The Encourager Newsletter - Volume 3 Issue 48 - More on Daily... - This Isn't Home - 2009.11.05

More on Daily….

James, the half brother of Jesus became known as Camel Knee James. He prayed so much that his knees developed calluses like a camel. He became highly respected as the leader of the Jerusalem church and this respect flowed out to the dispersed Saints who were scattered in many places.

While there are four men in the New Testament known as James, the Jews regarded him as the James. I just typed into Google: "Camel knee James" and got about 7,650,000 locations for finding out more about "Camel knee James." We Christians should not forget the James. He's a tough act to follow.

He grew up in the carpenter's home with his older half-brother, Jesus. Like his brothers, he did not believe that his half brother, Jesus, was the promised Jewish messiah until the end of Christ's earthly ministry and particularly after his resurrection from the dead. Josephus the first-century Jewish historian, records that James was martyred about A.D. 62.

Without the Bible saying so, we may conclude that James' knees became callused from daily kneeling on his knees. It is also reasonable to conclude that James knew deep in his heart that yesterday's prayers would not suffice for today and that he could not pray enough today so that he would not need to pray again tomorrow. James prayed daily. When I get to Heaven I want to see James…at a distance. I'm not going to run up to him and blurt out: "Hi James…ol' buddy!" Not me. He might say "Show me your knees!"

James had this to say about time and what we should expect to become upon this earth: Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that (James 4:13-15). James may have read the next verses before he wrote his book.

Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1), and

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

Perhaps we do not think about every day having to be made. But, today has never been here before and when it is over it will never be back again. Our circumstances are certainly different each day. Everything changes so much each day that no two days can possibly be alike. Babies are born and breathing today that did not do so yesterday. Thousands of people are not alive today that were alive yesterday.

Jesus taught us to pray: Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). If the famous grandfather clock had to do all of its 90 years of ticking and striking in one day, it would have burned out the first day and the heat might have burned down the house. As the popular song says: "One day at a time, dear Jesus…"

How gracious of the Lord to write for us: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34).

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep (Psalm 127.2).

Is it possible that you are losing sleep over some things that you shouldn't be losing sleep over? This may seem like a radical, far-fetched idea, but are you losing sleep over some things that you should be turning over to the Lord so you can turn over in bed and think about tomorrow after the sun comes up?

Do at least one thing every day that you have been putting off forever because you just dread thinking about it. The only problem with that is that after a while you will run out of things you had been dreading to do and that will be quite a mess to be in. Well, do that dreaded thing anyway. Run the risk and you will lighten your load. And do at least one thing that you really enjoy doing but only after you have done the "dreaded thing". And have a good day! Ω

This Isn't Home — Barbara Carr

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (John 14:2-4)

As all of you have read, we call the distance from our home in Flat Rock to our home in Southern Pines our 475 mile driveway. Home? What is home? The place where we live; where we are comfortable; where we feel like we belong. Home is a happy place filled with love. Let's not get too comfortable because life is short even if we live a long life.

In the verses above Jesus was talking to His disciples. He is going to leave them. He is going to live with His Father where there are many mansions. He tells them He is going to prepare a place for them. Where He is going they can come also. Do you realize that means you and me? Jesus is preparing a place for us!

If you have read my stories, you know I have never had anything close to a mansion. I love our little house here in Flat Rock and I love our little apartment in Southern Pines. BUT, I do so look forward to my home in Heaven. When we arrive in Heaven something wonderful will happen to us. We will be transformed to be like Jesus. That's what I'm longing for— not the mansion. Just to be in His presence and be like Him will be wonderful! We will be able to recognize, yes, to know and be with our loved ones.

Our earthly father's home is always a welcoming beacon. We love to go there, enjoy the food and fellowship. When our parents go to Heaven we children try to fill that gap by organizing get-togethers, reunions and homecomings. Yet, there is always a little sadness there because some of our loved ones are missing. Our joy comes from knowing the verses above. Look at verse 3b. 'That where I am, there ye may be also."

We have all stayed in houses/rooms where we didn't feel at home—dorms, motels, barracks, etc. It is just not like being at home. There are people that just don't feel at home anywhere here on earth. Usually, it's because they don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are looking for something to fill the void in their lives. The indwelling Spirit of God is the answer. Long term, down the road, Heaven is the answer.

