Love a Quiet Life

  Sometimes I wonder whether the prayers we offer up are listened to. Usually when I start to think this way, I have to stop myself and remember that God is in control. Naturally my flesh wants everything to happen now or yesterday. I've also spent some time looking at how I feel and whether I've been properly resting or am I just pushing myself and others to try to make things happen. I know that this type of behavior is definitely not pleasing to God. Does this behavior help me or the others I come into contact with? Absolutely not ! I end up just spinning in circles getting myself frustrated and discontent. I find myself relying on my own strength instead of relying on God.
  In Timothy Chapter 2 verses 1-3 the Scripture says, " I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for Kings and all in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and Holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
So the author of this piece of scripture tells me exactly what I need to do. Simple enough. Pray for everyone. What is result of this praying? That we live quiet lives in Godliness and Holiness. So why should we do this?
Follow the scripture and it spells it out so clearly. That this is good and pleases God our Savior.
  Could it be this simple? As Christians I would think that we would want to do what pleases God.
The benefit of living of living a Peaceful and Quiet life ? Certainly Priceless! I well remember several years ago sitting in a room with a Christian Counselor. He was telling be about living a peaceful quiet life and how or why I should desire this for myself and my family. I remember telling him point blank that this sounded ridiculous. I resounded with, "I like a little chaos in my life, quiet and peaceful is for the simple man who can't think for himself." I was so wrong. With that said, "Marching to the beat of your own Drummer is a very long road with all kinds of damage left along the way."

My prayer for you this week: Lord please forgive us for the failures of our past. For relying on our own strength instead of following and listening to you.Lord you gave us a book that is filled with instruction pertaining to how to live quiet peaceful lives. Cause our hearts to desire to spend time with you. To seek after you. To spend time in your word. To pray continually. It says in your word Lord,recorded in Timothy Chapter 2 verse 4" that you want all men to come to a knowledge of the truth." Lord allow me to continually seek your truth. To not be easily deceived by what I see but to rely totally and completely on your word your truth. 

To Go or Not to Go..That is the Question !!

 I remember all of the reasons why I said I would never go back to Church. Funny, looking back on all that,  many of the reasons that I had, are the same reasons I hear other people saying today.The music wasn't good enough. The church is full of hypocrites.the Pastor doesn't know what he's talking about.

Then a number of years ago I remember a preacher, saying that he really encouraged his congregation to take a look at everything that he said, match up to what was in the Bible and make a decision for themselves as to whether what he was preaching was really scriptural, or not.I was up for the challenge. I don't really think that it hurt me. And I'm glad that I took the time to do that. You see it's real easy to fool yourself into believing that you're okay with God. And  because you're a good person, that God's okay with you.

Looking around lately I'm not so sure. And I won't go into all the negative stuff that reread the news. But there is one thing I'm sure of, it seems like people who to go to church whether they're Christians or not seem to be much easier to get along with.

So glancing through a book the other day, I bumped into something that I thought was interesting. It seems like when I read something, it sticks with me a whole lot better than if somebody says something to me. So let me share with you what I found. It was in a book written by Billy Graham. This is what it had to say:

GODS DESIRE FOR YOU

"We... Are being transformed into Christ's likeness with ever-increasing glory. Second Corinthians 3:18

God can seem near to us when we walk in the woods or surrounded by the grandeur of the starry night, and that is a wonderful experience. But should it become a substitute for going to church ??

Never forget: God doesn't want us to just feel his presence. He wants to change our lives. He wants to take away our self-centeredness and make us more like Christ. He also wants to teach us his truth and prepare us to become his servants.

How does this happen? How does God change us into  the the people he wants us to be? Not just by a walk in the woods, as pleasant as that may be no, God mainly changes us by his Word, the Bible, as we listen to its Truth and allow it to shape our lives. That is one reason I urge you to become active in a Church where God's word is taught and lived. You will become more like Christ as you hear and obey his word."

So there you have it. I mean, who's going to argue with Billy Graham. Better yet, who would want to argue with God. But we do it every day. By refusing to follow his word, spend time in his word, and really get to know Jesus. Maybe this'll motivate you. Maybe it won't. But I'll just keep praying, and going to church, and hopefully life will get just a little bit better.Not just for me, but for all of us.I love you, and Jesus does to!!

GBY

A Compass to Find Your Way

Compass: A device used to determine geographical direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the magnetic field of the earth.

I think were all familiar with what a compass is. They are in fact quite a handy tool if you know what to do with one. Naturally if you've never been taught how to use a compass, it's just another worthless tool. You wouldn't think of going hunting, or on a hiking trip in unknown territory without some way of being able to find your way back. Those of you that are familiar with a Compass, know that there is a difference between North and Magnetic North. The few degrees of difference between the two, can make worlds of difference between your ultimate destination.

And that's kind of how I view the book of Proverbs. The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, left us a legacy of written wisdom. Knowledge is good, but there is a vast difference between knowledge (having the facts) and wisdom applying those facts to life. We may amass knowledge, (but without wisdom) our knowledge is useless. We must learn how to live out what we know.

Now I know that there are a lot of people who read this blog who aren't Christians. I'm okay with that. Even though much of what I write is pointed towards people that are of the faith, I believe Proverbs is good medicine. It's a great guide. Full of wisdom. And covers a wide range of topics including youth, discipline, family life, self-control, in resisting temptation, business matters, words and the tongue, knowing God, marriage, seeking the truth, wealth, poverty, immorality and then of course wisdom.so whether you're a Christian or not, I strongly urge you to read the book of Proverbs.

