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nChrist
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A Little Help From Your Friends
«
Reply #375 on:
July 17, 2006, 10:47:28 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 17:11-12
A Little Help From Your Friends
Exodus 17:11-12
And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
A Little Help From Your Friends
Few things of importance come easy. Noah Webster worked 36 years on his dictionary, while Gibbon labored 26 years on his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. When Milton was writing Paradise Lost, he rose at 4:00 every morning to begin work. Plato wrote the first sentence of the Republic nine times before it was acceptable to him.
In the midst of challenging circumstances, it’s wonderful to have friends who will come along and give their help. Moses experienced such a blessing. The conflict with the Amalekites was a key battle. If the Israelites were defeated at such an early stage on their journey, they likely would become so discouraged that they would turn around and go back to Egypt. Victory was essential, but it wouldn’t come easy. The Israelites were winning only when Moses held up his hands in prayer. After hours in this position, however, his arms began to tire and defeat seemed a real possibility. That was when Aaron and Hur stepped in. With a little help from his friends, Moses was able to keep his hands held up until the enemy was thoroughly defeated.
Prayer is the key to victory, but it’s also hard work. Often our spirits, if not our hands, grow weary and we face the potential of defeat. That’s when we need other believers like Aaron and Hur to step in and lend their strength to our efforts. Praying with friends gives us renewed vigor.
Be sensitive to the opportunities to respond as Aaron and Hur did. Maybe there is someone today who needs you to lend your prayers to his efforts. God will lead you to that person; just make yourself available. Your strength may be essential for his victory.
Victory is never won alone.
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Write It Down
«
Reply #376 on:
July 17, 2006, 10:48:38 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 17:14
Write It Down
Exodus 17:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven."
Write it Down
Have you noticed how prone to forget we humans are? Abraham Lincoln observed about his own generation, "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and which multiplied, and enriched, and strengthened us."
God recognized that people have the habit of forgetting, so He instructed Moses to write down in a book what had taken place in the battle against the Amalekites. Furthermore, this was to be read to Joshua, the future leader of Israel, so he would be sure to remember as well. This victory would become a source of encouragement for Christians throughout history—all because it was written down.
Are you keeping a written account of the good things God has done for you? Is there a record of the victories that God has brought about in your life? Some people keep a daily spiritual diary; others record only special events. But in some fashion God’s blessings need to be committed to something more dependable than our faulty memories.
When you’re feeling discouraged, or perhaps even wondering if God loves you, take out your journal and refresh your memory. The entries in your journal can be a continuing source of encouragement for you. In addition, take the opportunity to share with your children or grandchildren what God has done for you. The God who has dealt with you so graciously in the past is the same God who wants to work in their lives as well.
The weakest ink is stronger than the greatest memory.
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His Banner Over Me
«
Reply #377 on:
July 18, 2006, 11:46:22 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 17:15-16 Matthew 28:20 John 1:14
His Banner Over Me
Exodus 17:15-16
And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, "Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
His Banner Over Me
Queen Elizabeth II of England has three royal residences (Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyrood) plus two private homes. This could be confusing for those who want to find her except for one important fact: the queen’s banner always flies over whichever residence she is currently occupying. If her banner of blue and gold is on the flagpole, the queen is sure to be present.
Moses also had a banner. After the battle with the army of Amalek, he built an altar and called it "The-Lord-Is-My-Banner." Moses wanted everyone to know that God was in residence with His people. Despite the attacks of the Amalekites, God would never desert the people of Israel. Generation after generation could look up and know that the Lord was present in their midst.
As Christians, we should raise the Lord’s banner over our lives. No matter how difficult our situation becomes, God will not abandon His residence in our midst. The apostle John declared, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). And Jesus said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). If the King is present, His banner should fly.
Is it obvious to those around you that the King is in residence in your life? Make sure that His flag, colored with faith, hope and love, flies high over the castle of your life. It’s a privilege to fly that banner; it’s a shame not to.
If the King is in residence, be sure to fly His flag.
