Good Morning: Tell them06 Mar 2009
'...I TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH HIM SO THAT HE WILL LET ME TELL HIM ABOUT CHRIST...' 1 CORINTHIANS 9:22
Josh McDowell writes 'An executive 'head hunter' who goes out and hires corporate executives for other firms once told me, 'When I get an executive I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then when I think I've got him relaxed I lean over, look him square in the eye and say - what's the purpose in your life?' It's amazing how top executives fall apart on that question.' Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed with my feet up on my desk talking about football. Then I leaned over and said - what's the purpose in your life, Bob? Without blinking an eye he said 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless.'
There are basically five reasons why we don't share our faith more often, and not one of them will hold up when we stand before Christ:
1) We think it's the preacher's job
2) We aren't sure of our salvation
3) We fear being rejected
4) We've never taken responsibility for learning how
5) Our love for Christ has grown cold. But not Paul: he said, '...whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him'. Can you say that?
Blessings,
Pastor J.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday - March 5th
Good Morning:
'May you have the peace that defies understanding today.'
Invest what God's given you04 Mar 2009
'"TO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TO ANOTHER TWO, AND TO ANOTHER ONE..."' MATTHEW 25:15
In Jesus' story, the first two servants '"...went and traded..."' They pondered their options, crunched the numbers, took the plunge, and dared to fail. And their Master said '"Well done, good and faithful servant..."' (v.21). Here Jesus points us to the day when the '...earth and all its works [will be] exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment' (2 Peter 3:10). What's the point? Dare to take great risks for God! Not foolish risks, but prayed-over, well-considered risks in response to faith. The only mistake - is not to risk making a mistake.
And how about the third servant? '"I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground..."'(v.25). The first two invested theirs; he buried his. The first two went out on a limb; he hugged the trunk. He made the most tragic and common mistake of giftedness. He failed to benefit the Master with his talent. Some invest their talents and give God credit. Others misuse them and give God grief. Some honour Him with fruit. Others insult Him with excuses. How did the Master feel about it? '"Get rid of this 'play-it-safe' who won't go out on a limb"' (Matthew 25:29). Fear is the opposite of faith. And, 'without faith it is impossible to please [God]...' (Hebrews 11:6). Bottom line: step out in faith; He won't let you down. Take a risk; He won't let you fail. Even if you fail several times on your way to success, God invites you to dream of the day when you'll feel His hand on your shoulder saying, '"Well done, good and faithful servant!"' (Matthew 25:21).
Blessings,
Pastor J.
'May you have the peace that defies understanding today.'
Invest what God's given you04 Mar 2009
'"TO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TO ANOTHER TWO, AND TO ANOTHER ONE..."' MATTHEW 25:15
In Jesus' story, the first two servants '"...went and traded..."' They pondered their options, crunched the numbers, took the plunge, and dared to fail. And their Master said '"Well done, good and faithful servant..."' (v.21). Here Jesus points us to the day when the '...earth and all its works [will be] exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment' (2 Peter 3:10). What's the point? Dare to take great risks for God! Not foolish risks, but prayed-over, well-considered risks in response to faith. The only mistake - is not to risk making a mistake.
And how about the third servant? '"I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground..."'(v.25). The first two invested theirs; he buried his. The first two went out on a limb; he hugged the trunk. He made the most tragic and common mistake of giftedness. He failed to benefit the Master with his talent. Some invest their talents and give God credit. Others misuse them and give God grief. Some honour Him with fruit. Others insult Him with excuses. How did the Master feel about it? '"Get rid of this 'play-it-safe' who won't go out on a limb"' (Matthew 25:29). Fear is the opposite of faith. And, 'without faith it is impossible to please [God]...' (Hebrews 11:6). Bottom line: step out in faith; He won't let you down. Take a risk; He won't let you fail. Even if you fail several times on your way to success, God invites you to dream of the day when you'll feel His hand on your shoulder saying, '"Well done, good and faithful servant!"' (Matthew 25:21).
Blessings,
Pastor J.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Monday - March 2nd
Good Morning:
Attention worrywarts!02 Mar 2009
''GIVE...YOUR WORRIES...TO GOD...' 1 PETER 5:7
A lady whose friend was a chronic worrier said to her one day, 'Do you realise that 80% of the things you worry about never happen?'
Jesus said, '"...don't get worked up about what may...happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever...come[s] up..."' (Matthew 6:34 ). Worry doesn't rid tomorrow of its sorrows, it just robs today of its joy. Plus when you make a mountain out of a molehill you end up having to climb it. A salesman who usually drove an old car and wore outdated clothes turned up at his office one day in a designer suit, driving a BMW. 'What happened'? his colleague asked. 'Remember how I used to worry about everything'? he said, 'Well, I hired a team of professional worriers; now I tell them my problems and they do all my worrying while I go out and sell'. 'How much do they charge'? his friend asked. '$5,000 a week,' he replied. 'How can you afford that?' his colleague asked. Smiling he replied, 'That's their worry, not mine!'
Wouldn't you like to have somebody to handle all your worries? You do; His name is Jesus, and He said, '"If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens...I will give you rest"' (Matthew 11:28). God promised, '"...as your day so shall your strength...be"' (Deuteronomy 33:25). That's because He only gives us today's strength for today's needs. Remember, it's impossible to wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. So instead of wasting today worrying about tomorrow, 'Give...your worries...to God...' (1 Peter 5:7), and get busy living the life He gave you to enjoy!
Blessings
Pastor J.
Attention worrywarts!02 Mar 2009
''GIVE...YOUR WORRIES...TO GOD...' 1 PETER 5:7
A lady whose friend was a chronic worrier said to her one day, 'Do you realise that 80% of the things you worry about never happen?'
Jesus said, '"...don't get worked up about what may...happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever...come[s] up..."' (Matthew 6:34 ). Worry doesn't rid tomorrow of its sorrows, it just robs today of its joy. Plus when you make a mountain out of a molehill you end up having to climb it. A salesman who usually drove an old car and wore outdated clothes turned up at his office one day in a designer suit, driving a BMW. 'What happened'? his colleague asked. 'Remember how I used to worry about everything'? he said, 'Well, I hired a team of professional worriers; now I tell them my problems and they do all my worrying while I go out and sell'. 'How much do they charge'? his friend asked. '$5,000 a week,' he replied. 'How can you afford that?' his colleague asked. Smiling he replied, 'That's their worry, not mine!'
Wouldn't you like to have somebody to handle all your worries? You do; His name is Jesus, and He said, '"If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens...I will give you rest"' (Matthew 11:28). God promised, '"...as your day so shall your strength...be"' (Deuteronomy 33:25). That's because He only gives us today's strength for today's needs. Remember, it's impossible to wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. So instead of wasting today worrying about tomorrow, 'Give...your worries...to God...' (1 Peter 5:7), and get busy living the life He gave you to enjoy!
Blessings
Pastor J.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
