Your success in life's race depends on your reason for running. One of Aesop's fables tells of a dog that stumbled upon a hare. Swift and determined, the hound chased the hare over many miles. Finally, the hound gave up in exhaustion. Seeing the race, a by-stander praised the hero-hare. He mocked the loser. Indignantly the hound replied, "You forget that it is one thing to run for your dinner and another to run for your life."
Many people are "running for their dinner." They are smart and driven. Yet they are pursuing just one more job to pay the bills. Their highest goal is to provide for the body's needs and pleasures. "'Let us eat and drink,' you say, 'for tomorrow we die!'" While this quote sounds like a beer commercial, it actually comes from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (22:13). He is describing a pervasive view of life in both his day and our own. As many discover the hard way, this worn out view of life is empty and meaningless.
Our bodies will fail and fail far too soon. "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). What business person would invest in a market he knows to be rapidly and finally declining? Yet that same shrewd investor forgets the greatest truth about profit and loss. "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
Jesus encourages you in your search when he advises, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life" (John 6:27). Don't run for your dinner, run for your life!
While on earth, food was about the last thing on the mind of Jesus. He begins His special work by fasting for forty days (Luke 4:2). Later, He turns down the offer of a much-needed meal. Why? "My food," He answers, "is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work" (John 4:34).
The will of God! This alone fills and satisfies Jesus. He craves soul satisfaction as a starving man craves food. He calls us to have this same priority in our lives: "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:31-33).
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Healing Through Scripture (Pt. 3)
There is a healing for every problem,affliction, heartache and pain....
I have many issues in my life that I have to and have,healed from. I talk to many people that seem so unhealthy and unhappy as they battle everything from satan to grave illnesses. I want to feel good and be enriched through the grace of God- I know you do to! Here are a few issuses many of us,or loved ones might be dealing with. I encourage you to take these scriptures and 'pray-read' them-(using the scriptures as you pray to the Lord). This is a powerful form of healing that connects us to the Father and heaven. We all need healing and no one is better at granting it unto you,than God!
1. Back Problems Luke 13:11-12
2. Diabetes Psalm 107:20, Jeremiah 33:6
3. Eyes Isaiah 35:5,42:16& Mark 8:23,Deut 34:7
4. Feet 1 Samuel 2:9, Psalm 116:8,Proverb 3:23
5. Fire/Flood Isaiah 43:2
** Make a liar out of the devil who has tried to trap you and/or loved ones into thinking there is no way out to your problems,conflicts and suffering- God bless you all!
I have many issues in my life that I have to and have,healed from. I talk to many people that seem so unhealthy and unhappy as they battle everything from satan to grave illnesses. I want to feel good and be enriched through the grace of God- I know you do to! Here are a few issuses many of us,or loved ones might be dealing with. I encourage you to take these scriptures and 'pray-read' them-(using the scriptures as you pray to the Lord). This is a powerful form of healing that connects us to the Father and heaven. We all need healing and no one is better at granting it unto you,than God!
1. Back Problems Luke 13:11-12
2. Diabetes Psalm 107:20, Jeremiah 33:6
3. Eyes Isaiah 35:5,42:16& Mark 8:23,Deut 34:7
4. Feet 1 Samuel 2:9, Psalm 116:8,Proverb 3:23
5. Fire/Flood Isaiah 43:2
** Make a liar out of the devil who has tried to trap you and/or loved ones into thinking there is no way out to your problems,conflicts and suffering- God bless you all!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Scribes,Pharisees, & Sadducees
Read the following to figure out who the scribes,pharisees, and sadducees
Scribes where, their purpose and what role they played in the life of Jesus his apostles
In the days of the Hebrews monarchy this was the title of a court official, a secretary of state (2 Sam. 8: 17; 2 Kgs. 12: 10; 2 Kgs. 18: 18). After the captivity we find the title given to Ezra (Ezra 7: 6, 21) and to others who acted as teachers of the law. Scribes are frequently mentioned in the N.T., being sometimes called lawyers. It was their business to develop the law in detail and apply it to the circumstances of their time; hence grew up the oral or traditional law side by side with the written law. Their method of teaching was catechetical. Their aim was to reproduce and teach others to reproduce accurately the words of the wise (hence the office is a symbol of fidelity in instruction, Matt. 13: 52). The scribes never taught on their own authority (contrast with this the Lord’s method, Matt. 7: 29).
Pharisees
A religious party among the Jews. The name denotes separatists. They prided themselves on their strict observance of the law, and on the care with which they avoided contact with things gentile. Their belief included the doctrine of immortality and resurrection of the body and the existence of angels and spirits. They upheld the authority of oral tradition as of equal value with the written law. The tendency of their teaching was to reduce religion to the observance of a multiplicity of ceremonial rules, and to encourage self-sufficiency and spiritual pride
Sadducees
A party or caste among the Jews. The name is probably derived from Zadok, the high priest in Solomon’s time. The party consisted of old high-priestly families who came to the front during the Maccabean war. They formed the Jewish aristocracy, and were powerful though quite small in numbers. In their treatment of religious questions they held to the letter of the Mosaic revelation and denied the authority of ancient tradition; they taught complete freedom of the will in moral action; they were opposed to the Pharisees as to the belief in angels and spirits; they refused also to accept the doctrine of immortality as a necessary part of the Jewish faith. It was through their influence that Greek culture spread in Israel. Their opposition to our Lord was the result of his action in cleansing the temple, which they regarded as an infringement of their rights. They opposed the work of the apostles because they preached the resurrection (Acts 4: 1-3; cf. Mark 12: 18-27; Acts 23: 7-8).
Scribes where, their purpose and what role they played in the life of Jesus his apostles
In the days of the Hebrews monarchy this was the title of a court official, a secretary of state (2 Sam. 8: 17; 2 Kgs. 12: 10; 2 Kgs. 18: 18). After the captivity we find the title given to Ezra (Ezra 7: 6, 21) and to others who acted as teachers of the law. Scribes are frequently mentioned in the N.T., being sometimes called lawyers. It was their business to develop the law in detail and apply it to the circumstances of their time; hence grew up the oral or traditional law side by side with the written law. Their method of teaching was catechetical. Their aim was to reproduce and teach others to reproduce accurately the words of the wise (hence the office is a symbol of fidelity in instruction, Matt. 13: 52). The scribes never taught on their own authority (contrast with this the Lord’s method, Matt. 7: 29).
Pharisees
A religious party among the Jews. The name denotes separatists. They prided themselves on their strict observance of the law, and on the care with which they avoided contact with things gentile. Their belief included the doctrine of immortality and resurrection of the body and the existence of angels and spirits. They upheld the authority of oral tradition as of equal value with the written law. The tendency of their teaching was to reduce religion to the observance of a multiplicity of ceremonial rules, and to encourage self-sufficiency and spiritual pride
Sadducees
A party or caste among the Jews. The name is probably derived from Zadok, the high priest in Solomon’s time. The party consisted of old high-priestly families who came to the front during the Maccabean war. They formed the Jewish aristocracy, and were powerful though quite small in numbers. In their treatment of religious questions they held to the letter of the Mosaic revelation and denied the authority of ancient tradition; they taught complete freedom of the will in moral action; they were opposed to the Pharisees as to the belief in angels and spirits; they refused also to accept the doctrine of immortality as a necessary part of the Jewish faith. It was through their influence that Greek culture spread in Israel. Their opposition to our Lord was the result of his action in cleansing the temple, which they regarded as an infringement of their rights. They opposed the work of the apostles because they preached the resurrection (Acts 4: 1-3; cf. Mark 12: 18-27; Acts 23: 7-8).
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