Praise the Lord ,
Praise the Lord for His mighty deeds and for His awesome power. He is in control. He performs miracles of mercy and grace. He invites us to become partners in ministry and in His miracles.
An English teacher and her class were studying well known Proverbs. One day she gave them a test to see well they were understanding what she taught. She would state the first half of a proverb and then asked the students to come up with the rest of what it said. These were some of the answers that the teacher got from her students on that quiz:
It’s always darkest before... Daylight Savings Time.
Never underestimate the power of… termites.
Don’t bite the hand that … looks dirty.
If you lie down with dogs, you’ll… stink in the morning.
An idle mind is… the best way to relax.
A penny saved is… not much.
Two’s company, three’s… the Musketeers.
Children should be seen and not… spanked or grounded.
If at first you don’t succeed… get new batteries.
When the blind leadeth the blind… get out of the way.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and… you have to blow your nose.
Even though the students in that class had studied those parables for several days they still had trouble with the right answers.
And even when Jesus’ disciples had been with Him for several months they still had trouble with getting their answer right. During the time they had been with Jesus, His disciples had watched Him as He had…
healed a Leper – Mat 8:1
healed the servant of a Roman centurion– Mat 8:5
healed Peter’s mother in law – Mat 8:14
He also healed numerous people who had evil spirits and various diseases – Mt 8:16
They had even seen him raise a girl from the dead – Mat 9:25
The disciples had seen all of this. They had seen His power up close and personally. But now it became late in the day. They were on a hill out in the middle of no place and they had a bunch of hungry people on their hands. The disciples were practical men, and they suggested to Jesus that He send the people home so they can get something to eat. It was then that Jesus says the most unusual thing to them: "They do not need to go away. YOU give them something to eat." Matthew 14:16
That would seem like a practical solution except for two things:
1. There were 5000 MEN (besides and women and children) in this crowd
2. And they did not have nearly enough food on hand to feed that many people
The Gospel of Mark tells us another part of the conversation. When Jesus said that they should feed the crowd, “they said to him, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" Mark 6:37 The Gospel of John gives us another insight into this story. It says that Jesus had been speaking to Philip when he was telling them that they should feed the crowds. And John 6:6 says “He asked this only to TEST him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”
When I started to look at all the miracles Jesus had done up to that point I suddenly realized what was going on. Up until that point in time Jesus had been doing all the work. Jesus taught the people. Jesus healed people. Jesus raised people from the dead. And the disciples pretty much had been along for the ride. But at this point… it’s test time.
It was like that teacher who set the stage, by citing the first part of the parables to her class, and then expected them to fill in the blanks. In the same way, Jesus had set the stage for His disciples. He had given them an impossible situation, confronted them with nearly 15,000 hungry people (5000 men, plus women and children) and He told His disciples to feed them.
TEST QUESTION: How are YOU going to feed them?
And, how did they answer? We don’t have enough money - We ONLY have 2 fish & 5 loaves. . . So give Jesus what you have and let Him deal with the solution
Hebrews 11:6 says – “… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM. If we earnestly seek His involvement in our plans, and we have nothing much to bring to the table, He fills in the gaps. His strength makes up for our weaknesses. That is the essence of faith. The Lord of miracles, desires to stretch our faith. He wants us to mature in our faith, and in order to get us to do that He often puts us in situations where there is NO way we could EVER possibly do what He’s asked on our own. That’s what Jesus did with the Disciples in this feeding of the 5000. He had put them into a situation they could only accomplish if the Lord did a miracle.
Hudson Taylor said, "Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith." If we could do it all by ourselves what need would we have for God?
In this story of the feeding of the 5000 was that Jesus’ objective was not to feed the 5000. If that was all He had in mind, He could have sent them home. They didn’t need Him to get food for them. They could have gotten their groceries somewhere else.
