Ten Little Christians

Ten little Christians standing in a line,
One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.
Nine little Christians stayed up very late,
One slept in on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to heaven,
One took the low road, then there were seven.
Seven little Christians chirping like chicks,
One disliked the music, then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive,
But one lost his interest, then there were five.
Five little Christians pulling for Heaven’s shore,
But one stopped to rest, then there were four.

Four little Christians, each busy as a bee,
One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.
Three little Christians knew what to do,
One joined the sports crowd, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,
Differed with each other, then there was one.
One little Christian can’t do much ’tis true;
Brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.

Two earnest Christians, each won one more,
That doubled their number, then there were four.
Four sincere Christians worked early and late,
Each won another, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians, if they doubled as before,
In just a few short weeks, we’d have 1,024.
In this little jingle, there’s a lesson true,
You belong to the building, or the wrecking crew.

It Is Between You And God

It’s between you and God ……..

People are often unreasonable,
Illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
You will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway.

Be Blessed

An Angel Wrote

Many people will walk in and out or your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head,
To handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it’s his fault.
If he betrays you twice, it’s your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

God gives every bird its food,
but He does not throw it into its nest.

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses more;
He who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are acts of nature,
but beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

The tongue weighs practically nothing,
but so few people can hold it.

Friends, you and me … you brought another friend…and then there were 3 … we started our group…
Our circle of friends … and like the circle … there’s no beginning

… there is no end.

Keep this going. E-mail all your friends this message.
E-mail all those friends you never met.
Those you have…………………
And those you’ve lost along the way.

Here is an Angel sent to watch over you.

In order for her to work,
you must pass this on to
the people you want watched over.

A Son Is Led By The Spirit

Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (ESV)

A while back I was asked to speak at two different churches in two different cities on the same Sunday morning. Both of these churches were located in fairly remote farm land just outside where I live. Since my GPS wouldn’t work in these areas, I was given turn by turn written directions by the pastor for the first church that I was to speak at.

I only had 15 minutes to get from the first church to the second church and it was a 15 minute drive to get there! With no idea how to navigate the country roads and no written directions on how to get to my next speaking engagement, I was feeling a little stressed. One of the elders in the first church saw my stress level rise when she was trying to verbally give me directions to the next church, so she kindly offered for me to follow her in my car and she would lead the way. I gladly accepted her kind offer to lead me.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, the sun was shining, we were driving past beautiful corn fields, everything felt perfect. I wasn’t stressed because I knew that the lady driving in the car in front of me knew where she was going. I didn’t have to watch out for street signs, I didn’t have to worry about speed traps, all I had to do was follow her. Because I was confident that she knew where she was going, I had the opportunity to enjoy the rich scenery that we were driving through. This feeling of bliss contrasted the stress I felt earlier in the morning as I was trying to follow my turn by turn directions to get to the first church.

Since I was being led, my only responsiblity was to simply follow. It was at this moment that God spoke to me and said these words… “Barry, this is how it feels to be led by the Spirit”. I immediately understood what the Lord was saying to me. When we are led by the Spirit of God, we do not have to worry about where we are going. We do not have to try and chart out the turn by turn directions in life. All we have to do is to simply follow. When we are following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we can enjoy the scenery along the way because we do not worry about getting lost.

In this week’s blog, the passage of Scripture from Romans 8:14 tells us that one of the signs of sonship is learning to be led by the Spirit. It might sound simple enough, but in an orphan world system that celebrates independence, the idea of allowing ourselves to be led, can be quite a challenge.

If someone else is leading us, then our only responsibility is to follow. When the Spirit moves, we move. When He stops, we stop. In order for us to be led by the Spirit, we must surrender our own agendas and independence and simply trust in God’s goodness to take us where He wants us to go. When we are led by the Spirit, we simply settle in to being the branch that Jesus speaks about in John 15, where He tells us that He is the vine and apart from Him, we can do nothing.

In my own life, I am learning how to follow the Spirit’s lead. It has not been easy for me, I am slowly learning what it means to be led. Having a ‘type A’ personality, I have always believed that initiating is always better than waiting. But the truth is, to be led by someone, is to learn to live in a posture of waiting to be led.

