus,

A man who died for us;

To use your name in vain

After your blood, your death, your pain;

The Son, Jesus, our Savior’s precious name-

Used in vain? Oh, what a shame!

 The holy name of God-

Our Father, Maker of all, the Creator!

Who in all the world is greater?

To violate His name?

The One who sent His only Son, to die He came –

The Trinty, Three in One-

Father, Holy Ghost, and Son.

Why, oh why use their name in vain?

What good?  What gain? 

 Rather, declare as do the angels-

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty”

   Giver of grace, let us honor thee. 

                                                                                               Mary Crisp Jameson

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.  Exodus 20:7 

 

 

Bullets

     What fun it is to look for deer tracks in the snow!  And there are plenty of those deer roaming around “A Friendly Shade.”  It is also a delight to secretly watch as they slip across the clearing unknowingly aware they are being watched.  They seem to have a natural instinct for survival as they are always alert and watchful. The slightly sound will send them leaping, very quickly, out of sight.  Yet, I have to admit that as much as I enjoy watching the deer creep silently out of the woods, I still have just as much enjoyment when hunting season arrives.

     Preparing for the hunt, I rise early, before dawn, to gather whatever gear is needed. One of the first things is to make sure I have plenty of bullets, not that I am a poor shot, but because I want to be prepared.  My .44 magnum rifle may have a shorter range capacity than some others, but it produces a powerful force when aimed properly at an unsuspecting target.    

     That is also what Satan does.  While being fully supplied with enough bullets to deceive even the smartest of people, his aim is quick and powerful.  Like a good hunter, he is ready and waiting for just the right moment to seek out his unsuspecting target.  If the target sucessfully dodges that first bullet, there will be another coming behind it.   

     As humans, we don’t have the natural instinct given wild animals for survival.  We have something better, a Book that never ages.  Within the pages of this Book, God gave us our very own set of bullets as well as the wisdom to choose to use them in order to avoid becoming Satan’s target:

 

               THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

 

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.

3. Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.

5. Honor thy Father and thy Mother.

6. Thou shalt not kill.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neightbor’s house, wife or possessions.

 

The Idol

     One of the Ten Commandments given by God is, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Yet, we all have our idols, those things which we place first in our lives, and it is these things that can turn into a vapor in the twinkling of an eye.  God is the One and only constant in our lives.  He is the only One who can bring true, lasting joy. 

           The Idol

It lies silent, never-moving;
No embrace within the heart,
Just captivity through the endless day.
The pulse quickens with joyful intent
But leaving the soul with discontent.

It gleams bright, enticing, but cold-

A block of wood or melted metal,
Nothing to withstand the test of fire;
Nothing remaining to inspire;
The smile fads into despair-
The desire was there to ensnare.

A price to pay!

The sacrifice of soul-
Worship of silver & gold;
Wasn’t that foretold?

Love misplaced,

Treasures lying in waste;
Calamity falls,
And no one calls.

The idol sits silent, unconsoling,

Gleaming bright, enticing, but cold;
A beauty to behold-
Desired, heart invading,
Yet burning, rotting, fading.
Where is the essence of being?
All are fleeing.
                      Mary Crisp Jameson – 2/6/2015

^{Isaiah 42: 8} “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. ¹⁷ But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.