This Is Good, Practical and Helpful

How To Click With People You Meet

Decisions

Our lives are shaped by our years,
Our years are shaped by our months,
Our months are shaped by our weeks,
Our weeks are shaped by our days,
Our days are shaped by our hours,
Our hours are shaped by our moments,
Our moments are shaped by our decisions.

II Corinthians 5:17

Ben-Hur

Read Ben-Hur in early 2014. Could not put it down. 

From ODB 1-12-15.

In the years following the American Civil War (1861–1865), Union Major General Lew Wallace served as a governor of the New Mexico territories; New Mexico not yet having been admitted as a state. His work there put him in contact with many of the characters that make up the Wild West’s near-mythic history, including Billy the Kid and Sheriff Pat Garrett. It was here that Wallace wrote what has been called by some “the most influential Christian book” of the 19th century, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Wallace witnessed the worst impact of sin on humanity as he saw the violence of the Civil War and the Wild West. In life and in his best-selling book, Wallace understood that only the story of Jesus Christ has the power of redemption and reconciliation.

For the follower of Christ, the climax of our lives was the moment God “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). Now we have the privilege of being storytellers of God’s wonderful redemption.

Lord, please take control of my words today.

Fill me with Your words of love and grace.

Use them to turn some heart toward You.

I can do nothing without You.

The difference Christ makes in your life is a story worth telling.

Things

God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up. He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having - viz., life with Himself.

My Utmost... OC 1.8.15

Isaiah and the Uncommon

Peter and the Uncommon

Uncommon

If we have never had the experience of taking our commonplace religious shoes off our commonplace religious feet, and getting rid of all the undue familiarity with which we approach God, it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. My Utmost... O.W. 1.3

The Bible In One Word - Redemption

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed through His infinite mercy—

His child, and forever I am. —Crosby

Hello, My Name Is Church

Hello my name is church,

I'm sure you've heard a lot about me or maybe you haven’t. I have no shortage of critics. Perhaps you have heard that I am...

Boring
Shallow
Cheap
A waste of time

Maybe you've heard that I am full of:

Hypocrites
Clowns
Greedy people
The self-righteous

Maybe you have visited me before and discovered:

Outdated music
Passionless singing
Dry preaching
and maybe even, rude people

Maybe you needed me and my help and I was:

Too busy
Too "righteous"
Too broke
Too blind

You may have you joined me and found I was:

Distant
Demanding
Dull
Preoccupied

 Maybe you tried to serve in me but were caught off guard by:

Business meetings
Committees
Demanding people
Bureaucracy

Maybe you left and were surprised that nobody:

Called
Cared
Noticed
Invited you back

Perhaps your experience has driven you to:

Speak negatively of me
Swear to never come back to me
Proclaim that no one needs me
Believe you're better off without me

If this is true, I have something to say to you:

I'm sorry
I was wrong
I blew it
I made a huge mistake

But PLEASE remember, I never said my name was:

Perfect
Flawless
Complete
Arrived

My name is church. I welcome the:

Hypocrite
Dry
Self-righteous
Shallow

I welcome the

Sincere
Passionate
Forgiving
Selfless

I cannot shut my doors to the people who make you:

Angry
Uncomfortable
Impatient
Self-conscious

So allow me to remind you that because of Jesus Christ we worship and serve together as followers who are:

Broken
Healed
Travelers
Redeemed

In order for us to all worship in the same room Jesus Christ was:

Shamed
Beaten
Killed
RESURRECTED!

Which is far worse than being:

Bored
Uncomfortable
Embarrassed
Ignored

So why not come back to church and let all of these messed up and yet REDEEMED people:

Get to know you
Sharpen you
Strengthen you
Live life with you

I can't promise you that the people will be great. This is church. It's not:

Heaven
Paradise
Perfect
The Celestial city

Again, my name is church.

God created me
God wants you here
We want you here
The world needs your witness here
You belong here

I miss you.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

Can't wait to see you.

I am excited about what God is doing in me and through me. Let’s experience it together as the CHURCH.

Be Aware, Be Very Aware. Great Article

Five Things That Cause Us To Drift Spiritually

Thanks to Dr. Mark Foley for posting this via FB.
University of Mobile

It's Time

Yes!!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:1-8 NASB)

Little Article - What Will You Give God This Christmas?

What Will You Give God This Christmas?

From The Desk Calendar

If your problems are not big enough to pray about they most certainly are not big enough to worry and fret over. 

Luke 2:8-12

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-12 NASB)

The Power Of The Gospel

If in preaching the Gospel you substitute your clear knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the Gospel, you hinder people getting to Reality. You have to see that while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, you yourself are rooted and grounded in faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your exposition, but as you give your exposition see that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God's redemptive power, and He will create His own life in souls.

My Umost... OC

Devotion To Jesus Christ - My Utmost...

Thankful - Choose - Continual Thanks To God

I Choose To Be Thankful

A spirit of power, love and sound discipline...

www.odb.org

Our Daily Bread is a good devotional book to use as a aprt of your daily time with God. You can receive this online, on your smartphone, your Kindle and youcan order a hard copy at www.rbc.org.

Thanksgiving Day