"THE BIG PICTURE"

           In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would

              have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 

            And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and 

               take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

                                             J O H N 14 : 2-4

           My Son Jesus, can't lie. So when He says there's home in Heaven for those who follow Him, it's true. Heaven is real as real as anything you can touch right now. It's actually more real, because it will last forever, and the stuff you can touch now will eventually turn to dust. So what's uphere? well, I have a room all ready for you. All the things you love are in it, and some things are there that you will love and don't even know about yet. Ever of sky-blading? Never mind. You'll see. The best news is, I'm here waiting for you. When you're finally home with Me, it will be awesome forever, I'm looking forward to seeing you face to face, but first, you've got a lot of living to do on earth. So hang in there!

          During  World War II, parachutes were contructed by the thousands in factories across the United States. From the worker's point of view, the job was tedious. It required stitching endless length of color fabric, crouched over a sewing machine eight to ten hours a day. The result of the a day's work was a formless, massive heap of cloth that had no visible resemblance to a parachute.

         To keep the workers motivated and concerned with quality, the management in one factory held a meeting with its worker each morning. The workers were told approximately how many parachutes had been strapped onto the backs of pilots, copilots, and other "flying" personnel the previous day. They knew just how many men had jumped to safety from disabled planes. The managers encouraged their workers to see "the big picture" of their job.

        As a second means of motivation, the workers were asked to form a mental picture of a husband, brother, or Son who might be the one saved by the parachute they were sewing. The level of quality in that factory was one of the highest on record!

        Don't let the tedium of each day's chores and responsiblities wear you down so you only see the "stitching" in front of you. Keep your eyes on the big picture. Focus on why you do what you do and who will benefit from your work, including those you don't know and may never meet. You may not have all the answers to the question, "why am I here? But you can rest assured, the Lord does!

        Ultimately, the Bible tells us we will be in heaven for eternity and that is the biggest picture of all! God is preparing us for heaven, just as He is preparing heaven for us. He is creating us to be the people they want to live forever.

        Whatever mundane tasks or trivial pursuit you undertake today, see them in the light of eternity. They will take on a whole new meaning!

                            

"DON'T GIVE UP"

            "So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the

                right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up."

                                          G A L A T I A N  6 : 9

           Sometimes the temptation to quit is overwhelming. When you feel beat and burned out, it seems like nobody cares whether you keep trying or not. Wells there's something I want you to hear loud and clear. I care! Never forget that for a minute. 

           In the midst of all your challenges, I'm with you. Life is a big tug-of-war between the call to care about others and to do good, and the temptation to quit. Quiting days that nothing matters and life is a throw away. When you hang in there and keep on keeping on," you affirm My call on your life to make a difference.

           Are You in the midst of a frustrating struggle? Before you throw  in the towel, remember this story about the bulldog.

          A man once owned two very fine bird dogs, and he spent many hours training them. One day he looked out his window just in time to see an ugly little bulldog digging his way under the fence into his bird dogs' yard. As the dog wriggled under the fence, the man realized it was too late to stop him.

          He though to himself how uneven the fight would be the. The poor little bulldog was surely no mztch for his animals snipping, barking, grwling tails and ears flying the battle raged. When the little dog had had enough, he trotted back to the hole under the fence and shimmied out.

          Amazed that none of the dogs looked any the worse for the fight, he didn't give the incident another though until the next day, when he saw the little bulldog coming down the sidewalk toward the hole in the fence. To his amazement, a repeat performance of the previous day's battle began. And once again, the little bulldod picked his moment to end the fight, left the bird dogs barking and snarling, and casually slid back under the fence.

         Day after day for over a week the unwelcome visitor returned to harass his bigger canine counterparts. Then the man was obliged to leave for a week on business. When he returned,he asked his wfe about the on-going battle.

         Battle?" She replied, "why there hasn't been a battle in four days."

         "He finally gave up?" Asked the bird dog owner.

         "Not exactly," she said. "That ugly little dog still comes around every day....he even shimmied under the fence until a day or so ago. But now all the he has to do is walk past the hole and those bird dogs tuck their tails and head for their doghouse whinning all the way."

         Sometimes persistence is the key to success!

