I showered and shaved.............. I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat.............. In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes..
I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began : 'Our Father'.............
(I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride. They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!')
'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.
The shoe man said............... A quiet 'Amen.'
I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?
'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor..
Then the prayer was ended........... And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud...... Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering...... And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me............ To tears, and that's no lie..
It was the same for the shoe man.... For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow.............. And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer........ I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark..... And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.
He said, 'My names' Charlie............ I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said........... Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''
'I know that my appearance............'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try.................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here..........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'
My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize............ For daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here..............'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'
I was silent for a moment........... Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.
'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man...............'Is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought,..................... This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul!
Bless you...
Yaddy
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
What goes around....comes around
The man slowly looked up......a beautiful woman, clearly accustomed to the finer things in life was standing there.
Her coat was new.....
She looked like she'd never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him....like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone..." he growled.
To his amazement, the woman contiued standing there....she was smiling even.....her even teeth, displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked?
"NO" he answered sacastically...."I've just come from dining with the president...now....go away!"
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly, the man felt a gently hand under his arm.
"Hey...what are you doing lady?" the man asked angrily..."I said to leave me alone..."
Just then, a policeman came up.
"Is there a problem ma'am?" he asked.
"No problem here...officer..." she answered, "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet...will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head, "That's old Jack, he's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafe over there?'she asked...."I am going to get him in there and give him something to eat and get him out of the cold for a while.."
"Are you crazy...lady?" the old man insisted....then he felt strong hands
grab him and pull him up...."This is a good deal for you Jack....don't blow it.."
Finally the officer and the woman got him inside the cafe and sat him at a table in the corner.
Most of the crowd had left, as it was the middle of the morning, the mananger came and asked if there was anything the matter. "Is this man in trouble, officer?"
"No, the lady brought him in to be fed" the officer replied.
"Not in here" the manager replied, "I don't want any one like that in here....it's bad for business..."
The young woman turned to the manager and asked, "Sir, are you familiar with the firm EDDY and associates....the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am..." the manager answered angrily,"They hold their weekly meeting upstairs in one of my rooms!"
"And do you make a nice amount of money providing food and service at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours...might I ask?" replied the manager.
"I sir, am Penelope Eddy, CEO of that company..."
"OH"
"Yes, I thought that might make a difference"
She glanced at the officer who was trying to stifle a grin....then to the officer.."Would you like to join us for a coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thank you ma'am, I'm on duty, "Then perhaps a coffee to go?"
"Yes, thank you...that would be good"
The cafe manager turned on his heels..."I'll get your coffee right away sir..."
"You certainly put him in his place..." he said.
The woman said, "That was not my intent, believe it or not, I have a reason for all this".
She sat down across from her amazed dinner guest.
She stared at him intently!
"Jack...do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old rheumy eyes..."I think so....I mean....you do look sort of familiar"
"I'm a little older? perhaps?" she said..."Maybe I've filled out a little more than in my younger days, when you worked here and I came through that very door, cold and hungry?"
"Ma'am?" the officer said, questioningly!
He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry!
"I was just out of college..." the woman began,"I had come to the city, looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.
Finally, I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the street for days, it was February, it was sooo cold and I was starving.
I saw this cafe and walked in, on the off chance that I might get something to eat."
Jack's face lit up with a smile!
"Now I remember..." he said, "You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat, and I said it was against company policy..."
"I know.." the woman said. "You then made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, and a cup of coffee and you told me to go sit in the corner so no one would see me. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the money in the cash register, and I knew it was alright."
"So, you started your own business?" Jack asked.
"I got a job that very afternoon, I worked my way up and eventually I started my own business, that, with the help of the Lord, prospered!"
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card, "When you are finished here, I want you to go to pay a visit to a Mr Lyons, he works for me, I'll go and talk to him now to make sure he knows what I want, he will even give you an advance so you can buy some clothes and find a place to live, and if you ever need anything, my door is always open to you!"
"How can I ever thank you?" He said.
