Lord, I Can't Take Anything Else

Mark 16:3-4
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

Have you ever found yourself like these women? Think about what they have experienced for the last few days of their lives. Their Savior has been captured by Jewish leaders and crucified by the Roman soldiers. Their hope is almost diminished to the point of no existence. The grief of sorrow and loneliness has crept its way into their hearts. For the last few days they have probably tried to eat something but then lose appetite when they think of what Christ Jesus endured. It's almost as if you took their joy-filled heart and stomped on it.

Now read as they are walking early in the morning to anoint the body of Jesus with the spices and they find that they have another problem. One woman, who was already tired and grieving because of His death, sees another obstacle. She says, "Who is going to roll the stone away from the door?" Of all the things that they could have talked about, it was one more problem. It was one more obstacle. But Praise the Lord, the stone was rolled away when they got there.

Maybe you are at the point where you think, "Lord I can't take anything else." Only to wake up and find out that you have one more problem. What if you trusted in Jesus today and find out that when you come to the problem He has solved it already? Trust and obey Him. Trusting involves you leaning not on what you think should happen but leaning totally upon Him. What these women thought was going to be one more problem turned out to be the greatest blessing ever. A huge stone door turned out to be one, big, empty tomb!!!

Can't Compare

Colossians 3:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Stop this morning and think of all the pleasures in this life. I can name many of them. First of all, kissing my wife. Yep, that's right! There ain't nothing wrong with it either. Second, spending time with my boys, Andrew and Jacob. Watching them grow up into the men of God that they need to be is one of my greatest pleasures. There are also other things about this life that give me pleasure. Like going fishing, riding in a boat or airplane, sitting by the river in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I could honestly go on and on about this life and its pleasures. I'm so thankful for this world. I am thankful for my country in which I live. I wouldn't want to live any other place. I'm thankful for the state of Alabama. We have some of the greatest treasures right here within our state.We have mountains to the north, beaches to the south, and fishing holes to the east and west of us. 

But even as I think of all that this world, nation, and state have to offer me it can't compare to Jesus. Listen to me closely on this... Even with all the pleasure that my wife and sons give me in being a part of their lives, it can't fully compare to Jesus. The relationship that I have with my wife is a beautiful example of the love of Jesus. It is a reflection of Christ, but not Him. The relationship with my sons is the image of my Heavenly Father and me, but it's still a picture. All the things that they have done for me and the love that they show me everyday still can't fully compare to Jesus and what He has done for me.

Sure, you and I could live out the rest of our days with fishing on the lake or with family in the mountains and think we have it made in the shade. The truth of it all would still be if the only pleasure, or the only hope that we had was limited to this earth and its pleasures it brings, we would be miserable. To live with family and fun our whole life and to die without hope in Christ would be misery. A misery of eternal Hell where there will be no hope, no pleasure, no peace. 

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Jeremiah 1:6

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

Remember Art Linkletter?  He hosted a show called, "Kids say the darndest things" back in the late 90's. He brought out the truth in children. It was such a funny series. Some of the children were really shy, and some had no problem in front of a microphone. An amazing thing was how these children would open up and share the truth of the stories the only way they knew how. 

I wonder how many of these children were afraid to go on to a stage with someone they didn't know.  I wonder if some of them would cry or tell their parents that they didn't want to do it. Maybe they thought they were too little at times. 

Well, Jeremiah says those same words. He tells The Lord that he is just a child. He is trying to tell God that he can't do it but God is telling him that he can do it. God tells him that He has called him and what He calls him to do, He will equip him him to do. The Lord reminds Jeremiah that he's not just a child, but that he is a child of God. 

This morning stop being shy, being afraid, and thinking you're a child. Stand up, go out and be that child of God He has called you to be. You will find out that His kids can say some amazing things. Just speak the truth in the love of Christ! 

Jeremiah 1:7-10

But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

A Perfect Example

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Thank you Lord for the examples I've had, and have, in my life! I've had some good ones, bad ones and great ones. One of my every day prayers is to be an example unto others. I want nothing more than to be an example of a believer in Christ. In every word I speak. In every conversation I have. Through love, Spirit, faith and purity.

The night that God begin to draw me He showed me something in my life. He revealed what kind of example I was to others. Although I had friends, I was taking them to Hell with me. It really got next to me that night. I was lost in sin and headed to Hell and the whole time being an example to others that would potentially follow me. That shook me to my soul.

