DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - THE GIFT OF GOD. Part 2.

In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering. - Howard Hendricks.

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." - John 4:10. (ESV)

"Millions of surveys which we have helped to take around the world indicate that approximately 98 percent of the Christians do not regularly introduce others to the Savior." - Bill Bright.

In Part 1, we announced that it is less than four weeks to Christmas, and that our text presented us with a great example for sharing the good news of Jesus, because Christmas is about giving gifts, and we have the ability to share the best gift with people who need it most! Hallelujah!

The very reason why so many are lost today, is because the god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of them who are lost. The devil is so busy telling the lost how much they will have to give up if they get saved, but not one time does he mention “The Gift Of God.”

Jesus told this woman... "If you knew the gift of God…” This is what I want to share with you for a little while, to encourage you, let’s study the... “The Gift Of God.” Yesterday we discussed how Jesus Gives Rest To The Weary, and today we see how...

He Gives Righteousness To The Guilty
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; - Romans 9-30. This gentile world is guilty of every hideous sin against God that one can imagine, and yet, God in His love and mercy will give them righteousness, in the person of Jesus, who is the sacrifice for all sin. If they accept Him as Lord and Saviour, He will cleanse them from all sin and set them free, as He did us, when we were sinners.

Some Biblical examples were Saul of Tarsus, guilty of sinful crimes against God and his people, and yet he was given righteousness. Rahab The prostitute from Jericho, guilty of Immoral living, yet to her and her family, God gave them righteousness. Even you and I came under this category, but Thanks God, He has made us the righteousness of God in Christ! Hallelujah!

In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. Altogether, they trekked 127 days.

On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food, elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating.

Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS." We can understand Shackleton's obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion, Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness. - Source Unknown.

He Gives The Spirit To The Obedient
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." -Acts 5-32. God never promised a bed of roses to any of us, yet, to the obedient ones He has promised something greater than all the roses of this life. He promised us the Holy Spirit!

The giving of the Holy Spirit, is evidence that it is the will of God, and that Jesus Christ should be obeyed. I would rather have the Holy Spirit bearing witness in my soul, when I go about my daily chores in my every day life, than to have all the trimmings and trappings of this world.

We cannot expect to be redeemed and saved by Christ, unless we give ourselves up to be ruled by Him. Faith takes the Saviour in all His functions, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve!

On Dec. 4, 1893, Walter Gowans and Rowland Bingham of Toronto, Canada, and Thomas Kent of Buffalo, N.Y., landed at Lagos, Nigeria. Their aim was to establish a witness among the 60 million people of what was then commonly known as the Soudan, the area south of the Sahara between the Niger River and the Nile.

Gowans and Kent died in the first few months. Bingham returned to Canada, formed a council, and went back to Africa in 1900. That attempt, too, was unsuccessful. In 1901 Bingham sent out a party that succeeded in establishing the Mission's first base, at Patigi, 500 miles up the Niger River.

When these first SIM pioneers landed in Nigeria, Gowans was 25 years old, Bingham was two weeks away from his 21st birthday, Kent was 23.

It is not the multitude of hard duties, it is not constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice, to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us, to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to seek out duty in the present moment, to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God. - Source Unknown.

There is a reason for the season, let us be obedient to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, and reveal Him to others.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to spread the good news of the gift of God, to people who need the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives. Direct my paths Lord, and grant me wisdom, that I may win them for you, in your wonderful and mighty name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY - THE GIFT OF GOD. Part 1.

In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering. - Howard Hendricks.

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." - John 4:10. (ESV)

One Sunday evening, William Booth was walking in London with his son, Bramwell, who was then 12 or 13 years old. The father surprised the son by taking him into a saloon! The place was crowded with men and women, many of them bearing on their faces the marks of vice and crime; some were drunk. The fumes of alcohol and tobacco were poisonous. "Willie," Booth said to his son, "These are our people; these are the people I want you to live for and bring to Christ." Years later, Bramwell Booth wrote, "The impression never left me." - W. Wiersbe.

It is less than four weeks to Christmas, and I am so excited! Not about what gifts I am going to get, or shopping, or trees, or entertainment, or food, etc; No, all of those things are fine, but what excites me most, is the great opportunity we have to share the good news with the lost, hallelujah! I am so excited!