"Don't thank me....to God goes all the glory....He led me to you..."
Outside, the woman turned to the officer, "Thank you for all your help officer..." she said.
"On the contrary, Miss Eddy," he answered, "Thank you....I saw a miracle today, something I will never forget...and thank you....for the coffee!"
WHAT IS A MIRACLE?
Sometimes it's just some one...helping some one else....as simple as that....if GOD is in it!
Bless you
Yaddy
Her coat was new.....
She looked like she'd never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him....like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone..." he growled.
To his amazement, the woman contiued standing there....she was smiling even.....her even teeth, displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked?
"NO" he answered sacastically...."I've just come from dining with the president...now....go away!"
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly, the man felt a gently hand under his arm.
"Hey...what are you doing lady?" the man asked angrily..."I said to leave me alone..."
Just then, a policeman came up.
"Is there a problem ma'am?" he asked.
"No problem here...officer..." she answered, "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet...will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head, "That's old Jack, he's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafe over there?'she asked...."I am going to get him in there and give him something to eat and get him out of the cold for a while.."
"Are you crazy...lady?" the old man insisted....then he felt strong hands
grab him and pull him up...."This is a good deal for you Jack....don't blow it.."
Finally the officer and the woman got him inside the cafe and sat him at a table in the corner.
Most of the crowd had left, as it was the middle of the morning, the mananger came and asked if there was anything the matter. "Is this man in trouble, officer?"
"No, the lady brought him in to be fed" the officer replied.
"Not in here" the manager replied, "I don't want any one like that in here....it's bad for business..."
The young woman turned to the manager and asked, "Sir, are you familiar with the firm EDDY and associates....the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am..." the manager answered angrily,"They hold their weekly meeting upstairs in one of my rooms!"
"And do you make a nice amount of money providing food and service at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours...might I ask?" replied the manager.
"I sir, am Penelope Eddy, CEO of that company..."
"OH"
"Yes, I thought that might make a difference"
She glanced at the officer who was trying to stifle a grin....then to the officer.."Would you like to join us for a coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thank you ma'am, I'm on duty, "Then perhaps a coffee to go?"
"Yes, thank you...that would be good"
The cafe manager turned on his heels..."I'll get your coffee right away sir..."
"You certainly put him in his place..." he said.
The woman said, "That was not my intent, believe it or not, I have a reason for all this".
She sat down across from her amazed dinner guest.
She stared at him intently!
"Jack...do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old rheumy eyes..."I think so....I mean....you do look sort of familiar"
"I'm a little older? perhaps?" she said..."Maybe I've filled out a little more than in my younger days, when you worked here and I came through that very door, cold and hungry?"
"Ma'am?" the officer said, questioningly!
He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry!
"I was just out of college..." the woman began,"I had come to the city, looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.
Finally, I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the street for days, it was February, it was sooo cold and I was starving.
I saw this cafe and walked in, on the off chance that I might get something to eat."
Jack's face lit up with a smile!
"Now I remember..." he said, "You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat, and I said it was against company policy..."
"I know.." the woman said. "You then made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, and a cup of coffee and you told me to go sit in the corner so no one would see me. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the money in the cash register, and I knew it was alright."
"So, you started your own business?" Jack asked.
"I got a job that very afternoon, I worked my way up and eventually I started my own business, that, with the help of the Lord, prospered!"
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card, "When you are finished here, I want you to go to pay a visit to a Mr Lyons, he works for me, I'll go and talk to him now to make sure he knows what I want, he will even give you an advance so you can buy some clothes and find a place to live, and if you ever need anything, my door is always open to you!"
"How can I ever thank you?" He said.
"Don't thank me....to God goes all the glory....He led me to you..."
Outside, the woman turned to the officer, "Thank you for all your help officer..." she said.
"On the contrary, Miss Eddy," he answered, "Thank you....I saw a miracle today, something I will never forget...and thank you....for the coffee!"
WHAT IS A MIRACLE?
Sometimes it's just some one...helping some one else....as simple as that....if GOD is in it!