The Bible doesn't give us a clear picture of Heaven and I'm sure it's for God's own good reasons.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1Co 13:12). Revelation 21:18-23 describes Heaven, but I don't believe our finite minds can comprehend how Heaven will really look.

My son, Doug died November 30, 1981. My only help came from the Lord. My family was a comfort, but they were grieving too. You cannot go through those months of grieving without the Heavenly Father sustaining you. During this time a dear friend of mine sent me the book "Within the Gates" written by Rebecca Springer published about 100 years ago. At the beginning of the book Mrs. Springer states that during a dreadful illness she dreamed of the story in the book. She then tells of her visit to Heaven and describes the scenes she saw while there. It was probably a dream. Certainly nothing that would add to the Bible or contradict it.

As she describes Heaven, it will surely make you want to be there with all your heart. It was such a comfort to me. It's just a dream but it has stimulated many people to think about Heaven. Some say it is too simple to be Heaven. I am a simple person. It filled my needs at that time.

In the book: If you had a talent on earth, in Heaven it would be magnificent. For example my earthly father was a carpenter. In Heaven, he would still be able to use his craft to build homes for those who are coming, but his skills would be way beyond what he could do on earth. If you were a musician or had a beautiful singing voice on earth, in Heaven you would be a master of music, etc. We can only imagine what it's going to be like. We cannot go beyond what the Lord has told us.

The book said the saints know when a loved is about to come home and they got ready for their coming. Daddy died May 11, 1981. Doug loved Daddy so much and Daddy loved him like a son. I have always believed our Heavenly Father called Daddy home, so he would be there when Doug arrived in November. Doug was saved when he was twelve and rededicated his life when he was sixteen. I believe he was saved. But during college days he strayed. I believe Jesus made intercession for him with the Father saying: "He has lost his way; I'll go get him."

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (Luk 15:4-6) Hallelujah! This isn't our home. Our real home is in Heaven—a new home and a new body. I don't look forward to a long sickness/disease before death, but I do look forward to Heaven. Ω

The Encourager Newsletter - Volume 3 Issue 46 - Daily and Stuff - 2009.10.23

Daily….

Everything God does to transform a pound of seed into a harvest of ripe golden grain, He does it daily. Transforming a few tomato seeds into delicious red slices for a sandwich is done daily. Acorn to giant oak tree is done by daily changes we cannot see. The development of a baby from conception to a beautiful baby in the nursery is done by daily changes. Everything we do that's worthwhile will have to be done daily.

"Daily" occurs 62 times in the Bible. God made the earth and the universe daily….six of them. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it (Exodus 20:11). If God did not make the earth and heaven in six days, then we have a Moses problem. Not only so but Jesus certified Moses as a prophet of God by his writings and his appearance with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration long after he had died, along with Elijah who has not yet died.

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, (Deuteronomy 34:10)

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me (Luke 24:44).

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: (Luke 9:30).

If Moses' words are not true, including his words about God making the earth and the heaven in six days, then we also have a Jesus problem as well as a Moses problem. It could be that we have a Darwin problem who never did anything outstanding but write a book: The Origen of Species. Behe wrote a good commentary on Darwin in Darwin's Black Box. So, whose book shall we accept by faith?

The Bible claims that God made the earth and the heavens….daily….six days. The Old Testament worship system of the Jews is based on that claim, particularly the Jewish Sabbath.

God did not rest because He was tired. He rested in the sense of ceasing His work, stopping what He was doing. Some of our well-intentioned leaders, even Bible believers, have bowed before the religious priests of evolution to accommodate their unfounded assertion of a dateless past of billions of years. These scared Bible believers have earned nothing but the evolutionist's contempt and scoffing.

Without a six-day creation the weekly Jewish Sabbath has no basis. The Sabbath was ordered by the Lord Himself to commemorate God's six-day creation. (Exo_31:13-17.) Most Christians observe The Lord's Day to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. The Lord's Day is not the Jewish Sabbath. The days are not the same but they are similar.

The work week has been studied to death to try to find the ideal number of work days. Every test that's run shows that the ideal mixture of work days and rest days is to rest one day in seven and maintain the cycle.

