OVERDRAWN?

Philippians 4:19....”But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

I'm sure you have heard of the lady who said, “I can't be overdrawn! I still have checks left”. (That was a lady, wasn't it?)

Well, most of us, at one time or another, has probably bounced a check when we were sure we had money in the bank. But it doesn't make it any less embarrassing, does it?

The first question most of us asks is, “How could that have happened”? Well, the answer is simple. We withdrew more than we deposited. DUH!

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The same thing can happen to us spiritually. How often do we overdraw our spiritual account? How often do we run out of our own resources and cry out to God, “I can't be overdrawn! I still have checks left?

Then with a love we can't understand He Quietly says, “Oh child, when will you ever understand? It's not the checks! It's the resources! Come unto me and I shall supply all your needs according to my Father's riches in glory.”

 

If we invest our lives in God, our account balance will always be greater than our own resources.

"And you can bank on it!”

Hogs, Garbage, and Hollywood

Looking out my window this morning, I see a very messed up world. Oh for the days of Mayberry again! I am not an alarmist, but hey, you have to admit, the wheels are coming off of the wagon. There is no longer any right or wrong.

 Have you ever watched the Mory (what ever his name is) show on TV? The whole thing is about trying to figure out which of the dozen or so men that a young woman slept with is the father of her child. It animalistic! (Is that a word? You know what I mean).

 I heard just yesterday where a young girl 10 years old gave birth and the father was a minor. Unbelievable! Want to hear a couple of statistics I read just a couple of days ago? In 1965 2% of the babies born to white girls were born out of wedlock. We thought that was bad, and it was, but today it is 26%.  One in four. The same statistics show that 72 % of all black babies are born out of wedlock today.  Notice I said "out of wedlock".  I didn't say they are illegitimate.  There are no illegitimate children, only illegitimate  parents. 

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Thank you Hollywood! Our young people, and some not so young, are worshiping at the shrine of Hollywood. Trying to pattern their life after the ungodly, immoral, dregs of the earth. Hollywood is the garbage can of America! I now hear people in the church talking about  how great this movie or that movie is. BULL! It is all garbage. I even hear pastors use illustrations from“R” rated movies they have seen. God help us! And I “ain't” lilly white. I've have been to a movie or two myself but I'm not proud of it or wasn't comfortable going and I don't plan to go again. Folks, if we wallow with the hogs and eat with the hogs we will look like the hogs, and smell like the hogs, and act like the hogs.

 Whatever happened to Philippians 4:8?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”        Isn't that still in the Bible? 

Well, I'm tired of looking out of my window, so this is the last blog I will write. If you have honored me by reading some of them I want to thank you and encourage you keep the faith.........Dale

ILLEGITIMATE?

 When I look

TRASH OR TREASURE, WEEDS OR FLOWERS?

Well, we had a garage sale yesterday. That was the third garage sale we have had since I said we would never have another garage sale! But people paid us about $150.00 to carry off our trash. Can you beat that? The stuff we had in our garage sure looked like junk to me, but, evidently, to other folks it looked like treasure.

I once saw a sign on an antique store that said,”We buy junk and sell treasures. Isn't that ironic? ”

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Webster's Dictionary says that a weed is just an unwanted flower. Imagine that! If you see a plant you think is pretty, it is not a weed, It's a flower. But to the next person it may just be a dandelion or a thistle.

I guess wether it is trash or treasure, weed or flower is all in the eye of the beholder.

What do you think God see's when He looks at you?  

Does He  see junk or treasure? Do you think he see's a weed or a flower?

Genesis 1:27 tells us that, “ God created mankind in his own image.”

 No ugly junk there.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 Declares, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Only flowers there.

2.Corinthians 4:7 Reminds us that,“We have this treasure in jars of clay.” Can you imagine? God stores His beauty and treasures in our frail, imperfect bodies of clay.