Bless you
Yaddy
Sunday, July 24, 2011
, “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty”
Isaiah 33:17, “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty”
John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Many people in today’s world recognize Jesus’ humanity; however,they will say he was a good man.....but, they fail to recognize and accept His deity. This reminded me of the story of the young woman who was engaged to Mozart before he rose to fame. Impressed by more handsome men, she became disenchanted with him because he was so short.
So she gave him up for someone tall and attractive. Then when the world began to praise Mozart for his outstanding musical accomplishments, she regretted her decision. She said, “I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius.” “I only saw him as a little man.”
Have you ever wondered why the Jews, who knew the Scriptures, failed to see Jesus’ true prominence?
Perhaps it was because they were looking for the beautiful King as described in Isaiah 33:17. They didn’t understand that before the Messiah came in all His glorious beauty, He must first come as the Man of sorrows described in Isaiah 53.
Thus, He was misunderstood during His life and ministry on earth, but it wasn’t His fault. The people who lived with Him and observed Him closely didn’t understand His mission. Some of Jesus’ contemporaries said He had “an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:30), while others tried to throw Him over a cliff (Luke 4:29). At first even His own brothers failed to recognize his true identity (John 7:5).
Most of Jesus’ peers only saw Him as a man (Mark 6:3) and refused to accept Him as God. For a long time, they didn’t see that He was the God-sent Messiah. Therefore everyone needs an inclusive examination of the person and work of Jesus Christ. In Mark 8:27, 29 Jesus asked His disciples two questions: “Who do men say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” The first question is significant because it allows us to get a read on the minds of the people.The second question, however, is eternal because it’s only by acknowledging the Lord Jesus Christ and responding to His gift of forgiveness by faith that a person can have eternal life.
__________
Closing thoughts:
According to opinion polls the popular idea of today is that good people go to heaven. It was also noted that a majority of those polled see their own chances of going there to be very good. Most people base their expectations of heaven on their performance in this life, irrespective of their relationship to Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
I know of one cross that may cause people to ponder its meaning. It stands outside a church in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and is made of raw, unpolished steel. When it rains, red, rusty drops roll off the cross like blood. On sunny days in winter, rusted holes dot the snow at its base. What goes through the minds of those who pass by that weathered symbol?
More importantly, what is their response to its message? Is the cross foolishness, nothing more than a fashion trend? Or does it bring to mind the blood Christ willingly shed for the redemption of our soul? The apostle Paul said that the “wisdom of this age” cannot grasp the mystery that is God’s plan of salvation. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can understand the “foolishness” of the cross. So, in light of the above I must ask the following questions:
(1) What does the cross mean to you?
(2) Who do you say Jesus Christ is?
(3) Do you see Him as a man or good teacher? Or …
(4) Do you see Him as God’s Son, our Redeemer and Saviour?
(5) The source for an inclusive examination of Jesus Christ is found only in God’s Word.
The cross reveals our sin at its worst and God’s love at its best. I will conclude with this verse found in John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
thank you Mikey.
bless you
Yaddy
John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Many people in today’s world recognize Jesus’ humanity; however,they will say he was a good man.....but, they fail to recognize and accept His deity. This reminded me of the story of the young woman who was engaged to Mozart before he rose to fame. Impressed by more handsome men, she became disenchanted with him because he was so short.
So she gave him up for someone tall and attractive. Then when the world began to praise Mozart for his outstanding musical accomplishments, she regretted her decision. She said, “I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius.” “I only saw him as a little man.”
Have you ever wondered why the Jews, who knew the Scriptures, failed to see Jesus’ true prominence?
Perhaps it was because they were looking for the beautiful King as described in Isaiah 33:17. They didn’t understand that before the Messiah came in all His glorious beauty, He must first come as the Man of sorrows described in Isaiah 53.
Thus, He was misunderstood during His life and ministry on earth, but it wasn’t His fault. The people who lived with Him and observed Him closely didn’t understand His mission. Some of Jesus’ contemporaries said He had “an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:30), while others tried to throw Him over a cliff (Luke 4:29). At first even His own brothers failed to recognize his true identity (John 7:5).