Even today, this morning, as I write this it shakes my soul to think of what kind of example I am to others. Especially to those that don't know Jesus. What if my actions as a Christian were their last examples of Christ in their lives? What if they were depending upon me to show them an example of Jesus?

Some try to be like preachers, other Christians, moms, dads, siblings or great people. Be the example of Jesus. That's who they need to see. If they see me, they will find fault. If they see the greats, they will find fault. But if they see Jesus in your example of Him they can find no fault.

Lord I wanna be just like you!

Counting Down

Luke 8:40
And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

A few years ago the church where I pastor at gave me a great gift. They sent me to the land of Israel. The greatest part of it that showed how much they really loved me was the fact they bought roundtrip tickets.

I can remember putting a countdown timer on my computer with the date I was to flyout for Israel. It would show a countdown of how many days, hours and seconds left until the day of the trip. Everyday I would check it. Right there on my screen...days, hours and seconds would tick away. Some days I would just stare at it while it ticked away. I couldn't wait until the day we left. When the day finally came it was indescribable. To walk where Jesus walked, to see the sights and understand the history of it all was the greatest schooling I could have ever received.

Now think this morning of our travel plans for Heaven. What greater place is there than Heaven? Since the day I trusted Jesus as my Savior I have waited and waited. Year after year, day after day, hour after hour I wait and wait.

Don't you love how our scripture says when Jesus returned that the people GLADLY received him; for they were all waiting for him? Are you looking for the return of Jesus? Will you gladly receive Him when He comes? I know one thing in my life to be true. I'm waiting!

What a glorious day that will be!

What a Greeting!

Philippians 4:21
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

As you knock on the door, those on the other side are preparing for a greeting. Some people will holler, "Come on in!" Some will walk to the door and look through the peephole. Some will stand at the door and ask, "Who is it?" Not much is different once you walk in. There is a hand shake. Maybe a hug. Usually the phrase, "Welcome, welcome...make yourself at home" is said. Either way, the greeting may be different but the meaning is mostly the same. They want to convey how welcomed you are in their home.

The other day I went to a friends house to pick up my son. I knocked on the door and heard those words, "Come on in..." Then the door opened and it was a greeting fest. My friend greeted me. His wife said, "Hey." The children said, "What's up Brother Steve?" The healthy black dog gave me a nudge and wanted me to pet her. The older golden retriever rubbed her nose against me with the expectation of some love in return. The small wiener dog was trying her best to push the other big dogs out of the way to get her loving. It was a greeting fest! I loved every minute of it.

This got me to thinking about the day I enter Heaven. I can't imagine the greeting I will receive. Can you? What if those apostles come up and say, "Welcome, welcome..."? What if Jesus is the first one that you see? What a day that is going to be.

There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye.
All is peace forever more on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon His face. The one who saved me by His grace.
When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Butter Churns and Nose Bleeds

Proverbs 30:33
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Wow, what a combination that the Lord has given us this morning. In one sentence of scripture we have gone from churning milk to make butter unto busting nose and it bleeding. If I was to close my eyes I would have thought that my dad wrote this scripture. I always pick at him because of his train of thought. We could be talking about building a home one minute to catching crappie the next. Sometimes it could go from talking about a television show to talking about the Word of God. But somehow, sometimes, it all seems to come together.

What if the Lord was to leave out the last part of our scripture? We would miss the whole point. We would understand that churning milk brings butter and that a busted nose will bleed, but miss out on what God is really saying. He is doing something for us that I absolutely love. He is taking an earthly, physical illustration and giving us sound doctrine. We all understand the process of butter and busted noses. He chose these illustrations to give us the truth about stirring up strife.

What is strife? Strife is angry or bitter disagreement over an issue. What is wrath? Wrath is defined as extreme anger. Being angry is not sinful. The Bible declares that we should be angry and sin not. Wrath is a continual dwelling on anger and what others may have done unto you. Wrath is anger to the point of revenge. Our scripture tells us that forcing wrath, or revenge, brings forth strife. I know some who are so bitter in their life and you can see it in their bitter churning. Wanting others to pay for what was done to them. Can you imagine the scene at the cross of Calvary if Jesus wanted revenge on those who mocked, slapped, spit, and crucified Him? I'm glad the scene at the cross was one of Grace. They stirred up the milk and busted the nose of Jesus but yet He said, "Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do".

Put away the butter churn and open up your fists. Don't force wrath or revenge, but find forgiveness. You may just find out that your not so exhausted anymore from all the churning and swinging.