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A Family Reunion
«
Reply #378 on:
July 21, 2006, 06:52:06 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 18:2-5 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
A Family Reunion
Exodus 18:2-5
Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom . . . and the name of the other was Eliezer . . . and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
A Family Reunion
Beau Arceneaux was 15 months old when he was kidnapped by his father and taken from Louisiana to live in Austin, Texas. Years later, as he visited a chat room on the Internet, a couple of people became curious about this boy who had no contact with his mother. So they informed the police. In December 1995, the FBI showed up at Beau’s home to tell him his mother had been searching for him for the past 12 years. On December 20, mother and son were joyfully reunited.
Have you ever been separated from your family? If you have ever been apart from your family for any length of time, you know how difficult it is. I was apart from my wife and children during my last semester of seminary while I was studying in France. I was thousands of miles away, living in a foreign country, knowing I would not see them for months. It wasn’t easy.
Moses also had been separated from his family. Zipporah, his wife of 40 years, and his two sons had been sent back to the land of Midian while he returned to Egypt to lead Israel to freedom. With that challenge behind him, Moses was ready to be reunited with his loved ones—and Jethro was gracious enough to bring this about. While Scripture gives no details, you can imagine what a joyful reunion it was.
As Christians we also have the joy of anticipating a very special reunion. Scripture says,
"And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Now that’s a family reunion! Someday we’ll experience a reunion that never ends. Hallelujah!
Christians never say "good-bye"; just "until we meet again."
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Respecting Your Elders
«
Reply #379 on:
July 21, 2006, 06:53:20 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 18:7-8
Respecting Your Elders
Exodus 18:7-8
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.
Respecting Your Elders
Rodney Dangerfield is the original "I don’t get no respect" man. No matter how hard he tries, to hear the comedian tell it, no one shows him any respect. Some of the elderly could voice the same complaint. As more people are living longer, they are becoming the victims of everything from physical abuse to con artists’ scams.
This differs significantly from the respect Moses showed his father-in-law. Even though Moses was the leader of a great host of people, he bowed before Jethro as a sign of humility and kissed him as a sign of affection. And in the midst of the many needs of a demanding people, he took time to share with Jethro all the events that had transpired since he had seen him last.
As we deal with the elderly, we must do so with patience and compassion. Most of them have made significant sacrifices to raise their families, to defend their country and to make an honest living. In their golden years they deserve to be treated with respect.
If you have elderly parents, take time to be involved in their lives. Listen to their stories (even if you’ve heard then a hundred times before); sympathize with their aches and pains; look for opportunities to make their lives a little easier. If your parents are no longer alive, perhaps there is an elderly neighbor or someone at church who could benefit from your attention. We are not judged by how we treat the strong and powerful but by how we respect the weak and helpless. Besides, having made an investment of time and interest in an elderly person, you may discover that the return on your investment was greater than the investment itself.
Treat the elderly as a nonrenewable resource; they are!
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Great is the Lord
«
Reply #380 on:
July 21, 2006, 06:54:36 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 18:10-11 Jeremiah 32:27 Psalm 121:1
Great is the Lord
Exodus 18:10-11
And Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them."
Great Is the Lord
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev once boasted that he would display the last Soviet Christian on television by 1965. Khrushchev is long dead; Christianity is more alive than ever in Russia. Karl Marx called a belief in God "the sign of the oppressed creature, the opium of the people." Marx also has gone to his eternal destiny, but the "opium" he spoke of continues to spread throughout the world. And so it has been. Leaders rise up, shake their fists at God, and then sink back into the oblivion from which they came. In the meantime, God continues to work out His plan for the world, undisturbed by their puny efforts against Him.
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, observed the same truth about Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. Arrogantly they had shaken their fists at God, but "He was above them." Like an ant trying to stop a locomotive, they challenged the Almighty and lost. Once again God proved "that the Lord is greater than all the gods."
Throughout history, God has demonstrated that He is greater than any person, any movement, or any situation. It is obvious why the psalmist could confidently boast, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps. 121:1). God Himself declares, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jer. 32:27).
If you are fearful about some godless person, some anti-Christian movement, or some threatening situation, remember where your help comes from. The God who is above all other gods will never be overwhelmed by your difficulties. The God who delivered Moses will deliver you as well. He’s just that kind of God.
Trouble never troubles God.