Most of Jesus’ peers only saw Him as a man (Mark 6:3) and refused to accept Him as God. For a long time, they didn’t see that He was the God-sent Messiah. Therefore everyone needs an inclusive examination of the person and work of Jesus Christ. In Mark 8:27, 29 Jesus asked His disciples two questions: “Who do men say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” The first question is significant because it allows us to get a read on the minds of the people.The second question, however, is eternal because it’s only by acknowledging the Lord Jesus Christ and responding to His gift of forgiveness by faith that a person can have eternal life.
__________
Closing thoughts:
According to opinion polls the popular idea of today is that good people go to heaven. It was also noted that a majority of those polled see their own chances of going there to be very good. Most people base their expectations of heaven on their performance in this life, irrespective of their relationship to Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
I know of one cross that may cause people to ponder its meaning. It stands outside a church in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and is made of raw, unpolished steel. When it rains, red, rusty drops roll off the cross like blood. On sunny days in winter, rusted holes dot the snow at its base. What goes through the minds of those who pass by that weathered symbol?
More importantly, what is their response to its message? Is the cross foolishness, nothing more than a fashion trend? Or does it bring to mind the blood Christ willingly shed for the redemption of our soul? The apostle Paul said that the “wisdom of this age” cannot grasp the mystery that is God’s plan of salvation. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can understand the “foolishness” of the cross. So, in light of the above I must ask the following questions:
(1) What does the cross mean to you?
(2) Who do you say Jesus Christ is?
(3) Do you see Him as a man or good teacher? Or …
(4) Do you see Him as God’s Son, our Redeemer and Saviour?
(5) The source for an inclusive examination of Jesus Christ is found only in God’s Word.
The cross reveals our sin at its worst and God’s love at its best. I will conclude with this verse found in John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
thank you Mikey.
bless you
Yaddy
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.....
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.
The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. A few months later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man was standing at the door with a very large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when he was struck in the heart by a bullet and died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much, and I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the portrait. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift to you."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son.
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this portrait of the son. Who will make a bid for this painting?" There was complete silence, until a voice in the back of the room shouted. "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
However, the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding at $100, $200?" Another man shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10, we came see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming very angry. They didn't want the painting of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
A man sitting on the second row shouted. "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I wasn’t allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. You see, only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"
God gave His only begotten Son over 2,000 years ago to shed His blood and die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message for us today is:
"The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?"
__________
Further thoughts:
I read some time ago about an instant cake mix that was a big flop. The instructions said all you have to do is add water and bake. The company couldn’t understand why it didn’t sell until their research discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that required only water. People thought it was too easy. So the company altered the formula and changed the directions to call for adding an egg to the mix in addition to the water. The idea worked, and sales jumped dramatically. That story reminded me of how some people react to the plan of salvation. To them it sounds too easy and simple to be true, even though the Bible says, “By grace you have been saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). They feel that there is something more they must do, something they must add to God’s “recipe” for salvation. They think they must perform good works to gain God’s favor and earn eternal life. However, the bible is very clear; we are saved “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). My friend, unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God hasn’t changed His “formula” to make salvation more marketable. The gospel we proclaim must be free of works, even though it may sound too easy. My friend, whatever you decide about God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; whose blood was shed on the cruel cross of Calvary will determine your destiny. Much like the auctioneer, His message for us today is:
"The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?"
Bless you....Mikey
Yaddy
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.
The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. A few months later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man was standing at the door with a very large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when he was struck in the heart by a bullet and died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much, and I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the portrait. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift to you."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son.
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this portrait of the son. Who will make a bid for this painting?" There was complete silence, until a voice in the back of the room shouted. "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
However, the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding at $100, $200?" Another man shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10, we came see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming very angry. They didn't want the painting of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
A man sitting on the second row shouted. "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I wasn’t allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. You see, only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"
God gave His only begotten Son over 2,000 years ago to shed His blood and die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message for us today is:
"The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?"
