Wise Warnings

If you are foolishly bragging or planning something evil, then stop it now! -- Proverbs 30:32 (CEV)

Lord, Your Holy Word is full of wise warnings to those who will hear and heed them. Give us ears to hear and hearts to obey Your Holy Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Grateful

If People Are Causing Divisions Among You?

(10) If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. (11) For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
-- Titus 3:10-11 (NLT)

We want to be an answer to the prayer of the Lord -- unity. (John 17)
We do not want to be a victims to the snare of the devil -- divisions.

Click here: PHIL DRISCOLL - MAKE US ONE - YouTube

(Yes, I often repeat the good songs.)

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants!
Grateful

Not Wanting Anyone to Perish

Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that. The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others. He will be like the brave fireman, who cares not for the scorch or the heat, so that he may rescue the poor creature on whom true humanity has set its heart. If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for. -- Charles Spurgeon

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
-- Jesus' Words in Luke 19:10 (NIV)

(8) But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (9) The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
-- 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

The lifesaving book says we have to go out. It don't say nothing about coming back.
-- Motto of the U.S. Lifesaving Service

You have to go out, but you do not have to come back.
-- Patrick Ethridge, The Keeper's original charge to lifesaving crew

No Vision? Souls Perish! Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
Grateful

Warning!

Your earthly success can put your eternal soul in serious danger!

(31)"Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV)

Lord, I don't want my worrying to cancel out worshipping You in my life. Knowing You is success to me. Because you are my King, I want to seek Your Kingdom first and last... yes, for forever and today. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Beware The Chief Spiritual Phobia

A Word of Warning:

Because spiritual independence (or being the chief controller of our own lives) is the very essence of sin, we'd best beware of embracing the chief spiritual phobia of having to be in control of everything all the time. In other words, let us beware of embracing the inexplicable fear, the chief spiritual phobia of losing control of our lives by giving the reins of our lives over to Almighty God. We must give up our rights to ourselves to the Lord.

Afterall, 1 John 4:18 (NLT), speaks directly to this chief spiritual phobia that threatens our lives: ... perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that His love has not been perfected in us.

Let's let the Lord be Lord of our lives, totally, by allowing His Love to expel all tormenting fear from our lives.

I love the prayer a dear, old brother of mine named Earl taught me: Lord, You be Lord, all by Yourself! Amen!

ALL JOY!
Grateful

The Passage of Time

James Taylor sings a song titled Secret of Life. One line from the old tune says: The Secret of Life is enjoying The Passage of Time.

Well, I'd agree that's at least one secret of life. But the greater secret, or mystery to me is The Passage of Time itself. It seems just days ago that my son and daughter were little children, Now, all of a sudden, our "little" son is a 22-year-old college graduate and beginning his chosen career in radio broadcasting. Our "little" daughter is 20 and already a university junior as a fashion marketer and living three-and-a-half hours from home. It's unbelievable how fast time has rushed past our family.

This morning as I had my usual quiet time on the front porch, our neighbor was playing with his little four-year-old boy on the sidewalk next door. Listening to his young son's little-boy-laughter penetrated my heart and reminded me of the mystery, yes, the mystery of The Passage of Time.

I am reminded of these words from a poem my wife and I used to incorporate in advertising when we were full-time photographers. It was an effective sales pitch that encouraged or warned parents to have their little children remembered in portraits before it was too late. Listen to these 13 words:

Whatever happened to yesterday?
It picked up our children and stole them away.

Now, rest assured, I have enjoyed The Passage of Time, but I am still confounded by it all. James Taylor's song advice may be very close to some of the the best counsel we can get about the mystery of life's brevity: Enjoy the passage of time. That is, enjoy the passage of time by being present in your present and by being up-to-date in your relationship with God and your relationships with others, especially your own family members.

Another old Gospel song by the Gaithers said it this way:
We have this moment to hold in our hands,
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand.
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
but we have this moment... today.

The time that remains is very short... 1 Corinthians 7:29 (NLT).

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Note: This blog entry specifically spells out in part my life's joy-description, which includes, but is not limited to, these 7 words:
Live to help others minimize future regrets.