New Beginnings

 In the beginning God created
Gen 1:1 (NASB)


This is my last post this year, 2013 is right around the corner,and judging from the headlines we need a NEW BEGINNING in this country. The political GAME PLAYING in Washington is become more than I can stomach. Fiscal cliff notwithstanding, those words" new beginnings" came up in a conversation I had a couple weeks ago and they stuck with me.


Beginning-"the first part", "the origin, source or first cause of an action"


Foregoing the rosy intros into this message I want to ask you a simple question, "Are you in a rut?" "Do you look out at the 2013 landscape and see the same ol', same ol' of 2012 and years past?" Yeah, I feel you. You know in these times that beset us it is easy to develop a skewed vision of the future. In the midst of all the !!$#$&*&$%#@# going on in Washington(get rid of ALL of em'!! smile, There I said it!) it's hard not to take a deep breath and say "What's the use?" Know what I mean? We lose sight that God is on the throne and yes HE is still sovereign PTL. At any rate those two words have been floating around in my head for the past couple weeks and I thought I would share my heart with you today. Something from my personal life.


While I was sitting around the other day those new beginnings popped into my head and I started thinking about something new that I would like to try. I have always wanted to learn a foreign language and being as I have travelled in France I thought why not learn French? Well, I asked God if that pipedream would be a waste of time. Now to be honest I don't think God cares whether I learn a foreign language or not, but, I asked Him anyway. Without receiving a negative answer I decided to pursue it a bit further. I called a local community college and drove down to the campus and lo and behold they were offering a beginning French class that fit into my existing schedule. Not only that I learned that because I am a shhh.. senior citizen(60 and above) I can take that French class for FREE!! No tuition, all it will cost is the price of a textbook!Halleleuia, this must be from God!(smile) So, Lord willing I start back to school on January 17th, 2013.


Brothers and sisters, I realize that possibly this is a whimsical use of space. There are infinitely more pressing concerns in all of our lives, but, I just wanted to share that God allowed me a new beginning, however comical or flaky it might appear. Focus on that verse again:


In the beginning God created
Gen 1:1 (NASB)


As I am sure by now, you are well aware that this verse is incomplete. I left it that way on purpose.That's for you to finish. Do you need a new direction in life? Have some doors been shut in your face by others? Are you shackled by circumstances and feel that there is no way out? Let God have a shot at it.


17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Cor 5:17 (NASB)


I believe that God wants to do something new in our lives this coming year. In spite of all the blather and hopelessness pouring into our lives from a hopeless world, if you are a child of the King there is HOPE! WE HAVE A FUTURE! Let's allow Him to create a new thing in our lives and make 2013 a year to remember!!


13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
Psalms 27:13 (NASB)


God Bless

Contend


3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Jude 1:3 (NASB)


Mayan calendar notwithstanding, I want to wish you and yours a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I love this time of year as I bethink of Christmas' past..., playing Santa Claus, being woke up at 5 or 6 in the morning by the kids and running down the stairs to see what Santa had brought. Good Memories. At any rate here's wishing you a wonderful Christmas season.


My message today is more of a story being played out in the life of one of my friends. It seems that some years ago this person decided to put a Christian symbol in their front yard. Without any fanfare or attraction they displayed this statement of faith and nothing was ever said. During this time this person checked with their neighbors to see if anyone had an objection to the symbol. None of the neighbors had any reservations and some even expressed that they liked it being that visible.It became a part of the neighborhood landscape. But, it seems that recently some complaints have been lodged with the local neighborhood management desiring the symbol(a cross) to be removed from the yard. My friend had a couple of letters from the Homeowners Association requesting they remove it. The letters met with refusal and just within the past few days another letter was received from the Association President. Now the following is what my friend told me this past Tuesday evening. He said that he had decided to temporarily remove the cross to keep peace. He was literally pulling the cross out of the hole he had dug and when he had pulled it up, he said a voice spoke to his heart, saying "Don't do that." " Put it back." He did a double take and said he heard that voice again speak the same words. So, he put the cross back in the ground and there it stands today. He told me that he felt like he was making a stand. Not arrogantly but in obedience. When I left off talking to him the above verse crossed my mind. Understand that this verse in context is talking about contending against people who are introducing heretical doctrines in the church. But, it has application here I believe. That word 'contend ' means to strive or stand against. Now, I don't know where this path my friend has chosen is going to take him; but, I suspect that as the days grow ever darker in our nation and world that we who name the name of Jesus may be called upon to"make a stand." If you read on in the Book of Jude you will come across these verses:


17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
18 that they were saying to you, " In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."
19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Jude 1:17-21 (NASB)


While we still enjoy a relative amount of freedom we are well advised to seek God's Word as it has some instruction as well as encouragement for these times.The Word tells us to "remember the words spoken beforehand" we have those words preserved in the scriptures. It also instructs us to "build yourselves up." How? By "praying in the Holy Spirit." I'll close with this. When all is said and done. When all the doctrinal statements have been made, and the opinions and teachings have been pored over, the BEST teaching that we can learn is just this..Read your Bible and Pray. Amen? I'll keep you informed of what happens in my friend's front yard. He covets your prayers.


24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 (NASB)


God Bless

None Ya!


I write this almost half-heartedly as through the miracle(?) of technology, I am witness to yet another American horror story in Connecticut. My message, seems to me insignifigant in the wake of the tragedy today. But, I will post it and maybe we all can glean something,God willing.


