Walk a Little Plainer, Daddy!

Posted on June 19, 2011 by jesustrek

I know that once you walked this way, many years ago,

And what you did along the way I’d really like to know;

For sometimes when I am tempted,

I don’t know what to do.

So walk a little plainer, Daddy,

For I must follow you.

            Author Unknown

Malachi 4:5-6 says, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

If it seems as if there has been a curse on our nation in some ways over the past few decades, perhaps at least part of the blame can be placed on irresponsible fathers. Hopefully, more fathers realize that raising children is an awesome responsibility.

This Fathers’ Day, let’s pray that all fathers walk a little plainer. Their children could use the good example, and our nation would benefit greatly.

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Do Not Touch!

Posted on June 18, 2011 by jesustrek

A New Jersey man was bitten by a rattlesnake that he was trying to save. Around 6:30pm Thursday, a 24-year-old man was driving on Route 679 near West Stage Road in Tuckerton when he spotted a rattlesnake trying to cross the highway. Not wanting the snake to be hit by traffic, the man stopped to help it. As he tried to pin the snake down with a stick, it bit him. He was taken to a hospital where officials say his injuries are not life-threatening.

The man was probably surprised when the snake bit him, but it was just doing what snakes do. If you mess with a rattlesnake, it’s going to try to bite you.

A lot of people are surprised when sin jumps up and bites them. They shouldn’t be; that’s just what sin does.

Many people act surprised when they get drunk and something bad happens. It’s like they never heard of this ever occurring before, when it actually happens all the time. Others behave as though a sexually transmitted disease or unplanned pregnancy could never happen to them, and then can’t believe it when it does. Some people tell lies and then are shocked when they have to deal with unpleasant consequences. Others are caught off guard when they have to pay the price for greed, violence or some other sinful behavior.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”—Galatians 6:7-8.

Don’t be surprised if sin jumps up and bites you!

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Lowly in Spirit

Posted on June 17, 2011 by jesustrek
LeBron James

Millions of people were delighted to see the Miami Heat lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals. Even after their loss, Heat star LeBron James found it hard to be humble. He said that his critics would have to wake up the next day with their same lives and problems, but he would go on living just as he wanted. In response to James’ quote, Stephen Colbert said, “Like they say, it’s not whether you win or lose, but how you disparage the pathetic lives of the little people who make it possible for you to have a career bouncing an inflatable ball.”

The Bible has many warnings against pride and many exhortations to help the poor. Proverbs 16:18-19 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”  Proverbs 17:5 says, “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker…”

It would be easy to join in with the many people who are deriding LeBron James. The harder thing would be to find some way to help a poor person today.

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Leap of Faith

Posted on June 16, 2011 by jesustrek
African Impala

I read that an African Impala can jump 10 feet high and cover as much as 30 feet in a single bound. That’s some impressive leaping ability! Yet a zoo can keep an Impala enclosed with just a 3 foot high wall because they won’t jump if they can’t see where they’re going to land.

Part of the definition of faith is trusting in what we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

When is the last time you or your church took a leap of faith? We like to quote 2 Corinthians 5:7—“We live by faith, not by sight.” However, we often practice the opposite and live by sight, not by faith.

Don’t live your life inside a self-made enclosure that limits your ability to influence people for the Lord. Take a leap of faith!

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Remember Who You Are

Posted on June 15, 2011 by jesustrek

A minister once went to visit an elderly lady who was living in an assisted living facility. He was meeting this lady for the first time, and he began the conversation rather awkwardly by asking, “I’ll bet you don’t know who I am, do you?”

The lady replied, “No, I don’t. But you can go to the front desk and they can tell you who you are.”

It’s important that we never forget who we are in Christ. There will be times when we feel lonely, helpless, insignificant or forgotten. It is in these times that we need to remember the promises in God’s Word for those who follow Jesus.

John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

No matter what happens in life, remember who you are!

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Passport to Heaven

Posted on June 14, 2011 by jesustrek

Several years ago I went on a short-term mission trip to Thailand. There were several teenagers in our group, and we constantly reminded them of the importance of keeping their passports in their possession at all times. We would all need this proof of our identity in order to gain entry into Thailand.

In spite of our reminders, one young man left his passport on the plane as we made a connection in Asia. Fortunately, he noticed before we got too far away from the plane that he had misplaced this important document. We explained our dilemma to some airline workers, and were relieved when they found his passport while cleaning the plane. Our group could continue on to our destination.

God will not deny us access into heaven because of a misplaced document. However, we should never take lightly the faith which saves us. Many Christians are quite casual about their faith when they should be holding onto it for dear life! Always remember that our destination is heaven. Never forget the price that was paid for your passport—the precious blood of Jesus. Hold on to your faith! Live for Jesus daily!

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”—Philippians 3:20-21.

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A Little Respect, Please!

Posted on June 13, 2011 by jesustrek

I was disappointed with the behavior of some of the people sitting near me when I attended the local high school graduation recently. I couldn’t hear much of what was being said up front because of all the noise going on around me. While the graduates were making their speeches and the school administrators were making their comments, my neighbors insisted on giving their own speeches. I’m not talking about a hushed whisper now and then. These people were holding conversations, and they weren’t even trying to keep their voices down. And it wasn’t just a couple of people; there were several different offenders.

How rude! Can’t you forget about yourself for just a few minutes and let life be about somebody else besides yourself for a change? How about some consideration for the graduates on their big day? How about a little respect?

Now that I got that rant out of my system, I had better watch out for signs of selfishness in my own life. I know that I too, have tendencies to think about my own wants and desires, sometimes neglecting the needs of others in the process.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

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I Can Remember

Posted on June 11, 2011 by jesustrek

I keep a few items in my office that remind me of certain individuals. When I look at my glass paperweight, I think of Carl, who collected these items. He gave me this one from his collection before he went to be with the Lord a few years ago.

Whenever I glance at my wood carving of a duck, made from the head of a golf club, I remember Ted, who carved it himself and gave it to me.

A bottle of oil reminds me of Lance. The elders of our church used this bottle of oil when we prayed for Lance to be healed.

My turtle made from beads was given to me by Kaylynn. I remember her each time I look at it.

Every Sunday I look at some bread and grape juice. Then I take it in my hands and eat and drink the communion. It helps me remember that Jesus died to pay for my sins.

“…Do this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

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You Just Need to Ask

Posted on June 10, 2011 by jesustrek

My sister Tara booked a room in Florida that promised an ocean view, but when she arrived, she found that mostly what you could see from her room was the parking lot. If you stretched your neck out and looked to the side, you could actually get a glimpse of the ocean. However, the scenery did not live up to its billing, and she was noticeably disappointed.

Her husband Mike talked with a hotel employee about their disappointment with the room. After one night with the parking lot view, they were able to move to a different room; one that had a spectacular full view of the ocean. That was what they were promised. That was what they were expecting. And that’s what they got…after they asked for it.

James 4:2 says, “…You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

Who knows what wonderful blessings we might be missing simply because we don’t pray for them?

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Self-Denial

Posted on June 9, 2011 by jesustrek
David Brooks

David Brooks, a syndicated columnist for the New York Times, recently wrote an article addressing the situation faced by this year’s college graduates. He writes, “Today’s grads enter a cultural climate that preaches the self as the center of a life…Most of us are egotistical and self-concerned most of the time, but it’s nonetheless true that life comes to a point only in those moments when the self dissolves into some task. The purpose in life is not to find yourself. It’s to lose yourself.”

Jesus was more specific when he addressed this subject. “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34).

The goal should not be to find yourself, but to lose yourself. And the reason we must lose ourselves is so that we can truly follow Jesus.

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