“LIKE A CHILD ON THE SEA-SHORE”

November 23, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”( Eph. 3:19)

I am determined to keep my focus on Christ, rather than the conflicts and calamities around me, and to help others do the same. One great thing about this subject is that it cannot be exhausted. When you think you’ve said it all you haven’t even touched the hem of the garment.

Many years ago, a man congratulated Sir Issac Newton on his great knowledge. The wise philosopher replied,“I have been like a little child on the sea-shore taking up a little water in a shell when the vast ocean of truth lay undiscovered before me.” Is not that the way we should feel when we speak of Christ. That’s what Paul had in mind when he said the love of Christ “passeth knowledge“. Listen to these words in Romans 11:33,”O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

If you think you’ve got it all figured out–think again! Let us spend our lives “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). That’s the key to everything related to the Christian life.Only by doing that can we “be filled with all the fulness of God.”

BETTER THAN BREAKFAST

November 22, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

“–I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”( Job 23:12)

William Wilberforce wrote,” I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. The shorting of devotions starves the soul, it grows lean and faint. I have been keeping too late hours.”

Here was a man overwhelmed by the busyness of his position. Yet he understood that a victorious life depended upon a regular diet of God’s Word. And he was determined to do make time for it.

What about you? Are you so busy that you neglect to feed your soul? We cannot expect to live a vibrant Christian life if we are spiritually malnourished. Temptations become stronger, will- power becomes weaker, and staying power lessens when we fail to feed on God’s Word. Proper priorities demand that we put God first and nothing is more important in our relationship with God than the nourishment we receive from His Word. If you are too busy to read and study the Bible you are just too busy! Turn off the TV. Disconnect the phone. Put down the newspaper. And pick up the Bible. Better to miss breakfast than to ignore the Bible.

ENCOURAGE ENCOURAGERS

November 21, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

Ro 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
(KJV)

Sometimes encouragers need to be encouraged. Here is a good example. A pastor was making visits in a hospital when a nurse told him about a woman who was in great need of encouragement. “She is very deformed and her body has been twisted since childhood. She really needs someone to try to cheer her up.” The pastor agreed to help. When he entered her room he told the woman he would like to give her a book that had helped many people recover from their depression. After looking at the book, the woman said, “I really ought not to take this book, sir.” The pastor replied,”Why not? Have you already read it?” The woman responded by saying,”I have not only read it; I wrote it!”

It is amazing that a woman who had never been able to walk could have such peace and joy that she could write a book designed to help others over come depression. But, now she was in need of help herself. That’s not unusal–even the strongest saints sometimes get discouraged. Sadly, they often get overlooked. They are always there for others, but nobody is there for them. You probably know someone like that. Stop and think about someone who has encouraged you and return the favor!

A Beautiful Bouquet

November 20, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. –1 Peter 5:6-7

In the book, A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen use an illustration to talk about answered prayer.

The story goes that Pastor John Ramsey was used to receiving a rose boutonniere to wear on his jacket each Sunday. After services one day, a little boy came up to him and asked if he could have the rose he was wearing.

Ramsey knew it would go in the trash when he got home, so he gladly offered it to the boy and asked why he wanted it.

The boy replied, “I’m going to give it to my granny. My parents divorced last year. I was living with my mom, but she got married again and wanted me to live with my dad. I lived with him for a while, but he said I couldn’t stay, so he sent me to live with my grandmother. She is so good to me—she cooks, takes care of me, and loves me—so I want to give her the rose.”

Pastor Ramsey stood staring at the boy with tears in his eyes. He pointed to the large vase full of fresh flowers sitting at the altar and said, “Take those to your granny because she deserves the very best. That little flower isn’t enough.”

The boy’s eyes lit up and he shouted, “What a good day! I asked for one flower, but got a beautiful bouquet instead!”

When we come to God with our prayers, we aren’t much different than the pastor and boy in this illustration. Oftentimes, we don’t notice that when we bring our pain or hurt to the Lord seeking a small remedy, He points us to a greater solution and comfort and asks us to take that instead. —-from Senior Living

IT”S NOT STRANGE

November 19, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” (1 Peter 4:12)

The trend is for us to think that our problem is unfair, unusual, unique, or unequalled. The truth is that our trials are “common to man”(1 Cor. 10:13). When Job said,” Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble”(Job 14:1) he put us all in the same boat and that boat is sailing on stormy seas. Life is tough for everyone. We all have our share of problems. If you’re going to get angry because life isn’t all fun and games you will be mad all the time.

If we are going to enjoy life we must learn to accept what God allows and trust Him for the strength to get through it. 1 Peter 1:7 helps us put things in the proper perspective: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

“If God brings you to it He will bring you through it.”

“LIKE A CHILD ON THE SEA-SHORE”

BETTER THAN BREAKFAST

ENCOURAGE ENCOURAGERS

A Beautiful Bouquet

IT”S NOT STRANGE

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