Helpful Friends

It's good to have friends. Last night a few of my friends and their families came over and helped us our with our cars. We got new brakes for our minivan, and found the little hole in the muffler that needs to get patched up. I wish I knew more about cars. We also found that "my" car that died on me last week, does really have some major problems. I was worried that I did or didn't do something silly that they were just going to say something like, Hey, idiot, you have turn the key for it to start... but happily it did turn out to be something serious... happily?

Anyway, I'm truly blessed to have great friends. Now, if only they would leave maybe just a little bit earlier next time, it would have made today easier. But that's another issue.

And you know what? It turns out that all of my friends that came over last night with their families are part of our Home Bible Study that meets at our house on Friday nights. I've experienced something over the past 6 years or so - the best friends that I have in my life are those friends which whom I participate in Christian fellowship - not bellyship, fellowship. Whether it be in a Bible Study or Institute Class, or if it be involved with a ministry together, they are the ones that always seem to be my closest friends. Christianity is really a good way to live.

Now, if only that second car was working... ah, whatever.

Just a thought...

Begins With the Mind

I ended yesterday asking you all how you were going to do with the rest of the afternoon... Well? How'd you do?

I was thinking on Kevin Pestke's (Destination Zambia) comment on my blog yesterday, about Psalm 10:4 where it says about the wicked, "God is not in all his thoughts."

I was thinking that that is where it begins. To bring glory to God in everything, we have to begin with the mind. (Maybe I'm referring to even deeper, and referring to the soul or the heart or something like that.) The point is that if I am to bring God glory in every part of my day and of my life, then I have to first be thinking about that. I have to first be having God in my thoughts all the time or else, even if I am doing a good action, it will not be for the glory of God. Even typing this blog post is done for His sake and glorification.

Thanks, Kevin, for pointing out that verse. Let's all be sure to Observe to Do...

Just a 'thought.'

Abiding... Without Ceasing... Continually...

Those are some Bible phrases referring to what our communion ought to be with God. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Our lives ought to continually be in a state of prayer / communication and of communion with God. Acknowleding Him in all of our paths, abiding in Christ, praying without ceasing, alway and for ever.

We ought not get distracted away from God by the cares of this life. I need to work on my computer stuff with a conscience towards God. I need to be doing what I do in order to bring God glory. When I am constantly performing my daily practices with that mentality, then I have succeeded in doing all to the glory of God. When I am talking with God, and passing every single aspect of my life through Him first, then I am praying without ceasing. I would find myself abiding in Christ.

Our prayer requests brought before God in the morning ought to be on our minds throughout the day... as we are expecting Him to answer them, right? We ought to be looking to see how God is dealing with the things that we brought before Him. If we aren't interested in the outcome of the issue that we brought to God, then why did we really pray about it? Maybe that's a thought for a different day...

Unfortunately, I have not yet mastered this. I am working on it though. So, the question is - have you done everything you've done this morning, with a conscience towards God? Have you had God on your mind through every step of your day so far?

However, an even more important question: Will you have God on your mind through every step of the rest of your afternoon?

Just a thought...

Testimony of a Changed Life

I was reading Missionary Jim Taglialatela's latest newsletters this morning, and was just awed at how a man's changed life opened up doors of opportunity to witness to at least three other of his family members... only it was after his death.

Missionary Taglialatela wrote about Emilio that had been in drugs & alcohol his entire adult life, but then was transformed into a committed follwer of Jesus Christ. They were saddened after he went to sleep in Jesus, but used the opportunity to provide Scripture to comfort his mother. She then invited him back any time he wants, and also wanted to have Jim meet Emilio's sisters, "since they had also seen the change in their brother."

You can't argue a changed life, right Shannon (that's Mr. Shannon, if any of you don't know)? The Aposlte Paul's change was rather significant in his life. And, he went to preach with more than just words, but with the power of the Spirit. Now, he had some added apostolic advantages than we do, but we have the same Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is a changed life. When we witness with the power of the Spirit, like Paul, we witness with the demonstration of a changed life.

Some cross references for your study pleasure, 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 4:20...

And for those of you that don't get FBBC Prayer Requests, my Uncle Larry passed away yesterday. Pray for God to work in the lives of those involved. My mom is in Florida with her two other brothers, and their mom is up in the nursing home up here.

Count Your Blessings

This morning I had the privilege of hearing Dick Ferris teach a Bible lesson at the nursing home where my grandma is. He taught on being thankful for every thing, because it all comes from God - every good and perfect gift is from above.

Be thankful... Count your blessings...

I guess that was a necessary lesson for me and my grandma today. I was at the nursing home because I had to tell her that her son is dying of cancer. My mom's brother has been diagnosed with some advanced cancer, and they aren't expecting him to live much longer. We tried to call him, but he was unresponsive...

Anyway, count your blessings, and I don't really feel like writing any more today.