Our text presents us with a great example, because part of Christmas is about giving gifts, and we have the ability to share the best gift with people who need it most! Hallelujah!

Jesus told this woman, that if she had only known “The Gift Of God,” and who it was that she was talking with, she would have asked of Him to give her to drink. Most of this world seems to have the same conditions as this woman. There seems to be blindness to the very identity, of the Lord Jesus Christ, among some people. There are so many religions, so many cults, and others that are professing whatever god they have, until it seems that the world is having trouble identifying the True One.

For God so loved the world, not just a few,
The wise and great, the noble and the true,
Or those of favored class or rank or hue.
God loved the world. Do you?
- Source Unknown.

The very reason why so many are lost today, is because the god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of them who are lost. The devil is so busy telling the lost how much they will have to give up if they get saved, but not one time does he mention “The Gift Of God.” Jesus told this woman... "If you knew the gift of God…” This is what I want to share with you for a little while, to encourage you, let’s study the... “The Gift Of God.”

To The Weary Jesus Gives Rest
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Mt: 11-28. If this world knew today, how the Lord could give rest for weary souls, I believe there would be many more people coming to receive Jesus. For instance the Gadarene demoniac...

Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," for many demons had entered him. - Luke 8:30. There was no doubt he was very weary, but thank God that he came to Jesus, because he was never the same again!

Sin like the “legion,” will drive a person on, but the Lord Jesus can give rest, to any weary soul. I have seen lives broken by sin, and the weariness of the devil, had settled on them, but then Jesus passed by, and they received the “Gift of God,” and a New Creation came forth! Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve!

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September, 1985 a celebration of a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people gathered, including 100 certified lifeguards.

As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season. - Times-Reporter.

There is a reason for the season, let us be obedient to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, and reveal Him to others.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to spread the good news of the gift of God, to people who need the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives. Direct my paths Lord, and grant me wisdom, that I may win them for you, in your wonderful and mighty name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY- On FIRE For JESUS! By Joe Brice.

After a hectic weekend, I am “chillin” out again, to regain some strength and be renewed in the Spirit, so I thought by way of encouragement for today, that you may enjoy this powerful and Godly article by Joe Brice, which is an excerpt from his book, "Pentecost"... enjoy;

The thought of flaming enthusiasm in religion arouses distrust in the modern mind as in the ancient. Enthusiasm is permitted in any other pursuit; in religion it is regarded as bad form. Enthusiasts in piety are either despised as unintelligent zealots, or tolerated as well-meaning fanatics. Reserve is the rule in religion; and there are established conventions settling what is proper and "what isn't done." And yet, New Testament Christianity is holy fire, having little in common with the decorum and ritualism which often beggars the name today.

The essential faith of the Pentecostal Church was a heart on fire with devotion to God and enthusiasm for His purposes in the world. It was this flame of sacred love, which distinguished the early Christian and was the secret of his success. The spread of the Faith in its earliest days, as Carlyle has shown us, had little or nothing to do with external organization.

"How did Christianity arise and spread among men? Was it by institutions, and establishments, and mechanical systems? No! It arose in the mystic deeps of a man's soul, and was spread by simple, altogether natural, and individual efforts. It flew like hallowed fire from heart to heart till all were purified and illumined by it."

"Men ablaze are invincible. Hell trembles when men kindle."
The company gathered in the Upper Room represented the most rigid religion in the world, and some of them belonged to its straightest sect. They were strict formalists; and never was formalism so frigid, never so icy as in the Judaism of their day. Jesus had loosened some of their fetters, but the prejudices and habits of years are not easily cast off. Then a sound from heaven like the rush of a gale - the sudden appearance of light, like tongues of flame and in a moment that company was transfigured by the sacred fire.

We know the result. Enthused by it, those men and women ultimately turned their world upside down. My old chief, Samuel Chadwick often said, "Men ablaze are invincible. Hell trembles when men kindle. The stronghold of Satan is invincible against everything but fire. The Church is powerless without the flame of the Holy Ghost. Destitute of fire, nothing else counts; possessed of fire, nothing else really matters. The one vital need is fire. Without the flame and fervor of the Holy Ghost, the Church will never accomplish its mission."

