Fuel Stops

We just returned from a trip where I was the speaker at a lay retreat.  What a blessing to share truth about our journey with Christ.  I call it The Walk, the Scripture speaks again and again about our walk, it says things like, “walk in truth”, “walk in love”, “walk in the light.”  Some may think of the Christian life as a race but not me. I embrace the idea of a walk.  You won’t find me running.  On our long journey home yesterday we made several fuel stops which reminds me that in our walk if we don’t take time to be refueled we will wind up stranded on the highway of life.  There was one point when we were down to less than twenty miles till empty and I got a little uncomfortable with the thought of being stranded.  Keeping fuel in your tank is important to progress toward home. I pray that the retreat was a fuel stop for my friends who attended and that they are walking toward home with a heart full of joy.  If your spiritual tank is near empty you need to make a fuel stop and allow our Lord to fill you again with the energy of heaven. My prayer is that our Church Services will be Spiritual Travel Centers where we can find strength for our journey.  You can’t go anywhere with an empty tank.  Keep Walking it will be worth the Walk.  jfs

1Co 2:9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Moments

Moments

Occupy your moments…
There is no life in dreams.
There is no touch in the future,
No laughter in tomorrow,
No smell in what may be.
Life is the moment!!!
The Now!!
The past is only a memory,
Good or bad it does not live.
The future only a hope not yet realized.
Occupy your moments…
Savor the present,
Touch what you can while you are here,
Hear the song of today,
Smell the flower before you go.
Occupy your moments…
You will not be coming back.
Life is a one way journey lived one moment at a time.
Fill the moment with your presence,
See all there is to see.
Hold on to what is worthy.
Grasp the noble.
Take from the moment what is eternal…
Love.

James Spruill

Copyright 2004

From our house to yours

Empty Space

Deep within the human heart there is an empty space unrecognizable by many. It is a hunger for something more and can never be satisfied with small things--emptiness on the prowl looking for fulfillment and looking in all the wrong places. The temptation is to mask the emptiness with temporary stuff, cover the hole with fun and momentary pleasure.  In spite of all our efforts, nothing in this world can fill the place made for God.  Religion cannot fill the emptiness within us. Jesus came to fill that empty place in our lives.  He alone offers a living presence. We were made for relationship.  Jesus did not come to start a new religion but a personal relationship.  He came to the manger so He could come to you. “For unto you is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord” There is a manger deep within all of us and it beckons the Savior.  It can never be satisfied with straw. jfs

Sad, Sad,

That is the feeling in my heart for all the families who lost loved ones in the senseless killings in Conn.  The temptation is to give lectures about right and wrong but that is not the need, the need is for compassion and love.  I can only imagine the pain these families are feeling, and I pray for them.  Evil is a terrible monster and those who deny that evil exist only serve it.  Blame is a natural outcome but let’s make sure we blame the cause not the symptom.  Our world seems to prefer dealing with symptoms over causes and with that approach nothing is resolved.  Jesus is all about causes and He took dead aim at the real issue, the human heart.  There is right and wrong and the human heart is fertile ground for wrong.  What we all need today is a change of heart and that is just what Jesus offers all of us.  Jesus is our hope, our only hope. Jfs`

2Ch 12:14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

Worth Thinking About

“YOU WERE MADE BY GOD AND FOR GOD

AND UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT,

LIFE WILL NEVER MAKE SENSE.”

A friend from India sent me the above statement.

How many times have we all broken something because we were not using it the way it was intended to be used.  I once damaged my automobile because I forced it to pull more weight than it was made to pull.  Sin is a heavy load and we were not made for it.   We were made for purity and holiness.  A Holy God could not create an unholy person.  Sin corrupts us, binds us and blinds us. Sad how many have lost their way under the heavy load of sin.  Pulling the heavy weight of sin, life becomes meaningless and empty.  Jesus offers both forgiveness and cleansing.  Come home to your maker and life will make sense even when the road is bumpy.  jfs

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30

Prophetic Word

It is a good time to remember the power of the Prophetic Word.  I do not propose that I understand all the Bible says about the future but I do insist that what the Holy Spirit has prophesied will come to pass. But we must not take refuge in the “whatever will be will be” philosophy. We must be responsible and vote and as Christians we should always vote Kingdom values. Separating your Christian values from your political values is not acceptable.

Mr 13:2 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  Did it happen? You bet. They even dug up the foundation.  You say, “What is the point”?  It is this--whatever God has spoken about the future will come to pass. Where is America in it all?  I am not sure, but I am sure that we cannot prop up walls that God says are coming down.  If America is not punished for her sins it will be a big surprise to me. It is not that God delights in clobbering us but when we have asked Him to stay out of our lives He respects our power of choice.  When He removes His blessing and protection the enemy will bring the misery.  We are all responsible for our choices and at times we suffer from the choices of others.

Joh 17:12 "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” “That the Scripture might be fulfilled” is a statement we would do well to remember in these difficult days.  My prayer is, “Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” amen Lord! jfs