Thoughts by Men Archives - Page 154 of 186

Published September 10, 2012

Not What You Have but What You Give

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Sold as a yearling for a paltry $11,000, ridden by a rookie jockey hardly anyone knew and stuck in an outside post no horse had ever won from – not exactly a blueprint for success at Churchill Downs. I’ll Have Another just didn’t seem to have the goods to win the Kentucky Derby. The winning odds were 15-1.

But with the finish line in sight, the chestnut colt overtook the more favored horse in the final furlong to make a name for himself and his unknown twenty-five year old rider. He stormed out of post No. 19, a position no horse had ever won the race from and never looked back until he crossed the finish line. He went on to win the Preakness and if he wins the Belmont, will become the first Triple Crown winner in thirty-four years.

He was largely a mystery to the record crowd, who didn’t know the horse and jockey had the right stuff until the 20-horse field turned for home. That’s when he, who moved up between horses around the final turn, positioned not far from the rail and set down to run and run he did. Both the horse and his rider gave it their all, their best, their all, their total, their everything.

Jesus quoted the greatest commandment as loving the Lord “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). The whole of who you are is the best you can give Him. To give Him only a part of yourself is to fall short of loving Him as He deserves. Use not only your spiritual gifts but also your personality, heart passions and experience and strength along with your walk with God, presenting yourself as a living sacrifice to Him.

Throughout the Old Testament we read of the Israelites giving God the first fruits and the best of the flock. We serve the same God. He is still worthy of the first and best of our time, efforts, and resources. To give Him leftover or misdirected time and energy is to fall short of giving Him the place in your life He deserves. Focus on what you do best, giving that your primary effort.

To give Him a half-hearted or sloppy effort is to fall short of glorifying Him as He deserves. Serve where you will be most effective, doing it in the name and power of the Lord Jesus.

Question: Are you willing to give God your best, your first, your total, your all?

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published September 8, 2012

Is There Temptation In Your Life?

By Rev. Daniel Forster

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12, NLT)

read James 1:12-18.

It does not matter if you are a new believer or a long time believer in Jesus, we all face temptations every day. Temptations lead us to the same dark path of sin. Our flesh and our mind will lie to us and tell us a little indulgence of a temptation here and there is ok. In fact, we usually convince ourselves it is for the better of our overall health. Other times we find ourselves facing large temptations, and we ask, “Why is God tempting me? Why would He allow me to be tempted?”

James points out a very important piece of wisdom here that temptations come from our own desires. It is through God that we are able to identify these temptations. It is by us leaning on our everlasting Lord, that we can identify these lies and deceits of our sinful selves and find the strength we seek in Him.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)

We find in our temptations, either the path of darkness (a slow fade or fall) or we find our anchor amongst the waves and winds of the world. Our anchor is Jesus Christ. Find Him, seek Him, when you feel the temptation coming on, do not rely on your strength or your will power. It is in Him we find our peace and rest from the snares of this world. It is in Him we find strength and confidence like we never had before.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Our lives are busy and full of to many things to do, with never enough time. Take a moment in your life, make a moment in your life, to allow His word to strengthen you and encourage you. Seek His word, seek to store it deep in your heart and soul. Seek His word for the endurance and encouragement you need, it is your anchor, it is your life line.

Lord let us say the prayer today as you taught us in your Word (Matthew 6:9-13, ESV): “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’ Amen

Question: What do you do when you face temptation?

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Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rev. D. Forster

Published September 4, 2012

God is Love

by Roy Lessin

While visiting family in Minnesota, my brother-in-law took me to one of his favorite antique stores. Just before leaving I spotted a small wall sign made out of chalk. It was from the 40’s and said “God is love.” It was my favorite find of the day! It now sits on a shelf in my office, speaking that all-important truth to me each time I enter.

“God is love” is not someone’s idea about God, it is a revelation God has given us of Himself. Because God is love, it means that He is eternally love. He has always been love and He will always be love. Everything God says is spoken out of love and everything God does is done out of love. Everything God did and said in the Old Testament and the New Testament was said and done out of love.

There are many things that are true about love. One of the things about love is that it must speak truth. God could never say He is love if He withheld the truth or didn’t speak the truth. Love would never deceive, lie, mislead, or misguide.

Love not only must speak the truth, but also demonstrate the truth through every action. God not only tells us He loves us, but He demonstrated that love by sending His Son to die for us. The Cross of Christ tells us that love is not only kind and caring, but love is willing to suffer and lay down its life. If sin didn’t matter, Jesus would never have gone to the Cross.

