How Can I Say Thanks?

Posted on November 23, 2016 by jesustrek
Andrae Crouch

Andrae Crouch

Gospel singer Andrae Crouch wrote a song called “My Tribute”, which asks the Lord this question—“How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love for me?”

We don’t deserve God’s love. We didn’t earn our salvation—it was freely given to us by the grace that God has shown us through Jesus.

In addition to our salvation, we are constantly showered with countless blessings from God. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

God’s goodness never changes. He always wants to forgive. Always wants to draw us closer to him. Always wants to bless us as only he can.

So we give thanks. How will you give thanks to God for his good blessings? A song, a prayer, a good deed…there are many ways of saying thanks. Choose at least one way to show your gratitude to God for all of his goodness.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”—Psalm 107:1.

 

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Anger Management

Posted on November 22, 2016 by jesustrek

anger“Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not easy.”—Aristotle.

It is not a sin to become angry. Jesus became angry from time to time. However, anger can cause us to sin if we do not handle it properly. Managing our anger in the right way can help resolve conflicts and solve problems. Mishandling our anger, however, can make an already volatile situation become even worse.

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”—Ephesians 4:26-27.

 

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All about Me

Posted on November 21, 2016 by jesustrek

two-year-old-girlI was at a basketball game recently when I had a conversation with the two-year-old granddaughter of some friends. Or at least I tried to have a conversation with her. The discussion was very one-sided.

The little girl had evidently just celebrated her second birthday, and she was very excited about the prospect of being two. She wanted everyone to know how old she was, so she went around to people seated in our section, saying, “I’s two! I’s two!”

When she made her proclamation to me, I tried to expand the conversation. “What’s your name?” I asked. “I’s two!” was her response. Even when I informed her that I was 59, it didn’t faze her. “I’s two!” she said over and over. It was all about her.

It’s kind of cute when a two-year-old is focused only on herself.

Not so much with older people.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”—Philippians 2:3-4.

 

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Mannequin Challenge

Posted on November 17, 2016 by jesustrek

mannequinchallengeThe latest craze to go viral is the “Mannequin Challenge”. This is where people assume a pose and hold it, much like a mannequin in a store window. Often it becomes a group endeavor. Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes have joined in the fun. Garth Brooks and his band recently did it on stage. The Gonzaga student section posed at a recent basketball game. Who knows where it will happen next? The next “Mannequin Challenge” may occur right before your eyes!

It’s a lot of fun to watch people hold their poses. However, it isn’t a good idea for us to stay in a certain position forever. Christians have been called the “frozen chosen” because they sometimes resist change. They refuse to move and be active. It’s hard to impact the world for Jesus if you aren’t moving!

So don’t be like some dummy in a store window! Get moving for Jesus!

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”—Philippians 3:12.

 

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The Next Leaders

Posted on November 17, 2016 by jesustrek
Trump and Clinton

Trump and Clinton

A few weeks ago many pundits were writing obituaries for the Republican party. The GOP would surely crumble in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s landslide loss to Hillary Clinton, and it would take years for the Republicans to re-group.

Today I read an article with a completely different viewpoint. Now that Trump is the president-elect, it is the Democrats who are in a shambles. With most of their key leaders aging, who will step forward and take over the reins of the party? It is time to wring your hands and moan if you are a Democrat.

I have seen this cycle go around a few times in my lifetime. It seems like one party is down and out, and that they may never recover. Then comes a dramatic reversal in the very next election! It seems that there is always someone to come along and lead the way for their party.

So it is in the church. At least it should be that way. We should always be looking for key people who can take over important roles in the church. Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy and said, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim.2:2).

This is an important verse for anyone who is serious about making disciples for Jesus Christ. We must always be investing in people who can impact others for the cause of Christ.

Who will you influence today?

 

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Planned Parenthood Donors

Posted on November 16, 2016 by jesustrek
Mike Pence

Mike Pence

Planned Parenthood has recently received many donations in the name of Vice-President-elect Mike Pence. This is an interesting development.