When Churches don’t understand this, they can fall into the trap of forgetting why they exist. Up until this time Jesus had been doing all the work. But now He told His disciples: YOU do it – YOU give them something to eat. And how much food do the disciples come up with? (5 loaves, 2 fishes). It wasn’t even their food. It was the lunch of a small boy in the crowd! They needed a catering service, and they handed Jesus a sack lunch! But Jesus was NOT offended by that; He took what they gave Him, and He blessed it. Matthew 14 says that “He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he GAVE THANKS and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” Matthew 14:19
When everybody had eaten their fill, they collected the fragments they ended up with 12 baskets full of food.
Jesus took what the disciples gave Him and He multiplied it. Why did He do that? Why did He ask the disciples to come up with the food? He didn’t need their food. He didn’t need the 5 loaves or the 2 fish. He was Jesus! All He needed to do was clap His hands and the food would have fallen from the sky, complete with table service. Why then did He do it the way He did? He did it that way because He wanted His disciples to be His partners in ministry.
Bill Hybels once said, “I would never want to reach out someday with a soft, uncallused hand, a hand never dirtied by serving, and shake the nail-pierced hand of Jesus.”
When God tests your faith, when He challenges you to do more than you have ever done with your life, you should realize what a great opportunity He is giving you.
In my own life, I have discovered that the hardest tests have lead to my greatest testimonies. In fact, that’s one of the beauties of the English language: His TESTS lead to our TESTIMONIES. The Lord's tests lead to realization that He really wants to use me, and that I have value and purpose in His service. That is also the effect the miracle of the 5000 had on Jesus’ disciples.
Do you realize that this is the ONLY MIRACLE recorded in all 4 gospels? No other miracle has that honor, but this one does. This event was such a turning point in their lives that it became one of their greatest testimonies.
In Christ,
Brown
"The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people." - G.K.Chesterton
A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut and we'll talk about it."
After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father's study where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut!"
The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I've been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...."
To which his father replied, "Yes, and they walked every where they went!"
Monday, September 24, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 9-21-07
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord, for it is Friday. In the words Dr Tony Campolo, "And Sunday's coming". One of the most audacious claims we have in the Bible is found in II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to bring about the total and extreme "makeover". He brings new birth, new life.
I spend one week almost every summer in Birmingham, Alabama attending the Pastor's conference there. One evening is set aside for some southern hospitality including some country and blue grass music festival. Some time ago I read about Kenny Chesney that he draws the largest crowds of any country singer there is right now, believe it or not. He keeps packing in the crowds and he’s on the road continually, but he slowed down long enough to get married.
Chesney met actress Renée Zellweger in January, 2005 and married her May 9, 2005, in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was the first marriage for both. Chesney stated, “I remember coming back from the wedding and we landed in Little Rock, Arkansas. I had a show. We didn’t have a honeymoon, you know? Welcome to Little Rock, baby. Happy Honeymoon.”
From the beginning, their marriage looked like it was a fairy tale come true.
On September 15, after only four months of marriage, Zellweger filed for an annulment, citing "Fraud" as the reason. Sometime later Chesney said, “The only fraud that was committed was me thinking that I knew what it was like... that I really understood what it was like to be married, and I really didn’t.” I think we all would have to admit that marriage doesn’t always turn out to be what we thought it was going to be. Marriage does change a person, however, and sometimes for the better!
Of course, some women have married a bum thinking he would change. Jim Gibbore, who died on September 3, this year at the age of 57only, used to say, men will promise their women that they will change after marriage, and they will change . . . they will become worse.
There is only one place to find true and lasting change and that is in Christ. And that’s what Saul discovered. II Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Paul declared" It is no longer that I live, but Christ Jesus liveth in me". "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
One Sunday afternoon in Chicago, a group of ballplayers entered a saloon. When they emerged, they saw a group of people playing instruments, singing gospel hymns, and testifying of Christ’s power to save from sin. Memories of a log cabin in Iowa, an old church, and a godly mother raced through the mind of one of the ballplayers. Tears came to his eyes. Presently he said, “Boys, I’m through! I’m going to turn to Jesus Christ. We’ve come to the parting of the ways.” Some of his companions mocked him, but others were silent. Only one encouraged him. He turned from the group and entered the Pacific Garden Mission.
