A thankful attitude opens windows of heaven.
Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through these openings into eternity.
Moreover, as you look up with a grateful heart, you get a glimpse of Glory through those windows.
You cannot yet live in heaven, but you can experience foretastes of your ultimate home.
Such samples of heavenly fare revive your hope.
Thankfulness opens you up to these experiences, which then provide further reasons to be grateful.
Thus your path becomes an upward spiral: ever increasing in gladness.
Thankfulness is not some kind of magic formula; it is the language of love, which enables you to communicate intimately with Me.
A thankful mind-set does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems.
Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations.
I am your refuge and strength, an ever-present and well-proved help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Our small crosses? - Sarah Young
You have been on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent.
Though you have followed at times, you have not let go of My hand.
I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me.
There is one thing, however, that displeases Me: your tendency to complain. You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following. I understand better than anyone else the stresses and strains that have afflicted you. You can ventilate safely to Me because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you see things from My perspective.
Complaining to others is another matter altogether. It opens the door to deadly sins such as self-pity and rage.
Whenever you are tempted to grumble come to Me and talk it out.
As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and my song in your heart.
From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Random Thoughts of Epic Proportion
In the deserts of my heart, may the healing fountains start; in the prison of my days, Lord, teach me how to praise.
~~~~~
The test of observance of Christ's teachings is our consciousness of our failure to attain ideal perfection.
The degree to which we draw near this perfection cannot be seen; all we can see is the extent of our deviation.
--- Leo Tolstoy
~~~~~
It's not about how far we have come; it's about how far we have yet to go. When we ask, "Are we there yet?" we aren't asking how far we have come, we're asking how much further we have to go.
~~~~~
Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.
-- C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
~~~~~
The modern missionary, with his palm-leaf hat and his umbrella, has become a rather figure of fun.
He is chaffed among men of the world for the ease with which he can be eaten by cannibals and the narrow bigotry which makes him regard the cannibal culture as lower than his own.
Perhaps the best part of the joke is that the men of the world do not see the joke is against themselves.
It is rather ridiculous to ask a man just about to be boiled in a pot and eaten, at a purely religious feast, why he does not regard all religions as equally friendly and fraternal.
-- From The Everlasting Man, by G. K. Chesterton
~~~~~
From Demon Screwtape to his apprentice Wormwood.....
The search for a 'suitable' church makes the man a critic where the Enemy wants him to be a pupil....there is hardly any sermon, or any book, which may not be dangerous to us if it is received in this temper.
-- From The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis
~~~~~
You don't have a soul; you are a soul. You have a body.
-- C. S. Lewis
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
The Best Proof of Love? Ed Bulkley
God reminds us that "better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:5,6).
A person who really cares about you will tell you the truth, even when it hurts.
And a wise Christian will accept correction. David wrote, "Let a righteous man strike me - it is a kindness; let him rebuke me - it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it" (Psalm 141:5).
In contrast, Solomon said that "a fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence" (Proverbs 15:5)
Accepting correction is a mark of a wise person. "Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool" (Proverbs 17:10).
Has a trusted friend been trying to tell you something you don't want to hear?
Are you turning your back on loved ones who have a proven record of their care for you?
As a Christian it is vital that you keep your ears and your heart open to the biblical admonitions of those those who love you.
- From Only God Can Heal a Wounded Heart,
by Ed Bulkley
Monday, May 28, 2018
Being Kingdom-Minded - Sermon Notes for May 27 - Bro Mike
Memorial Day Weekend -
Text: Luke 10 (Good Samaritan Parable)
Great sermon - I listened on the radio because I will not feeling well enough to come in to services. To get the full sermon, just to go our website (fbc-bc.org) and click on sermons -
Sitting at home and listening has its issues - like, no powerpoint on the screen - but sometimes I think it is a little easier to focus when at home and "glued" to the radio. Anyway, I was touched with the ending of his pastoral prayer: "We dedicate this worship hour to You."
I'm not certain why that sentence had such an effect on me - it is simple...and yet maybe profoundly simple. I wonder how it would look if we, as an entire congregation, stood and said that sentence together - really meaning it, "Father, we dedicate this whole hour to Your worship...music, reading, offering, prayer, message - all to You..."
The choir sang, "Jesus Paid it All," and I kept recalling those verses in Isaiah 55: "Come, all you who are thirsty; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come by and eat!" And from Revelation 21: "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life."
Yes, without cost...that is, cost to us...but not without the highest cost to our Savior who "for the joy set before Him" paid the full price. Jesus Paid It ALL!
Anyway, the sermon was about being Kingdom-minded, and the introductory question was: Is there anything important outside your family and your agenda? Are we Kingdom-minded?