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The Test of a True Friend
«
Reply #381 on:
July 23, 2006, 02:57:51 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Proverbs 27:6 Exodus 18:14-17
The Test of a True Friend
Exodus 18:14, 17
So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?" So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good."
The Test of a True Friend
Antisthenes, the cynic philosopher, use to say, "There are only two people who will tell you the truth about yourself—an enemy who has lost his temper and a friend who loves you dearly." The true test of a friend is not how frequently he is with you but how honest he is with you.
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was a true friend. When he saw Moses wearing himself out doing something that others could do just as well, he plainly said, "The thing that you do is not good." His concern for his son-in-law’s health would not allow him to stay quiet.
Telling our friends the truth has its hazards because the truth often hurts. Their initial reaction may not be a positive one. Yet Scripture says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov. 27:6). The role of a faithful friend is not always an easy one.
If you find it necessary to share a potentially hurtful truth with your friend, approach the situation only after much prayer. Pray that your attitude would be one of humility and servanthood. Ask God to provide the right situation in which to share the truth. Seek wisdom in how to best express yourself so that what you say will be viewed by your friend as constructive rather than destructive. Pray, prepare, then just do it. Faithfulness is not gauged by your intentions but by your actions. You never help your friend with good intentions alone, but with good intentions that result in good actions.
A faithful friend is a truthful friend.
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Looking for Leadership
«
Reply #382 on:
July 23, 2006, 08:09:34 AM »
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 18:21
Looking for Leadership
Exodus 18:21
Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Looking for Leadership
In 1789 an uncertain George Washington was urged to seek the presidency by Governor Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Morris wrote Washington, "No constitution is the same on paper and in life. The exercise of authority depends upon personal character."
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, recognized this truth as well. He knew that his plan to relieve some of the stress in his son-in-law’s life depended on the character of the men who were chosen to execute it. That’s why he urged Moses to choose men who were not only competent but who also had a healthy fear of God, who spoke the truth and avoided greed.
Unfortunately, this fundamental principle of public service is often not carefully observed. In both church and government, people have been put into positions of leadership based on their abilities with little regard for their character. In fact, one poll found that 67 percent of voters think a political leader can have "substantial flaws in personal character" but still govern effectively. Such a position is contrary to Scripture, experience, and common sense.
As you face the responsibility of electing officials in your church and government, give careful consideration to their character. Select individuals who not only are able, but who also fear God, uphold the truth and reject greed. People of good character who possess no skills in leadership usually do not make good leaders. But people with leadership skills and little character make even worse leaders. They lead us wherever their character will permit, and that is usually not toward God.
What a man is will always determine what a man does.
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Burden Bearers
«
Reply #383 on:
July 25, 2006, 04:28:38 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 18:22 Galatians 6:2 1 Peter 5:7
Burden Bearers
Exodus 18:22
And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.
Burden Bearers
Andrew C. Davison wrote about an encounter with Dr. Albert Schweitzer at Lambarene, on the banks of the Ogowe River. It was about noon and the sun was beating down mercilessly as a group walked up a hill with Dr. Schweitzer. Suddenly the doctor strode across the slope to where an African woman was struggling with a load of wood for the cooking fires. The 85-year-old doctor took the entire burden and carried it up the hill for the relieved woman. When they reached the top of the hill, someone asked Dr. Schweitzer why he did things like that, implying that in that heat and at his age he should not. Albert Schweitzer pointed to the woman and said simply, "No one should have to carry a burden like that alone."
That was Moses’ problem—he was trying to carry his burden alone. It took the wise insight of his father-in-law, Jethro, to point out the fact that others "will bear the burden with you."
God’s people were never meant to carry their burdens alone. That’s why we have the privilege of prayer. Peter urged us to cast "all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). Bearing burdens is also the role of the Church. Paul instructed believers, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).
Are you willing to help others bear their burdens? Perhaps even today there is someone who needs you to pray with him, cook a meal or provide transportation for him. It’s not hard to spot burdens that need to be borne when you are looking for them. Our responsibility is to do whatever it takes to make a burden lighter. That’s a responsibility that brings great satisfaction now and eternal reward in the future.
A burden shared is a lighter load.