Later that ballplayer told what occurred. “I called upon God’s mercy. I staggered out of my sins into the outstretched arms of the Savior.” That ballplayer was Billy Sunday, who became known as a world-renowned evangelist and probably preached Christ to more people at that time than any other preacher.
Billy Sunday had an unusual conversion experience. Perhaps it was not as extreme as Paul’s was, but it was unusual, different. No matter how a person comes to Christ, the important thing is that they come to Him in faith, surrender, and obedience.
In Christ,
Brown
Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life to-day that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
... John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now, we do not see you anymore. We are lonesome and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved...but perhaps too well."
And God said, "I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. This companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings. And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved. And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy. And the cat did not care.
Praise the Lord, for it is Friday. In the words Dr Tony Campolo, "And Sunday's coming". One of the most audacious claims we have in the Bible is found in II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to bring about the total and extreme "makeover". He brings new birth, new life.
I spend one week almost every summer in Birmingham, Alabama attending the Pastor's conference there. One evening is set aside for some southern hospitality including some country and blue grass music festival. Some time ago I read about Kenny Chesney that he draws the largest crowds of any country singer there is right now, believe it or not. He keeps packing in the crowds and he’s on the road continually, but he slowed down long enough to get married.
Chesney met actress Renée Zellweger in January, 2005 and married her May 9, 2005, in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was the first marriage for both. Chesney stated, “I remember coming back from the wedding and we landed in Little Rock, Arkansas. I had a show. We didn’t have a honeymoon, you know? Welcome to Little Rock, baby. Happy Honeymoon.”
From the beginning, their marriage looked like it was a fairy tale come true.
On September 15, after only four months of marriage, Zellweger filed for an annulment, citing "Fraud" as the reason. Sometime later Chesney said, “The only fraud that was committed was me thinking that I knew what it was like... that I really understood what it was like to be married, and I really didn’t.” I think we all would have to admit that marriage doesn’t always turn out to be what we thought it was going to be. Marriage does change a person, however, and sometimes for the better!
Of course, some women have married a bum thinking he would change. Jim Gibbore, who died on September 3, this year at the age of 57only, used to say, men will promise their women that they will change after marriage, and they will change . . . they will become worse.
There is only one place to find true and lasting change and that is in Christ. And that’s what Saul discovered. II Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Paul declared" It is no longer that I live, but Christ Jesus liveth in me". "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
One Sunday afternoon in Chicago, a group of ballplayers entered a saloon. When they emerged, they saw a group of people playing instruments, singing gospel hymns, and testifying of Christ’s power to save from sin. Memories of a log cabin in Iowa, an old church, and a godly mother raced through the mind of one of the ballplayers. Tears came to his eyes. Presently he said, “Boys, I’m through! I’m going to turn to Jesus Christ. We’ve come to the parting of the ways.” Some of his companions mocked him, but others were silent. Only one encouraged him. He turned from the group and entered the Pacific Garden Mission.
Later that ballplayer told what occurred. “I called upon God’s mercy. I staggered out of my sins into the outstretched arms of the Savior.” That ballplayer was Billy Sunday, who became known as a world-renowned evangelist and probably preached Christ to more people at that time than any other preacher.
Billy Sunday had an unusual conversion experience. Perhaps it was not as extreme as Paul’s was, but it was unusual, different. No matter how a person comes to Christ, the important thing is that they come to Him in faith, surrender, and obedience.
In Christ,
Brown
Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life to-day that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
... John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now, we do not see you anymore. We are lonesome and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved...but perhaps too well."
And God said, "I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. This companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings. And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved. And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy. And the cat did not care.
Brown's Daily Word 9-20-07
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this beautiful day, which the Lord has given us. This is the last day of official summer for us here. It is going to be sunny, warm and brilliant. Praise the Lord for the seasons the Lord gives to us. He is the Lord in every season. He is Immortal and invisible, yet visible through the eyes of faith. He is Eternal yet He is our eternal contemporary. It is a great miracle that He delights in using rebels and prodigals to Honor His name, as He gives them a second chance.
