dW 07.25.07

scripture

 

Luke 12:49-53

"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

 

quote

 

Jesus came to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable. – unknown

 

thought

 

Authentic Christian living cannot be lived without disturbing the darkness. The offense taken by the darkness is not personal between you and them. It is beyond a simple personality conflict. The light in you scares, angers, challenges, frustrates, and confuses them. Do not think on merely physical, we are all spirit wrapped in flesh. Darkness clothes itself in your coworkers, your family, and the passer-by.

dW 07.24.07

scripture

 

John 12:24, 27-28

 

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

 

Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"

 

quote

 

The real truth is that while He came to preach the gospel, His chief object in coming was that there might be a gospel to preach. – R.W. Dale

 

thought

 

What if when God asked something of us that we did not want to do we responded as did Christ? “Okay. Not my will but yours be done.”

dW 07.23.07

scripture

 

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

 

quote

 

The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable.  If there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion.

 

Billy Sunday

The Coal Basket Bible

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible.

His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in anyway he could. One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book.  What good does reading the Bible do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.  This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.

Out of breath, he told his grandfather, "It's impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water.  You can do this.  You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all.  The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his Grandfather the basket was again empty.  Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless."

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different.  Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was Clean.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible.  You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.  That is the work of God in our lives.  To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."
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Take time to read a portion of God's word each day, and remind a friend by sharing this story.  Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, Leave The Rest To God.