Learning to Slow Down

During the days before thanksgiving, people seem to be "frantic!"  Then, within a few hours, the guests have come and gone and realize that you did not relax.  When is it then, that we are supposed to slow down and relax?  One thing I teach in physical education classes is how to stand completely still and rest in that position.  Slowing down and resting is an action you must learn to accomplish by controlling your body. 
The more practice you have, the better you will become at slowing down and resting.  One of the best reasons, especially for Christians, for learning to slow down is to be still and know that God is God.  Everything is going to continue and in the end, we will be judged by the words that come out of our mouth.(Matthew 12) 

Take a break!  Slow down and stop your activities during the day for a few minutes.  If you dont think you have enough time to stop for four minutes, try two!  Enjoy the two minutes of rest and give God the praise He alone deserves!

Praise God

Acts 20:35 - Matthew 6:20

In the book of Acts in the Holy Bible, the twentieth chapter is where Paul reminds us of Jesus' words "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  Therefore I will encourage you, that whenever you are feeling down, buy something for someone and be blessed when you give it to them! 

Here is a video of how amazing God's grace is in allowing each student and teacher to pray over a box that a child will receive.  We may not see the fruit that this produces in the lives of these children, but we know that we are "storing up treasures in heaven" by giving!  Hallelujah. 

The Father Son Retreat

Praise be to the Father, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost!  This weekend there was approximately seventy souls at the father son retreat.  Soccer was a blast as the sons played against the dads.  Although it was a little hard to convince them to play, they did, and they did good!  The fathers and sons pariticipated in shooting rifles, bow and arrows, multiple rope course activities and then played a kick ball game! 

After the scavenger hunt, we ate dinner and then went to the chapel where we heard a wonderful message.  We heard the truth about having two roads to go down, one may seem easy but leads to death and the other one may be hard at times but leads to life.  We learned that the road that leads to life is traveled by picking up the cross of Jesus Christ and walking with that cross.  Jesus Christ, for those who believe in Him, He becomes our righteousness, our sanctification, our wisdom and our redemption!  (1 Corinthians 1:30)  Praise Jesus.  For those who do not believe in Jesus, they have no true wisdom, nor redemption, thy are not sanctified, and are unrightoues.  I was reminded by God this morning in Galatians 3:10 that we also are under a curse if were not in Jesus Christ. 

There is only one way to be freed from the curse, and that is through Jesus, who became a curse for us on the cross, knowing that it is written, cursed is everyone that hangs from a tree. (Galatians 3:13)   

Anticipation vs. Being Ashamed

Sunday night while I was attending a halloween party as an 80's physical educator, I was anticipating the time I was going to have to speak about Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  Are you anticipating bringing up Jesus in your conversations, or are you ashamed when others do?  This question is one that brings conviction to a majority of Christians and one that needs to be confronted.  Jesus is so in love with you (Jeremiah 31:3b "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.") and as you allow Him to love you more and more, it will be a great joy and blessing to speak of Him to many people, even the stranger! (Deuteronomy 10:19a "Therefore love the stranger")  Sometimes there is a temptation to not speak of Him nor say Hallelujah in a room of "strangers".  Often though, there is someone who is in desperate need of the hope you have within you (2 Corinthians 13:5-6 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. ⁶ But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.").  More likely than not, one person will draw near to you as you speak of Jesus and will want to learn more.  This was the case with a number of people last night turned their ears to listen to me explain somethings about the character of the Lord to a new friend Jesus allowed me to meet.  He once was a stranger, but now he is a friend.  Once Jesus was a stranger to me and you, but now He is my life!  What is He to you? 

Luke 9:26
For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 

Luke 9:25 
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?