Mood:  caffeinated

In all that you do in HIS NAME, that if He decides to tarry....whatever you do in HIS NAME will not go unfruitful even if many generations are to come, but the seed you have sown will bring forth fruit from that which He has directed you to do; though you see it not at this moment.

Do it in Faith in HIM! 

Mood:  sharp

In a day and age where your average human world wide feels ripped off, leveraged to the hilt, and as many have groaned before God, as I have also. In the natural I can stand on a soapbox that has more validity than most yet it is not my right excepting to take it to the Lord, and ask Him to lead me through these things and what is He expects me to do as my part to handle things.....and trust in Him to do the rest!

It all comes back to Kingdom living....now I am not talking about modern theology, that definitely God is shaking to its roots...where we are supposedly building His Kingdom here on earth! Hmmm? I always thought it was about populating Heaven?  His Kingdom is in Heaven, and is resident in ourselves when we are born from above.and let His presence in us radiate out to others....Because of all this varied and wrongly emphasized theologies, we have extravagances in areas that need not be, and the world has pointed it's finger in judgement for things that God has be trying to point out to His children for a long while.

When we finally wake up, to His call....we ask God how do I get back, what is is that you require of me?  I believe it is all summed up in what we call the "Beatitudes" or what is well know as the "Sermon on The Mount"

Here are two different translations for you to prayerfully consider today.

 Matthew 5:

1    And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2    And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3    Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4    Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5    Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6    Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7    Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8    Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9    Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

35  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 Now The Message Translation

 1.     When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down

2.     and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3.     “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4.     “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5.     “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are - no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6.     “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7.     “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘carefull,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8.     “You’re blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9.     “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10.   “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11.   “Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

12.   You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

13.   “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14.   “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

15.   If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand.

16.   Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

17.   “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures - either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama.

18.   God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.

19.   “Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom.

20.   Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

21.   “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’

22.   I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

23.   “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you,

24.   abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.

25.   “Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail.

26.   If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.

27.   “You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’

28.   But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices - they also corrupt.

29.   “Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile.

30.   And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.

31.   “Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’?

32.   Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure.

33.   “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions.

34.   You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.

35 & 36 not listed 

37.   Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

38.   “Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’

39.   Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.

40.   If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.

41.   And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.

42.   No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

43.   “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’

44.   I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,

45.   for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.

46.   If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.

47.   If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48.   “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

In Closing cut and paste these verses, and prayerfully study them....get your pride out of the way, and get back to the beauty of Kingdom Living!

 Colossians 3:

1      If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2      Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3      For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4      When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Be Blessed always in Jesus' Name! Brother Timothy 

Mood:  quizzical

I was chatting with a friend today, as this one mentioned they were part of The Nazarene Denomination....I have my views, and I shared some, as I grew up in The Nazarene Church, gave my life to the Lord at a Nazarene Church Camp...yet for me the Lord led me elsewhere, in my personal Spiritual journey.

I did mention that the one thing I had a good  example of was the Pastor and his role. The Nazarene pastors always called or came by, not because you were missing church, but because it was a means of getting to know the family more...a nurturing...a shepherding...

They visited  you whether were a strong Christian or a baby one, whether you were a wealthy businessman on the Church Board, or a plain mill worker...same-same as they say here in Hawaii..my first recollections of healing were from Pastor Wyrick when he came the house and prayed for me in a deep fever and it broke before Mom could get me to the Doctor.but then again Doctors in those days made house calls also...LOL and they called to follow up. The Doctor's verdict I had recovered from what appeared to be Scarlet Fever.....what if Pastor Wyrick had passed on visitation??? Yes God could have done it without him, because Jesus is "The Healer", but Jesus chooses to work through His members! His pastors, elders, deacons, believers.......those faithful to be used!

When I went through a traumatic time when I was nineteen it was the Pastor of another Nazarene Church and not the one of my own church that came and took me out to eat, and listened patiently to what was on my heart. I knew him through the owner of a music shop I used to go and sit while convalescing tuning guitars and spending time with he and his father. Pastor Croeze was a standard that was set within me. I knew he was Jesus' man. I knew what I said was not told to other Christians...He was an encourager of my guitar playing and my art, and he shared with me his love for woodworking.I can never recall him trying toget me to come and be a member of his church.He may have I just do not recall it...I always remembered him and when I became a Pastor I sought him out to share with him and thank him. 

Another pastor who I had thought a lot of ...I lost respect for and  learned later through the grace of God to understand. I lost respect because I was talking about being bussed into a predominantly Black section of town.....the problem was not the racial aspect as it was a safety issue. An acquaintance of mine had been beaten up after school....I did not know all the aspects of it just that the assailants were black. This pastor started using the one word of description that Whites do not use and went on in a derogatory manner...I guess he did not know that the closest brother I had in my own family was My Black Brother in Law.....I did not attend much there afterward, but learned to release that years later as God gave me wisdom..yet as the youth that I was at the time when  that remark was made it struck me deep, and drew a line of demarcation. I was seeking.....