Notice He says, IN jars of clay. He knew the “gene pool” would louse up His perfect jars of clay. He knew some would have bulges, warts, and ugly imperfections, but He wants us to know that it's not the outside of the jar that is important. It is what's poured out from the inside that makes us beautiful, gives us worth, and confirms His power.

Today, I want to say with the apostle Paul, “Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering...I am glad and rejoice...”

THE DR. IS WAITING

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Today our nation is sick.  It is running a high fever.  We see it exhibited in the heat of all the political upheaval of our day.

   Fever is always an outward sign of an inward problem.  It is an indication of something foreign to our body that is  infecting our system, or the fever can be caused by a poorly functioning vital organ.

  Our fear is that the disease, if unchecked, will result in the condition of our nation  becoming  terminal. With that in mind, I think that it is time for America to see the Doctor.  I would actually suggest a specialist.

  The good news is that I think I have located a specialist with the cure.  He describes the condition and the cure both in the best book on the subject that has ever been written.  The book is  entitled "The Bible", which simply means "THE BOOK".   Not a book, or some book, but THE BOOK. The Book is the document  from which all other books, of truth, must be written.

   It is in the division of this book entitled  Deuteronomy we find these words in the 28th chapter.  (Taken from the Message,which is "The Bible in contemporary language")  It is rather lengthy but it is worth the read just to get the cure for what is ailing our nation today.

"If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:

God's blessing inside the city,

God's blessing in the country;

God's blessing on your children,

the crops of your land,

the young of your livestock,

the calves of your herds,

the lambs of your flocks.

God's blessing on your basket and bread bowl;

God's blessing in your coming in,

God's blessing in your going out.

God will defeat your enemies who attack you. They'll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.

God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

 God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you. All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe".

THERE YOU HAVE IT!

If you would like to know what will happen to America if we don't follow the Doctors orders, find a Bible and read the rest of the chapter.  "It ain't very pretty"

AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP, GO TO THE DR.,  AND REPENT!

THE SECOND MILE

Remember the old country song that said, “Walkin', talkin', wearing out my walkin' shoes.”

This song should be Jo Anne's theme song. She is always twisting my arm to go for a walk, and sometimes it works. I know I should be thankful that I can walk and really jump at the chance to take a stroll, but for some reason I drag my feet. (no pun intended)

We have a one mile route that we walk, but when we get around once she always hints that we should go around one more time. If I complain, she always says, “It's the second mile that really makes the difference.”

I wonder if that's not what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:41 when He said , “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

I wonder if He didn't mean that it's the second mile that really makes the difference.
It's the second mile that will convince a hurting friend that we really care.
It's the second mile that will convince our spouse that we really love.
It's the second mile that will convince a child that God is real.
It's the second mile that will show a co-worker what Christ is like.
It's the second mile that will convince that “Down and Outer” that there is hope.

Let's put on our walking shoes today and walk the second mile.

”

STEERING WHEEL OR SPARE TIRE?

Proverbs 23:19“....Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.”

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Would you say your prayer life is more like a steering wheel or a spare tire?

That's a question our pastor asked the congregation and one I had not heard before. But it certainly started me thinking. I had to ask myself, “Do I use prayer as something to guide my life or do I only rely on it when I've had a spiritual “blow out” and I have to have a "spare tire?”

Now, I know every part of an automobile has value and is needed, but I think the steering wheel is essential. Using it is the only way we can go in the right direction, stay on the right road, avoid pot holes and collisions, or keep headed toward our destination.

I am not saying we shouldn't use prayer as a spare tire sometimes, because I think we should. But I am saying that if we use prayer daily to guide our lives, We will have fewer “blow outs” and changing tires will not become a habit.

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1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to, “ Pray without ceasing.” WHOA! How do we do that? What does that mean?
Well for me it is simply means that all my daily decisions should be made with a mind that is subconsciously controlled by an attitude of prayer of obedience to God.

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“Lord, I want to keep my hand on the steering wheel of prayer so that I can “guide my heart” down the highway of holiness.”