"In His Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught His disciples precious lessons in regard to the necessity of trusting in God. These lessons were designed to encourage the children of God through all ages, and they came down to our time full of instruction and comfort. The Savior pointed His followers to the birds of the air as they warbled their carols of praise, unencumbered with thoughts of care, for 'they sow not, neither do they reap.' And yet the great Father provides for their needs. The Savior asks, 'Are ye not much better than they? Matthew 6:26.
The great Provider for man and beast opens His hand and supplies all His creatures. The birds of the air are not beneath His notice. He does not drop the food into their bills, but He makes provision for their needs. They must gather the grains He has scattered for them. They must prepare the material for their little nests. They must feed their young. They go forth singing to their labor, for 'your heavenly Father feedeth them.' And 'are ye not much better than they?' Are not you, as intelligent, spiritual worshipers, of more value than the birds of the air? Will not the Author of our being, the Preserver of our life, the One who formed us in His own divine image, provide for our necessities if we but trust in Him?
Steps to Christ, Ellen G. White, pg. 123
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, June 9, 2008
WHY BOTHER TO PRAY
- Our prayers puts the answer in motion. God deserves the credit, so someone has to pray, otherwise we would think that we created the outcome ourselves or that it just happened by coincidence.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
A CHRISTIAN'S TESTIMONY
A Christian’s Testimony
I visited your church the other day. The joy within me was so overwhelming; I had to share it with someone. I figured, why not share my joy with the whole congregation, after all, that’s why we’re here—to fellowship and praise the Lord for his wonderful works.
My joy was quenched however, well, not quenched, just suppressed until I could share it with others who were open to hearing about the goodness of the Lord. Your deacons and elders wouldn’t let me speak in front of the church, so I quietly went back to my seat and enjoyed the rest of the service. Like I said, my joy wasn’t quenched, I still worshiped the Lord through singing, the reading of scripture, the sermon and the appeal. I just wish I could have also worshiped through sharing.
By the way, all I wanted to share was the fact that I almost lost my home that I’d lived in for 6 years. I thought we were doing well. We had the usual tests and trials here and there, but nothing major—at least nothing compelling me to make church or prayer meeting a priority. Then September 11th happened and the rug was pulled out from under me. A drastic downsizing in my company, a pay cut, rising utility costs, a car accident that hospitalized me, and I was almost done for. The self-sufficient, resourceful Christian was struggling to keep food in the fridge, struggling to stay current with the mortgage, struggling to keep three kids in church school and the list goes on and on.
Well, PRAISE JEHOVAH, my kids are still in school, not church school, but a good enough public school. They have a place the come home to everyday. Their daddy has meals ready on the table and the temperature in the house is comfortable. I had to sell my Jaguar and pull most of the money out of my 401K. I’m now only working part-time at the same company, but Praise the Lord, they increased my hourly wage. When I’m not working or spending time with the children, I’m working on starting my own business.
I’m more grateful then ever for each meal that goes on the table, for each night I have to tell the kids not to have all the lights on in the house, for each A or B they bring home on their report card and for each mortgage check I’m able to write.
So, church family, please don’t take God’s blessings for granted. Don’t be ashamed to tell others what God has done or is doing in your life. Don’t just wait for the glamorous testimonies like, “God blessed me with a new car” or “we just closed on 5-bedroom house in Mitchellville,” or “I married a handsome doctor” or “I just got 6-figure job offer.” Rejoice and share all God’s blessings, the 1-bedroom apartment that’s roach free; the daughter that checked herself into a drug rehab program; the wife that broke off her affair and returned home; the son that’s refraining from pornography, the bible study that’s well attended by your neighbors, the accident that you caused, but no one was hurt, the routine physical that went well, the class that you should have failed, but the teacher gave you a C. Whatever it is, just share it. Don’t second-guess its value. Since God blessed, it’s valuable. JUST PRAISE HIM!
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his wonderful works to the children of men”
My joy was quenched however, well, not quenched, just suppressed until I could share it with others who were open to hearing about the goodness of the Lord. Your deacons and elders wouldn’t let me speak in front of the church, so I quietly went back to my seat and enjoyed the rest of the service. Like I said, my joy wasn’t quenched, I still worshiped the Lord through singing, the reading of scripture, the sermon and the appeal. I just wish I could have also worshiped through sharing.
By the way, all I wanted to share was the fact that I almost lost my home that I’d lived in for 6 years. I thought we were doing well. We had the usual tests and trials here and there, but nothing major—at least nothing compelling me to make church or prayer meeting a priority. Then September 11th happened and the rug was pulled out from under me. A drastic downsizing in my company, a pay cut, rising utility costs, a car accident that hospitalized me, and I was almost done for. The self-sufficient, resourceful Christian was struggling to keep food in the fridge, struggling to stay current with the mortgage, struggling to keep three kids in church school and the list goes on and on.
Well, PRAISE JEHOVAH, my kids are still in school, not church school, but a good enough public school. They have a place the come home to everyday. Their daddy has meals ready on the table and the temperature in the house is comfortable. I had to sell my Jaguar and pull most of the money out of my 401K. I’m now only working part-time at the same company, but Praise the Lord, they increased my hourly wage. When I’m not working or spending time with the children, I’m working on starting my own business.
I’m more grateful then ever for each meal that goes on the table, for each night I have to tell the kids not to have all the lights on in the house, for each A or B they bring home on their report card and for each mortgage check I’m able to write.
So, church family, please don’t take God’s blessings for granted. Don’t be ashamed to tell others what God has done or is doing in your life. Don’t just wait for the glamorous testimonies like, “God blessed me with a new car” or “we just closed on 5-bedroom house in Mitchellville,” or “I married a handsome doctor” or “I just got 6-figure job offer.” Rejoice and share all God’s blessings, the 1-bedroom apartment that’s roach free; the daughter that checked herself into a drug rehab program; the wife that broke off her affair and returned home; the son that’s refraining from pornography, the bible study that’s well attended by your neighbors, the accident that you caused, but no one was hurt, the routine physical that went well, the class that you should have failed, but the teacher gave you a C. Whatever it is, just share it. Don’t second-guess its value. Since God blessed, it’s valuable. JUST PRAISE HIM!
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his wonderful works to the children of men”
Copyright 2005 Leuanna Matheson
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