I live here in Hawaii where we poke fun at each other's ethnicity..yet it is mainly taken good heartedly. I am of Irish descent and I have heard enough jokes about my own lineage and enough about others....yet there is a drawing line. Recently I was reminded of these things, and I had to look again at my own shortcomings. My own prejudice...not so much a racial one but for me it is an intolerance of narrow minded people that are stubborn and will not be open to the truth..but then again the problem for so many today is that they rely on someone else or higher ups (not talking God here ok) to think for them....

Through all these years it seems that God has used the vocational arenas I have worked in to temper me, and now looking back I see clearly that path....as the aspect of my own dislikes were tested and tempered and chiseled away at by His Spirit!...and yet He is still doing it.....yet somewhere back in my mindseye I see Pastor Croeze, there in his easy going manner, yet was one to not back away from the truth, not afraid to love, and to reach out! His congregation loved him for that..... He was what I saw as a Pastor.... 

All Pastors are not the same, and all do not have the same emphasis on their calling. I am not sorry to believe that it is not just a job. I thought many  times I could walk away from it...to retire, yet now at this point of my life I see what it IS to be one...though I may never grace an offical pulpit again.  

Many years ago I dated a sophisticated  lady for quite a while. She with her family attended a local Friends meeting (quaker denomination) she had a very beautiful coloratura soprano singing voice and was sought out by different churches to go an sing. Her family seemed critical of the Quaker Pastor, he was a country boy with a thick country accent. He did not preach eloquently enough and more than likely because of that view, they saw he preached and prayed a bit too long, soon they were humbled as this Man Of God, one Sunday  took out the wash basin and washed their feet.."the Cutting of The Spirit"........he was there in servitude....that I remember of him!

As time passed my girlfriend was swayed by a large Presbyterian Church to come and sing regularly. It was a very large church, of fine stained glass windows, and the elite of the town there attended. They "Paid" her to come and sing! The Pastor was eloquent in his oratories each Sunday......yet as I looked back, and reflected I wondered who would have been the first to her door step in a time of trouble? The one who humbled himself enough to stoop and wash her feet, or the one who boomingly preached from his perch each week? Would either?.... Would the Presbyter just call an elder to follow up? GOD ONLY KNOWS....and I know He knows only the variables. Yet I do know what I felt in my heart and not my head to be the truth......

So here are my Shepherd's tales thoughts and recollections....and I close with the words from Bob Dylan..."Things Have Changed! " yet I have faith in God that He is still raising up that rare few, that are "There"!

Blessings In Him,

Brother Tim 

Mood:  a-ok

The Economy is so Bad!

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail..

I ordered a burger at McDonalds and the kid behind the counter asked, “Can you afford fries with that?”

CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked “Insufficient Funds”, call and ask if they meant you or them.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

McDonalds is selling the ¼ ‘ouncer’.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children’s names.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

Motel Six won’t leave the light on anymore.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The Guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, 

ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!

Mood:  caffeinated

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

Mood:  caffeinated

Aloha In Christ!

The thought that I share today is from Malachi Chapter 1. I think every Christian knows of Malachi Chapter three...maybe not in truth but how they have been flogged with it in church....and just to make things clear, if you go to a church, and are ministered to meaning i/e you are Spiritually fed or physically attended to, then you need to help out...plain and simple. The Lord owns it all anyway and its on loan to you so pray about it....and do something even if it is giving of your time....it multiplies in blessings of which God chooses.....we are not under the law so it is not 10% thing here...but as you do in the Lord you will grow..but as you see in the verses to come, give and do your best!.

I guess that was a good lead-in to what I really wanted to share....what are you offering? Now from the scriptures I will share, God is talking about the offerings at the Old Testament Temple, but if you really think about it now....since the temple is The Body of Christ, and your own body is a temple (1 Corinthians) You now have to apply in your own personal terms....but on the other hand if you say well He is talking about priests here....oh well, lets just still include us... because as Peter said in 1Peter 2:9-10: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 Ok so now we have clarity on where we are in this dispensation of grace! 

Malachi 1:6-14 :"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says YAHWEH of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'7 You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, 'How have we polluted you?' In that you say, 'YAHWEH's table contemptible.'8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn't that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn't that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?" says YAHWEH of Armies.

9 "Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?" says YAHWEH of Armies.

10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says YAHWEH of Armies, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand.11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says YAHWEH of Armies.12 "But you profane it, in that you say, 'YAHWEH's table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.'13 You say also, 'Behold, what a weariness it is!' and you have sniffed at it," says YAHWEH of Armies; "and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?" says YAHWEH.

