Gospel gems – Follow Jesus’ example

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. John 13:15 

Jesus constantly showed by example how we should live as Christians. We are here to serve others. It may be hard in some situations but it is doable. The purpose of serving is to show others the love of Christ.

Christ served with compassion Matthew 14:14

Christ served with kindness. Luke 17:11-19

Christ served the “underdogs” Matthew 9:11-12

Christ served with love. John 13:34

Christ served with gentleness. Matthew 11:29

Christ served with mercy. John 8:1-11

Christ served unselfishly. John 3:16

Is there something you can do for someone? Don’t procrastinate – just Do it!

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems –God of miracles

30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31

We worship the God of great miracles. Imagine people came from all over the Middle East. We are not told how far some traveled but we know they traveled over rough terrain; some may have traveled on animals but most traveled by walking. The mode of travel was not as easy as it is for us today. I live on the east coast but within 7 hours I can be visiting family on the west coast, inventions from a hundred years ago (Wright brothers 1903) and modern technology make travel today much easier.

The travelers were not traveling alone; they brought family members, friends and neighbors who had health issues. Remember the medical community was not as knowledgeable in Bible times and again our modern technology has made great strides in many medical fields. They traveled and persevered because they had heard the wonderful stories of Jesus, stories of healing and restoration of body and spirit. It was not just the hearing of the stories and miracles but people believed what they heard.

Praise God, Jesus is still in the healing business today. He can spiritually heal the broken spirit.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

John Gill explains: And I will give you rest; spiritual rest here, peace of conscience, ease of mind, tranquility of soul, through an application of pardoning grace, a view of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, and full atonement of sin by his sacrifice;..

Come today to the God of miracles and He will heal your weary soul.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Depression sets in

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Wow! If you weren’t depressed when you started to read this section you certainly would be at the end. As I read this portion of scripture I thought, “why am I doing Ecclesiastes”. Most of the book is depressing but instead of falling into despair, we can learn from Solomon. There are many good subjects in the book – but more on that at a later date.

Solomon is still searching, as he will be for most of the book, to find happiness and contentment. As this portion shows he is getting down right depressed.

He hates everything. He hates life. He hates all the labor he has accomplished. What good is everything I do, he says, because when I die it is all going to someone else.

In these 10 verses the words “under the sun” are repeated 5 times, the words, “vanity” or “vexation” are repeated 6 times. He appears at “wits end” with life in general. As we know his focus was on the wrong “things”.  He should have been focused on God and not on everything else around him.

What about you?  Are you focusing on the situations in your life? The situations may be serious problems such as sickness, death or accidents in your immediate circle of family or friends. The situations may just be some “drama” in your circle of family or friends, things that maybe you should not even be caught up in. Whatever the problem may be God is the solution.

·        He is waiting for you to come to him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

·        He is there no matter what the problem. I will never leave or forsake you.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 

·        He loves you and wants to comfort you.

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Fear tactics

[1] Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) [2] That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. [3] And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? [4] Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Nehemiah 6:1-4

The enemies are at it again. The “old gang” is back, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, they heard the news that the wall was built and it was strong and sturdy. As usual they had plans for Nehemiah’s demise. A letter was sent to set up a meeting with Nehemiah. Nehemiah was not born yesterday, and realized they only wanted to meet with him for mischief. The Hebrew meaning for mischief includes: bad, affliction, calamity, distress.

Nehemiah’s answer to them is exactly what one would expect, “Oh no, I cannot go to Ono! I am doing a great work.” My translation is “I have way more important works to do than meet with the likes of you.” As with all the followers of the evil one, they were very persistent. They would hassle and pester until he relented. They obviously did not know Nehemiah’s fortitude.

The barraging continued, three more letters followed, with the same results. Nehemiah was not budging. He knew what he was called to do and he was going to do it. No temptation was going to pull him from the work of the wall.

~ Are you being tempted by others who do not know the great works of God? Is someone trying to break down your beliefs? Do you feel pulled in a hundred directions?

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ephesians 4:14

~ Take a lesson from Nehemiah, do not waver.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10

~ Go in prayer to the One who will help you with all your problems.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Psalm 6:9

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Psalm 66:20

Have a blessed day,
Donna