Thinking Ahead

Posted on November 23, 2018 by jesustrek

A man was watching his eighty-year-old neighbor planting a small peach tree. He approached the man and asked, “You don’t expect to eat peaches from that tree, do you?” The old man rested on his spade and answered, “No, at my age I don’t expect that I will. But all my life I’ve enjoyed peaches—never from a tree I planted myself. I’m just trying to pay the other fellows who planted the trees for me.”

The Bible continually encourages us to think about other people rather than just being concerned about our own needs and wants. Try to think of ways you can fulfill the will of God by putting others first.

“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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Give Thanks

Posted on November 21, 2018 by jesustrek

A few days ago I typed out a verse of Scripture about giving thanks. Upon proofreading my work, I noticed that I had typed the word “thank” instead of “thanks”. The thought occurred to me that perhaps we don’t give thanks as much as we should. There are times when one “thank” seems to suffice when in reality many “thanks” are appropriate!

We have so much for which to be thankful!

When I was growing up, we used to sing a hymn in church called “Count Your Blessings”. One line says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one”. Perhaps that would be a fitting exercise as we give thanks this holiday season.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”—Psalm 118:1

 

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It Could Have Been Worse

Posted on November 20, 2018 by jesustrek

When Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on his lonely island, he drew up in two columns what he called the evil and the good. He was cast away on a desolate island, but he was still alive—not drowned, as his ship’s company was. He was apart from human society, but he was not starving. He had no clothes, but he was in a hot climate where he did not need them. He was without means of defense, but he saw no wild beasts such as he had seen on the coast of Africa. He had no one to whom he could speak, but God had sent the ship so near to the shore that he could get out of it all the things necessary for his basic wants. So he concluded that there was not any condition in the world so miserable but that one could find something for which to be grateful.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

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It Won’t Grow Here

Posted on November 19, 2018 by jesustrek

There is a legend of a man who found the barn where Satan kept his seeds ready to be sown in the human heart. The man noticed that the seeds of discouragement were more numerous than other seeds. He asked Satan why this was so, and the devil replied, “I can get the seeds of discouragement to grow almost anywhere.”

“Is there any place where seeds of discouragement will not grow?” the man asked.

Reluctantly, Satan responded, “They will not grow in the heart of a grateful person.”

Thankfulness leaves no room for discouragement.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

 

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Time of Grace

Posted on November 16, 2018 by jesustrek

In Warren Wiersbe’s Meet Yourself in the Psalms, he tells about a frontier town where a horse bolted and ran away with a wagon carrying a little boy. Seeing the child in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon.

The child who was saved grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a serious crime. The prisoner recognized the judge as the man who, years before, had saved his life; so he pled for mercy on the basis of that experience.

But the words from the bench silenced his plea, “Young man, then I was your savior; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged.”

One day Jesus will say to rebellious sinners, “During that long day of grace, I was the Savior, and I would have forgiven you. But today I am your Judge. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!”

“…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”—2 Corinthians 6:2

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The “Nays” Have It

Posted on November 15, 2018 by jesustrek

A story is told about a church that hosted a birthday celebration for one of its members who had reached the age of 100. One of the newer members of the church approached the guest of honor and said, “You must have seen a lot of changes in the church over the course of your lifetime.”

“Yes”, the old man replied, “And I was against every one of them!”

It has been said that negative people have a problem for every solution. Let’s be sure that we are not among those who oppose every plan that our church leaders try to implement. Let’s take a positive approach toward the changes that our leaders deem necessary in order for the church to prosper and to win more people to Jesus.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”—Philippians 2:14

 

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Career Choice

Posted on November 14, 2018 by jesustrek

Paul Snoddy

For years, my friend Paul Snoddy wanted to be a medical doctor. However, when he grew up Paul became a preacher, and he has had quite a successful career.

Weighing in on this career choice, Paul’s son said, “Dad, just think of all the people you would have killed!”

The Bible says that God gives us different gifts, and that we are to use proper discernment in deciding how he has enabled us to serve in his kingdom.

And, hopefully, we won’t kill anybody in the process!

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…”—Romans 12:6

 

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Celebrating Peace

Posted on November 10, 2018 by jesustrek

American troops celebrate the end of WWI

Sunday, November 11, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. This conflict was one of the most devastating wars in the history of the human race, and it was with great joy that this armistice was celebrated.

Dignitaries from the nations involved plan to meet to commemorate the anniversary of the war’s end and to celebrate the peace that was welcomed so enthusiastically at that time.

When Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, it ushered in a new era of peace. We who believe in Jesus are no longer at war with the Creator of the universe. God, through Jesus, has made it possible for us to live peacefully with him.

Every time we gather together to take communion, we celebrate the peace that we have with God, and we remember what it took to gain that peace—the sacrifice of God’s Son Jesus!

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”—Romans 5:1-2

 

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Remembering Those Who Sacrificed

Posted on November 9, 2018 by jesustrek

Today I attended a Veterans Day celebration at Lewis County High School in Vanceburg, Kentucky. It was the 20th year that the school has sponsored this event. It is always a great program, and this year was one of the best.

The early part of the program consisted of a slide show of local veterans. Pictures of men and women who had served, or are currently serving in the military, appeared on the screen as music played in the background. Included with each picture was the name of the veteran and the years that they served. It was quite moving to remember those who sacrificed for their country. I was thankful for their service. It was especially rewarding to remember some who I know personally—family, friends and church members.

Every Sunday, people gather to remember the sacrifice of Jesus by taking communion together. It is a time when we can give thanks for his sacrifice, a sacrifice that was necessary in order for us to be forgiven of our sins, adopted as God’s children and given the assurance of eternal life in heaven. Remembering the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior is a deeply meaningful time of worship and thanksgiving for those of us who know Jesus.

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

 

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Completing the Work

Posted on November 8, 2018 by jesustrek

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci had started painting on a large canvas in his studio. Then he suddenly stopped working, the painting still unfinished, and summoned one of his students to come forward and complete the work. The student protested that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which his mentor had begun. But da Vinci silenced him with these words—“Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?”

Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of the whole world. The work of our Master inspires us to do our best, and his power enables us to join him in finishing the work of world evangelism.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”—Romans 12:1

 

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