Archive for March, 2008
Anxiety — how do YOU cope with life’s anxious moments?
Written by Gary on March 14, 2008 – 9:15 am -Read Philippians 4
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
It would be wonderful if we could push one of those "Easy" buttons popularized by the office supply stores (you know the brand I mean) and have every crisis, every concern, every worry and fear, immediately resolved. Sort of a "BAM!" moment would be good, wouldn't it?
In Jesus, we have exactly what we need to deal with the most severe anxieties, our biggest fears. We simply take the problem(s) to him and truly LEAVE them with him.
But that's the hard part, isn't it? A preacher friend of mine once said the problem we have when we take our problems to leave at the foot of the Cross is -- when we turn around to leave, we reach out, grab up the same problems, and take them away with us.
So it's a daily thing. It may, for you and it often is for me, be a moment-by-moment thing. That's because life itself is ongoing. It isn't static, it's LIFE and it's for LIVING -- which means there will never be a one time "ah-HAH" moment when all our problems and fears are permanently resolved. At least not this side of heaven.
I wrote in some detail just a few moment ago about the whole issue of fear and anxiety attacks in another blog I do. I invited my readers there (go take a look, please) to leave comments telling of the ways they deal with anxiety. I'm hoping for some useful, interesting comments.
I invite you to do the same. How do you cope with life's anxious moments? Tell us, please.
Technorati Tags: anxiety, coping with fear, peace of Christ, biblical tools to cope with anxiety, buy Bibles and more
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No matter what comes, we can trust that God is the one in charge
Written by Gary on March 10, 2008 – 12:50 pm -Read John 11:1-45
"So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.' When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go' " (John 11:41-44).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Yesterday, our pastor preached on this Gospel reading of the day. In his discussion of the pain and suffering surrounding Lazarus' death, followed by the miracle of his restoration, the pastor emphasized something a little different than I've heard before: He spoke not so much of Jesus' power and glory here, nor of the compassion his act showed for Lazarus and his sisters. Instead, he pointed out that this was part of a "bigger picture."
That big picture related to such issues as pain, suffering, and even death, is this, the pastor suggested: God's master plan in building the Kingdom of God. I was struck by this comment by the pastor especially (even wrote it down to share with you): "God isn't in the business of making us happy. He is in the business of building his kingdom."
When those terrible trials or the pain of life come along, I hope you'll see that as comfort, just as I did: No matter what, no matter how it hurts, we can be confident that God is using any and every circumstance in our lives to build his kingdom.
We just have to keep on trusting him, no matter what!
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We ‘help’ God every time we help someone in need
Written by Gary on March 7, 2008 – 2:26 pm -Read Hebrews 6:1-12
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" (Hebrews 6:10).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Personally, I think these verses make a great summary of all that I hold dear about God and my relationship with him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. He is a just and loving God.
2. He expects us to be just and loving people.
3. We experience his love and justice as we share help, love, and justice with others.
If you take as your starting point the wonderful love of God in Christ, add to that your expression of faith in Christ, allow God's grace to fill you each day, then walk in love seeking to help others -- well, how can you go wrong??
Have a great day and a great weekend!
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Have you visited the new ‘Christian Posters and Art Work’ page?
Written by Gary on March 5, 2008 – 9:56 pm -I realized you might not have noticed the new "store" I've added to the site. If you click on this link to the new poster and artwork page, or if you click on the "Christian Posters and Art Work" link in the Navigation box at the top of the right-hand column, you'll be there.
I tried to make the most relevant selections I could from our merchant partners, AllPosters.com
. You'll find some "classic" Christian and religious art work there, as well as a range of contemporary poster works. Look around and find something you'd like to put up in your home as a testimony to your faith.
Oh, also, if you choose to click on any of the links to posters and art work on that page, you'll be taken to the Allposters.com merchant site for more information and the opportunity to buy -- which you can do or NOT do, with no charge or obligation.
While you're at Allposters.com, you'll notice a wide variety of posters, pictures, even CDs and T-shirts and other apparel. Be as selective as you wish, and be forewarned that not everything on the site is "Christian" or even "family friendly." But much of it is wonderful stuff that's either "Christian" or "family friendly," so I encourage you to look around our page and the merchant's site.
Technorati Tags: Allposters.com, Christian Posters and Art Work, buy Bibles and more
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How Christ reveals God to us in ways we can understand
Written by Gary on March 2, 2008 – 9:07 pm -Read Hebrews 5:1-10
"Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Hebrews 5:8,9).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
I think these verses sort of echo Paul's words to the believers in Philippi, where he spoke of Christ setting aside his Godhood and eternal glory to become like us, so that he might be exalted and show us more of what the Father is like. (That's sort of my paraphrase of Philippians 2:5-11. Go ahead and look it up if you want. I'll wait.)
How incredible that Jesus subjected himself to the "learning process" we human children go through. I think he did it so that we might have him as our example, and so that we might know and love God even more!
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