The Cross is God’s greatest demonstration of His love. Jesus died because of our sin. The Cross of Christ was love’s plan to rescue us from the penalty of sin and all its horrible consequences. Sin is our greatest problem and the love of God met it head on!

The love of God speaks to every man and woman the same eternal truth: “Turn from your sin, come to the Cross and receive the gift of My forgiveness through the blood that My Son shed for you.” This is the gift of salvation freely given to us by grace.

As God’s ambassadors we represent His love in a dark world. ALL people are truly lost, bound by sin, and under its condemnation. Each of us is in desperate need of God’s grace and mercy. Now, more than ever, people need to know that God is love; they also need to know the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel is our only hope, our only salvation, and our only way to be forgiven…and that truth is the most loving thing anyone could ever say.

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NKJV

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Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Roy Lessin

Published September 3, 2012

Fill My Cup Lord

By John Grant

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14

Life was never to be a bed of roses for Richard Blanchard. A severe lung problem developed, and Blanchard was left with one-third of his lung capacity. But a diminished physical well-being did not stop young Blanchard.

In 1953, he became the pastor of a church in Coral Gables, Florida, and one day, was asked by a young couple to perform their marriage ceremony. However, the couple was quite late for their counseling appointment. Blanchard told his secretary, I will wait for thirty minutes and I’m leaving. He then went to a nearby Sunday school room and sat down to play the piano for a while.

He later said, “When I was not in the mood to be used of God, God was in a mood to use me.” In less than thirty-minutes, as he waited for the young couple, God gave him the inspiring song “Fill My Cup, Lord“.

Like the woman at the well I was seeking or things that could not satisfy: And then I heard my Savior speaking: “Draw from my well that never shall run dry”. Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord! Come and quench this thirsting of my soul; Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

Dick, as he liked to be called, was a pastor in our community when I got to know him. Even debilitated by his lung disease, he could still play a mean trombone. I was fascinated as he told me of writing Fill My Cup Lord. God gave him the words in six minutes and it took another twenty to complete the music. He said there had been a few moments in his life when things came from God and there was no other way to explain them. Writing Fill My Cup Lord was one of them.

There were times Dick was empowered by God and times he had to lean on God. I remember when a tragic accident caused his son Rick to be a quadriplegic and the reliance he put on his relationship with his Lord.

Like Dick, as Christians, there will be times we are empowered by God and times we will have to lean on the Savior. It reminds me of another great song: “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Certainly we do and He will empower us to do great things and he will be our comforter in times of distress.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/09/03/jg_fill-my-cup-lord/
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published September 1, 2012

Focus on God’s Majesty

by Max Lucado

“You have not seen Christ, but still you love Him. You cannot see Him now, but you believe in Him.” 1 Peter 1:8

Some years ago a sociologist accompanied a group of mountain climbers on an expedition. Among other things, he observed a distinct correlation between cloud cover and contentment. When there was no cloud cover and the peak was in view, the climbers were energetic and cooperative. When the gray clouds eclipsed the view of the mountaintop though, the climbers were sullen and selfish.

The same thing happens to us. As long as our eyes are on God’s majesty there is a bounce in our step. But let our eyes focus on the dirt beneath us and we will grumble about every rock and crevice we have to cross. For this reason Paul urged, “Since you were raised from the dead with Christ, aim at what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth”.
(Colossians 3:1-2)

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Max Lucado
From: The Great House of God

Used by permission
To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/
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Thoughts by All thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men

Published August 23, 2012

Mercy and Faithfulness

by John Fischer

Faithfulness is the one ongoing quality God asks of us. He is willing to justify us; He is willing to grant us mercy instead of the condemnation we deserve, but he does ask for a life of faithfulness.

Faithfulness is in contrast to perfection. Being faithful is a far cry from being perfect. Faithfulness means being authentic, devoted, consistent, loyal. An alcoholic who regularly shows up at A.A. meetings is faithful. She may slip and fall, but she is faithful to get up again. She may lie to her supervisor, but she is faithful to tell the truth when confronted. Faithfulness allows for failure; perfection does not.

When God calls for perfection, it is assumed that I cannot perform it. It’s the demand for perfection that keeps me relying on God’s mercy and grace. But the call to faithfulness is a call I can answer. Faithful to follow, faithful to confess, faithful to obey, faithful to repent, faithful to believe, faithful to pray and seek God – all these are the requirements of faithfulness. All of them are doable and are, in fact, my responsibility and my joy, having been the unexpected recipient of so great a mercy.