I was reading the Book of Jonah, the reluctant prophet. There is a storm brewing in chapter 2 . . . in Jonah’s heart. The great fish was Jonah’s means of deliverance, and we see here his prayer of thanksgiving for rescue from a watery grave.
Verse 1 tells us where Jonah prayed. We might prefer going to a nice, quiet place to pray; Jonah had a very secluded spot. Now God has Jonah’s undivided attention, and the prophet prays. How could Jonah be so profound and calm? It became apparent that God had other plans for him. He wasn't going to be eaten. When God brings a trial into our lives, He gives us time to contemplate the lessons He is teaching. Jonah had 3 days. We may feel swallowed up by circumstance, but we have the assurance that what God brings to us is always for our good and His glory.
Jonah knew his plight was his fault, yet when he “called to the Lord” (vs 1), God responded. Jonah’s brief psalm is an honest prayer. Often ours are not. We overlook the real issues we should be discussing, or we ignore some sin God wants us to confess, or we ask for things to which He has already clearly denied.
Jonah states that he found himself in the “depths of Sheol”, verse 2. This is an OT Hebrew term referring in a very general sense to the grave. Sheol is the condition of death. Jonah is admitting that he was as good as dead, but God reached out and rescued him!
Jonah next acknowledges the Providence of God, in verse 3: “You hurled me into the deep … all Your waves and breakers swept over me ... & Jonah knew that it wasn’t chance, circumstance, luck, or blind fate that caused his dilemma. Neither does he blame the sailors; they were merely God’s instruments, His means of discipline, and His restoration. Jonah understands that his deliverance had been directed by the Hand of God, Who rules His creation.
God’s intention is to return Jonah back to a right relationship. How do we respond to correction? A father who loves his children doesn’t turn his back when they go astray. God’s discipline is evidence of His love for us. James Montgomery Boice reflects, “It is better to fall into the hands of God, even in correction, than to be apart from Him.”
Jonah recognized that he was alienated from God. Everything seemed lost as he sank beneath the deep. No more would the voice of God come to this prophet…or so he thought. Jonah cried in verse 4, “I have been driven from Your sight.” Who did the driving? The word “sight” could be translated “favor”. The door of life appeared to shut with a terrible finality. Each wave howled into his ear: “Jonah, you deserve this.” In verses 5-6 Jonah describes the horror of his plight. The “roots of the mountains” refers to the mountainous ocean depths.
Though things couldn’t seem worse, Jonah exercised hope in verse 4: “…yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.”
Faith dares to approach God, knowing that we’re sinful people undeserving of mercy. Faith drives us to “look again”. There is life in such a look.
If God had done nothing, Jonah’s fate would have been fitting. Though deep in sin as well as water, Jonah prayed in verse 7: “I remembered You, Lord, and my prayer rose to You.” Jonah prayed; he couldn’t help it. He prayed to One he knew personally, not some impersonal force. We may spiritually sink as deep as Jonah, yet God will not abandon us. Jonah was thrown out of a ship, but not out of the sight and grace of God. We have Christ’s added promise: “I will never cast you out”…you “will never perish” (John 6:37, 10:28).
Verses 8-9 prove that Jonah meant business; this is his vow of praise. It’s one thing to confess our sins; it’s entirely another to do something about them. Both chapters one and two end with sacrifice and vows. Jonah is at last brought to the point the Gentile sailors had already reached. Jonah agrees to obey God’s call.
Jonah speaks of “worthless idols” in verse 8, . “Worthless idols” could be translated, “vain, empty vanities”. People throw away any hope of salvation by creating substitutes for God. We may not think we are idolaters, yet idolatry is any worthless endeavor we take on apart from trust in God. We may be bowing to the idols of ambition, greed, comfort, and pleasure. Then he mentions “the grace that could be theirs”, admitting that the Gentiles were savable. Jonah re-enlisted in God’s service, renewing his commitment to his prophetic office in verse 9 with a song of thanks.