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No Obstacles Allowed
«
Reply #384 on:
July 25, 2006, 06:42:22 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 19:3-4 Isaiah 40:31
No Obstacles Allowed
Exodus 19:3-4
And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.’"
No Obstacles Allowed
A friend told me that when he was a young boy, he lived on one side of his small town and the school he attended was located on the other. Bus transportation was limited to the students who lived out of the city limit, so he had to walk many blocks both to and from school. "After a tiring day at school," my friend explained, "I would sometimes fantasize on my way home of having wings that would lift me over all the houses and trees and deposit me directly on my front porch."
It was wings like these that God figuratively used to bring Israel to Himself. In spite of the obstruction of Pharaoh and his army, through the barrier of a seemingly uncrossable sea, over the hurdle of a dry and barren wilderness, God lifted His people up and brought them safely to their destination. No obstacle was allowed to stand between Him and those He loved.
Are you facing obstacles today that threaten your joy as a Christian? Maybe these obstacles are health problems, financial struggles or family relationships. Perhaps you are frustrated by circumstances beyond your control. Well, don’t fantasize as my friend did. Instead, look to God’s mighty wings to lift you up and carry you to where He wants you to be. Remember the promise of Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Claim that promise today.
What you can’t go through, God will help you fly over.
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No Room For Doubt
«
Reply #385 on:
August 02, 2006, 05:17:12 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 19:9 Isaiah 1:18 John 20:30-31 Acts 1:3
No Room For Doubt
Exodus 19:9
And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.
No Room for Doubt
A popular definition of faith is "believing something without proof." Someone else said that faith "is believing something you know isn’t true." Yet neither of these is the kind of faith the Bible talks about.
When God prepared to speak to Moses, He came in a thick cloud—something that would be obvious to everyone. This was not for God’s benefit; He chose to manifest Himself in this way so that everyone would have undeniable proof that He truly had spoken to Moses and they would believe him forever.
Throughout history, God has left a record of these undeniable proofs. No one needs to take the Christian faith merely on the basis that "someone says so." Instead, God has provided such evidence as changed lives, the inerrant Word and, most important, the empty tomb. The apostle John wrote near the end of his Gospel: "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31). And Luke wrote near the beginning of the Acts that Jesus "presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3).
During those times when doubts arise, quench them with a healthy dose of proof. Read your Bible and you’ll be filled with confidence. God doesn’t ask us to take a leap into the unknown. Instead, He says, "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isa. 1:18). Don’t be afraid to take God up on His offer. He will leave no room for doubt.
Our faith is based on facts, not fiction.
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The God Who Is Near
«
Reply #386 on:
August 02, 2006, 05:18:21 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 19:10-11 Matthew 28:20 John 1:14 Matthew 18:20
The God Who Is Near
Exodus 19:10-11
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people."
The God Who Is Near
A supposedly true story tells that a very rich man in London died and left a large gift to one of the hospitals there. His will stipulated, however, that as a condition for the gift, his ashes were to be brought to the board room for each board meeting and placed at the head of the table. Accordingly, for more than 100 years the secretary of the board added these words to the minutes of each meeting: "Jeremy Benthan, present but not voting."
While this ongoing request may seem a bit ludicrous to you and me, the God of Israel also desired to be present with His people, and that wasn’t ludicrous at all. As they prepared to receive His law, He came down upon Mount Sinai in such a way that everyone knew He was present in their midst. In a very visible manner, God demonstrated His desire to have fellowship with His people.
John made the same observation about Jesus. When it was time to redeem the human race, the apostle said, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Jesus promised, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20). And again He said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20).
Do you see the evidences of God’s presence in your life? Have you felt the warmth of His presence, the gentleness of His touch or the strength of His everlasting arms? Take both joy and comfort in knowing that you have a God who not only loves you but also wants to be with you.
When you put your hand in God’s hand, you will never walk alon
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Priority One
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Reply #387 on:
August 02, 2006, 05:19:34 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3 Matthew 6:33
Priority One
Exodus 20:1-3
And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."