The Pharisees could have had it all if they would have been willing to admit their hypocrisy and join the rest of the human race on their knees before a merciful Lord. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” cried the publican in the parable of Jesus (Luke 18:13). Imagine if you will, a Pharisee in his long robe, his phylacteries, and his ornate turban, down on his knees next to the tax collector in tears of repentance and joy. Imagine these two embracing, both overwhelmed at the mercy of God in hearing and answering the same prayer. There you have a true picture of the kingdom of God. It’s hard to imagine the Pharisee standing up after such an experience and judging anyone.

And following such strange and unexpected union would be two unlikely followers of Christ, getting up off their knees and encouraging each other to be faithful. Shouldn’t we want to be faithful after all He’s done for us?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Fischer Thoughts by Men

Published August 18, 2012

This One Thing!

by Roy Lessin

In this moment…there is only one voice for you to hear, only one choice for you to make, only one step for you to take, only one Master for you to serve, and only One heart for you to please that really, truly matters!

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:28-29 (NKJV)

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Roy Lessin

Published August 14, 2012

Unfolding Your Words

by Phil Ware

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130

Thoughts on today’s verse

Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find, we just need to know where to begin our search — the reading of God’s words. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly. It is very clear if we will but look for it!

Prayer:

Holy Father, thank you for making your will known through your words in Scripture. Bless me today as I open your word. May I find not only the answer to my questions, but may I find you and your precious will. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/08/14/pw_unfolding-your-words/

Used by permission.
From http://www.heartlight.org
You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on http://www.verseoftheday.com

Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Phil Ware

Published August 13, 2012

The Soul Killer

by Max Lucado

“The payment of sin is death.” Romans 6:23 (NCV)

Sin does to a life what shears do to a flower. A cut at the stem separates a flower from the source of life. Initially the flower is attractive, still colorful and strong. But watch that flower over a period of time, and the leaves will wilt and the petals will drop. No matter what you do, the flower will never live again. Surround it with water. Stick the stem in soil. Baptize it with fertilizer. Glue the flower back on the stem. Do what you wish. The flower is dead….

A dead soul has no life.

Cut off from God, the soul withers and dies. The consequence of sin is not a bad day or a bad mood but a dead soul. The sign of a dead soul is clear: poisoned lips and cursing mouths, feet that lead to violence and eyes that don’t see God…

The finished work of sin is to kill the soul…..

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Max Lucado
From: the Grip of Grace
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men

Published August 12, 2012

Let Jesus Violate Your Expectations

by Jon Walker

“Having said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” John 9:6–7 (NIV)

Jesus violates expectations.

Jesus is not subject to our expectation of Him; we are subject to His expectation of us.

Jesus may appear inconsistent. For instance, one time He may heal someone by a mere word; another time He may put mud in your eye!

His consistency is to the will of the Father.

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Jon Walker Thoughts by Men

Published August 11, 2012

The Crown that Lasts Forever

By John Grant

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:25

Our eyes are glued to the television to see the very best of the very best. We are watching amazing athletes. Not a one got to the Olympics by being unfocused and undisciplined. Dreams of gold can’t be realized without incredibly long hard days and years of focused training.

I remember as a teenager watching a young girl train for a position on the USA Olympic Team. She practiced over and over again day after day and week after week, just to make the team. It is often a fraction of a second that separates a gold medalist from a no medalist. After years of training, it is over in just a few minutes.

Why do they do it? Is it the sheer joy of being the best of the best? Is it to get their face on a cereal box? Whatever it is, there’s nothing new about it, as it has been going on for hundreds of years.

Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth and drew an imagery from athletic competition and the Isthmian games. He compares himself to an athlete who is running a race, and to an athlete who is training to compete. In athletics, it’s impossible to do both at the same time. The athlete trains until he or she reaches maximum ability and then runs the race. But for us, our lives are continually under construction. We are like athletes training for competition, even while we are in the midst of the race.

Most of us can probably identify with the thought of running through life. Life is a “rat race,” and we’re always “on the run.” Life is exhausting, and you just have to keep going.

For Paul, however, racing is different from merely running. Life has a goal, and it is toward that goal that Paul runs. At the end of the race – or the fight – is the prize. Just what is it that we hope our running accomplishes? What is the prize at the end of the race? Power? Prestige? Possessions? Comfort or security?

Athletes competed for a wreath of pine or olive branches. Paul is running for an imperishable wreath. The imperishable wreath is the goal of the Christian enterprise: life forever in the kingdom of God and that is a crown that lasts forever.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/08/11/jg_crown-that-lasts-forever/

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published July 30, 2012

Chasing Rachel and Getting Leah

by John Grant

“When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me? ” Genesis 29:25

Laban had two daughters, Rachel and Leah. The former was gorgeous and the latter had what the writer of Genesis calls an eye problem. Jacob was smitten by Rachel and offered to Laban to work seven years for free in order to have Rachel in marriage.

