Ezekiel 11:19 - I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh.
The story is told of a little boy who was walking along the beach at low tide, picking up every starfish he came to, and throwing it back into the ocean. A man approached him and asked, "young man, why are you wasting time with those starfish? There are so many stranded on the beach that you can not possibly make a difference with the few you save." The boy reached down, grabbed another starfish, and flung it back out into the ocean. Then he looked at the man and said, "It made a difference to that one."
When you work with people, whether it be in social services, church work, or otherwise, there are times when you ask yourself, "Am I really making a difference?" I'm sure we've all spent time, money, and energy trying to help someone who would not let us help them. For whatever reason, they just can't seem to make the changes that we know they need to make. There is so much suffering in the world and much of it is brought on by bad choices that people make. If we are not careful, these situations can make us indifferent to the suffering of others. We might be tempted to think that there is nothing we can do so why bothering trying. But there are always people out there who will let us help them. It is usually when we think that we are not making a difference, that we are doing the greatest good.
Lord Jesus, help us to not get hardened to the problems of humanity. Let us see everyone we meet as a soul for whom you died on the cross of Calvary. Help me to remember not to judge a situation before its time. As a wise man once said, If I err, let me err on the side of love.
Prayerfully Yours,
Sullivan Jones
4/10/13
4/7/13
Libraries - Our greatest Resource
I don't know about you but I like to read. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking us to the library. Even today there is little I enjoy more than to sit down with a good book. Through books I have been able to see the Sahara and the windslept slopes of Pantagonia, South America. I have seen the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the horrors of the Holocaust: all of this without ever leaving my armchair. In some older books there is still a book card indicating that the book belongs to the public library. I always enjoy a book with a book card because it makes a handy page marker. At the top of one of the book cards I recently saw the words, "libraries - your greatest bargain." How true it is; one can learn almost anything from a book.
There is one book, however, that is more important than all others and, at the same time, it is the most neglected. Almost all of us have several copies in the home. It is still the most purchased book in the English language. It is especially popular to give as a graduation or wedding present. It is called the Bible. What makes this books so important? Let's take a look.
The Bible is actually a collection of books, 66 to be exact. It was written over a period of more than 1600 years, by more than 40 people, on three different continents and in three different languages. Yet is is amazingly uniform. There is not one discrepancy that can not be quickly rectified by looking at the original languages. It has proven to be scientifically, historically, and archaeologically correct time and time again. It can be trusted.
The Bible is not only historically accurate, but it speaks to us personally as well. It gives sound advice on everything from finances to romance to familial relationships. It teaches us how we should care for our bodies and what to do when we have been wronged. It does not hide anything from us. Its pages contain stories of people at their best and at their worst. It tells of grand adventures and of deadly betrayals. Indeed it is so real to life that almost no subject is taboo within its pages. God's word tells it all.
The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is easily accessible by almost anyone. If the words of the King James Version are too antiquated for one to understand, there are a variety of other versions available and they all tell the same story. It is the story of a king who lost his bride and went to great depths to get her back again. It is the story of God's unending love for humanity. It is the greatest story ever told and yet every word of it is true.
If you like to travel, open the Bible. If you like mysteries and scandals, open the Bible. If you like Romance novels, open the Bible. There is something in its pages for everyone. But beware! Once you read it, you will will never be the same.
Travel the universe - Read the Bible!
There is one book, however, that is more important than all others and, at the same time, it is the most neglected. Almost all of us have several copies in the home. It is still the most purchased book in the English language. It is especially popular to give as a graduation or wedding present. It is called the Bible. What makes this books so important? Let's take a look.
The Bible is actually a collection of books, 66 to be exact. It was written over a period of more than 1600 years, by more than 40 people, on three different continents and in three different languages. Yet is is amazingly uniform. There is not one discrepancy that can not be quickly rectified by looking at the original languages. It has proven to be scientifically, historically, and archaeologically correct time and time again. It can be trusted.
