Monday, June 25, 2012

How to lose your "but"


“I know the Bible says, ‘Forgive one another’, but you don’t know what she did.”  “I know the Bible says ‘Don’t get divorced’, but what about my bad marriage?” “I know the Bible says, ‘Do your work as unto the Lord,’ but you haven’t met my boss.”

I have sincerely learned that the word of God means what it says. “But,” you say, “but how can that be?”  Time to be transformed, and get your “but” out of the way!  The Bible is to change how we think.  It’s no surprise we find excuses. We think we know better.  How’s it going for you?  Isn’t it time you were changed? Transformed?  Get your head in the game.  Allow yourself to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." 

Romans 12:1-2  "Do not be confirmed to this world any longer; be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Useful in Old Age, by Quine

As we get older our lives significantly change.  For example, once retired, we are no longer preoccupied with how to make a living, and the tasks before us at work.  Likewise, our bodies change, so that even though we have the time to take lessons, we physically may not be able to play the piano like we have always dreamed—at least not learn as well as a child with nimble agile fingers.  We can’t sing like we used to.  We can’t think as clearly; bake as well; our timing is off.  We don’t have the physical strength of our youth anymore.  As the reality of aging truths mount it can conjure up a fear.  “Afraid,” one older gentleman told me upon retirement, “I’m afraid of becoming useless.”  One of the worst horrors of the human soul is the fear of being useless.

A study of spiritual gifts may surprise us in that we soon see we can lay aside the fear of becoming useless.  It is not because God promises to keep us strong, or sharp, or on key as we grow old.  Instead He promises to give us a gift that won’t fade, but only continue to mature and get better with age.  This is because it is a supernatural thing—not dependent upon us or our decaying physical minds and bodies, but dependent upon the Spirit of God.  And because it is a supernatural thing, not a natural but a spiritual gift, it has a unique purpose.  As a result of fulfilling this purpose, that haunting feeling of uselessness vanishes.

Your spiritual gift is by God’s sovereign grace.

Guardian Angels are Biblical

English: Parish church Saint Oswald: Guardian ...
The Guardian - Your Angel
My cousin once told me she couldn’t wait to get to heaven when she would be changed into an angel and fly on wings.  Is that what will happen to us?  

The Bible makes it clear that you and I are human, and angels are, well angels.We will always be human and they will always be angels.In fact, their job is to serve us.  The concept of guardian angels is found in Hebrews 1:14.  They are “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.”  Jay Quine writes so that we will realize we live in a spiritual world, and have angelic guardians.  You will never be one, but angels are in some way serving us even now.  

Is one in your car next to you, or is he riding on the hood.  Thank God for your guardian. 

Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?