The prophet admitted in verse 9, “Salvation comes from the Lord.” The word “comes” could also be translated “belongs”. This is the theme of the entire Bible and the key verse of this book. Salvation is a gift, and God is not obligated to limit it to those we may think deserve it. Jonah’s attitude in chapter one was, “I’m not going to be a part of God saving the Ninevites.” God has miraculously saved Jonah from drowning, and he is brought to understand that God is sovereign in salvation.
It’s as if God were saying to Jonah: “Salvation is Mine to give--I give it to whomever I choose. I gave it to you. If I choose to save the Ninevites, that’s none of your business.” “Salvation is possible only because God makes it possible”. God chooses to reach out to people who aren’t reaching back. He accepts and entitles the undeserving. “God loves us not because of who we are and what we have done, but because of who He is” (Phillip Yancy).
In verse 10, the fish obediently spews up this indigestible prophet. Many scholars believe that Jonah was brought back to Joppa. “Return to GO”. I think that Jonah’s arrival back at Joppa was likely during “rush hour”, in other words, in full view of everyone…so that, by the time he arrived in Ninevah, news of his miraculous deliverance would have preceded him, adding credibility and considerable weight to his message.
The most terrifying aspect of Jonah’s plight is when he realized that God almost gave him what he wanted--to be free from Him. Jonah wanted to run from God. The implications of separation brought Jonah to repentance. He rejected God, and it looked as though God was about to reject him! Jonah was unwilling to say “Thy will be done.” In the waters of the Mediterranean he realized the awful significance of hearing God say to him: “All right then—your will be done.”
If we try to run from God He may grant our wish for awhile, but we’ll never want it. The belly of a fish wasn’t a pleasant place to live, but it was a good place to learn.
Jonah returned to God, not as someone expecting special privileges, but as a rebel in need of forgiveness. In the depths of the sea he discarded his pride. The highest moment of our life is the moment when we kneel in the dust and turn to God, confessing our sins. May we seek the same mercy that rescued and forgave the prophet Jonah.
In Christ,
Brown
A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.
John Keats
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.
John Keats
How women have changed
The following is from an actual 1950's Home Economics textbook intended for High School girls, teaching them how to prepare for married life.
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal - on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
3. Clear away clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.
4. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
6. Some DON'TS: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
7. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lay down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his need to be home and relax.
10. The Goal: try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.
Now the updated version for the 90's woman
1. Have dinner ready. Make reservations ahead of time. If your day becomes too hectic just leave him a voice mail message regarding where you'd like to eat and at what time. This lets him know that your day has been crappy and gives him an opportunity to change your mood.
2. Prepare yourself. A quick stop at the "LANCOME" counter on your way home will do wonders for your outlook and will keep you from becoming irritated every time he opens his mouth. (Don't forget to use his credit card !)
3. Clear away the clutter. Call the housekeeper and tell her that any miscellaneous items left on the floor by the children can be placed in the Goodwill box in the garage.
4. Prepare the children. Send the children to their rooms to watch television or play Nintendo. After all, both of them are from his previous marriages.
5. Minimize the noise: If you happen to be home when he arrives, be in the bathroom with the door locked.
6. Some DON'TS: Don't greet him with problems and complaints. Let him speak first, and then your complaints will get more attention and remain fresh in his mind throughout dinner. Don't complain if he's late for dinner, simply remind him that the leftovers are in the fridge and you left the dishes for him to do.
7. Make him comfortable: Tell him where he can find a blanket if he's cold. This will really show you care.
8. Listen to him: But don't ever let him get the last word.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or other places of entertainment; go with a friend or go shopping use his credit card). Familiarize him with the phrase "Girls' Night Out!"
10. The Goal: Try to keep things amicable without reminding him that he only thinks the world revolves around him. Obviously he's wrong, it revolves around you.
