Thu, Mar 29th - 11:29PM

Lifelong Commitment

Surrendering is never just a one-time event.  Paul said, "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31).  There is a moment of surrender, and there is a practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong.  Genuine surrender says, "Father, if this pain is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another's, please don't take it away."  This level of spiritual maturity does not come easy.  In Jesus' case, He agonized so much over God's plan that He sweat drops of blood.  Surrender is hard work.  In our case, it is intense warfare against our self-centered nature  Surrendering your life is not a foolish, emotional impulse but a rational, intelligent act, the most responsible and sensible thing you can do with your life.  That is why Paul said, "So we make it our goal to please him" (2 Corinthians 5:9)  Your wisest moments will be those when you say 'yes' to God.  God loves you infinitely more than you can imagine.  The greatest expression of this is the sacrifice of God's Son for you.  "God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  If you want to know how much you matter to God, look at Christ with his arms stretched out on the cross saying,

"I love you this much! 

I'd rather die than live without you."

Fri, Mar 23rd - 8:54PM

Surrender To Love

"Give yourselves to God...Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes" Romans 6:13

Surrendering to God is the heart of worship.  It is the natural response to God's amazing love and mercy.  We give ourselves to him, not out of fear or duty, but in love, "because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19.   

Paul urges us to fully surrender our lives to God in worship: "So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us...offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him.  This is the true worship that you should offer" Romans 12:1   

True worship - bringing God pleasure - happens when you give yourself completely to God. (Notice the first and last words of that verse are the same: offer).

Sat, Mar 17th - 2:41PM

Making GOD Smile

God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually.  Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else.... God loves it too!  He smiles when we express our adoration and gratitude to Him.

"TalkerCat"

Fri, Mar 16th - 12:45PM

Understanding versus Obedience

God doesn't owe you an explanation or reason for everything he asks you to do.  Understanding can wait, but obedience can't.  Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussion.  In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first. 

Obedience unlocks understanding

TalkerCat

Sun, Mar 11th - 6:22PM

Father Noah

There was once a man who made God smile.  The bible says, "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord" (Gen. 6:8)

God said, "This guy brings me pleasure, He makes me smile.  I'll start over with his family"  Because Noah brough pleasure to God, you and I are alive today.

Wed, Mar 7th - 2:50PM

December 11, 1975

In December, 1975 a twelve-year-old boy was given a writing assignment for his English Lit. Class.  This is what he wrote:

LIFE

Alone on a dune in the desert, a man sees a puddle of water off in the distance; his throat parched and tongue cracked and dry he crawls to the puddle to see it's gone as he takes his last breath;

In the Arctic a man is hunting for food - a blizzard comes up and the man is freezing - his eyes frozen shut, his fingers frost bitten, as he takes his last breath;

In New York in a hosptial a woman lies on a table; her husband is present, 2 nurses and a doctor.  And in a moment the miracle of life.

The End

This insightful, sensitive young man is now a 43 year old father of three.  He's my brother Todd - the finest, most Godly man I know.

TalkerCat

Comment (3)

Mon, Mar 5th - 8:05PM

Jesus' DNA?

Director James Cameron has claimed to have found the grave of Jesus, Mary Magdelaine and their baby.  Firstly, as a Christian there is no way I'll ever believe that there is a grave of Jesus, because we already know that CHRIST AROSE FROM THE GRAVE and ascended into Heaven until further notice.... there could never ever be "remains" of a body because Jesus wasn't human!  I think this is a big, blasphemous HOAX to get us to watch a movie he's working on!  Watch and see if a movie doesn't come to a theater near you very soon, directed by Mr. Cameron deja vu'  "The Da Vinci Code".....  or other claims there's DNA linked to Christ.

In Jesus' time, marriage and children were enjoyed by God - in fact He told people to marry and multiply... so there was no sin in it.  Since Jesus was sinless,  I don't see why, if He had married, it would have to be a secret!  Why would scripture not include marriage and children for Jesus if indeed it was true?  Because Jesus wasn't here for anything else but to teach us God's way and to die for our sins.... Jesus was not a mere mortal being... He was the Living Word; God Incarnate.  I believe that if Jesus was "only a prophet"; as some believe, and not the Messiah, He would have married and had children as the Lord commanded. No way is there a grave and I will go to mine believing it. 

If I were to discover that there is no such thing as Heaven I would still want to live a Christian life, with Christian beliefs.  I'm much happier believing in Love, Peace, Joy, Mercy, Grace and an All Forgiving God.  I believe everything in the Bible to be true, because God said so. 

Jesus is the name above all names....and for Christians, He has many names: Immanuel; Light of the World; Bread of Life; Great Physician; Lamb of God; King of Kings; Prince of Peace; Christ; Messiah; Rabbi; The Living Word; Cornerstone; Bright Morning Star; Lion of the Tribe of Judah; Lord; Friend; Alpha and Omega; Jesus the Savior; Son of David; Priest; Son of God; Son of Man; The Good Shepherd; Servant of God; Man of Sorrows; The Redeemer; The Great I AM; Wonderful Counselor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father .... but husband of Mary Magdelaine?  I don't think so.

"Thank you Lord, for understanding what it means to be weak and tempted, and thank you also for never giving in to temptation.  You are the only one able to bring me to the Father so that my sins can be forgiven.  Through your life and through your death you have told me who God is and what his plans are for me.  Now I pray you will help me to imitate you, so that others might know you as both priest and prophet.  Amen. "

Mon, Mar 5th - 7:22PM

Least We Forget

We often forget that God has emotions too.  He feels things very deeply.  The Bible tells us that God grieves, gets jealous and angry.  He feels compassion, pity, sorrow and sympathy as well as happiness, gladness, and satisfaction.  God loves, delights, gets pleasure, rejoices, enjoys and even laughs!

TalkerCat

Mon, Mar 5th - 11:34AM

White As Snow

Sun, Mar 4th - 9:21PM

This Narrow Road

Dear Lord,

I know this narrow road just isn't very wide; but there is room enough for You to walk here at my side.  There may be rocks along the way, but every step you You guide ~ I must not get ahead of You, but stay close by your side. 

The world beyond this narrow road is pleasing to the sight, and sometimes I may wander off the way of truth and light.  But then somehow I realize that I walk there alone, without Your tender gentle hand I face the dark unknown.

Dear Lord, I need you every day upon this path I trod, for on this road of life I need the loving hand of God.  So when I feel this narrow road just isn't very wide, I know so well there's room for You to walk here at my side.

Your Servant,

TalkerCat

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Thu, Mar 1st - 10:24PM

"I Am"

Thu, Mar 1st - 10:04PM

His Delight

The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth.  He wanted you alive, and your arrival gave Him great pleasure.  God did not need to create you, but He chose to create you for His own enjoyment.  You exist for His benefit, His Glory, His Purpose and His Delight

"For the Lord delights in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation..." Psalm 149:4