"I have no further desire except to love Jesus even unto folly." In the power of this new enthusiasm, the disciples of Jesus went forth as burning and shining lights. The spirit of cold obedience was kindled into a passion for righteousness, and the slavish sense of duty burst into an eager flame of devotion. An all-pervasive zeal possessed them, a burning desire for God, and a yearning pity for mankind. Pentecost put passion, fervor, and abandon into their lives, not rant nor noise, but the white heat of holy enthusiasm. It made them heroic and absolutely dead to the opinions of men. It made them willing, even eager, to be counted fools or fanatics for Christ.

It is the transition from formalism to fervor that marks the miracle of Pentecost in this aspect. " I have no further desire," said the Little Flower of Carmel, " except to love Jesus even unto folly." The Lord of love rejoiced to hear her say it. So few say it.

So many of His servants are cold and faint in their love for Him. Let it be remembered that truth without enthusiasm, morality without emotion, ritual without soul, were the things which Christ unsparingly condemned.-(Rev. 2:1-5). Moral and spiritual passion, are the essence of the religion of Jesus.

"Our Lord delights to see us love-obsessed, carried away by this master-passion from the conventional to the unconventional, from ease-loving ways into the regions of peril, into extravagances that make people question our sanity, as His was questioned, and from tinkering at mending men to the revolutionary and divine business of saving them."

Christ prefers us passionate to proper. He wants devotion rather than decorum. He prefers fanaticism to formalism. He longs to see us ablaze with a love that must sometimes overpass the lines of conventional churchmanship.

"Our Lord delights to see us love-obsessed."
The fervor of the apostles did not pass away in mere wasteful tumult; it was disciplined and used for Love's purpose in the world. It was ordered, but not by the conventions of churchmanship. There was a regular expression along certain lines, but it was never calculated. They might at any moment infringe the canons or break the conventions, and be carried away into some unprecedented enterprise or sacrifice for the Beloved. The only predictable thing about them was that they would keep blazing. This is the explanation of the intensity of apostolic enterprise.

If we are asked why this fire is lacking from religion today, there is one answer: We have not the Spirit. Pentecostal enthusiasm is not of human kindling. It is not a zeal of the flesh. It is not an inspiration born of human desire. No man on earth has the love, which Jesus commands -unless it has been imparted to him. It is the gift of the Spirit. "God is my witness," said Paul (Phil.1:8), "How I long for you all with a love that is not mine, but Christ loving in me."

The Holy Spirit of Love is the fire; He sheds abroad God's own love in the surrendered heart. We cannot bring this flaming devotion into our nature by effort of will or meditation; it is the effectual expression of the indwelling Spirit; and on the human side, it is conditioned by willingness to become a love-slave in the cause of redemption.

"Let my name rot if only Christ be honored."
The human condition frightens us. We are not willing to face the charge of fanaticism. The love of reputation holds us. What a struggle Wesley had to shed the cultural superiority and clinging formalism of his churchmanship! Revivalism would imperil his reputation. There was a painful conflict before he "consented to become more vile." It is this process of becoming vile in the eyes of the world which keeps many from the Baptism of Fire.

It is only as we are willing to lose our reputation at the impulse of consuming love, that the Spirit is granted, and as that great warrior of the Spirit, C. T. Studd said, " A lost reputation is the best degree for Christ's service. To raise living churches of souls among the destitute, to capture men from the devil's clutches, to snatch them from the jaws of hell, to enlist and train them for Jesus, to make them into an almighty army for God-this can only be accomplished by red-hot, unconventional, unfettered Holy Ghost religion, by reckless sacrifice and heroism in the foremost trenches. It is the hot, free heart, and not the balanced head, that knocks the devil out."

A man has not begun to be worthy of the Spirit until he is able to say with Whitfield, “Let my name rot if only Christ be honored." The abandonment of love in the cause of redemption is the authentic mark of the Spirit-filled life, but it is costly.

Fenelon's inquiry is a word we should heed: "What would a king say to the subject, or a master to the servant, who was afraid of seeming over-zealous in his service, and was ashamed of being publicly known as faithful? How much rather will the King of Kings judge us who do the like? There is but one way of loving God, which knows no bargaining with Him, but accepts His every inspiration with a free and generous heart . . .