Priority One
John Wanamaker was a man who had his priorities straight. In the late 19th century he opened a department store in Philadelphia. Within a few years the enterprise became one of the most successful businesses in the country. But operating his store wasn’t Wanamaker’s only responsibility. He was also named Postmaster General of the United States and served as the superintendent for what was then the largest Sunday school in the world at Bethany Presbyterian Church. When someone asked him how he could hold all these positions at once, he explained, "Early in life I read, ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ [Matt. 6:33]. That’s what I’ve done." In the midst of a busy life, Mr. Wanamaker made God his number-one priority and the results speak for themselves.
As the Israelites began their new life of freedom, God instructed them to "have no other gods before Me." This was not for His benefit, but for theirs. To live life successfully, we must know what’s most important. All of our other priorities will be out of kilter until we get our first priority straight. When we know what comes first, the rest will fall into place. God must always come first in our lives, in our daily schedules, our checkbooks, our estate plans, our thoughts and our actions. He is priority one.
If your life is chaotic, it may indicate your priorities are jumbled. Make God priority one in your life and you may be surprised at how easily everything else comes together. Only by starting your priorities right can you hope to end them right.
Everything begins with the right priorities, and right priorities begin with God.
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Honor Your Parents
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Reply #388 on:
August 02, 2006, 05:20:50 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 20:12
Honor Your Parents
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
Honor Your Parents
On her 80th birthday, a woman from Brooklyn decided to prepare her last will and testament. She went to her pastor to make two final requests. First, she insisted on cremation.
"What is your second request?" the pastor asked.
"I want my ashes scattered over Bloomingdale’s."
"Why Bloomingdale’s?"
"Then I’ll be sure that my daughters will visit me twice a week."
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of truth in that humor. In Japan, for instance, a company is offering actors to play the part of family members. The actors will visit elderly parents as surrogates for the real family members. In Oakland, California, a 62-year-old man who could neither walk nor talk was found abandoned on a flight from El Paso, Texas. A note was pinned to his clothing saying he needed medical attention.
Such disregard for one’s parents is directly contrary to God’s instructions. He exhorts us to show respect and concern for our parents and even attaches promises of longevity for those willing to obey.
As life becomes crowded with a multitude of commitments—at school, at church and at home—don’t forget that the ones who gave you life may now require your attention as well. Check to see if they have needs that are going unmet; if they live close by, invite them to join you in your family’s activities. Most of all, demonstrate your love and respect for them by simply taking time to be with them and listen to them. If you can’t do that, pick up the telephone and call them often. Let them talk as long as they want. Their days may not be long now, but God promises that your days will be long upon the land if you honor your father and mother. Don’t allow this treasure to pass by your life unenjoyed.
Honor your parents and the Lord will honor you.
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Respect for Life
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Reply #389 on:
August 02, 2006, 05:22:17 AM »
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture: Exodus 20:13 Matthew 5:21-22
Respect for Life
Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.
Respect for Life
Every 22 seconds someone in the United States is beaten, stabbed, shot, robbed, raped or killed. The average American citizen has a 1 in 153 chance of being murdered. Intentional killings—murders and suicides—rank fourth among causes of U.S. deaths, after heart disease, cancer and accidents. Obviously, such a low regard for human life is appalling and reflects how far America has strayed from the principles of the Ten Commandments.
But Jesus broadened the "You shall not murder" commandment even more. He said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matt. 5:21-22).
While Christians are unlikely to murder someone physically, they can easily be murderers in their heart. Perhaps you can identify with Clarence Darrow, the famous criminal lawyer, who said, "Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction out of obituary notices."
When we have hatred in our hearts toward someone or we nurse an angry attitude toward a person who has offended us, we qualify under Jesus’ guidelines as murderers. That may be shocking, but it’s true. If you fall into this category, ask God to forgive you and to replace your anger and bitterness with an unconditional love for the one you previously hated. Go to that person and seek reconciliation. Ask for forgiveness because of your inappropriate attitudes. Reach out to her and try to make your one-time enemy your friend. It’s the only way to remove murderous attitudes from your heart. Since your attitudes are just as important as your actions, don’t dismiss too quickly what the Lord Jesus said. Take an attitude check today and see if there is murder in your heart, even if it is not in your head.
An attitude can murder just as easily as an ax.
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