__________
Further thoughts:
I read some time ago about an instant cake mix that was a big flop. The instructions said all you have to do is add water and bake. The company couldn’t understand why it didn’t sell until their research discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that required only water. People thought it was too easy. So the company altered the formula and changed the directions to call for adding an egg to the mix in addition to the water. The idea worked, and sales jumped dramatically. That story reminded me of how some people react to the plan of salvation. To them it sounds too easy and simple to be true, even though the Bible says, “By grace you have been saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). They feel that there is something more they must do, something they must add to God’s “recipe” for salvation. They think they must perform good works to gain God’s favor and earn eternal life. However, the bible is very clear; we are saved “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). My friend, unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God hasn’t changed His “formula” to make salvation more marketable. The gospel we proclaim must be free of works, even though it may sound too easy. My friend, whatever you decide about God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; whose blood was shed on the cruel cross of Calvary will determine your destiny. Much like the auctioneer, His message for us today is:
"The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?"
Bless you....Mikey
Yaddy
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Christian Yoga?
All Hindus worship one Supreme Reality, though they call it by many names. There is no eternal hell, no damnation, in Hinduism, and no intrinsic evil--no satanic force that opposes the will of God. Hindus believe that the cosmos was created out of God and is permeated by Him--a Supreme Being who both is form and pervades form, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe only to recreate it again in unending cycles. Each soul is free to find his own way, whether by devotion, austerity, meditation, yoga or selfless service.
Yoga is the salvific practice of Hinduism; in other words, it is the Hindu form of "salvation." But Hindus have no concept of sin against a holy God....instead, it teaches that man's greatest problem is his ignorance that he is "God" (or Brahman). Obviously, this is very different from the Christian understanding of what salvation is: Jesus's atoning death for the forgiveness of sins, and being made right with a holy God.
Just a few reasons why yoga cannot be separated from its occultic origins are:
(1) The mantra meditation lowers mental barriers and opens one up to the demonic realm (though it often doesn't "feel" demonic at first...it feels "good" and "spiritual".....even holy);
(2) The yoga positions themselves are all prayer postures designed to honour one of the millions of Hindu gods; each and every one of the Yoga positions.
So, if you are going to a yoga class, just for the exercise alone, just by the mere fact that you are at a Yoga class, you are doing the exercises to a Hindu god.
(3) The yoga positions themselves are not only for the purpose of honouring and worshiping Hindu gods, but they are done in a very specific order for the purpose of aligning and opening up the"chakra" system. It is believed that this alignment will not only enable one to meditate more deeply, but will also awaken something called "kundalini," also known as "serpent power." In the yoga tradition, it is believed that a "serpent" lies coiled and sleeping at the base of the spine until it is "awakened" and begins to uncoil, slowly moving its way up the spine, and allowing the practitioner deeper meditation and union with "Brahman."
Brahman is supposed to be this infinite, transcendent reality from which all things came - including the millions of Hindu gods. The aim of yoga is to attain union with Brahman......basically, the ultimate purpose of yoga is to release people from the Wheel of Life, and their karmic debts, and to prepare its practitioners for death.
However, the response I often hear from Christians is this: "But as a Christian, I can 'do' yoga unto the Lord!" My question would be: How is that any different from the golden calf incident, recorded in Exodus 32:1-6, in which Aaron tried to claim that they were honouring the Lord with their man made golden calf religious worship?
God is quite clear on how we are to worship and approach him - and it is not through blending our worship of him with pagan practices. I recognize that it is very hip and cool and popular in today's global, multi- culture to meld different things together. We are most certainly an experience-driven culture, always seeking the fresh, exciting, "new" thing. But we have clear mandates from Scripture about how we are to worship and approach God. We are to be set apart from the world – not be “as unto it” - so that's God's truth will shine like a beacon in the darkness.