When the seven years free labor had been given and the wedding occurred, there was a bait and switch, with Jacob getting Leah instead of Rachel. Jacob had a total longing and focus on Rachel. Why? His life was empty. He had lost his father’s love, he had lost his beloved mother’s love and he certainly showed no sense of God’s love.

When he saw Rachel, he thought that if he could just have her, then everything would be right in his miserable life.

Life is like that. Perhaps C.S. Lewis said it best: “Most people, if they have really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world.”

We live in a world that idolizes the empty promises of money, sex and power. If we can just have this or that, everything will be wonderful. We are motivated by power, possession, prestige and position, but we get there only to find an emptiness. Alexander the Great was in his thirties when he had conquered all of the then known world and cried out in anguish: “Are there no more worlds to conquer?”

The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but it is a whole lot more difficult to mow!

The bottom line of all of this is that as long as anything other than a true worshipful and serving relationship with God, whatever we chase, will be disappointed in the end. We will chase Rachel only to wake up and find out we have Leah.

I saw a billboard this week that said: “Life is a race; enjoy it to the fullest.” Life is not a race. It is a fulfillment…. a fulfillment of the person God uniquely created us to be, so let us keep our eyes on Him and live life it to the utmost.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/07/30/jg_chasing-rachel-and-getting-leah/

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published July 27, 2012

He Saw You

by Roy Lessin

What an incredible journey Jesus made;
what an overwhelming expression of love He undertook;
what an awesome purpose He had in mind.

You were on His heart.

When He left His home in heaven, He saw you;
when He became a man on earth, He was seeking you;
when He stretched out His hands upon the cross,

He was reaching out to you;

when He returned to His Father, He was preparing a place for you.
You are the sheep He has come to shepherd,
to guide, to feed, to protect, to shelter, and to carry.

You are the one He calls His own.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/07/27/rl_he-saw-you/

Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Roy Lessin

Published July 22, 2012

Yes, Lord, Yes!

by Alec Niemi

Over the course of my life I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries and work with many people. Many times these people knew little or no English. And based on my experiences, I have discovered that one of the most over used English words is “yes.” You see, when you ask a question, the answer is usually “yes” even if the person doesn’t understand the question or even have any idea what you are talking about.

I suspect that God is just as frustrated with me when I say “yes” to Him and then don’t do what He wants me to do. Perhaps because I don’t have a clue what He is talking about…although I probably do and just don’t follow through.

I know that He has asked me to present His Son to those I meet and yet I think of all the opportunities I have missed simply because I didn’t say anything.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that you stand in awe of God and when you make a vow to Him, you do not delay in fulfilling it. Knowing that He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. And it is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. And I pray that you do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And that you do not protest the temple messenger, My vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

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thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

Published July 20, 2012

It Doesn’t have to be Complicated

by John Grant

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Just about the time I think I am getting “tech savvy,” I get some new electronic device to figure out. It is incredible what these things can do, but the challenge is in getting them to do it.
Toyota recently announced that two new positions are being created in every dealership across the land to assist new car buyers in figuring out how to use the electronics in their new cars. I think they are called Electronic Usability Specialists or something like that.

New gadgets are designed to make life easier, but somehow they tend to make it more complicated. I have a hard time just remembering all of my passwords, much less how to use them.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the simplicity of the Gospel. It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and will be for evermore. It isn’t complicated and doesn’t have to be.

Here’s how one of the greatest theologians of all time, Charles Haddon Spurgeon expressed it.

“God be thanked for the simplicity of the gospel. The longer I live, the more I bless God that we have not received a classical gospel, nor a mathematical gospel, nor a metaphysical gospel; it is not a gospel confined to scholars and men of genius, but a poor man s gospel, a ploughman’s gospel; for that is the kind of gospel which we can live upon and die upon. It is to us not the luxury of refinement, but the staple food of life. We want no fine words when the heart is heavy, neither do we need deep problems when we are lying upon the verge of eternity, weak in body and tempted in mind. At such times we magnify the blessed simplicity of the gospel. Jesus in the flesh made manifest becomes our soul’s bread. Jesus bleeding on the cross, a substitute for sinners, is our soul’s drink. This is the gospel for babes, and strong men want no more.”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). It doesn’t get much more simple than that and doesn’t have to be.
(a thought on life from John Grant )
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

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