CHANGE

Change is one thing we can be sure of in this life. Our relationships change as we move to new places. Even the cells in our bodies are always in the process of change. When cells wear out, most are replaced by new ones. This is especially noticeable with our skin—we shed & regrow outer skin cells about every 27 days.

Yes, change is the one certainty in our world. Henry Lyte's melancholy line in his hymn "Abide With Me" is true: "Change and decay in all around I see." But the hymn immediately adds, "O Thou who changest not, abide with me!"

By faith in Jesus Christ, we can have a relationship with the unchanging God, who says of Himself in Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, I do not change." Hebrews 13:8 adds this reassuring testimony: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

He is our firm foundation, who can give us confidence & security in this changing world. To face life's changes, look to the unchanging God. (preceptaustin.org)

It seems, God once said to the Bible Teacher, Bob Mumford, “You and I are incompatible and I do not change.”

Jer 26:13 (GNB): “You must change the way you are living and the things you are doing, and must obey the LORD your God. If you do, he will change his mind about the destruction that he said he would bring on you.”

In the New Year 2015, I hope, wish & pray that you may change your focus, commitments & actions for a more spiritually fruitful year ahead. Have a blessed New Year.

DON’T QUIT, KEEP GOING!

Ignace Jan Padereswski, the famous Polish pianist & statesman, was once scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America.

Present in the audience that evening was a woman who had brought her nine-year-old son, hoping that he would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the great Padereski at the keyboard.

Weary waiting for the concert to begin & being there against his wishes anyway - the lad squirmed restlessly in his seat. Then, as his mother turned to talk with friends, the boy slipped out of his seat & down the aisle, strangely drawn by the ebony concert grand sitting majestic & alone at the centre of the huge stage. He sat down on the tufted leather stool, placed his small hands on the black & white keys, & began to play "Chop Sticks."

Suddenly the crowd hushed & hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated & embarrassed, some began to shout: "Hey, get that boy away from there!" "Where's his mother?" "Somebody stop him!"

Backstage, Paderewski heard the uproar & the sound of the simple tune. When he saw what was happening, he hurried onto the stage. Without a word to the audience, he walked up behind the lad, reached his arms around either side of him & began to improvise a countermelody. As the two made music together, the master pianist kept whispering in the boy's ear: "keep going. Don't quit, son. Keep on playing … don't stop … don't quit."

So it is with us. We hammer away at life & sometimes it seems about as significant as "Chop Sticks." Then, about the time we are ready to give up, along come the Master, who leans over & whispers: "Don't quit. Keep going," as He provides His finishing touch of grace, love & joy at just the right moment.

Are you one of those weary pilgrims? Is the road getting long? Is hope wearing a little thin?

Don't quit. Keep on. Finish the course.

Listen to the Master whispering: “God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil. 1:6 CEV) - Charles Swindoll (richardcho.tripod.com).

Sacrifices That Please God

A man touring a rural area of the Far East saw a boy pulling a crude plow while an old man held the handles and guided it through the rice paddy. The visitor commented, "I suppose they are poor."

"Yes," said his guide. "When their church was built, they wanted to give something to help but they had no money. So they sold their only ox. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves." The tourist was deeply challenged by their sacrificial gift.

God puts no merit in any attempts to earn His favor or call attention to oneself. But He delights in deeds that spring from faith that works through love. He is pleased when we do good, and share with others.

Some spiritual sacrifices will be costly. But what is gained - His praise - is always greater than what is given up. (preceptaustin.org)

Heb 13:16 (ISV): “Do not neglect to do good and to be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”

JESUS means a LOT to you or is EVERYTHING?

There was a missionary in South-East Asia, who was captured by some guerillas & freedom fighters & they were Marxists. He actually walked with them for three weeks through the jungles. And he had quite a good relationship with group of freedom fighters, & they talked about Marxism & they talked about Jesus & they went backwards & forwards.

When the missionary was released - the leader of the freedom fighters said something very interesting: he said "I see that your message about Jesus is more powerful than ours. But we will win, because Jesus means a lot to you, but the revolution means everything to us."

And the question I keep asking myself is: Does Jesus mean a lot to us or is everything? Is Jesus my most important hobby or is this business of life & death. (Ian Powell: "Learning the game by watching others play”)

Mat 13:44 CEV): ‘The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. A person like that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.”