Bottom line? Christians must not be tempted to "borrow" practices from false religions and fool themselves into thinking that they can honour the Lord in this way. And if they have done so, they should repent.....or they might just end up drinking ground calf juice.
from http://solasisters.blogspot.com/
Bless you...
Yaddy
Yoga is the salvific practice of Hinduism; in other words, it is the Hindu form of "salvation." But Hindus have no concept of sin against a holy God....instead, it teaches that man's greatest problem is his ignorance that he is "God" (or Brahman). Obviously, this is very different from the Christian understanding of what salvation is: Jesus's atoning death for the forgiveness of sins, and being made right with a holy God.
Just a few reasons why yoga cannot be separated from its occultic origins are:
(1) The mantra meditation lowers mental barriers and opens one up to the demonic realm (though it often doesn't "feel" demonic at first...it feels "good" and "spiritual".....even holy);
(2) The yoga positions themselves are all prayer postures designed to honour one of the millions of Hindu gods; each and every one of the Yoga positions.
So, if you are going to a yoga class, just for the exercise alone, just by the mere fact that you are at a Yoga class, you are doing the exercises to a Hindu god.
(3) The yoga positions themselves are not only for the purpose of honouring and worshiping Hindu gods, but they are done in a very specific order for the purpose of aligning and opening up the"chakra" system. It is believed that this alignment will not only enable one to meditate more deeply, but will also awaken something called "kundalini," also known as "serpent power." In the yoga tradition, it is believed that a "serpent" lies coiled and sleeping at the base of the spine until it is "awakened" and begins to uncoil, slowly moving its way up the spine, and allowing the practitioner deeper meditation and union with "Brahman."
Brahman is supposed to be this infinite, transcendent reality from which all things came - including the millions of Hindu gods. The aim of yoga is to attain union with Brahman......basically, the ultimate purpose of yoga is to release people from the Wheel of Life, and their karmic debts, and to prepare its practitioners for death.
However, the response I often hear from Christians is this: "But as a Christian, I can 'do' yoga unto the Lord!" My question would be: How is that any different from the golden calf incident, recorded in Exodus 32:1-6, in which Aaron tried to claim that they were honouring the Lord with their man made golden calf religious worship?
God is quite clear on how we are to worship and approach him - and it is not through blending our worship of him with pagan practices. I recognize that it is very hip and cool and popular in today's global, multi- culture to meld different things together. We are most certainly an experience-driven culture, always seeking the fresh, exciting, "new" thing. But we have clear mandates from Scripture about how we are to worship and approach God. We are to be set apart from the world – not be “as unto it” - so that's God's truth will shine like a beacon in the darkness.
Bottom line? Christians must not be tempted to "borrow" practices from false religions and fool themselves into thinking that they can honour the Lord in this way. And if they have done so, they should repent.....or they might just end up drinking ground calf juice.
from http://solasisters.blogspot.com/
Bless you...
Yaddy
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
How....to explain to some one.......
I was thinking of a way to explain to some one....."why" Jesus had to die on a cross.
If....God loves us, and is all powerful, why couldn't He just forgive us from heaven and be done with it?
Why.....did Jesus have to be born a human, and die a criminal.....so that "I" could be saved?
And although some hard questions may not have easy answers, this side of heaven....... there is an explanation for why Jesus had to die to secure our....my....salvation.
It's sort of like this story....( very sort of)
A young lad loved to play basket ball and due to the fact that he loved it so much, he practiced and practiced every day, so he would be good enough to play on his favourite team.
he was allowed to "dribble the ball inside the house during winter, so he could keep on practicing, but there were some restrictions.
"No dribbling in the lounge room" as that was where his mum's mother's vase was, which was an antique as well.
The lad stuck to the rule, till, one day, he got so carried away with his dribbling of the ball, and it was going so good, before he realised he was in "the room" and the ball got away from him and as he covered his eyes so as not to see what was happening, he could hear.....what he did not want to hear!
On the floor.....lay the antique vase...in several.....several.... broken pieces.
He placed all the broken bits into a shoe box, and waited for his mum to come home.