Praise the Lord for this beautiful day, which the Lord has given us. This is the last day of official summer for us here. It is going to be sunny, warm and brilliant. Praise the Lord for the seasons the Lord gives to us. He is the Lord in every season. He is Immortal and invisible, yet visible through the eyes of faith. He is Eternal yet He is our eternal contemporary. It is a great miracle that He delights in using rebels and prodigals to Honor His name, as He gives them a second chance.
I was reading the Book of Jonah, the reluctant prophet. There is a storm brewing in chapter 2 . . . in Jonah’s heart. The great fish was Jonah’s means of deliverance, and we see here his prayer of thanksgiving for rescue from a watery grave.
Verse 1 tells us where Jonah prayed. We might prefer going to a nice, quiet place to pray; Jonah had a very secluded spot. Now God has Jonah’s undivided attention, and the prophet prays. How could Jonah be so profound and calm? It became apparent that God had other plans for him. He wasn't going to be eaten. When God brings a trial into our lives, He gives us time to contemplate the lessons He is teaching. Jonah had 3 days. We may feel swallowed up by circumstance, but we have the assurance that what God brings to us is always for our good and His glory.
Jonah knew his plight was his fault, yet when he “called to the Lord” (vs 1), God responded. Jonah’s brief psalm is an honest prayer. Often ours are not. We overlook the real issues we should be discussing, or we ignore some sin God wants us to confess, or we ask for things to which He has already clearly denied.
Jonah states that he found himself in the “depths of Sheol”, verse 2. This is an OT Hebrew term referring in a very general sense to the grave. Sheol is the condition of death. Jonah is admitting that he was as good as dead, but God reached out and rescued him!
Jonah next acknowledges the Providence of God, in verse 3: “You hurled me into the deep … all Your waves and breakers swept over me ... & Jonah knew that it wasn’t chance, circumstance, luck, or blind fate that caused his dilemma. Neither does he blame the sailors; they were merely God’s instruments, His means of discipline, and His restoration. Jonah understands that his deliverance had been directed by the Hand of God, Who rules His creation.
God’s intention is to return Jonah back to a right relationship. How do we respond to correction? A father who loves his children doesn’t turn his back when they go astray. God’s discipline is evidence of His love for us. James Montgomery Boice reflects, “It is better to fall into the hands of God, even in correction, than to be apart from Him.”
Jonah recognized that he was alienated from God. Everything seemed lost as he sank beneath the deep. No more would the voice of God come to this prophet…or so he thought. Jonah cried in verse 4, “I have been driven from Your sight.” Who did the driving? The word “sight” could be translated “favor”. The door of life appeared to shut with a terrible finality. Each wave howled into his ear: “Jonah, you deserve this.” In verses 5-6 Jonah describes the horror of his plight. The “roots of the mountains” refers to the mountainous ocean depths.
Though things couldn’t seem worse, Jonah exercised hope in verse 4: “…yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.”
Faith dares to approach God, knowing that we’re sinful people undeserving of mercy. Faith drives us to “look again”. There is life in such a look.
If God had done nothing, Jonah’s fate would have been fitting. Though deep in sin as well as water, Jonah prayed in verse 7: “I remembered You, Lord, and my prayer rose to You.” Jonah prayed; he couldn’t help it. He prayed to One he knew personally, not some impersonal force. We may spiritually sink as deep as Jonah, yet God will not abandon us. Jonah was thrown out of a ship, but not out of the sight and grace of God. We have Christ’s added promise: “I will never cast you out”…you “will never perish” (John 6:37, 10:28).
Verses 8-9 prove that Jonah meant business; this is his vow of praise. It’s one thing to confess our sins; it’s entirely another to do something about them. Both chapters one and two end with sacrifice and vows. Jonah is at last brought to the point the Gentile sailors had already reached. Jonah agrees to obey God’s call.
Jonah speaks of “worthless idols” in verse 8, . “Worthless idols” could be translated, “vain, empty vanities”. People throw away any hope of salvation by creating substitutes for God. We may not think we are idolaters, yet idolatry is any worthless endeavor we take on apart from trust in God. We may be bowing to the idols of ambition, greed, comfort, and pleasure. Then he mentions “the grace that could be theirs”, admitting that the Gentiles were savable. Jonah re-enlisted in God’s service, renewing his commitment to his prophetic office in verse 9 with a song of thanks.