         So, dig in, and stand up. I've got you covered, and I won't let you go. Don't give up! I love you.

"WHO WILL I BE TO YOU"

                              "But what about you?" (Jesus) asked.

                      "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered

                        "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

                                             Matthew 16: 15-16

         Im not a gray-haired old geezer, sitting on a rusty throne in Heaven. I'm alive I'm powerful, present-tense Person, who loves you with a powerful, present-tense love. I was, and I am, and I will be forever. I am the unchanging word of truth.

         I can tell you Who I am. But only you can say Who I will be to you. I want to be your Father  (a good Father Who's involved in your everyday life), your Friend ( a friend Who knows your strengths and weaknesses and is always on your side), your savior (the One comes to your rescue in everyday problem), and your guide through the tricky maze of life. It's your call. Who do you say that I am?

Title:               I worship you    

Intro:

Verse1:          Our God comes to a life in power

                      It's always a time of rejoicing

                      Our God comes make a room for Him

                      In our life in His Presence

Verse2 :         Behold He Comes

                      Come and see and exalt His names

                      Behold He comes 

                      Let us come and worship Him

                      You are the Christ 

                      the Son of the living God

                      Sovereign God of All

 

Chorus:          I (we) worship you.        (3x)

                   

"Don't count Sheep, Pray!"

                         "On my bed I remember you; I think of you 

                                through the watches of the night."

                                                Psalm 63:6

         If you can't sleep at night, pray. If the devil is keeping you awake, just pray. He'll get get off your case; I guarantee it. Sometimes I'll wake you up at night. Don't wonder about it just pray your way back to sleep. Sometimes someone on the other side of the world needs prayer, and I will wake you up to pray for them. If you wake up late at night, ask Me, "Lord, what is it? I will tell you how to pray, and then you pray that way . It doesn't have to make sense why or who.

         As a child, my favorite part about visiting the beach was going to the boardwalk. After a day in the ocean, we'd shower, dress, and run up to the boardwalk for ice cream cones. My sisters and I would sit on a bench, lick our cones, and watch all the people stroll by. Kids with cotton candy. Lovers ambling arm-in arm. Older ladies in flowered dresses with parasols. People-watching was the neatest part.

          I still enjoy looking at people, thinking about where they live, wondering where they work, and if they're happy. Studying people, for me, is a habit. Wouldn't it be great if we were as concious about studying God as we were people. Watching Him, wondering about Him, looking closely at what makes Him who He is and just. . . Enjoying Him.

          Charles Spurgeon said, "To contemplate God is a subject so vast, that our thoughts are lost in His immensuty, so deep that pride is drowned in this infinity. No subject will tend to humble the mind more than thoughts of God. But while contemplating God humbles the mind, also expands the mind. Nothing will so enlarge your intellect or magnify your soul than a devout, earnest investigation of God."

          As today's Scripture suggests, perhaps the best time to 

          contemplate God is on your bed, even through the watches

          Of the night. Without noise and distractions, and with your

          Mind ar rest, your thoughts will become lost in Him immen-

          sity. Even Psalm 4:4 suggests, "When you are on your beds,

          Search your hearts and be silent."

          Remember, I never sleep. So don't be surprised if you wake

          up in the night and find Me there. Make Me part of your night

           Time, too

"Slow Down"

                    "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One 

              of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation,

                          In quietness and trust is your strength."

                                        I S A I A H 30 : 15

         Repentance is just a fancy word that means "to turn around." It literally means "change your mind." My advice is to change your mind about all the busyness in your life. Most people think the more they plan and more they do, the safer and stronger they will be. I see it differently. I want you to slow down and take time to be quiet. Rest and trust Me, and 'll help you to be strong and successful anyway. That doesn't mean that you never have to plan or take action,  but it does mean that if all you do is plan and try, you're missing out on My best for you.

         I don't have to listen to you!" That's a sentence parents don't like to hear from their teenage children. It means they have decided not to obey their parents. Usually, it's spoken in anger and soon forgotten. Sometimes, though, a teen might decide to make that attitude a way of life. When that happens, it's hard for everyone in the family. A child's refusal to obey authority creates on going turmoil in the home and saps the joy from life.