He cannot suffer the cowardly souls which say to themselves 'Thus far will I go, but no further' . . . Woe to the timid, cowardly souls who are divided between God and the world! They will and they will not; they are torn asunder both by passion and remorse; they fear both the judgment of God and that of man; they are frightened of what is evil and ashamed of what is good."

Loving Father, set me on fire for Jesus! Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to maintain this desire, help me to be obsessed by the love of Jesus, and to share it with everyone I meet, help me to humble myself at the sound of His name, that He might have the glory let my fire burn fiercely for Jesus, in whose wonderful Name, I pray! Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG - A DELIGHT TO THE EYES.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. - Genesis 3:6.

In the Australian bush country grows a little plant called the "sundew." It has a slender stem and tiny, round leaves fringed with hairs that glisten with bright drops of liquid as delicate as fine dew. Woe to the insect, however, that dares to dance on it.

Although its attractive clusters of red, white, and pink blossoms are harmless, the leaves are deadly. The shiny moisture on each leaf is sticky and will imprison any bug that touches it. As an insect struggles to free itself, the vibration causes the leaves to close tightly around it. This innocent-looking plant then feeds on its victim. - Our Daily Bread.

Ouch! We've known the way of sin for thousands of years now, yet we sometimes still follow the same path, and it is because we are lured by something pleasing to our eyes.

We pause for closer inspection of the object, allowing ourselves to be caught up in its desirability. We dabble in it and play with it, and then we participate in the sin. Finally, we involve others in sin.

You would think we would have learned the pattern, and would have stopped by now, but sometimes we are so slow in dealing with it! So with the help of the Holy Spirit, why don't we start learning right now, and put it right?

Loving Father, please forgive me for my rebellious and sinful heart. I want to live wholly for you. I don't want to be captured by the allure of sin or tempted by worldly passions. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to passionately live a godly life, for your glory. In the wonderful and mighty Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THANKSGIVING DINNER.

It was in the year of 1992, Jean and I were missionaries to Eastern Europe, and we were based in Luxembourg, where we had planted an English speaking Church, we also preached and ministered throughout Poland, East Germany, Romania, France and West Germany.

Some of the people who attended our Church in the City of Luxembourg, were in the United States Military, and travelled from their base in Bitburg, West Germany, to fellowship with us. They were fantastic people, and many of them had loved ones serving in the Gulf War. It was a difficult time for some of the families, and we were able to minister to them spiritually, and add some comfort into their lives.

One of the beautiful families that befriended us was Master Sergeant Frank Dunai, his wife Brenda, and their children, Amber and Dakota. They were such a loving family and wonderful ambassadors for Christ and their country.

They invited Jean and I, and our daughter Janet, to their Thanksgiving Day Dinner at their quarters on the base. We knew nothing about Thanksgiving, and had never been to a dinner like this, and we thought it was just another meal, wow, were we in for a big surprise!

When we arrived on base, and because of the War in the Gulf, we were given a thorough check out, and being Scottish and missionaries from Australia, we presented a bit of a problem. I got out of the car so that I could speak to them properly, and immediately the Guard on the Gate drew his sidearm and presented it to my head! Phew!

I thought this only happened in the movies, and being an ex Paratrooper and SAS soldier, I thought I was used to military protocol, boy was I wrong! I was told to get back into the car and move over to the side of the road, and was instructed not to move a muscle without instructions! Finally, after being cleared to be on base, they escorted my visibly shaken family and me, to Frank and Brenda’s quarters! Frank was laughing his head off, and said… ‘Trust an Aussie Pastor to make such an entrance!’ We were to make many visits to the base to minister, but we never forgot the routine again, after the first encounter!

As we were welcomed into Frank and Brenda’s home, they hugged us and kissed us, and we had such a great laugh over the whole episode! We were given such hospitality, that we have seldom encountered since, and then they prayed and gave thanks for us, their families, friends, the Lord, the Church etc; and showered us with gifts. It had been Jean’s Birthday on the 15th November, and they gave her a Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible, which we still treasure today!

The table had been prepared for dinner with all its decorations and baubles that they had collected over the years, it was almost like Christmas day, and we were thrilled to be the guest’s of honour, wow! We started of with home made Pumpkin soup and soft, sweet, bread rolls baked by Brenda, (what a change from the hard crusty German bread!).

