Power of Love

Posted on August 11, 2015 by jesustrek

family in church“Small things done with great love will change the world.”—Steve Sjogren.

You never know what might come from a small act of love.

Doug and his family did not attend church when he was a small boy. One day some neighbors invited him to attend church with them. He liked it, and soon his siblings were attending worship services too. Later his parents started coming. Eventually the whole family gave their lives to Jesus, and when Doug grew up he started working in full-time ministry, changing the lives of many people forever as he spread the gospel message.

And all of this came about because somebody invited a kid in the neighborhood to attend church.

Like I said, you never know what might come from a small act of love.

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”—Matthew 10:42.

 

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Finding Something Valuable

Posted on August 10, 2015 by jesustrek

metal detectorIt’s interesting to watch people who comb the beach with their metal detectors, trying to find something valuable. They patiently walk at a very slow pace, waving their wands in front of them. Occasionally they will stop and focus on an area of interest. Sometimes they decide that it would be worth their time to dig in that spot.

I am told that the better metal detectors can often tell the difference between something worthless, like a rusty nail or a pop top, and something valuable, like a coin or a piece of jewelry.

We have something that enables us to tell the difference between real faith and phony beliefs—it’s our obedience to the word of God.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”—James 1:22.

Is your faith valuable?

 

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Looking Lost

Posted on August 7, 2015 by jesustrek

Blank signpost 2 (clip path)I recently made my first trip to Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. I was there to be with a young friend of mine who was having surgery.

There were several times during the day when I had to stop and ask for directions. (Yes, some men actually do that.) Whether driving or walking, I wasn’t always sure where I needed to go.

A couple of times while I was walking through the hospital, workers stopped to ask if I needed some help. The lost look on my face must have given them a clue that I did indeed need some assistance. The staff was most helpful in guiding me to my desired destination.

This incident reminded me that a lot of people are looking lost out there as they try to find their way to their eternal destination. Those of us who are not lost must recognize our obligation to help those who are. We must be constantly on the lookout for people who desperately need to be pointed in the right direction.

How will we know them? Sometimes it’s written all over their face.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”—Colossians 4:5.

 

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Solving the Problem

Posted on August 6, 2015 by jesustrek

leaky roofA politician recently visited our local elementary school to evaluate the need to replace the old facility. A student had been picked out to serve as a guide, escorting the politician around the building. At one point, the politician asked the student if there were any problems when it rains. He replied, “No, it’s not a problem. We know where to put the buckets now!”

Sometimes that’s how we “solve” the problems in our lives. Rather than come up with real and lasting solutions, we place buckets in various places and act as if the problem is solved.

Maybe it’s time we start to really deal with the sins and shortcomings in our lives.

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

 

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What’s My Name?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by jesustrek

checkMy wife does most of our banking, so she is always asking me to sign checks so she can take them to the bank. I always have to look to see how to sign my name. Some checks have my full name, “Thomas”, while others are made out to “Tom”. A check may or may not have my middle initial. Some of them include “Jr.” after my name. There are a lot of different combinations that are possible. Often, before signing a check, I will look at it and say out loud, “OK, who am I this time?”

It’s good to know that if you are a child of God, he always knows who you are. He knows your name. He knows everything about you…and he loves you anyway!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!…”—1 John 3:1.

 

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Listen Up!

Posted on August 1, 2015 by jesustrek

little-girl-cryingJo M. Guerrero writes that when her daughter was five, she disobeyed her and was sent to her room. After a few minutes, she went in to talk to her about why she was being punished. With tears in her eyes, the little girl asked, “Why do we do wrong things?”

“Well,” Jo answered, “Sometimes the devil tells us to do something wrong and we listen to him. We need to learn to listen to God instead.”

Her daughter sobbed in reply, “But God doesn’t talk loud enough!”

Truth is, God speaks plenty loud enough. We just need to do what he says.

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.”—1 John 2:3.

 

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I Like My Version Better

Posted on July 30, 2015 by jesustrek

Bible_KJVA preacher was reading John 14 from a modern translation in a Bible study group. He read, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places.”

Immediately, an elderly lady stopped him and said, “I want you to read that Scripture again—this time from my Bible. I’ve lived in old, run-down houses all my life, and I’m looking forward to living in a mansion!”

No matter what version you read from, Jesus is preparing a wonderful place where those who follow him can live with him forever. Don’t miss it for the world!

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”—John 14:2.

 

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Full of Hope

Posted on July 28, 2015 by jesustrek

fishermanIs there anyone more hopeful than the avid fisherman? He is always optimistic that the fish will start biting any time. Surely moving just a few yards downstream will bring a change of fortune. Any hint of a bite must be a huge fish that is about to be caught. If the line goes slack, not to worry—that fish will be right back!

Without hope, it would be difficult to fish. And without hope, life would be a miserable existence.

The New Testament often reminds Christians of the great hope we have in Jesus Christ. A hopeless Christian is a contradiction in terms. The salvation that we have been given through Jesus and the assurance of eternal life in heaven give us all we need to experience a life that is filled with hope.

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”—Romans 5:5.

 

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Touch ‘Em All!

Posted on July 27, 2015 by jesustrek
Missed it by that much!

Missed it by that much!

In a recent Class A minor league baseball game, the Delmarva Shorebirds trailed the Augusta Greenjackets 4-3 in the top of the ninth inning. Then, Shorebirds outfielder Elier Leyva hit a 2-run homer that put his team up by one.

Or, so it seemed. As he finished his tour around the bases, Leyva failed to touch home plate. The Greenjackets players noticed the mistake and appealed to the umpires, who then called Leyva out.

The game went into extra innings, and Augusta won by a score of 5-4.

This was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

Too many Christians think they have it made because they once made a decision to follow Christ. The Bible consistently urges us to persevere in the faith, and it contains dire warnings for those who fail to remain faithful.

Make sure you touch home plate!

“…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10.

 

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Taking Out the Romance

Posted on July 25, 2015 by jesustrek

bride and groomI have been wondering how the wording would be changed on marriage licenses in Kentucky after the United States Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized gay marriage. I need wonder no more. I just got a look at the updated paperwork. Instead of “bride” and “groom”, the form says “first party” and “second party”.

That doesn’t seem very romantic!

“But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.”—Mark 10:6-8.

Now that’s romance!

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