         The teenage openly rebels, thinking he would be happier by resisting authority. But instead, he can actually be one miserable in his heart.

          The prophet Isaiah told them to slow down resisters rebellious, lying people who refused to listen to what God was saying (isaiah 30 : 15). Ineffect, they said to Him, "We've heard enough. We don't have to listen to you! Their of resistance turned them against God 's trust.

           Rebellion is not limited to teens or the people of Isaiah's day. sometimes we too wear the wear the resisters label. We read God's word and decide it's too restrictive. Or we sense that God wants us to do something, and run from it. That leads only to misery. Instead, if we obey God's Word, we will enjoy His peace in our hearts

            Taking time out to be with Me during a busy day is always a good idea. As you wait on Me , I'll give you the strength you need Slow down a little!

"You can't, But I can"

                 "With your help I can advance against a troop; 

                             With my God I can scale a wall."

                                            Psalm 18 : 29

          If you do the possible, I will do the impossible. In My book, the Bible, a soldier named Jonathan tracked a huge army of enemy soldiers and defeated them all with only the help of his butler. Two guys beat whole army! Was Jonathan a Superman or Rambo? No, he was a fairly decent soldier, but he was just a person. Jonathan did what he knew was right. He fought the enemy. I did the rest. 

           If you will step out and out and do what you know needs to be done, I will finish the work you start in My name. Are people hungry in your town? Begin feeding a few if them, and I will help you feed the rest. I will tell you to do things that you can't do. But don't be afraid. If you start it, I'll finish it.

           When you read this psalm, you are struck by the fact that God moves heaven and earth to come to your aid when you cry to Him for help. At your heartfelt plea, your Lord thunders from heaven and scatters your enemies. Verses sixteen, seventeen, and nineteen then add, "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."

          Don't ever think that when you pray for God's support, He remains uncaring or unfeeling about your plea. God is not off somewhere on a mountaintop at an arm's lenght from your cry. When you pray help, He does not lean over the wall of His ivory tower to tell you to beg louder.

          God is attentive to your needs as a caring father is to his dearest son. When you send out a distress call to the Lord, He parts the heavens to come to your rescue. And if you need to be reminded, read Psalm 18 in its entirety.

          No one who lets out a genuine cry of distress is thinking

          about manipulating God. Impossible! A heart plea for help

          Carries with it no desire to control the way the Lord deals 

          With you. Rather, such a prayer implies that you've cast

          Youself on the Lord's mercy, with no hint of imure motive.

          When you pray like that, God immediate recognizes the

          Sincerity of your heart and rushes to your aid.

          

         

"GO FOR IT"

     "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set

        an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love and in purity."

                                      1 T I M O T H Y 4 : 12

      You don't have to wait until you're thirty to do big things. Look at all the young people in the Bible who accomplished wonders for Me. David killed Goliath heard My audible voice while all the adult priest were sleeping. Many agreed to be the mother of My Son, although she was an unmarried teenage virgin. 

       I'll work My Miracle through anyone who believes My words and obeys My voice. (Believe Me, if I waited around for the perfect, mature christian, I'd never get anything done!) Regardless of your age. You can do great things through Christ. I believe in you so go for it!

       Some people will do anything to save a buck. Like the misery uncle I read about who invited his nephews to hunt for arrowheads in the field behind his house. Before the search could begin. However, he told the excited youngsters they had to move all the rocks out of the field and clear away the underbrush. By the time they were finished, it was too late to search for arrowheads. Later they learned that none had ever been on his property. When they complained to their dad, he said, "My old skinflint brother bamboozled you out of a day's work." Those boy will not soon forget how they were taken advantage of.

       There's nothing wrong with being frugal. It's a matter of good stewardship. But there is something wrong with being so thrify that you won't pay a boy what he's worth.

      Stinginess at the cost of someone else's humiliation or hurt is not what our Lord wants. In 1Timonthy 6 :18. We learn that we're to do good" and be "ready to give, willing to share." We're to be fair, giving, and generous people. God is the ultimate giver. He gave His Son, at unbelievable sacrifice, to offer us new life (John3:16). Lets follow His example of love and generoity then we won't be  accused of being an "old skinflint." 

The One Who Believe in You,

>God