Then before our very eyes, appeared the biggest Turkey that we had ever seen, honestly, you could have saddled it! Frank was in his element as the head of the home, and took about carving the turkey with deft strokes like an Olympic Fencer! It had been imported from stateside, and must have needed a container on its own! After the Turkey came the home baked Pumpkin Pie with delicious vanilla ice cream, mouth watering when I think of it!

As we ate and laughed, and told stories, and jokes, I took a moment aside and looked over the table, there was Frank, the ultimate host, with a … “I have surpassed myself this year” look; Brenda, with a smile so wide that could warm up the Turkey afterwards; Jean with her eyes like Buick hubcaps, fascinated by all of this; and the children beaming and laughing; and of course me, like a stuffed pig with a contented grin, first that I was still alive, second that we had been brought together by the Lord, and thirdly that this was without a doubt, the best Thanksgiving dinner that we had ever experienced, these were memories that would never be erased from our lives.

The celebration went on for hours, eight, if I can remember correctly, the laughter and storytelling never subsided, it got better as time went on. And as we said our goodbyes, prayers and hugs, we went out into the cold European weather with the smell of wood smoke in the air, got into our car, and escorted off Base by the MP’s, and onto the icy roads for the 30 minute drive back to Luxembourg, we revelled in the fact, that we had enough of God’s warmth inside of us, to last a lifetime!

Yes, that was our first experience of Thanksgiving Dinner, and our last, we have never celebrated since, simply because our Country doesn’t celebrate it, and we have never met an American family at this time, but every time the holiday comes around, I think of that day, and the blessing that Frank and Brenda were to us, their Christian love and warmth, and their hospitality to us, will never be forgotten, thank you guys, for the memories that were created that day.

We lost contact with them over the years, as they moved stateside, and we went on ministering around Europe, before returning to Australia. Frank and Brenda, if perchance you read this, we would love to get in touch again, God bless you our friends, you gave us a Thanksgiving Day Dinner, day that we will always be thankful for!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - A JOYFUL HEART. #8

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Pro 17:22.

Well folks, it’s that time of the week to begin to celebrate the Weekend! Our friends in the USA are celebrating their Thanksgiving holidays, the great Turkey dinners and all its trimmings, time with their families and friends, many who travel interstate to celebrate with each other. God bless them, their families, their President and his family, and their great nation, as we wish them a happy holiday!

I love the weekend, and even though it is working time for me as a Pastor, I just love to see people enjoy what God intended them to enjoy, rest from their labour, spend time with their loved ones, catch up on all the things that they cannot do during working days. Our awesome God knows we needed this rest, and He factored it into our lives; so that we would be able to worship Him as His universal family, and spend time together doing so!

Time to Praise and Worship the Lord, time to fellowship with the saints, time for a challenging Sermon, time to bask in the love and warmth of the brothers and sisters in the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise the wonderful Name of Jesus! Here are a few laughs/thoughts to keep you going...

ONE LINERS:
"If mother always knows best, what happens when two mothers disagree?"
"There is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look. For example, I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt."
"Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to MacDonalds makes you a hamburger."
"I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me."
*“A bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist”.
*“A bicycle can't stand on its own because it's two-tired.”
*A boy, frustrated with all the rules he had to follow, asked his father, "Dad, how soon will I be old enough to do as I please?" The father answered immediately, "I don't know. Nobody has lived that long yet."
*“A clean tie attracts the soup of the day.”
*“A computer beat me at chess once. But, it was no match for me at kick boxing.”
*“A diet is a selection of food that makes other people lose weight.
* Source.
-----------------------------
Where's the Turkey??

Ducking into confession with a turkey in his arms, Brian said, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I stole this turkey to feed my family. Would you take it and assuage my guilt?"

"Certainly not," said the priest. "As penance, you must return it to the one from whom you stole it."

"I tried," Brian sobbed, "but he refused. Oh, Father, what should I do?"

"If what you say is true, then it is all right for you to keep it for your family."

