Matthew 18:9-14

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

This publican, (not republican, although he could have been,) knew he was a sinner. Like most men, I’m sure he had a truckload of sins. Every one of them brought him pain and regret. However, those same sins brought him to the only One who can forgive sins, Jesus Christ.

That Pharisee thought his religious activity made him right with God. Man, was he wrong! The Bible teaches that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Which one of these two would you identify with? Don’t just be praying with yourself.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Calamity is defined as a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss.

In the book of Job, we find a believer who experienced tremendous loss. His children died in a building collapse, his business went bankrupt, his health deteriorated and his wife told him to curse God and die. Doesn’t get worse than that. However, in all of that, Job did not sin against God.

James put it in a whole different dimension:

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

There are many reasons for calamity, but for the believer we must remember it is a tool in God’s toolbox. It’s possible we will understand it in this life, and other times we’ll only know after this life is done.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I took parachuting lessons and made one jump because I had a fear of heights and wanted to prove I could overcome fear. It was a little nutty at the time, but confronting fears is woven into the fabric of life.

Here is a list of fears. Which ones have you been diagnosed with?

Abluthophobia: Fear of bathing.

Acarophobia: Fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching. Fear of skin infestation by mites or ticks

Acerophobia: Fear of sourness.

Achluophobia: Fear of darkness.

Achluophobia: Fear of the dark or of night.

Acousticophobia: Fear of noise

Acrophobia: Fear of heights.

Aelurophobia: Fear of cats.

Aeronausiphobia: Fear of vomiting due to airsickness.

Aerophobia: Fear of draft.

Agoraphobia: Fear of open, public (sometimes crowded) places like markets.

Agrizoophobia: Fear of wild animals.

Agyrophobia: Fear of crossing streets.

Aichmophobia: Fear of needles or pointed objects.

Ailurophobia: Fear of cats.

Algophobia: Fear of pain.

Altophobia: Fear of heights.

Amathophobia: Fear of dust.

Amaxophobia: Fear of being in or riding in vehicles.

Ambulophobia: Fear of walking.

Ancraophobia: Fear of wind.

Androphobia: Fear of men.

Anginophobia: Fear of narrowness.

Ankylophobia: Fear of stiff or immobile joints.

Anthrophobia: Fear of flowers.

Anthropophobia: Fear of meeting people or society.

Antlophobia: Fear of floods.

Anuptaphobia: Fear of staying single.

Apeirophobia: Fear of infinity.

Aphephobia: Fear of touching or being touched.

Apiophobia: Fear of bees3

Aquaphobia: Fear of water.

Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders.

Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders.

Arrhenphobia: Fear of men.

Asthenophobia: Fear of weakness.

Astraphobia: Fear of lightning.

Atelophobia: Fear of imperfection.

Atephobia: Fear of ruin.

Atychiphobia: Fear of failure.

Aulophobia: Fear of flutes.

Aurophobia: Fear of gold.

Automysophobia: Fear of being dirty.

Autophobia: Fear of being alone.

Aviatophobia: Fear of flying.

Hear is one fear that everyone should have.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 10:27

The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

This is a fear that should never be tampered with and should keep you between the lines all the days of your life.

Give it some thought.

Gary

A man was out walking in the desert when a voice said to him, “Pick up some pebbles and put them in your pocket, and tomorrow you will be both sorry and glad.”

   The man obeyed. He stooped down and picked up a handful of pebbles and put them in his pocket. The next morning he reached into his pocket and found diamonds and rubies and emeralds. And he was both glad and sorry. Glad that he had taken some — sorry that he hadn’t taken more.

   And so it is with God’s word.

• Unknown source

Psalms 19:10

More to be desired are they than gold,
         Yea, than much fine gold;
         Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalms 119:72

The law of Your mouth is better to me
         Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

So the children of Israel applied the blood and Pharaoh really did let them go. However, in a very short period of time, he changed his mind and sent the strongest army in the world after them to destroy them. They were boxed in by the army and the Red Sea. They had no chance except for the fact that God had a Word for them. Well, you know the rest of the story.

The world with all its evil devices will box you in and the only avenue of escape will be the Word of God. How much have you accumulated?  It can make all the difference in the world.

Think about it.

Gary

In 1965 Simon and Garfunkel sang, “I am a rock; I am an island. And a rock feels no pain. And an island never cries.” It was a good song that made a lot of teens feel good and made the entertainers a great deal of money. The only problem is that for the vast majority of human beings the concept is a lie. I’m not a rock or an island, nor will that ever happen. We certainly feel pain and crying is a necessity sometimes.

I need people. I need friendship. I need to feel like I am a part of something greater than I am. God made us that way, and thus the island-rock model can’t possibly work.

My many friends have been used to carry me through difficult times. My family is a major part of who I am today. The church family has taught me faith, hope and security. No, I am far from a rock or an island.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times,
      And a brother is born for adversity.

A friend is always loyal,
      and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Psalms 68:6

God places the lonely in families;

He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

John 15:13

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Even Jesus had friends. Are you one?

Think about it.

Gary

The job that God gives believers requires courage for a number of reasons. One is the task seems overwhelming. Secondly, the responsibility can weigh heavily. Lastly, the stakes are high and failure is not an option.P

Joshua faced the beast when leading the children into the Promised Land. However, God had encouraging advice.

Joshua 1:6-8

Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

 

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

 To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

 To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

 To expose feelings is to risk exposing our true self.

 To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk loss.

 To love is to risk not being loved in return.

 To live is to risk dying.

 To hope is to risk despair.

To try at all is to risk failure.

But risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The man, the woman, who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

Face the beast and believe God’s grace will always be sufficient.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Trust is a difficult concept for most of us because of so many misplaced trusts in our past. However, the trust we place in God has earthly and eternal rewards. Don’t let the news media get you into a pit of despondency.

Psalm 112:7

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

In the darkest of nights cling to the assurance that God loves you, that He always has advice for you, a path that you can tread and a solution to your problem–and you will experience that which you believe. God never disappoints anyone who places his trust in Him.

• Basilea Schlink

Open your Bible every day and take the only medicine that can cure the nasty virus of misplaced trust.

Give it some thought.

Gary