"Much needed rest"

Mark 6:31 "And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."

Today is Saturday. What are you doing? Working? Playing? Running much needed errands? Resting? I don't think that at any time in our world's history have the majority of people been so busy. We have become a society of constant activity. I can remember when I was a kid, watching television until the flag came on, the Star Spangled Banner played, and then the TV went to snow. Now you will be hard pressed to find a television station that goes off the air. The reason that is, is because in general, we as people aren't resting.

I am advocating that at some point this week you find time (no don't find, make time) to rest. Put some leisure into your life. Do however find yourself your own little dessert place and rest. It will energize your life. You wont miss anything too important, I promise. Get yourself some much needed rest. You need it.

"What are you taking with you"

Hosea 14:2a "Take with you words, and turn to the Lord..."

I love quotes from people. Allow me to give you some quotes today that you can take with you this morning. Ponder on them and turn to the Lord.

"We serve a God that delights in impossibilities" - Billy Sunday

"The Scriptures are not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives." - D.L. Moody

"The worlds greatest need is preaching preachers" - Lester Roloff

"Care more for a seed of faith, than a ton of excitement." - C.H. Spurgeon

"Never despair, but when you do, work on even in despair." - Jack Hyles

"The Bible fits man for life, and prepares him for death." - Daniel Webster

"God uses people who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him." - Hudson Taylor

"The measuring of our faith"

John 9:29 "Then touched He their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith be it unto you.'"

According to your faith. There is so much that is contained is one tiny little word - faith. We tell people all the time, “You just need to have more faith.” The fact of the matter is, is that faith is measurable. The only problem is that we don’t know how much we have of it, until it is needed.

How much faith do you have right now? Do you have enough to go through a bout with cancer? Do you have enough to go through losing a loved one? Do you have enough to get you through financial struggles?

I would like to say that I have a tremendous amount of faith. However, my faith, no matter how tremendous it may be,still gets tried, and it still needs to be added to. The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. What is going on you life today that is causing your faith to be increased?

Faith, you never know how much you have, till you need it. Don't run out it, you may need to use at some point today.

"In the Beginning"

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

This is the best possible opening for the Bible. (Would we really expect anything less than the best from God?) Beginning with God, the Bible never ceases to be a God-centered book. God first, me second. God absolute, man relative. God's not obligated to me, but yet I am obligated to God.

As Christians we need to get a hold of the concepts of duty, discipline, and responsibility in every aspect of our lives, including our primary responsibility to God. We live in a society that thinks otherwise. They would have you believe that it begins with man. They get lost in philosophy, psychology, and social service, and in the end if they might get around to God.

Let's put God in our lives where He intended on being - in the beginning. When you begin, continue with, and end with God; you finally have success in your life. Begin you today with Him, in the beginning.

Where Seeing is Believing

John 1:39 "He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour."

Many today are confused by religion. Sometimes they hide this under a veil of cynicism. They feel that science has ruled out Christianity. This message of "come and see" is a powerful message to those who doubt.

There is also a message for Christians here. Faith is not always a overwhelming flood of emotions. Sometimes we have to "come and see," what is taking place in our lives. I am so thankful that God has preserved His Holy Word for us to "come and see." One of the reasons He has left us the Bible is so we can "come and see"

Come and see the faith of Abraham. Come and see the trials and triumph of Joseph. Come and see the closeness & purity of David's heart. Come and see Elijah in a moment of deep depression. Come and see Jonah run from God. Come and see Peter walk on the water. Come and see the feeding of the 5,000. Come and see the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead live once again. Come and see. Believe. May the Lord increase you faith as you come and see.

"Building Up"

Jude 20-21 "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping yourselves in the love of God."

Notice the text says, "Building up yourselves on your most holy faith." In order to build something, one must first have a plan of what to build. The problem with most Christians today is that we leave the building up of our faith to mere chance. It is often the one thing that we don't plan.No worthy building gets built that way.

We plan everything in today's society. We have our daily planner in our phones for crying out loud. We have daily planners, weekly, monthly, and even yearly planners. But yet the most important thing we ought to be planning is the building up of our faith. It must be built according to a plan.

Get a plan on how you are going to build your spiritual life. Bible reading, prayer time, faithful church attendance, witness, tithing. All of these are commanded to every Christian, but yet because we don't plan that part of our lives, they often go undone. Today, get yourself a plan. Stick to it. Build yourself a spiritual house you would be proud to entertain our Lord and Savior in. Don't plan to do it tomorrow, do it today.