Pence, a conservative Christian, would never give money to Planned Parenthood, since it is the largest provider of abortions in the United States. Planned Parenthood is an ironic name for this organization, since much of their focus is on helping people plan to become parents of dead babies.

The donors, some of whom are (not surprisingly!) liberal entertainers, hope to embarrass Pence when his office receives acknowledgements from Planned Parenthood for the donations.

I wonder what an opposite reaction from the right might be? Perhaps they could make donations in the name of liberal politicians to children’s hospitals, pro-life pregnancy centers or some other organization that works to save children’s lives rather than destroy them.

The bottom line is, Mr. Pence will not be held responsible for evil done by other people who use his name. We each are accountable for our own actions, and we each bear the responsibility for our own sins.

“If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve.”—Leviticus 26:21.

 

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Higher Power

Posted on November 14, 2016 by jesustrek
front-step

Front Step

The house where I grew up had a huge rock that served as the front step. The old house is no longer habitable, so my wife and I asked the owner if we could have the rock. We wanted it for sentimental reasons. We planned to place it in the landscaping of the new house we just moved into.

The owner graciously gave us the rock. The only problem was that I didn’t have the means to move it. I don’t have any piece of equipment powerful enough to move that stone, and even if I did, I do not own a vehicle capable of hauling such a heavy object.

Fortunately, I discovered that a neighbor had access to a tractor with a front end lift that was able to hoist the rock. I have another friend who loaned me his dump trailer and pickup truck so that I could haul the rock to my house.

I now had the power necessary to do the work. We loaded, hauled and dumped the huge rock with ease. The job went remarkably well once I had access to the necessary power.

There are things in this life that are much too big for us to handle on our own. However, with God’s power we can accomplish those things which would otherwise be impossible.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’”—Mark 10:27.

 

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Give Me the Money!

Posted on November 11, 2016 by jesustrek

muggingA well-known politician was stopped on the street by an armed robber. “Give me all of your money!” the thief demanded.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” the politician replied. “I am a member of Congress!”

The thief thought for a moment, then replied, “All right then, give me all of my money!”

I thought we could use a little political humor today.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”—Proverbs 17:22.

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Humble and Gracious

Posted on November 9, 2016 by jesustrek
Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton

I just heard part of a speech that Hillary Clinton gave to her supporters the day after her upset loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election. She was quite humble and gracious in her remarks. This was a sharp contrast to her tone during the campaign, when she proclaimed that her opponent was unfit for the office of president, denounced many of his supporters as a “basket of deplorables” and wondered why she wasn’t up by 50 points in the polls.

If Mrs. Clinton had been as humble and gracious during the campaign as she was in her post-election speech, we probably would be talking about our nation’s first woman president. Her lack of humility set her up for a painful fall.

This reminds me of a similar speech given by Al Gore, when he finally conceded the election to George W. Bush in 2000. He was very humble and gracious in his speech. However, Gore had been anything but nice during the presidential debates–sighing, rolling his eyes and invading Mr. Bush’s personal space. Gore, like Mrs. Clinton, very likely would have won the presidency had he only humbled himself before the election rather than after.

The Bible continually warns us against the sin of pride. Pride so often goes before a fall. How much better it is to practice a lifestyle of humility and grace.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6.

 

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Infrequent Expressions

Posted on November 8, 2016 by jesustrek

dozen-roses-lgI am not one to buy gifts for my wife, Karen. It almost never happens. She has grown accustomed to this. Therefore, she was shocked when I came home with a dozen roses on our 25th wedding anniversary. The conversation went something like this:

Her: “Who are those for?”

Me: “They are for you!”

Her: “Who are they from?”

It was then that I realized that I had set the bar far too low! My wife’s expectations were nearly non-existent!

It is a shame if we set the bar too low in our expressions of love for God. Let us make sure that our heavenly Father receives frequent and significant attention.

“Jesus replied: ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.’”—Matthew 22:37-38.

 

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