As he expected, she was very upset, and did not speak to him till the next morning.
She called him into the bedroom, to talk to him about the consequences of his disobedience.
To the lad's very surprise, she tenderly forgave him for breaking the vase.
Then, to his mother's surprise, he presented her with the vase.....all glued back together again with white school glue, and there were only a few pieces missing.
"WE" are that broken vase.
We were/are broken by sin anjd all the forgiveness of God's great heart cannot change the fact that we would have stayed broken, had God not taken action past forgiving!
Apart from God taking action to put us back together again, the best we could do is try to patch ourselves up, through our own efforts,( which a lot of people still think they can do)
But, all "our" efforts to patch up our lives are no better than white glue on a broken vase.
By our own efforts.....we just stay worthless vases, unworthy of display on heaven's shelves.
Our only hope is that God will make us new again, not just patch us up, but make us brand new....a new creation!
The mum in my story could not make the vase new again, she was not it's creator.
Neither could the lad.
But....Jesus is the creator of the world....and He alone can make us new again. And, that is why he came! That's why he died!
Our hope is in the fact that he is greater than death!
His resurrection proved it!
So, he has everything he needs.....to give us new life!
All we have to do is accept the need for it and reach out in faith to him for this gift!
Turning away from our own efforts we turen to Jesus and are renewed!
Won't you turn to Jesus?
Bless you....
Yaddy
If....God loves us, and is all powerful, why couldn't He just forgive us from heaven and be done with it?
Why.....did Jesus have to be born a human, and die a criminal.....so that "I" could be saved?
And although some hard questions may not have easy answers, this side of heaven....... there is an explanation for why Jesus had to die to secure our....my....salvation.
It's sort of like this story....( very sort of)
A young lad loved to play basket ball and due to the fact that he loved it so much, he practiced and practiced every day, so he would be good enough to play on his favourite team.
he was allowed to "dribble the ball inside the house during winter, so he could keep on practicing, but there were some restrictions.
"No dribbling in the lounge room" as that was where his mum's mother's vase was, which was an antique as well.
The lad stuck to the rule, till, one day, he got so carried away with his dribbling of the ball, and it was going so good, before he realised he was in "the room" and the ball got away from him and as he covered his eyes so as not to see what was happening, he could hear.....what he did not want to hear!
On the floor.....lay the antique vase...in several.....several.... broken pieces.
He placed all the broken bits into a shoe box, and waited for his mum to come home.
As he expected, she was very upset, and did not speak to him till the next morning.
She called him into the bedroom, to talk to him about the consequences of his disobedience.
To the lad's very surprise, she tenderly forgave him for breaking the vase.
Then, to his mother's surprise, he presented her with the vase.....all glued back together again with white school glue, and there were only a few pieces missing.
"WE" are that broken vase.
We were/are broken by sin anjd all the forgiveness of God's great heart cannot change the fact that we would have stayed broken, had God not taken action past forgiving!
Apart from God taking action to put us back together again, the best we could do is try to patch ourselves up, through our own efforts,( which a lot of people still think they can do)
But, all "our" efforts to patch up our lives are no better than white glue on a broken vase.
By our own efforts.....we just stay worthless vases, unworthy of display on heaven's shelves.
Our only hope is that God will make us new again, not just patch us up, but make us brand new....a new creation!
The mum in my story could not make the vase new again, she was not it's creator.
Neither could the lad.
But....Jesus is the creator of the world....and He alone can make us new again. And, that is why he came! That's why he died!
Our hope is in the fact that he is greater than death!
His resurrection proved it!
So, he has everything he needs.....to give us new life!
All we have to do is accept the need for it and reach out in faith to him for this gift!
Turning away from our own efforts we turen to Jesus and are renewed!
Won't you turn to Jesus?
Bless you....
Yaddy
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Fill my cup.....Lord
John 4:14, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life"
__________
The song "Fill My Cup, Lord" was written by Richard Blanchard and published in 1964. The song was an immediate hit, becoming the number one gospel song in America for about 20 years, after the heyday of "How Great Thou Art." Writing music was the primary way Richard communed with God and in times of stress, he took refuge at the piano."