14 "But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says YAHWEH of Armies, "and my name is awesome among the nations."

As you can see from the scripture here that God was not pleased with the priests , here because they had taken the best part, and given junked out sacrifices. Now I know  there will be no one that can say I always gave God my best.....they had better repent. We ALL have come up short, and not given our best at times. That is usually where He starts to work with us to get us to grow.

I know that I have learned to do it on my own, and trust in Him. When you give you give something that costs you something....What the priests above were giving were things that were not as valuable or costly as they should.

David dealt with the same issue when purchasing the threshing floor...that threshing floor  where the temple was to be built, and also a place of holy history...which I urge you to study on later.....

2 Samuel 24:18 Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, build an altar to YAHWEH on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

19 David went up according to the saying of Gad, as YAHWEH commanded.20 Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"

David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to YAHWEH, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people."

22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:23 all this, king, does Araunah give to the king." Araunah said to the king, "May YAHWEH your God accept you."

24 The king said to Araunah, "No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to YAHWEH my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.25 David built an altar to YAHWEH there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So YAHWEH was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. 

Here though David had sinned and was doing as commanded...He still was a man after God's own heart. Here is a glimmer of His integrity ...."No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to YAHWEH my God which cost me nothing."

This is what God sees...the heart of the believer....it is the heart of the matter where blessing or cursing is decided...that inner place where no one sees except for The Spirit of God...(The Spirit of Truth)!

Having been a minister now for over 20 years of my life..off and on...quit and start...quit and restart etc etc....I can say that what the brethren usually give to one another is something that is of no loss to them. I can attest that many have wanted of me yet given paltry in return. I used to have to guard my heart at times to not let a root of bitterness spring up. Something given second or third or fourth hand, and broken that you have to fix...they always have something else to do and forget you until they need something from you....ministry is alot that way. Missionaries get it the worse, I have heard the stories of the crap that Believer's give and it is shipped to them in the mission fields. But people there...God's Children I might add, do what they can with it. That is a good word for young pastoral want to's to think long and hard about.   

Jesus covered it well when He pointed out the widow's mite: Mark12:27-31:37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?"

The common people heard him gladly.38 In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."

Jesus pointed that out ...about this woman's integrity of sacrifice, or offering...this is not just a money thing, or substance thing, it is a life and lifestyle thing!

Colossian 3:17- Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

God wants you to look at how He has blessed you and be thankful....if He asks something of you, a releasing of what is in your heart or hand or both...do it.....think about what He has done! Who in their right mind would want their kids miserable? Definitely not our Father in Heaven. As a believer the only time you will be miserable is when you are wrestling with Him!

Just know this: Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Mood:  surprised

I keep getting all these political emails...some are very annoying, some have a grain of truth and some are down right malicious. I do believe that 98% of the motivation behind it all is that we have a BLACK President...it is just prejudice plain and simple as it seems...Those who do not like it need to GET OVER IT!...and if not then work hard to get him voted out the next term....thats the American way!..For those that have a problem with people of different colors they had better get used to it because Heaven will be like that ...a multitude of the races...AMEN! 

As for one's faith I am not  commenting on the President or anyone else's.I am sharing so that the truth is brought home... 

We in the US do have rights and the right to be vocal....not the right to be malicious gossipers. As for Christian believers that goes twice over because we in our decisions have to answer to The Lord about it.

Here is what God's Word says about it: Please read it and as we all need HEED it. If it applies then return to Jesus, and walking in His LOVE! These are principles for anywhere you live!

² For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.

³ For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

⁴ For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God’s servant, making God’s punishment come on the evil-doer.

⁵ So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.

⁶ For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God’s servant, to take care of such things at all times.

⁷ Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

⁸ Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law.

⁹ And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another’s, Do not have desire for what is another’s, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

¹⁰ Love does no wrong to his neighbour, so love makes the law complete.

¹¹ See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

¹² The night is far gone, and the day is near: so let us put off the works of the dark, arming ourselves with light,

¹³ With right behaviour as in the day; not in pleasure-making and drinking, not in bad company and unclean behaviour, not in fighting and envy.

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give thought to the flesh to do its desires. (King James Version)

Really if we believers will look at the times , we need to understand that the time is now more than ever where we need to be living what we preach, and loved like Jesus loves....sharing His Good News and bringing in the HARVEST!

Blessings, Brother Timothy

P.S. No emails please...I do not care whether you like what has been posted...talk to God about it...it's HIS Word, and beside when you think about it this was written by The Holy Spirit through Paul the Apostle to the Church in Rome! Romans 1:7 says :To all those who are in Rome, loved by God, marked out as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.