Is endurance, or persistence, a vanishing virtue in American today? It seems as if too many people find it easier to give up when faced with opposition or difficulty.
Paul tells us in Romans 5:3 to rejoice in our sufferings. If we are doing the work the Lord has called us to do, we are going to face problems. You can bank on it. Satan is not going to sit by as we do kingdom work. It's against his nature.
What if Moses had given up because Pharaoh threatened him? What if David had refused to prepare to become king because Saul wanted him dead? Or consider Paul giving up the ministry after he tired of being run out of towns and surviving shipwrecks. As Christians there is no shortage of issues we need to fight against.
Are you close to quitting? Don't do it.
Are you tired of trying to live for Christ? Hang in there.
Do you feel like giving up on the Christian life? Roll up your sleeves and get back to work.
Remember, you are never a failure until you give up.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Vanishing Virtues-Usefulness
We have just concluded another successful Vacation Bible School at Lawson Baptist. An average of 86 people attended each evening, including 59 young people. Good food, good fun and good friends all combined for another memorable VBS.
As I think back on the week, it ties in perfectly with this weeks sermon in our Vanishing Virtues series. Usefulness, another way of saying obedience, is where we shine the spotlight this week.
Once again, so many LBC people used their abilities for the Lord to reach the children with the gospel of Christ. While only a handful of the 27 adults we averaged during the week were teachers, so many others used the talents they have to serve Jesus and bless the children.
I firmly believe that the vast majority of Americans want their lives to count for something positive. We may never be a professional athlete, write the great American novel or become a famous celebrity. But God has endowed each of us with certain traits and talents that we are to use for the purpose of leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
God bless everyone who let their lights shine in service to the Savior this week at VBS. And thanks to the parents of the children for entrusting them to us during this special time.
As I think back on the week, it ties in perfectly with this weeks sermon in our Vanishing Virtues series. Usefulness, another way of saying obedience, is where we shine the spotlight this week.
Once again, so many LBC people used their abilities for the Lord to reach the children with the gospel of Christ. While only a handful of the 27 adults we averaged during the week were teachers, so many others used the talents they have to serve Jesus and bless the children.
I firmly believe that the vast majority of Americans want their lives to count for something positive. We may never be a professional athlete, write the great American novel or become a famous celebrity. But God has endowed each of us with certain traits and talents that we are to use for the purpose of leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
God bless everyone who let their lights shine in service to the Savior this week at VBS. And thanks to the parents of the children for entrusting them to us during this special time.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Vanishing Virtues-Contentment
Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One teardrop asked the other, "Who are you?"
"I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?"
The first teardrop replied, " I am a teardrop from the girl who got him."
Life is like that. We cry over the things we can't have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had received them. Paul had the right idea when he said in Philippians 4:12, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..."
May I ask a personal question? What is the one thing that keeps you from experiencing happiness? Is it financial? Is is something in your professioanl life? Or could it be a relationship problem? Could you be happy if you don't get what you feel you need to have a contented life?
Contentment isn't denying one's feelings about wanting and desiring what they can't have, but instead is exhibits a freedom from being controlled by those feelings. Contentment is knowing that God is in control and is bigger than any problems we encounter.
If we have Christ, we have everything we need.
"I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?"
The first teardrop replied, " I am a teardrop from the girl who got him."
Life is like that. We cry over the things we can't have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had received them. Paul had the right idea when he said in Philippians 4:12, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..."
May I ask a personal question? What is the one thing that keeps you from experiencing happiness? Is it financial? Is is something in your professioanl life? Or could it be a relationship problem? Could you be happy if you don't get what you feel you need to have a contented life?
Contentment isn't denying one's feelings about wanting and desiring what they can't have, but instead is exhibits a freedom from being controlled by those feelings. Contentment is knowing that God is in control and is bigger than any problems we encounter.
If we have Christ, we have everything we need.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Vanishing Virtues-Godliness
It seems too often that we bite off more than we can chew. Even worse, there are the times when we're the ones being bitten.
Such was the case with a fisherman in Russia who was showing off his catch to his fishing buddies. Pretending to kiss the fish, the pike bit the man's nose and refused to let go. The man's friends tugged to no avail until they decided to cut the fish's body from it's head. However, it took several hours for doctors at a nearby hospital to open the jaws of the pike to free the fisherman's bloody nose.
We can learn from this. Those who choose to follow their own will soon discover they have bitten off more than they chew. Hopefully, they'll turn to the Lord before it's too late. Godliness means taking God seriously. All too often we walk down paths we know are not the way of the Lord. We make light of what we should weep about.
Let's take on the stamp of God. People will take notice. Otherwise we might go around with a bloody nose!
Such was the case with a fisherman in Russia who was showing off his catch to his fishing buddies. Pretending to kiss the fish, the pike bit the man's nose and refused to let go. The man's friends tugged to no avail until they decided to cut the fish's body from it's head. However, it took several hours for doctors at a nearby hospital to open the jaws of the pike to free the fisherman's bloody nose.
We can learn from this. Those who choose to follow their own will soon discover they have bitten off more than they chew. Hopefully, they'll turn to the Lord before it's too late. Godliness means taking God seriously. All too often we walk down paths we know are not the way of the Lord. We make light of what we should weep about.
Let's take on the stamp of God. People will take notice. Otherwise we might go around with a bloody nose!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Under God
This Sunday we will continue our series Vanishing Virtues. I consider patriotism to be a virtue. It disturbs me to see so much anti-American activity that is occurring within our country. This past week a homeowner in Ohio was threatened with a lawsuit by his neighbors for flying the American flag. This is not the first time such action has been attempted in recent weeks.
Although such action is enough to make patriots angry, what is more troubling to me is the effort by so many to remove God from every area of our government.
You may recall recently that as part of the opening ceremony of the U.S. Open golf tournament, the NBC television network showed a video of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Someone at the network intentionally deleted the portion in which the words "under God" were recited.
This past April, Senator Harry Reid recited the Pledge and he, too, omitted the words "under God." Also, in 1956 President Eisenhower signed into law the phrase "In God We Trust" as our national motto, However, our current president on more than one instance stated that our motto is "E Pluribus Unum" (from many, one.)
We would do well to remember the promise of II Chronicles 7:14: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
Although such action is enough to make patriots angry, what is more troubling to me is the effort by so many to remove God from every area of our government.
You may recall recently that as part of the opening ceremony of the U.S. Open golf tournament, the NBC television network showed a video of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Someone at the network intentionally deleted the portion in which the words "under God" were recited.
This past April, Senator Harry Reid recited the Pledge and he, too, omitted the words "under God." Also, in 1956 President Eisenhower signed into law the phrase "In God We Trust" as our national motto, However, our current president on more than one instance stated that our motto is "E Pluribus Unum" (from many, one.)
We would do well to remember the promise of II Chronicles 7:14: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
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