My mother and I play a little game over and over again these days. She is always worrying that I don't ever do anything. I am unhappy(that is her favorite word for me lol) She is always saying that I need to get out and go somewhere. Get a life in today's vernacular. So, when I do go somewhere, I make it very mysterious when Memaw asks me where I am going., Her stroke affected her short term memory so she asks over and over, " Where are you going?" "Who are you going to see?" etc., etc., etc. The more vague I am with my answers, the more intense the third degree becomes.(smile) So, finally after bantering back and forth I will come out with my standard response,"None ya!" Although she has heard that expression a zillion times, she will get this puzzled look on her face and cock her head and say

"What, what does that mean, none ya?" Almost laughingly I will reply"None ya business!" She will get this sourpuss look on her face and say"Oh, just go then!" (big smile)

That being said, I read a verse this week that stood out to me.


17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
Prov 26:17 (NASB)


You know we live in the Information Age. Acouple of mouse clicks, a few Google searches and Voila!
we can be privy to a ton of information about anything or anyone. You agree? The Internet has made us a bunch of snoopers. Don't get me wrong, I am as guilty as the next person.On a daily basis I swing out of bed and almost before my feet touch the ground I am checking my cellphone for the latest news, e-mails, gossip, etc.,etc. Can I get an Amen?

But, you know sometimes our snooping becomes meddling, ya feel me?

Meddles...

Transliterated Word: abar (720d)
Root: denom. vb. from 5678;

Definition: to be arrogant, become angry:--

—NASB Greek-Hebrew Dictionary


A lot of times people will interject themselves into our lives,(or maybe it is we that are doing the interjecting) and circumstances where they are not invited. That word meddle becomes relevant. They or we have become arrogant for assuming that they or we "belong" at that place in our or someone else's lives. Sometimes we assume that we know what is best for someone else and will try and fix it. Are you hearin' me? The Bible has a word for this: BUSYBODY.


Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words defines it thus: "to be working round about, instead of at one's own business,""to waste one's labor, to be meddling with, or bustling about, other people's matters."


It's one thing to offer our help to someone or to serve someone in time of need or otherwise.It's an entirely different matter to butt our noses in where they don't belong. I'm preaching to me here as well as anyone else. When we assume that role the outcome will always be the same. Strife and division. In the end when you or I or anyone takes THAT DOG by the ears it is you, me,or them who is going to get BIT!


At any rate, like I said earlier, my words pale in comparison to what has happened today. People, in our country today the schoolyard is a DANGEROUS place to be! We as a nation need to WAKE UP! When kindergartens and elementary schools become warzones akin to Afghanistan... well I don't know. Let's quit swinging at each other and start swinging at the REAL enemy.


8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)


For all of us and especially those in Connecticut


4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 (NASB)


God Bless

They're Your Pearls

6 " Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matt 7:6 (NASB)


The Holy Spirit spoke this verse to me yesterday while I was doing my daily(well almost daily) walk. I had been praying about some things and He spoke this verse to me. Try this on. Have you ever had a dream about something that you wanted to do in your life? Maybe it was a dramatic life altering decision like switching vocations or going back to school. Maybe it was on a smaller scale like losing 50 lbs.( hmm that hits close to home lol) or getting in shape and running a marathon. Whatever your dream or aspiration, it was something that you wanted to do or change about yourself. You know how it goes. You get all psyched up. You ask the Lord to help you and guide you. Then you march out and share your dream with someone or someone's(?) else,seeking their encouragement and support, and they commence to tell you how foolish or dumb or impossible your dream is. By the time they finish with you... well you know...you say to yourself " well maybe I need to reconsider" or " yeah, they're probably right. it was a dumb idea." Does that sound familiar? Here's another scenario. You feel like God has spoken to your heart to do something and you decide that you will and all of a sudden the ol' devil will fill your mind with all manner of doubt and fear. And if you are anything like me, you begin to reconsider and question yourself. What happens is (and this is my word for the day) you and I APPEASE the resistance. Look at that word appease.

Hebrew NASB Number: 3722a

Hebrew Word: ‏כָּפַר‎

Transliterated Word: kaphar (497b)
Root: denom. vb. from 3724a;

Definition: to cover over, pacify, make propitiation:--

—NASB Greek-Hebrew Dictionary

The Oxford Dictionary takes it a bit further.

appease
1. pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands


You see our detractors, whomever they may be DEMAND that we reconsider. That we back off or quit altogether.It's TOO stupid or dumb or irresponsible or too WHATEVER. They want us to pacify or APPEASE their opinion or sensibilities. Notice I said THEIR. That's what the Lord spoke to my heart yesterday about some issues in my life. Quit appeasing those who don't really care in the first place. Don't pour your heart out to those who want nothing more to do than trample and crush it. You getting my drift? Listen God's got a different idea. Look at this.


18 Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off.
Prov 23:18 (NASB)


God has a SURE future for us. You know as we get older our perspective changes about the future and what it holds. Things that were important at 30 aren't quite as important at 60. Outlooks change,but no matter what age you are, nine to ninety- nine God has a what future? A SURE FUTURE! Not only that, it says that YOUR hope will not be cut off. Yes, that means YOUR dream, YOUR aspiration will not be cut off. You remember don't you? That dream that was so real to you. The one that everybody said to forget about. The one that YOU forgot about. God didn't forget about it. Pull it out of the closet and dust it off. God wants to make it happen.


11 ~'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Jer 29:11 (NASB)


The verse above is Israel's hope for the future. It can be our hope for the future also.



1 O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.
2 Many are saying of my soul, "There is no deliverance for him in God." Selah.
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
Psalms 3:1-3 (NASB)


God Bless