The prophet admitted in verse 9, “Salvation comes from the Lord.” The word “comes” could also be translated “belongs”. This is the theme of the entire Bible and the key verse of this book. Salvation is a gift, and God is not obligated to limit it to those we may think deserve it. Jonah’s attitude in chapter one was, “I’m not going to be a part of God saving the Ninevites.” God has miraculously saved Jonah from drowning, and he is brought to understand that God is sovereign in salvation.
It’s as if God were saying to Jonah: “Salvation is Mine to give--I give it to whomever I choose. I gave it to you. If I choose to save the Ninevites, that’s none of your business.” “Salvation is possible only because God makes it possible”. God chooses to reach out to people who aren’t reaching back. He accepts and entitles the undeserving. “God loves us not because of who we are and what we have done, but because of who He is” (Phillip Yancy).
In verse 10, the fish obediently spews up this indigestible prophet. Many scholars believe that Jonah was brought back to Joppa. “Return to GO”. I think that Jonah’s arrival back at Joppa was likely during “rush hour”, in other words, in full view of everyone…so that, by the time he arrived in Ninevah, news of his miraculous deliverance would have preceded him, adding credibility and considerable weight to his message.
The most terrifying aspect of Jonah’s plight is when he realized that God almost gave him what he wanted--to be free from Him. Jonah wanted to run from God. The implications of separation brought Jonah to repentance. He rejected God, and it looked as though God was about to reject him! Jonah was unwilling to say “Thy will be done.” In the waters of the Mediterranean he realized the awful significance of hearing God say to him: “All right then—your will be done.”
If we try to run from God He may grant our wish for awhile, but we’ll never want it. The belly of a fish wasn’t a pleasant place to live, but it was a good place to learn.
Jonah returned to God, not as someone expecting special privileges, but as a rebel in need of forgiveness. In the depths of the sea he discarded his pride. The highest moment of our life is the moment when we kneel in the dust and turn to God, confessing our sins. May we seek the same mercy that rescued and forgave the prophet Jonah.
In Christ,
Brown
A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.
John Keats
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.
John Keats
How women have changed
The following is from an actual 1950's Home Economics textbook intended for High School girls, teaching them how to prepare for married life.
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal - on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
3. Clear away clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.
4. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
6. Some DON'TS: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
7. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lay down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his need to be home and relax.
10. The Goal: try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.
Now the updated version for the 90's woman
1. Have dinner ready. Make reservations ahead of time. If your day becomes too hectic just leave him a voice mail message regarding where you'd like to eat and at what time. This lets him know that your day has been crappy and gives him an opportunity to change your mood.
2. Prepare yourself. A quick stop at the "LANCOME" counter on your way home will do wonders for your outlook and will keep you from becoming irritated every time he opens his mouth. (Don't forget to use his credit card !)
3. Clear away the clutter. Call the housekeeper and tell her that any miscellaneous items left on the floor by the children can be placed in the Goodwill box in the garage.
4. Prepare the children. Send the children to their rooms to watch television or play Nintendo. After all, both of them are from his previous marriages.
5. Minimize the noise: If you happen to be home when he arrives, be in the bathroom with the door locked.
6. Some DON'TS: Don't greet him with problems and complaints. Let him speak first, and then your complaints will get more attention and remain fresh in his mind throughout dinner. Don't complain if he's late for dinner, simply remind him that the leftovers are in the fridge and you left the dishes for him to do.
7. Make him comfortable: Tell him where he can find a blanket if he's cold. This will really show you care.
8. Listen to him: But don't ever let him get the last word.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or other places of entertainment; go with a friend or go shopping use his credit card). Familiarize him with the phrase "Girls' Night Out!"
10. The Goal: Try to keep things amicable without reminding him that he only thinks the world revolves around him. Obviously he's wrong, it revolves around you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