So that's how I get back to the Compass. If you're going to walk through life,wouldn't you agree that it's a good idea to know what direction you're traveling in.That compass that's going to guide your life, thoughts and actions, it's either going to point you in the right direction or the wrong direction. And in the decision-making processes that you go through in life, wouldn't it be nice to know that many of the decisions that you  have to make, at least you sought the wisdom of one of the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon.

So this year I'm going to go back to what I remember practicing for a number of years. I'm going to recommit myself this year. Call it a resolution if you like. I'm going to make an effort, to read a chapter of Proverbs a day.

And maybe, just maybe this coming year, against all odds... I'll get to be a little wiser.


GBYhttp://www.mtmdavid.wordpress.com

Christmas 2012

Short Thought on Christmas.

Will you pray with me this day, for all the People who will say "Merry Christmas" who do not have Christ in their lives on a daily basis. That they will come to know the Living God, Jesus Christ?

Itching Ears

  

2 Tim 4:3,4–For the time will come (which is now) when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth (NIV). 

Looking at this scripture I think to myself, "Some things never change." I think we've all asked a question that we didn't like the question to, and we'd ask the same question again only phrased differently. Hoping that the answer would be different.

It's only natural to surround yourself with people that think or believe the same way you do. But what if your wrong? Decisions always have consequences. The Scribes and the Pharisees surrounded themselves with each other. They studied the law and outwardly practiced it. They looked good and smelled good. They really believed they were beyond reproach. I am sure that at different times in my life, I looked and behaved just like a Pharisee.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,  there are few who find it." 

So why is it so hard to find? I think a lot of it has to do with so many churches falling away from teaching the truth of the gospel. We are in an age of self worship. We tell people to come to Christ and they'll feel better about themselves. Trust Jesus and all your troubles will go away.

Truth is not what people want to hear. 2 Timothy spells it out clearly that "They will turn their ears away from the truth."

John MacArthur wrote,"Jesus called for total and absolute self denial-- admitting that we are worthy of nothing, should be commended for nothing, and that nothing in us is worth salvaging- and that is a lot less popular."

Christ Crucified, Raised from the Dead, Sitting at the Right Hand of God. That's what I want to talk about!! 

Post Traumatic Religious Syndrome

(PTRSD) Post Traumatic Religious Syndrome

It seems there are acronyms for everything. The place where I work we have a Library dedicated to all the different acronyms used in that business. There are easily a thousand or more.
I got to thinking that I was sure happy that God did not talk in acronyms. He spoke clearly and precisely to the Prophets. Jesus also did the same and when necessary used a few parables.
I'm troubled that today we run around looking for answers to all our ills, when all the answers to our troubles can be found in one place. I often ask myself, "What am I doing ? Is what I'm about to do really necessary or is it just a religious exercise." This questions I ask myself constantly and quite frankly I fall short all the time.

We can distract ourselves with all kinds of things we feel are important. I don't think it's necessary to list these as I know we all have things in life that distract us from truly spending time seeking God.
My Wife said to me me recently, "What Wonders and Graces are Happening in your High and Mighty Places?" This took me back a few steps. I had to ask her why she would ask such a question. The reply was
not what I was expecting to hear. It went something like, "You are always so busy doing stuff, I wonder if you asked God if this is really what you need to be doing?" Ouch!!

So this is where I came up with (PTRSD) Post Traumatic Religious Syndrome. Religion being  defined as being what you make a habit of doing. I wondered, how much of my day is spent just doing religious action. I may think I'm doing what I'm suppose to be doing, but am I really.

Where an I going to find the answers I'm looking for? Only through prayer and spending time in Gods word.
Prayer. The one action that I can do that gives me access to the Creator of the Universe. I think what I'm going to do when I go to prayer, is not just pray but pay careful attention to the answer. 
After all, if I truly am going to call myself a Christian, a child of God, or a follower of Jesus Christ then it would only be natural to do what I'm taught through scripture and prayer.

Psalms 119; Verse 104 "Through thy precepts I get Understanding."

My prayer: Lord Jesus allow me this week to constantly remind myself that I am nothing without you. 
That I was created for one purpose and one purpose only. To praise and worship you. Do not allow me to become religious in my actions. Do not allow me to confuse my will, with what it is you would have me do this week to praise, testify as to your truth and to glorify you. I welcome the opportunity to share you with others. In your Precious Holy Name Jesus. Amen. GBY

Stand at the Crossroads

I may have written about this before, but I'm reminded daily that I have a choice to make. For simplicity I'll call these life choices. Do I turn right or left? Maybe I'm just suppose to keep going straight down this road.
After all, I'm a man and I don't need a map or a compass! I'll find my way!! This is nothing knew to ponder. But, ponder I must. It all comes down to choices.
Let's look at II Kings 17:14 But they would not listen and were as stiff -necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did things the Lord forbid them to do.
Sound familiar? Try applying what you just read to your life, and see just how you measure up. Maybe you haven't gone out and carved yourself up an idol yet, and then maybe you have and just don't realize it.
I have to say that even the most obvious things in life can become blurry, when you stare at them long enough. God provided you with a Map and a Compass. It will lead you through the most difficult trials and you will be victorious. It is also the Best Selling Book of all Time. So pick it up and read it. I guarantee you won't get lost. In closing I'm reminded of one more scripture out of the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 6:16                      This is what the Lord says
                                            Stop at the crossroad and look;
                                            ask for the ancient path,
                                            ask where the good way is and walk in it,
                                            and you will find rest for your souls.
                                             But you said, "We will not walk in it."


My prayer this week: Lord allow me to continue to delight in your words. I look forward to being able to spend time with you. Do not allow me to be distracted by the things of this world but to keep my eyes focused on you. For you are Truth.