The Absolute Truth

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6)

One of the biggest lies of Satan and of the lies of the world is, "You're okay. I'm okay. We can make it on our own."

But the truth is that we're not okay without Jesus. The Bible tells us that "there is none righteous, no not one." (Romans 3:10).

Please don't get so tied up with this world and it's alluring things that those things draw you away from God.

Don't get so tied up with what you want that what God wants for you doesn't matter.

This world doesn't have a permanent dwelling place for Christians. We're foreigners here... only passing through. That's the truth.

Jesus said, " I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am , there you may be also." (John 14:3)

That sounds to me like He's not going to leave us here. Why would I want what this world has to offer when I'm going to that better place with Jesus someday?

Jesus said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post from my husband and fellow Pastor, Greg Bishop.

This is My Prayer

Bless me, heavenly Father,
forgive my erring ways,

Grant me strength to serve Thee,
put purpose in my days ...

Give me understanding,
enough to make me kind

So I may judge all people
with my heart and not my mind ...

And teach me to be patient
in everything I do,

Content to trust Your Wisdom
and to follow after You ...

And help me when I falter
and hear me when I pray

And receive me in Thy Kingdom
to dwell with Thee some day.

...Helen Steiner Rice

Finally Back Online!

Just a quick note to let you know why the Christian Daily Blog hasn't been updated in awhile... I have been without an ISP for over four weeks! And believe me, it's been rough. ;o) My husband and I just moved to a small town and they are very backed up on DSL installations.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you, and I hope you'll get back in the habit of reading now that I'm back online. In fact, why don't you Subscribe in the box to the right so you'll know when the site is updated?

Thanks for reading! Watch for a new post later today.

God Does Know Best

I am human and admit I have gotten impatient with God. I have often made a request and wanted an answer right then and there!

I believe God sometimes answers our prayers with “Wait” or “Not yet” and I can interpret that as Him being silent… Being that He has a complete view of my past, present, and future, He knows exactly how each and every choice or action I make will affect me and impact those around me.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8, NIV)

He hears my prayers and wants to give blessings and show His wonders, yet He knows that what I think would good for me now could really demolish my life tomorrow or a year from now. He doesn’t want to bring anything into my life that would wreak havoc or produce turmoil, and therefore says “wait” or “not yet” for my benefit.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

It would be easy for me to take matters into my own hands and try to make something happen on my own after God says to wait. If I do though, I’m headed for disaster. I must trust His judgment. How can I think I know more than God?

Guest post by Heather Phillips, wife, mother of four, and along with her husband, the owner of Lenoir City Computers in Lenoir City, Tennessee. Feel free to share your thoughts...

Reverent Worship

I know I'm from the "Old School" so I tend to expect reverence when we enter what we call the sanctuary. A place where we meet to fellowship together, to hear the word of God read and expounded upon. A place to sing and praise, a place to testify to the grace and goodness of our Heavenly Father.

Some congregations are quiet, some get rather loud, some sing traditional songs, some sing contemporary songs.To me, it doesn't really matter what your style or methods are as long as God is honored. That's what reverence is.

But reverence is about more than a physical building. Reverence is about our life itself.

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4:23, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." (NKJV)

Jesus made this statement when questioned about a place to worship. I've already stated my position on reverence at the place we choose to worship. But consider this: We Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit. WE are the house He dwells in. When we gather in worship, the Holy Spirit joins us. If we gather for worship.

In our tradition, we say, "It's good to be in God's house today." Consider this, if you will: Jesus is with us all day every day. Why not wake up every day and say, "Jesus, I'm glad you chose to live in me today. Live your life through me and guide me in each step I take." That's reverence.

When we honor Him in that way - with our very life - He will give us a renewed understanding of His wonderful presence. But we must allow Him, and even invite Him, to live through us.

Even our music attests to this belief. Remember the little chorus we sing: "Lord, prepare me, to be a sanctuary..."

My prayer today is this: "Lord, I will be your house to dwell in, live through me."

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post from my husband and fellow Pastor, Greg Bishop.

From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out

Nancy Twigg is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based author and friend whose work I've enjoyed for many years. I believe you will, too!

From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out
by Nancy Twigg

When most people think of simplifying, the first thing they think of is getting rid of clutter around the home or office. Cleaning out closets and drawers is definitely a part of simplifying, but true simplification goes far deeper than that. Clutter is much more than old magazines, outdated clothes, and kitchen gadgets you never use. Certainly those things are clutter, but from now on, think of clutter as any possession, habit, thought pattern, attitude or activity that fits into one of these three categories:

• Anything you don't need or use anymore
• Anything that doesn't fit or work for you like it used to
• Anything that doesn't add value and meaning to your life as it once did

Under this new definition, clutter is anything that complicates your life and stands in the way of simplicity. In the past, you may have only thought of clutter in terms of stuff: those size 8 jeans you hope to wear again someday or those unfinished projects in your garage. But let me share a secret with you. These kinds of unwanted and unneeded material possessions are only the tip of the iceberg! What about the multitude of commitments that cram-pack your schedule? What about the thoughts that jumble your mind and the spending habits that sabotage your finances? All of these things are clutter too, because they cause chaos and confusion.