God knows a lot about making stuff and how to make it work. He's the expert on efficiency.

Whether you believe God made the earth and the heavens in six days as the Bible says, or whether you believe in a dateless past of billions of years, you were not there to watch it being done and you are shut up to the unavoidable proposition of taking it by faith. A dateless past of billions of years is not more scientific than the Bible's six-day creation. Sorry if you are offended. If you are an evolutionist, you are an evolutionist by faith because all you have to go on is what someone told you or what you read in a book.

OR…perhaps the Bible restricts your lifestyle, especially your sexual life style (as was admitted by Huxley) and that's your game. Everyone who has anything to say about the past is a person of faith. The past does not walk into a laboratory to be examined. A growing number of Ph.D.'s believe the Bible gives the best explanation of how everything got here. The Bible is also the best book to point to the future and how to live the unchartered present of "daily."

We are to pray for daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Jesus taught daily in the Temple (Luke 19:47) and the disciples taught daily in the Temple and house to house (Acts 5:42). We are to exhort one another daily:

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13). Have a good….day.

Stuff: Letting It Go

---Barbara Carr

A friend was very sick and wasn't expected to live long. She was a Christian, a good woman, in church as long as she was able and raised her children to love the Lord. Dan and I were visiting her one day and she made this statement. "I am ready to go home to Heaven, but I hate to leave my stuff." There is a side to this that I can understand. Would someone else love and take care of her antiques and hand crafted quilts as she had? How important is our "stuff" to us?

"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he." (Ecc 6:1-3)

Solomon was disturbed about the evil he had seen under the sun, the evil in this world. It was a silent, subtle evil. He had about 100 children, but his soul was not satisfied. He was not able to enjoy his wealth. He worried that he would have no burial. A traditional Jewish funeral would have many people mourning and weeping. If the family couldn't get enough mourners and weepers, they hired them. Solomon was a very rich man—wives, children, lands, houses, horses, and chariots; lots of "stuff". Yet, he was wondering about his funeral. Stuff cannot be a substitute for love.

"All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?" (Ecc 6:7-8)

Our appetite for stuff is out of control. I don't deny I like my stuff and want more stuff. When I run low on stuff, I go to a yard sale and build up my supply. At the present we want a GPS. What do you think? It's a good tool for traveling; being warned of stalled traffic ahead; finding gas at the best price and where to eat. Don't you think we need a GPS? Almost every family has at least two televisions, two cars or more, telephones galore and the list goes on.

We just love our stuff. But how much is enough? When should we put "stuff" on a credit card? Credit cards can be a useful tool to eliminate having to carry money with you and to keep records for you but it is a monstrous tyrant if you don't pay it off every month.

In these verses Solomon is trying to give us lessons on what he has learned in life. He says many times "all is vanity." He is trying to give us a wakeup call.

"For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?" (Ecc 6:12)

Our inner man cannot be satisfied with the stuff of this world. A man can have a good job, a nice home and a fine family and still feel like a failure, because he cannot get enough stuff. Children have a mountain of stuff, yet they are bored. We walk between two opposing values:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17) In contrast….

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15)

"Stuff" can become an idol and then it is a sin problem. "Stuff" can be a great blessing but it is a terrible master and god. No amount of stuff can pay for and forgive our sin. Jesus Christ died for our sin and paid our sin debt. That's worth more than all our "stuff" put together. God has a plan for our life. He knows our past, present and future. Stuff cannot secure our future. Only God knows the future. What do you want/desire out of life? We can't live well if our life is dominated by stuff, because we can never get enough.

Solomon had it all, but his soul wasn't satisfied. Let's clean up our life. Let's desire the things God wants to desire and be thankful in our hearts for everything we have that has come from His hands.

"Follow after charity (love), and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." (1Co 14:1)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal 5:22-23)

This is what God desires from us as His children. We can't produce the fruit of the Spirit. Denying ourselves and surrendering to the Spirit of God is not always easy, but we need to work hard in that direction. We don't want to come to the end of life with lots of "stuff" like Solomon did and have the regrets he did. God fills all of our needs and gives us most of our wants. We need to be thankful for the beautiful, useful things He gives us. But "stuff" must not own us nor come before our love for the Lord. Ω