Come on now, you really can’t pray because you don’t have time? You don’t know what to say? You feel like prayer is not of primary importance? Then your ship must always be sailing in smooth waters and you have no need of God.

Good news! One does not have to have a large vocabulary to communicate with God.

Matthew 6:7 

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Get alone. Spend some time with Him. Your Father is waiting.

Give it some thought.

Gary

 Twenty-three thousand Americans died while surrounded by the German 26th Volksgrenadier. For six weeks and at temperatures below freezing, the soldiers held their ground.  A combined-arms-force of airborne infantry, armor, engineers, tank destroyers, and artillery conducted a successful defense of the Belgian crossroads town of Bastogne in late December of 1944. 

I heard an old soldier who had been there say, “Every time life would throw something hard my way, I would say to myself, ‘At least you are not in Bastogne.’”

Every believer facing life’s challenges, which can be taxing, can always say, “At least I’m saved.”

Ephesians 2:8 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Believers, no matter what happens, we make it and we should never forget the assurances given us in His Word.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The little word “now” is a very interesting word. The word means, “at the present moment of time or without any further delay.” The Holy Spirit moved the writers and translators of the Bible to use that little word quite often throughout the Scriptures.

Hebrews 9:26

He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

It was a one-time event that paid in full the condemnation that we all deserve. Don’t you appreciate that “now” event?

Give it some thought.

Gary

For my first foray up Mount Katahdin, I brought five people along. After the first mile, three of them were complaining about my going too fast and that the way was too hard. I patiently explained that what lay ahead was even more difficult terrain and that they should probably return to the vehicle. They did so, and one other person and I continued the climb to the top.

Complaining in difficulty robs people of enjoyment, both in this life and sometimes in the world to follow.

Philippians 2:14-16 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Admittedly, this Christian experience has its difficulties, but it surely is worth the pain and tribulations. The feeling of reaching a mountain top can’t compare to the glories of heaven.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.”

― P.J. O’Rourke, All the Trouble in the World

Galatians 6:2 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

They waited on us in our youth, and now is the time to return the favor.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In 1969, Neil Diamond sang “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.”
This song was written about a revival meeting he attended, just for the fun
of it, in Jackson, Mississippi. The charismatic preacher led him to have a
career as a charismatic singer.

People have mocked these gatherings and sometimes it was a mockery of
the gospel message. However, many times the preaching brought folks to
salvation and had an effect on the spiritual condition of the country.

It’s not the eloquence or dynamics of the preacher, but the power of the
Holy Spirit when the Word is presented that leads people to Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech
and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the
wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Give it some consideration.

Gary

In Acts chapter 8, we read about a man who professed to be a believer, but time proved that profession to be empty. He wanted something out of Christianity that would be prestigious and monetarily valuable. He wouldn’t be the first phony, nor would he be the last. People like him attend church every Sunday.

Does the Bible address these phenomena? Glad you asked.

Philippians 3:18

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

They were in the church of Philippi and they are in your church.

Give it some thought.

Gary