The Bible is not only historically accurate, but it speaks to us personally as well. It gives sound advice on everything from finances to romance to familial relationships. It teaches us how we should care for our bodies and what to do when we have been wronged. It does not hide anything from us. Its pages contain stories of people at their best and at their worst. It tells of grand adventures and of deadly betrayals. Indeed it is so real to life that almost no subject is taboo within its pages. God's word tells it all.
The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is easily accessible by almost anyone. If the words of the King James Version are too antiquated for one to understand, there are a variety of other versions available and they all tell the same story. It is the story of a king who lost his bride and went to great depths to get her back again. It is the story of God's unending love for humanity. It is the greatest story ever told and yet every word of it is true.
If you like to travel, open the Bible. If you like mysteries and scandals, open the Bible. If you like Romance novels, open the Bible. There is something in its pages for everyone. But beware! Once you read it, you will will never be the same.
Travel the universe - Read the Bible!
4/5/13
God Is
Exodus 3:14 - God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.
I have often heard the adage "it is what it is." This is usually expressed when something is not as it should be. The expression in itself might seem to be a statement of praticality. If we can't change something then we should just work with what we have and not "cry over spilt milk" to borrow another expression. Leave the past in the past and go forward. I'm sure there are times when the expression fits.
However, there are times when we shouldn't just accept things as they are. There are situations in our life that need to be changed. Maybe it is a recurring ailment that keeps one feeling both spiritually and physically drained. Perhaps it is a battle with depression that one can't seem to conquer. It might be a spiritual bondage from which you have give up hope of ever being free. Whatever the problem, "it is what it is" is not the answer.
In the Old Testament God introduced himself to Moses as "I am who I am." Moses wanted to know God's name because he wanted some assurance that God could do what he said he was going to do. God's only answer was, "I am." God's Old Testament name, "JEHOVAH", actually is a form of the verb "to be". Whatever Moses needed, God was the answer.
In the same way, God wants to be your answer today. Maybe you don't see how your situation can ever be any different; perhaps you have given up hope that you can change. If you are dealing with things in your life that aren't as they should be, they don't have to stay that way. Because God "IS WHO HE IS" things can be different.
Faith is expressing belief that because "GOD IS" my situations don't "have to be". If I give them to Jesus he can work them out. I am not talking about doing away with practicality and reason. I am suggesting that we don't let "reason" deprive us of a blessing. If God promised it I can have it, because HE IS.
In Faith,
Sullivan Jones
I have often heard the adage "it is what it is." This is usually expressed when something is not as it should be. The expression in itself might seem to be a statement of praticality. If we can't change something then we should just work with what we have and not "cry over spilt milk" to borrow another expression. Leave the past in the past and go forward. I'm sure there are times when the expression fits.
However, there are times when we shouldn't just accept things as they are. There are situations in our life that need to be changed. Maybe it is a recurring ailment that keeps one feeling both spiritually and physically drained. Perhaps it is a battle with depression that one can't seem to conquer. It might be a spiritual bondage from which you have give up hope of ever being free. Whatever the problem, "it is what it is" is not the answer.
In the Old Testament God introduced himself to Moses as "I am who I am." Moses wanted to know God's name because he wanted some assurance that God could do what he said he was going to do. God's only answer was, "I am." God's Old Testament name, "JEHOVAH", actually is a form of the verb "to be". Whatever Moses needed, God was the answer.
In the same way, God wants to be your answer today. Maybe you don't see how your situation can ever be any different; perhaps you have given up hope that you can change. If you are dealing with things in your life that aren't as they should be, they don't have to stay that way. Because God "IS WHO HE IS" things can be different.
Faith is expressing belief that because "GOD IS" my situations don't "have to be". If I give them to Jesus he can work them out. I am not talking about doing away with practicality and reason. I am suggesting that we don't let "reason" deprive us of a blessing. If God promised it I can have it, because HE IS.
In Faith,
Sullivan Jones
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