Thanking the priest, Brian hurried off. When confession was over, the priest returned to his residence. When he walked into the kitchen, he found that someone had stolen his Thanksgiving turkey.
------------------------------
HUMOR IN HYMNS
The sculptor's hymn CASTING ALL YOUR CARE
The flying duck's hymn HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Osama Ben Laden's hymn I'VE FOUND A FRIEND
The suspicious wife's hymn TELL ME THE OLD, OLD STORY
Israeli-Arab conflictors hymn ON JORDAN'S STORMY BANKS
The depressed person's hymn JUST AS I AM
The single person's hymn HOW CAN I BE LONELY
The liberal theologian's hymn WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN
The sailor's hymn MY ANCHOR HOLDS
The dressmaker's hymn THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT
The independent person's hymn TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
The sunbather's hymn HEAVENLY SUNSHINE
The farmer's hymn THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING
The horticulturalist's hymn CHRIST A-ROSE
The egotist's hymn IS MY NAME WRITTEN THERE
The Utopian's hymn IN THE SWEET BY AND BY
The Laundryuser's hymn WHITER THAN SNOW
The late nightshift crew member's hymn NO NIGHT THERE
The coal miners hymn STEPPING IN THE LIGHT
The Pied Piper's hymn I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY
The Potlucker's hymn BRING YOUR VESSELS NOT A FEW
The Elephant Hunter's hymn IVORY PALACES
The Psychiatrist's hymn IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND
The geologist's hymn ROCK OF AGES
The sinking ship's captain's hymn LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING
The World Traveler's hymn ANYWHERE WITH JESUS
-Author unknown.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING
But I just couldn’t sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned —the dark meat and white—
But I fought the temptation with all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation,
The thought of a snack became infatuation.
So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plumb and so round,
‘Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees…
“Happy eating to all! Pass the cranberries, please!

“May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump;
May your potatoes ‘n gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize.
May your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.”
- Author Unknown.
------------------------------
Some Real Groaners... for Blogotional. Cos he loves them!
What did the one fly say to the second? Time to send in the swat team.
Puns are the worst vice, and there's no vice versa.
The string went to the dance and had a ball.
Small surfers ride micro waves.
The dieter was at his width's end.
I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
Gravity is studied a lot because it's a very attractive field.
A racehorse's life is always on track.
Peacocks are meticulous because they show attention to de tail.
A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was a nurse said 'No change yet'.
We were so poor when I was growing up we couldn't even afford to pay attention.
How do you make antifreeze? Steal her blanket.

SO ONCE AGAIN LET US REMIND OURSELVES, THAT BEING CHEERFUL KEEPS YOU HEALTHY. IT IS SLOW DEATH TO BE GLOOMY ALL THE TIME!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remind myself that Jesus died to set me free, help me Lord to live that life, and be determined in Him to have a joyful heart, in Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen!

HAVE A GREAT AND GODLY WEEKEND!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AMERICA!

We here in Australia pray a blessing on you, for a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday, and may you be blessed as you share this time with family and friends! We are also thankful to our awesome Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as He grants those who are visiting relatives etc., travelling mercies.

The Thanksgiving Holidays, afford us a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus, let's do as He commanded, go into your world, and tell them the good news. Hallelujah!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY - SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT! The Conclusion.

There is nothing you can to do make God love you more! There is nothing you can do to make God love you less! His love is Unconditional, Impartial, Everlasting, Infinite, Perfect! - Richard C. Halverson.

You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. - Eph 4:22-24. (CEV)

To love at all is to be venerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin or your selfishness.

But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable...The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers...of love is Hell. - C.S. Lewis.

Yesterday in Part 2, we mentioned the fact that in the mind, the battle is fought for soul control! Most of the time, our minds are filled with carnal things, external things, temporal thing, and because of this, we reap anxiety, worry, stress, and every kind of emotional strain.

God wants us to change our thinking by the Holy Spirit, and we understood that to do this, we would have to “Fill our minds with the thought that God is in control of everything!” And to “Fill our minds with the thought that God is always there with us!” Today as we conclude this series, we need to...

FILL OUR MINDS WITH THE THOUGHT THAT GOD IS OUR FATHER AND HE LOVES US!

It is so comforting to know that He loves us, and we need to remind ourselves daily that He does. When I tell my wife that I love her, I know that she wants to hear that, but I also wait for the moment when she says, “I love you too!” It is so reassuring to hear that, especially when I know she does and ‘vice-versa,’ but it means that I can get on with my day knowing that fact.