OUR NEEDS

“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;

If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.” - Max Lucado.

“The cross is the greatest example of humility and devotion in the universe. Jesus put your needs ahead of His own. He considered you more valuable than Himself.” - Chip Ingram.

Indeed God loves us enough to meet all our needs as per His plan and He is wise enough not to give us those things we think we need but He doesn’t think so.

“And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Paul (Php 4:19 ISV).

“God has supplied all my needs and has not failed me once.” - Watchman Nee.

Materialism & the Meaning of Christmas

A television interviewer was walking streets of Tokyo at Christmas time.

Much as in America, Christmas shopping is a big commercial success in Japan.

The interviewer stopped one young woman on the sidewalk, and
asked, "What is the meaning of Christmas?"

Laughing, she responded, "I don't know. Is that the day that Jesus died?"

There is some truth in her answer.   (Donald Deffner; Seasonal Illustrations)

“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts! O! 'tis
easier to keep holidays than commandments.” - Benjamin Franklin.

John 1:11-12 (KJV): “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

PRAYER LIFE

“I do not believe that one can earnestly seek and find the priceless treasure of God's call without a devout prayer life. That is where God speaks.

The purpose of prayer and of God's call in your life is not to make you number one in the world's eyes, but to make him number one in your life.

We must be willing to be outshone while shining for God. We hear very little about being smaller in our own self-estimate.” - Ravi Zacharias.

“Prayer is not over-coming God’s reluctance but laying hold of His willingness.” - Martin Luther.

“The secret of praying is praying in secret.” - Leonard Ravenhill.

John 16:24 (ISV): “So far you haven't asked for anything in my name. Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

A 'GREAT PREACHER' OR 'MY MESSENGER'

Early in his ministry, when he was pastor of the Congregational Church at Rugeley, Campbell Morgan studied hard and preached often.

He was discovering and developing the gift of Bible exposition that later made him the prince of expositors. His preaching made him popular.

One evening, as he sat in his study, he felt God saying to him, "What are you going to be, a preacher or My messenger?"

As Morgan pondered the question, he realized that his desire to become a "great preacher" was hindering his work. For several hours Morgan sat there struggling with God's call and human ambition.

Finally he said, "Thy messenger, my Master - Thine!"

He took the precious outlines of his sermons, messages that he was proud of, and laid them in the fireplace where they burned to ashes. That was when the victory was won.

As the outlines were burning, Morgan prayed: "If Thou wilt give me Thy words to speak, I will utter them from this day forward, adding nothing to them, taking naught away. Thine whole counsel I will declare, so help me God!"  (Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers - W. Wiersby)

"Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you." - Jesus (Mat 10:27 CEV)

LET ME BURN OUT FOR YOU

In his book ‘Facing Loneliness’, J. Oswald Sanders writes, "The round of pleasure or the amassing of wealth are but vain attempts to escape from the persistent ache. The millionaire is usually a lonely man & the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience."

Sanders goes on to emphasize that being successful often fails to produce satisfaction. Then he refers to Henry Martyn, a distinguished scholar, as an example of what he is talking about.

Martyn, a Cambridge University student, was honored at only 20 years of age for his achievements in mathematics. In fact, he was given the highest recognition possible in that field. And yet he felt emptiness inside. He said that instead of finding fulfillment in his achievements, he had "only grasped a shadow."

After evaluating his life's goals, Martyn sailed to India as a missionary at the age of 24. When he arrived, he prayed, "Lord, let me burn out for You." In the next 7 years that preceded his death, he translated the New Testament into three difficult Eastern languages (Urdu, Persian & Judaeo-Persic). These notable achievements were certainly not passing "shadows."

Mat 5:6 (GNB): "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!"

NO ESCAPE

In November, 1975, 75 convicts started digging a secret tunnel designed to bring them up at the other side of the wall of Saltillo Prison in northern Mexico.

On April 18, 1976, guided by pure genius, they tunneled up into the nearby courtroom in which many of them had been sentenced. The surprised judges returned all 75 to jail. (Campus Life)

“Man can certainly flee from God but he cannot escape him. He can certainly hate God and be hateful to God, but he cannot change into its opposite the eternal love of God which triumphs even in his hate.” - Karl Barth.

Psa 139:7 (GNB): “Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence?”

Heb 2:3 (CEV): “So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape?”

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father except through me." (Jn14:6)