I. People who are Kingdom-minded notice what God cares about
II. People who are Kingdom-minded are not selfish with their time
III. People who are Kingdom-minded could be accused of being overboard, or fanatical
I. Samaritans in the first century were detested by Jews, who did not bless, help, or even acknowledge Samaritans. Jewish midwives were not to even assist in the birth of Samaritans. Here Jesus was depicting Samaritans in a good light.
This would have greatly offended his audience. We see that easily in the answer of the legal expert, when Jesus asked him who the real neighbor was. He said, "The one who showed mercy." He couldn't even use the word "Samaritan."
People who are Kingdom-minded think things are important that are firmly and obviously outside their own realm.
II. America is a land of self. People are in a hurry taking care of their own affairs and their own agenda. The priest was likely on his way to the temple to provide his services. There were hundreds of priests and they took turns serving. It was a coveted position. He didn't want to be delayed. And he should have known better than to travel that dangerous road to Jericho!
And if the man were dead, the priest would be defiled and couldn't serve anyway!
III. The poor around us. Many come to FBC for help. We don't give them lie-detector tests. Do they deserve help? Do they really need it? Are they "faking it"?
Americans are known for their work ethic - work hard, be independent, use your ingenuity, take care of yourself and your family...very deep in our national psyche and part of our national pride. Do we go out of our way to help people, even those who perhaps do not deserve it? (And how would we even know for sure?)
The homeless or vagrants living under the overpasses - are they for real? Are we wasting our time and money when we help them?
Are we going overboard?
Verse 37: Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
Bro Mike urged us to think about being Kingdom-minded this week. Step out to obey God. Look for what He cares about. Live out what we believe.
Are we Kingdom-minded enough to know when God is prompting us to act?
These are just sketchy notes. Hear the whole sermon, if you missed it, or listen again. fbc-bc.org.
Text: Luke 10 (Good Samaritan Parable)
Great sermon - I listened on the radio because I will not feeling well enough to come in to services. To get the full sermon, just to go our website (fbc-bc.org) and click on sermons -
Sitting at home and listening has its issues - like, no powerpoint on the screen - but sometimes I think it is a little easier to focus when at home and "glued" to the radio. Anyway, I was touched with the ending of his pastoral prayer: "We dedicate this worship hour to You."
I'm not certain why that sentence had such an effect on me - it is simple...and yet maybe profoundly simple. I wonder how it would look if we, as an entire congregation, stood and said that sentence together - really meaning it, "Father, we dedicate this whole hour to Your worship...music, reading, offering, prayer, message - all to You..."
The choir sang, "Jesus Paid it All," and I kept recalling those verses in Isaiah 55: "Come, all you who are thirsty; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come by and eat!" And from Revelation 21: "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life."
Yes, without cost...that is, cost to us...but not without the highest cost to our Savior who "for the joy set before Him" paid the full price. Jesus Paid It ALL!
Anyway, the sermon was about being Kingdom-minded, and the introductory question was: Is there anything important outside your family and your agenda? Are we Kingdom-minded?
I. People who are Kingdom-minded notice what God cares about
II. People who are Kingdom-minded are not selfish with their time
III. People who are Kingdom-minded could be accused of being overboard, or fanatical
I. Samaritans in the first century were detested by Jews, who did not bless, help, or even acknowledge Samaritans. Jewish midwives were not to even assist in the birth of Samaritans. Here Jesus was depicting Samaritans in a good light.
This would have greatly offended his audience. We see that easily in the answer of the legal expert, when Jesus asked him who the real neighbor was. He said, "The one who showed mercy." He couldn't even use the word "Samaritan."
People who are Kingdom-minded think things are important that are firmly and obviously outside their own realm.
II. America is a land of self. People are in a hurry taking care of their own affairs and their own agenda. The priest was likely on his way to the temple to provide his services. There were hundreds of priests and they took turns serving. It was a coveted position. He didn't want to be delayed. And he should have known better than to travel that dangerous road to Jericho!
And if the man were dead, the priest would be defiled and couldn't serve anyway!
III. The poor around us. Many come to FBC for help. We don't give them lie-detector tests. Do they deserve help? Do they really need it? Are they "faking it"?
Americans are known for their work ethic - work hard, be independent, use your ingenuity, take care of yourself and your family...very deep in our national psyche and part of our national pride. Do we go out of our way to help people, even those who perhaps do not deserve it? (And how would we even know for sure?)
The homeless or vagrants living under the overpasses - are they for real? Are we wasting our time and money when we help them?
Are we going overboard?
Verse 37: Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
Bro Mike urged us to think about being Kingdom-minded this week. Step out to obey God. Look for what He cares about. Live out what we believe.
Are we Kingdom-minded enough to know when God is prompting us to act?
These are just sketchy notes. Hear the whole sermon, if you missed it, or listen again. fbc-bc.org.
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