When you think of clutter in this new light, you begin to see what a tremendous problem clutter truly is. You will also see that the root causes of this ugly clutter make the clutter itself look tame. Think about it. Why do you say yes to everyone who requests your time and services? Are you afraid that people won't like you if you say no? Do you feel the need to present a Super Mom image to the world?

What about those clothes you hold onto even though you know you will never wear them again? Are you afraid that if you get rid of them you will need them again someday? If you did happen to need them, do you doubt God's ability to provide more? And if you have a tendency to spend more than you can afford, ask yourself why you do that. Are you driven by feelings of discontentment or the need for instant gratification? Are you afraid that if you pass on a sale now you will never find a good price on that item again? These issues go much deeper than just having a messy desk or disorganized pantry. These are issues of the heart.

Clutter is a problem for anyone, but for Christians, it spells major trouble. Clutter does more than affect us physically and emotionally; it affects us spiritually because it keeps us from following Jesus fully. We simply cannot make room for Him when so many other things are in the way. The more we stay focused on the junk of this life, the less time and energy we have to focus on the important mattersGod and His plans for our lives.

Have you ever tried to lug an overstuffed suitcase through a crowded airport? Not an easy task, is it? No matter how hard you try, you simply cannot move quickly and efficiently when you're carrying a heavy load. Think of clutter as baggage, physical, emotional, and financial baggage that weighs you down and holds you back. Clutter is the heavy load that keeps many of us from maneuvering effectively through our lives. Our suitcases are filled with all kinds of deadweight: habits we need to give up, attitudes we've long since outgrown, activities and possessions that no longer serve a reasonable purpose. If we want to lighten the load, we have to get rid of some of the junk.

What keeps you from moving forward at a steady pace in your life? Undoubtedly the things that slow you down are some kind of clutter, clutter you want to get rid of for good. Maybe you struggle with physical clutter around your home. Try as you might, you cannot seem to get organized. Or maybe you want to get a handle on your finances. You are tired of making good money but having nothing to show for it. Or maybe yours is an issue with time. You are tired of living at warp speed. You want to stop running and start living.

Whatever clutter challenges you face, trust me when I say you can learn to clarify your life by putting clutter in its place. I know because I have done it myself. My biggest clutter challenge was not dealing with cluttered living spaces or even cluttered finances. My challenge was to open up my emotional suitcase and go through its contents carefully. When I did, I discovered all kinds of clutter lurking inside. I found worry and doubt. I uncovered a faulty self-image and an inability to set appropriate boundaries. I even found an unhealthy preoccupation with what others thought of me. It was a painful process, but necessary. One by one, I learned to trade in these old clunkers for the more efficient models God offered.

I'm not saying I have it all together. Believe me, I don't. I'm not saying I never face challenges. But I have come to a place of clarity and life is much more pleasant now that I have. Is my life perfect? No, but it is much more peaceful and purposeful. And isn't that what we all want to live in peace as we live out our purpose?

----------
Nancy Twigg is an author and speaker who loves inspiring women to live more simply. To learn more about Nancy's speaking and writing ministry, visit her online at http://www.keepitsimplesister.com

Article Source: Faith Writers

Seeds in the Garden

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; (Mark 4:26)

I planted a garden this year. In early February, I planted potatoes and onions, and green English peas. In early March, I planted corn, squash, green beans, and watermelons. First, I had to prepare the seedbed, then I had to make the rows, put the seed in the soil, and apply fertilizer. After I labored doing these tasks, I had to sit back and wait to see if the seeds I planted would spring forth from the soil.

The Lord sent a good rain, and some sunny days that warmed the soil. Being kind of impatient, I scratched the earth where I had planted corn, and discovered that many of the seeds I planted were planted too deep. I went to the seed store, bought more seed and replanted.

Early this morning, I went to the garden alone to see how many seeds had sprang forth. Lo and behold, most all of the seeds had produced a plant. I could clearly see the results of my labor! Potato leaves shining brightly, little corn stalks, green beans peeking their small ears through the warm earth, tiny watermelon plants stretching forth to the sun, and peas and squash making their appearance. Most all of the seeds I had planted, from the large potato seeds to the small pea seed, had taken root and were growing! My labor had not been in vain!

This earthly garden gives one a sense of God's presence, and of His infinite wisdom...who but God can grow a plant from a tiny seed? The Bible speaks of sewing seeds, spiritual seeds, into the Lord's kingdom. After awhile, the seed will germinate, if planted in the right kind of "soil", and produce a human plant for God. Planting seeds in a earthly garden is labor intensive. So is planting seeds for a heavenly garden. In both cases, all we can do is labor, and only God can give the increase!

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. (Mark 4:27-28)

----------
Article © 2008 by Irvin L. Rozier, author of My Walk with the Lord, US Army, Chaplain of American Legion Post 181. Visit his song and video sites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lseFgH7XumU
http://www.youtube.com/user/walkin2e

Article Source: Faith Writers