In an interview by Dick Evans, writer for the Miami Herald, Richard was quoted as saying, “Quite often I will play around with a song idea in my mind. All of a sudden it will gel. A few of my songs have been given to me by the Lord.
It took only six minutes to think up the words of 'Fill my Cup, Lord’ and was finished with the music in another 20 minutes.
He was born to Missionary parents in China, growing up as a "preacher's kid" in poor churches in Indiana where his parents ministered during the depression, serious health problems resulting in removal of two lobes of his lungs, moving to the South during World War II while his dad was an Army Chaplain, the call to preach during his years at Mercer University in Macon, and incidentally, where he met his future wife, Anne, a student at Wesleyan College, were the different factors that shaped Richard’s ministry.
I sincerely trust this wonderful hymn has spoken to your heart as it has to mine. Enjoy!
Fill My Cup, Lord
Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from my well that never shall run dry".
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more--
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford;
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more--
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more--
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
__________
Closing thoughts:
In the book of John, Jesus had finished His long walk and was sitting by a water well, when a Samaritan woman came by.
Jesus asked her for a drink, and as they talked, she realized she was spiritually thirsty, spiritually needy and searching for God.
So Jesus offered her "living water." She was eager for this "living water" because she desired to never be spiritually thirsty again. As they talked she came to believe that He was the Messiah. So she asked Jesus for the living water. Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, 'from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).'"
Maybe the Lord has brought you to this devotional because you have been seeking things from the world that don’t satisfy? If so, go to Jesus as the Samaritan woman did, and He will do for you as He did for her, because you have a need only He can fill and a need that He alone can meet. So, my friend put you trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ this very hour and taste the “living waters” that He offers and it will satisfy the cravings of your thirsty soul!
Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul!
God bless Mikey
bless you all Yaddy
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life"
__________
The song "Fill My Cup, Lord" was written by Richard Blanchard and published in 1964. The song was an immediate hit, becoming the number one gospel song in America for about 20 years, after the heyday of "How Great Thou Art." Writing music was the primary way Richard communed with God and in times of stress, he took refuge at the piano."
In an interview by Dick Evans, writer for the Miami Herald, Richard was quoted as saying, “Quite often I will play around with a song idea in my mind. All of a sudden it will gel. A few of my songs have been given to me by the Lord.
It took only six minutes to think up the words of 'Fill my Cup, Lord’ and was finished with the music in another 20 minutes.
He was born to Missionary parents in China, growing up as a "preacher's kid" in poor churches in Indiana where his parents ministered during the depression, serious health problems resulting in removal of two lobes of his lungs, moving to the South during World War II while his dad was an Army Chaplain, the call to preach during his years at Mercer University in Macon, and incidentally, where he met his future wife, Anne, a student at Wesleyan College, were the different factors that shaped Richard’s ministry.
I sincerely trust this wonderful hymn has spoken to your heart as it has to mine. Enjoy!
Fill My Cup, Lord
Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from my well that never shall run dry".
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more--
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford;
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more--
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more--
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
__________
Closing thoughts:
In the book of John, Jesus had finished His long walk and was sitting by a water well, when a Samaritan woman came by.
Jesus asked her for a drink, and as they talked, she realized she was spiritually thirsty, spiritually needy and searching for God.
So Jesus offered her "living water." She was eager for this "living water" because she desired to never be spiritually thirsty again. As they talked she came to believe that He was the Messiah. So she asked Jesus for the living water. Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, 'from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).'"
Maybe the Lord has brought you to this devotional because you have been seeking things from the world that don’t satisfy? If so, go to Jesus as the Samaritan woman did, and He will do for you as He did for her, because you have a need only He can fill and a need that He alone can meet. So, my friend put you trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ this very hour and taste the “living waters” that He offers and it will satisfy the cravings of your thirsty soul!
Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul!
God bless Mikey
bless you all Yaddy
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