“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (HCSB, Holman Bible Publishers, 2003)
Thanksgiving comes around at the same time every year and makes no allowance for our particular circumstances. We read in the scriptures that it is God’s will for us to give thanks. But many of us are looking at this time of year with a greater or lesser degree of anxiety. It is just not a good time to be thankful.
I do not know what is going on in every life, but as a pastor, I have been listening to what seems to me to be an unusual surge of bad tidings, instead of glad tidings. It is not just the economy. There seems to be an epidemic of misfortune happening in the lives of people around me. I am seeing this also in the ministries of other pastors and staff I know.
The scripture does not say to be thankful for everything. Many things that happen are not good. The Scripture says to be thankful in everything, that is, in the middle of every circumstance, it is God’s desire for us to be thankful. I heard a preacher call this the, “attitude of gratitude.”
The attitude of gratitude may require an attitude adjustment for many of us. Or, it may just require an adjustment in our sight. I do not mean that we should always be able to see the good in bad situations. Rather, I think if we can see around our situation there are good things happening around us.
On this bus we call life we are one of many passengers. Someone around us is having a better day than we are. If we could see them better we could celebrate with them. Someone around us is having a worse day than we are. If we could see them better it would make us both feel better to be an encourager. Look around. There are reasons to be thankful around each of us.
In everything, let us be thankful.
Bro. Robin
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee
(I do not usually forward emails and if I do I always try to verify the author. But, this one is too good to keep and try as I might I have not been able to discover the author. If you know who wrote it please let me know-RC)
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'
'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable (supple) heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'
'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable (supple) heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Praying for the President-elect
My prayer for President-elect Barack Obama is that he will become more like the Jesus I know. Obama professes to be a Christian. We may not agree with his politics, his church, or his pastor, but if he claims the name of Christ as his own we can agree with his choice of a Savior. I believe that Jesus can take care of His own. His own know His voice and follows Him.
I do not have to agree with him in order to pray for him. In fact, it is because of those disagreements that I should pray for him that much more. I will never have the President’s ear to tell him how strongly I believe abortion and homosexuality are wrong. He will never hear me try to persuade him that policies on stem cell research should be strongly regulated so as to not benefit the abortion industry. He will not ask me to advise him on marriage and family and the destructive influence of a society that has no rules or morals. I will have no choice in the judges he appoints. I will never have the President’s ear but I will always have the ear of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I can pray that his decisions will be affected by the Christ he professes.
The President has a unique opportunity to make things better for all of us. He can protect religious freedom, human rights, and the dignity of all. He can take care of the poor. He can appoint judges who are just and judge according to the law. He can ignore the special interests of a few and do what is right in God’s eyes, instead of the world’s view.
We elect our leaders by a democratic process. However, morality is not up for a vote. Some principles are too important to ignore regardless of popularity or the desire of many to change the rules for all. He was elected by the people but he does not have to consult public opinion for his decisions. We must pray that he will consult God. Pray that he will be led by God’s Word. Pray that he will be surrounded by God’s protection. Pray that he will spend time in God’s presence before every decision.
I want a President who does not just say that he is a Christian. I want a President who follows Christ. That is out of my hands. Every person is responsible for his own relationship with Christ. But it is not out of God’s hands. That is why I pray. And, I urge you also to pray for President elect Obama, President Bush, their families, and the people who surround them. Pray, and keep the faith.
Bro. Robin
I do not have to agree with him in order to pray for him. In fact, it is because of those disagreements that I should pray for him that much more. I will never have the President’s ear to tell him how strongly I believe abortion and homosexuality are wrong. He will never hear me try to persuade him that policies on stem cell research should be strongly regulated so as to not benefit the abortion industry. He will not ask me to advise him on marriage and family and the destructive influence of a society that has no rules or morals. I will have no choice in the judges he appoints. I will never have the President’s ear but I will always have the ear of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I can pray that his decisions will be affected by the Christ he professes.
The President has a unique opportunity to make things better for all of us. He can protect religious freedom, human rights, and the dignity of all. He can take care of the poor. He can appoint judges who are just and judge according to the law. He can ignore the special interests of a few and do what is right in God’s eyes, instead of the world’s view.
We elect our leaders by a democratic process. However, morality is not up for a vote. Some principles are too important to ignore regardless of popularity or the desire of many to change the rules for all. He was elected by the people but he does not have to consult public opinion for his decisions. We must pray that he will consult God. Pray that he will be led by God’s Word. Pray that he will be surrounded by God’s protection. Pray that he will spend time in God’s presence before every decision.
I want a President who does not just say that he is a Christian. I want a President who follows Christ. That is out of my hands. Every person is responsible for his own relationship with Christ. But it is not out of God’s hands. That is why I pray. And, I urge you also to pray for President elect Obama, President Bush, their families, and the people who surround them. Pray, and keep the faith.
Bro. Robin
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