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.

Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Galatians 4:16
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

First of all, shame on some of you for only reading this because of the title. (Haha)

"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!" Do you remember those words from a movie a few years ago? Seemed like everyone would go around saying that statement. Comedians were always using it for their punch lines. You could hear them say, "You can't handle the truth!" in their best Nicholson voice.

At sometime in history a few preachers thought that it would be better to be a friend who is a preacher instead of a preacher who is a friend. Also somewhere in time a few parents thought it would be better to be buddies instead of parents. So then when the time came to speak the truth to people or children they think we don't love them and have suddenly become their enemy. It is viewed as if we are now enemies because we speak the truth. Before you say it, yes I understand there is a right way to tell the truth with love. God's word tells us that we must speak the truth in love. This doesn't mean that we are to hold back from speaking the truth, but that when we speak the truth let it be wrapped in love.

Well, what is the truth? The truth is that sin will always be sin. No matter what the sin is, it will always be sin. Well, what is sin? Sin is to know to do right and not to do it. Sin is not following God's command from His word and the natural laws that are written in the heart of men and women.

Don't forget to wrap the truth in love. I think it is so funny that people don't like green beans. But during the holiday seasons the cooks will wrap them in bacon and people will devour them. Sometimes the truth of sin in our lives may seem like green beans. People will even protest the green beans. We know that they are good for us but we just don't know how to swallow it. Wrap em' up, hahaha. Sometimes truth hurts us as well. Dads, moms, preachers, leaders share the truth wrapped in grace and love. Don't diminish the truth in order to give it, just let your conversation be seasoned with grace. God's grace and love have never taken away from the truth.

I Can't Wait For Sunday!

Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We go to bed and can't sleep because of the excitement of vacation, fishing trip, shopping trip, getting married or starting a new job. We will lay out our clothes of choice that helps us to be prepared for the next days event. If it's a fishing trip, we check the weather, water reports and lay out the clothes, tackle and supplies. If it's a wedding, we plan for months, sending out the invitations, fitted for dresses and tuxedos. We don't sleep the night before because we are thinking of that special day. If it's one of those "Black Friday" shopping trips, I know people who have camped out the night before trying to save $100 on a television.

It is so amazing the preparations we will go to in order to fill our pleasure and desires. From the early rising to the staying up all night, we will do whatever it takes to get what our heart desires.

How much do you desire of God? How close to Him do you desire to be? Most people I know treat church attendance as if it's nothing big or exciting. If they go then that's fine, but if they don't go then that's fine also. I see more families fighting about going to church and just barely making it in to the service on time than I do of those coming early or staying late to enjoy the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ. The majority of church goers today get there at least five minutes after it starts and want to leave five minutes before we close.

What would happen in your walk with God if you desired the things of God? What would church be like if you felt the same way about going to church like you do a "Black Friday" shopping trip? Or a much desired fishing trip? Or the new game coming out at GameStop that you spent all night camping in front of a store for? Can I tell you that you can do more than save money on a television, Jesus will save your soul. You can do more than catch a few fish, you can become a fisher of men. Walking with God and attending His house can be more exciting than a video game.

When you roll over on a Sunday morning do you dread that awful 11:00 worship time? Or how about that dreaded 6pm evening service. I mean you have already gone once for that day, good grief. And how dare they have a Sunday School or Bible Fellowship hour at 9:45am! And we wonder why we are not hearing from God. Why our prayer life and personal Bible study time just isn't powerful. It's a reflection of our desire.

I can't wait until Sunday! I can't wait until Wednesday night! I can't wait until I can get to God's House and be with God's people. I can't wait until tomorrow morning when I can praise Him for another day. I can't wait till the next minute!