The first part of verse 7 in Psalm 37, says… Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Verse 34 in the same chapter King David says… Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (ESV) Isaiah 40:31 tells us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will even mount up with wings like eagles and never tire!

My question has always been… How long do I wait? The answer that I have always heard from the Lord is… “As long as it takes!” For that reason, I have struggled to yield to the process of being led. If I allow myself to be led by the Spirit, then I will need to embrace a posture of waiting to be led. When He moves, I move. When He stops, I stop.

While this has been a difficult and painful process for me to learn, I am slowly but surely, grasping the glorious freedom found in being led. Being led by the Spirit frees up my mind carrying the responsibility of trying to discern the road map for my life. Being led by the Spirit frees me up to be able to live in the moment rather than in the future. Being led by the Spirit allows me to embrace a simple life with the heart of a child who calls out to his Father… “Are we there yet?”

My prayer today is that we would all see the amazing benefits of being led by the Spirit. My prayer is that the Lord will restore our ability to trust in His leading and not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). May we all find the courage to lay down our own agendas today and surrender to the loving leading of the Holy Spirit that lives within us.

May we all find a new freedom in our hearts today that allows us to live in the moment, rather than to live in the future. May we be able to embrace the heart position of learning to wait on the Lord so that our strength can be renewed. May we all see the glory and the fruitfulness that awaits everyone who simply takes their place as a branch that has unlimited access to the richest, life-giving vine imaginable (John 15).

1 John 2:27
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (NIV).

You Are There

Read Psalm 139:7-12

Bible Thought: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7, NIV)

David, in speaking to God, says, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” These statements seem to convey the message that David felt a comfort in knowing that God was always there. No matter where David was, physically or spiritually, God was there.

When we behold majestic snow-capped mountains, deep blue lakes and foamy ocean waves, or fluffy cotton clouds in motion, we feel awed–and we say to God–“You are there.” When faced with life’s daily stresses, or perhaps financial loss or moves to another city, it may not be as easy to say to God, “You are there.”

David’s words remind us that whether we are experiencing events that elate us to the heights or we are in the depths of despair, whether we are anticipating a move across the continent or making a critical decision, we can trust Him to guide us and hold us. In the brightness of day or in the shadows of night, we can say with confidence, “God, I know you are there.”

Hymn: “It Is Well With My Soul”

Lord, help us to feel Your loving arms of comfort enfolding us wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Grant us peace and comfort in knowing You are there. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

He Is The Great I Am

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!

He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.

He always was, He always is, and He always will be…

Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

 

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He is risen and brings power!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can’t understand him,

The armies can’t defeat Him,

The schools can’t explain Him,

and The leaders can’t ignore Him.

 

Herod couldn’t kill Him,

The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him,

and The people couldn’t hold Him!

 

Nero couldn’t crush Him,

Hitler couldn’t silence Him,

The New Age can’t replace Him,

and Donahue can’t explain Him away!

 

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.

He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right, His word is eternal,

His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.

 

He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior,

He is my guide, and He is my peace!

He is my Joy, He is my comfort,

He is my Lord, and He rules my life!

 

I serve Him because His bond is love,

His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,

the power of the powerful, the ancient of days,

the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders,

the overseer of the overcomers, and the sovereign Lord

of all that was and is and is to come.

 

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.

His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me, never forsake me,

Never mislead me, never forget me, never overlook me,

and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

 

When I fall, He lifts me up!

When I fail, He forgives!

When I am weak, He is strong!

When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!

When I stumble, He steadies me!

When I am hurt, He heals me!

When I am broken, He mends me!

When I am blind, He leads me!

When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!

When I face persecution, He shields me!

When I face problems, He comforts me!

When I face loss, He provides for me!

When I face Death, He carries me Home!

 

He is everything for everybody, everywhere,

every time, and every way.

 

He is God,

He is faithful.

I am His, and He is mine!

 

My Father in heaven can whip the father

of this world. So, if you’re wondering why I

feel so secure, understand this…

 

He said it and that settles it.

God is in control,

I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

Every day is a blessing for GOD Is!