Your Turn to Choose

Posted on May 28, 2016 by jesustrek

choosing sidesRemember those painful moments on the playground or in gym class when kids would choose sides for team sports? The captains of each team would dutifully pick who they thought were the best players until finally everyone had been chosen. It was no fun at all to be among the last ones picked.

How do you think it makes God feel when we choose him last? After we have watched all of our favorite TV shows, we might have time to read the Bible. After listening to popular music all day, we might find a few minutes to pray. After we have spent money for the things we desire, we will see if we have anything left to give God. After talking endlessly about our family and friends, we could possibly have something to say about God.

It would make God happy if we would choose him first.

“…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15.

 

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Message Found

Posted on May 27, 2016 by jesustrek
The Winklers with their find

The Winklers with their find

In April of 2015, retired post office worker Marianne Winkler was wandering along the coast of Amrum, an island off the coast of Germany, when she happened upon a message in a bottle. Inside, a postcard requested its return to a British marine biologist, George Parker Bidder, with the promise of a single shilling upon arrival. After careful study, Guinness World Records has deemed it the oldest message in a bottle ever found, after it spent 108 years and 138 days floating in the North Sea.

This was indeed a remarkable discovery. However, the message of salvation through Jesus has been available for nearly 2,000 years! Don’t keep that message bottled up! Spread it far and wide!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”—Acts 1:8.

 

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Worth the Money

Posted on May 23, 2016 by jesustrek

As a family was driving home from church one Sunday, the father went on and on, complaining about the worship service. It was too long. The sermon was boring. The songs were too slow. Finally his son interrupted, “Daddy, I thought it was a pretty good deal, especially since you only had to pay a dollar for the whole family!”

You might find some humor in this story. Some people will look at the amount of the man’s offering and laugh, thinking that it is small and insignificant. But that’s not the real point. It is not the amount that is shameful, it is the state of the man’s heart. It is the heart that God sees, and the heart that he values above all else.

“…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”–1 Samuel 16:7.

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Passing the Hat

Posted on May 21, 2016 by jesustrek

There is an old story told about a travelling preacher who had the custom of passing his hat around the crowd to collect an offering. He would always say a prayer of thanksgiving after the hat had made its way back to him.

One day, the minister preached his heart out and then gave instructions about the offering. This particular crowd was quite stingy, and no one put anything at all in the hat. People gathered there were wondering what possible prayer of thanks the preacher could offer, given the woeful results of the attempt to collect an offering.

The preacher received his hat back, saw that it was empty, and bowed his head and prayed, “Dear God, I am so thankful that I got my hat back!”

Let us be careful that we don’t find ourselves numbered among the stingy!

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”–2 Corinthians 9:7.

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Pass Me Not

Posted on May 20, 2016 by jesustrek

A friend of mine was having trouble getting her newspaper delivered to her home. On a far too regular basis, the carrier forgot to leave her newspaper at her house. There was a reflective green dot pasted on a post in her front yard so that the carrier would be able to see, even in the darkness of the early
morning hours, that her house was on his route. Still, the paper sometimes did not arrive.

When a supervisor was alerted to the problem, many more reflective green stickers were put on the post out front. The problem persisted. The newspaper finally started to be delivered on a consistent basis, but only after the negligent carrier was replaced.

Some people live in fear that God will not deliver on the promise of salvation that he has offered through Jesus. They do the spiritual equivalent of putting out numerous reflective stickers, in hopes that God will not forget them.

God is not like some irresponsible newspaper carrier! He is faithful and true. He will deliver on his promise of salvation to all who trust in his Son Jesus.

͞”Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.͟”—Deuteronomy 7:9.

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Jealous

Posted on May 20, 2016 by jesustrek

“Ma loved Pa, and Pa loved women. Ma caught Pa with two in swimmin’. Here lies Pa.”–Unknown Author

Jealousy is a powerful emotion. It shows that there are strong feelings for another person.

It might surprise some people to know that God is capable of jealousy. In several places, the Bible describes God as a God who is jealous toward his people. He doesn’t like for us to show any sign of unfaithfulness. With that in mind, we should always strive to please him and to remain faithful to him. No matter how we are tempted to stray away from him, we must always remain devoted to God.

“Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”–Exodus 34:14.

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Financial Priorities

Posted on May 17, 2016 by jesustrek

Even when the economy is not doing well, people still find money to spend on certain things. Studies have shown that, even in hard times, folks will still have enough money for movies, fast food, pets and other non-essential items. They come up with the money to do the things they really want to do.
Here’s the question: Do you really want to advance the kingdom of God? Dr. David Jeremiah says, ͞How we manage what God has given us is a leading indicator of our priorities…When we consecrate ourselves to the Lord, our billfolds go along for the ride.”

“…Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?”—1 Chronicles 29:5.

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End In Mind

Posted on May 14, 2016 by jesustrek
Steve McElvene

Steve McElvene

The same day that we received word that the world’s oldest person, Susannah Mushatt Jones, died at the age of 116, we also learned the sad news that a young basketball player died at the age of 20. Steve McElvene, a center for the University of Dayton men’s basketball team, collapsed and died at his family’s home in New Haven, Indiana on Thursday, May 12.

McElvene had put up some impressive numbers in his short college career, shooting 61% from the field and blocking 56 shots last season. His death came as a shock, and many are left grieving his sudden passing.

Whether we live to be 116, or die at the young age of 20, we all face the certainty of having to stand before God one day. We should live our lives with this end in mind.

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”—2 Corinthians 5:9-10.

 

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Our Days are Numbered

Posted on May 13, 2016 by jesustrek
Susannah Mushatt Jones

Susannah Mushatt Jones

Susannah Mushatt Jones, thought to be the oldest person in the world, has died at the age of 116. She was said to be the last living American born in the 1800s. Born in 1899, Jones passed away after being ill for the past ten days. She apparently died in her sleep while sitting in a chair in the senior home where she lived in Brooklyn.

Emma Morano, of Italy, is now unofficially the world’s oldest person. At 116, she is just a few months younger than Jones was.

It is truly remarkable to see some individuals reach such an old age. Their longevity is impressive. However, in light of eternity, even a life that is over 100 years long is relatively brief.

James 4:14 says, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Because life is short, the Psalm writer prays, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (90:12).

Most of us won’t make it past 100. No matter how many days we have left, it is fewer than we had yesterday. Our prayer and desire should be to use each day wisely, serving God as we serve others.

 

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Still Improving

Posted on May 12, 2016 by jesustrek
C.J. McCollum

C.J. McCollum

Portland guard C.J. McCollum was voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2015-16 season. McCollum more than tripled his scoring average from the previous season.

The Most Improved Player award usually goes to a young, up-and-coming player. Remarkably, Stephen Curry finished fourth in the voting this year, in spite of the fact that he was the league’s MVP last season!

Curry is not one to rest on his laurels. He works hard to improve his game, and his efforts did not go unnoticed.

No matter how far along we are in our walk with Jesus, we should never be satisfied with our performance. We should always be striving to improve our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors, so that we may do a better job of showing Jesus to the world.

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”—1 Timothy 4:15.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16.

 

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