"FOOL!"

Luke 12:16-21                         (ESV)
"16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
17 and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."'
20 But GOD said to him, '"FOOL!" This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'
21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward GOD."




Imagine, if you will, a person winning a $250,000,000 lottery, only to die in their sleep that night before getting to spend one dime of the bounty?  There is a lot to be said about planning for the future, but "this world" seems to want us to limit our plans to how we can further our earthly rewards.  GOD, on the other hand, desires for us to be used of HIM to fulfill HIS Plan for our lives.

JESUS spoke in parables quite often as HE was trying to open eyes to SEE the TRUTHS that eluded most.  The rich man had land that produced "plentifully", but he was mainly concerned with storing up his wealth, not on what GOD would have him accomplish with his blessings.  The man made plans to build bigger barns so he could increase his "holdings"!  But in his plans he neglected to consider GOD's Plans and it would wind up costing him his life!

Don't receive a blessing from GOD thinking that you deserve it, for GOD may have to say to you "FOOL", this night your soul is required of you!  We are only here to glorify GOD, and when we start glorifying ourselves we run the risk of being called a "FOOL" by our Creator.  Maybe "this world" thinks one should operate on their principles, but GOD says thou "FOOL" if we follow their lead.

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to continually seek YOUR will in everything I do.  YOU are the reason I exist and YOU deserve all praise and glory!!!

"BE QUIET!"

Nehemiah 8:9-12                      (ESV)
"9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your GOD; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is Holy to our LORD. And do not be grieved, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH."
11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ""BE QUIET", for this day is Holy; do not be grieved."
12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them."



Many times the pressures of "this world" can be magnified to cause us to believe that everything is crashing in on us.   The enemy wants us to believe that we are the ones in control and that we have our destiny within the limits of our abilities.  Many think that hard work and clean living will suffice to assure financial success.  But there are plenty of hard working, righteous people who don't experience financial gains that most consider being successful in today's greedy climate.  True JOY can only come through living for the LORD.

But today's scripture passage reminds "THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH", and we don't need to try finding JOY anywhere else!  With all of the busyness "this world" tries to bring into our lives, we are continually reminded that the only was to experience JOY is to "BE QUIET" before the LORD.  It is difficult, to say the least, to operate at the pace "this world" requires and still have the JOY only CHRIST can bring.

We should celebrate each day the LORD allows us to be a lighthouse for HIM, "for this day is Holy to our LORD"!  Deadlines, budgets, rules and regulations can be enforced by many entities, but when we remember to "BE QUIET" before the LORD we can rest in HIS promises, and HIS peace!  There is no substitute for resting in HIM and "BEING QUIET" before HIM.  You can be busy beyond your capabilities, but until you "BE QUIET", you will find it difficult to experience true JOY!

"I HAVE NO IDEA!"

From a book I am currently reading;

"My Lord God, "I HAVE NO IDEA" where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone."

Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude



There are times when I just am inclined to submit myself to HIS guidance and direction for my life and TRUST that HE will force me to travel the journey HE has for me, no matter how badly my selfish desires try to lead me astray!

LORD GOD, cause me to continually seek YOUR ways for my life!

"HE was in the beginning with GOD"!!

John 1:1-4                        (ESV)
"1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.
2 "HE was in the beginning with GOD".
3 All things were made through HIM, and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.
4 In HIM was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."




A little over 2,000 years ago JESUS came to mankind as a human.  HE came for the express purpose of paying the sin debt that only a Holy GOD could pay.

When I hear people say that we celebrate the birthday of JESUS we act as though HE only came into existence when HIS earthly ministry did, when In fact, according to scripture JESUS has been here since the beginning!  HE forever has been, and forever will be!

The caption over the scriptures above clearly says "The WORD became flesh", not the WORD was born as flesh!  JESUS was made manifest to "this world", but HE has always been, for HE is part of the Triune GOD.  John 1:2 states "HE was in the beginning with GOD" and so HE has been forever!  Although the physical BEING was born of a virgin, HE forever has been, and forever will be!

Don't let the enemy blind you into believing that GOD is continually adjusting HIS Plan to counteract the evil perpetuated by satan!  GOD is Sovereign and HE loves us so much that HE sent a part of HIMSELF to ransom "this world" from darkness known as itself.  

Merry Christmas to you and yours.  May we forever glorify HIM, not only on this day, but everyday throughout eternity!!!

"IF THE LORD WILLS!"

James 4:13-15                       (ESV)
"13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
15 Instead you ought to say, ""IF THE LORD WILLS", we will live and do this or that.""



Our plans can be so meticulous, but GOD's Plan trumps everything we have ever planned.  If we live by FAITH, we should walk day by day doing what the LORD leads us to do, where the LORD leads us to go, and when the LORD directs us to act!  As for me, I don't have the intelligence to avoid even the slightest of pitfalls in my life, so why should I think I can guide me through the mine fields the enemy can bring?

The hospitals, morgues, and prisons are full of people who had other plans for their lives.   We need to live by "IF THE LORD WILLS" and follow HIS Plan for our lives!  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6).  HIS Plan works!!!

"GIVE THANKS!"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22                   (ESV)
"16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 "GIVE THANKS" IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil."



We are told rather plainly in the passage above something that most prefer to not focus on when studying scripture.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "GIVE THANKS" IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS for you"!  To my dismay, it doesn't say "GIVE THANKS" when things are going the way we planned it to go!  It would seem almost sadistic to "GIVE THANKS" following a tragedy, such as the 9-11 terrorist attacks, or one of the Tsunamis that have occurred, but scripture instructs us to "GIVE THANKS" IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!!!

GOD doesn't need for me to understand everything, nor does HE gain glory from my understanding!  But HE does receive glory from me acknowledging that HE is worthy of me "GIVING THANKS", especially when I can't understand!!!

Maybe in time, as I become more Spiritually mature, I will understand more about the things that GOD directs and orchestrates in my life.  The biggest challenge for me is to understand that HIS timing is for my own good (Ecclesiastes 3:9-14), and that HIS Plan WILL be fulfilled, no matter how much we want to influence the outcome.  The stress and turmoil of trying to reach a goal (usually my plan) does not compare to GOD's Plan for the entire world!

When I finally understand that HIS Plan is far better than my plan, it becomes a lot easier to "GIVE THANKS" in all circumstances.  GOD loves us far too much to hurt us and is far too wise to make a mistake, so why can't I just relax and trust HIS Plans?  When we accept that HE is WHO HE says HE is, and is able to do more than we ever imagined, only then we we be able to properly "GIVE THANKS!"

"SERVANT OF CHRIST!"

Galatians 1:8-10                              (ESV)
"8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of GOD? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a "SERVANT OF CHRIST"."



Has the modern church become so popularity driven that the TRUE GOSPEL has been compromised?  Are we seeking the approval of man instead of the TRUTHS of GOD?  Why do we water down what JESUS gave HIS LIFE on Calvary for?  Since we are a "SERVANT OF CHRIST", shouldn't we be more consumed with pleasing HIM rather than man?

Just a few questions to ponder as we prepare to worship this weekend.  Will you be pleasing men?  Or will you be a "SERVANT OF CHRIST"?