It is also so reassuring to know that the Father loves us, and every time we read the Bible He demonstrates this love to us! God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! - John 3:16-17.

He demonstrates this loves to us, in the person of His own dear son, Jesus. It was a free and undeserved gift that He gave us, for there was no human being who could achieve this, and it delighted our loving Father to give his Son into the hands of men to die in their place, it was the sheer magnitude of His love; the expression of His eternal compassion, and of a desire, that sinners should not perish forever. Wow! Hallelujah! What an awesome God we serve!

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say. - Source Unknown.

And likewise, Jesus demonstrates the love of the Father to us, by telling us that He would never leave us or forsake us, He would never refuse anybody who comes to Him, He said that we can ask for anything in His name, and it will be done! Jesus loves us as much as the Father does... But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. - John 13:35.

I am not sent a pilgrim here,
My heart with earth to fill;
But I am here God's grace to learn,
And serve God's sovereign will.
He leads me on through smiles and tears,
Grief follows gladness still;
But let me welcome both alike,
Since both work out his will.
No service in itself is small,
None great, though earth it fill;
But that is small that seeks its own,
And great that seeks God's will.
Then hold my hand, most gracious Lord,
Guide all my doings still;
And let this be my life's one aim,
To do, or bear thy will.
There is not an inch of any sphere of life of which
Jesus Christ the Lord does not say, "Mine."
- Abraham Kuyper.

It is so easy to allow life, and the business of the world, to occupy our minds! If we make a conscious effort to change our thinking in God, our lives will be fruitful, peaceful, and prosperous......THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!

Loving Father, I thank you, that you demonstrated your love for me in your dear son Jesus, and I also thank you that this great love for me, continues in Christ Jesus. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to change my thinking, to fill my mind with the thoughts that you are in control of everything, that you are everywhere with me! Lord, that I would totally trust in you, knowing that you would never leave or forsake me. In the wonderful and mighty Name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

* Photo: "The Thinker" by Jim Byrne.

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT! Part 2.

Let the mind of the Master be the master of your mind. - Source Unknown.

You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. - Eph 4:22-24. (CEV)

God's wonderful works which happen daily are lightly esteemed, not because they are of no import but because they happen so constantly and without interruption. Man is used to the miracle that God rules the world and upholds all creation, and because things daily run their appointed course, it seems insignificant, and no man thinks it worth his while to meditate upon it and to regard it as God's wonderful work, and yet it is a greater wonder than that Christ fed five thousand men with five loaves and made wine from water. - Martin Luther.

In Part 1, we mentioned the fact that in the mind, the battle is fought for soul control! Most of the time, our minds are filled with carnal things, external things, temporal thing, and because of this, we reap anxiety, worry, stress, and every kind of emotional strain. God wants us to change our thinking by the Holy Spirit, and yesterday we understood that to do this, we would have to Fill Our Minds With The Thought That God Is In Control Of Everything! Today we are learning to...

FILL OUR MINDS WITH THE THOUGHT THAT GOD IS ALWAYS THERE WITH US!

Absolutely nothing takes God by surprise! God is always at our side, He will never leave us to the mercy of the enemy, and if God be for us... What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? - Rom 8:31. This is tremendous comfort for us, and when it sinks in, it can only fill us with great confidence in our walk with Christ! Hallelujah! What an awesome God we serve!

There will be certain times in our lives, when God cannot lift the darkness from us, and it will seem as if He is a million miles away, but we must trust Him, because it will be for our own spiritual good. He will appear at times to be an unkind God, but He is not, at times He will appear as an unloving Father, but He is not, at times He will appear to be like an unjust judge, but He is not. It is times like this that we must learn to have total trust in Him, have the faith of God!

Jesus told his disciples: Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and don't doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith. - Mar 11:22-24.

To live by faith is to live joyfully, to live with assurance, untroubled by doubts and with complete confidence in all we have to do and suffer at each moment by the will of God. We must realize that it is in order to stimulate and sustain this faith that God allows the soul to be buffeted and swept away by the raging torrent of so much distress, so many troubles, so much embarrassment and weakness, and so many setbacks. For it is essential to have faith to find God behind all this. - Jean-Pierre de Caussade, 1675-1751.

We must keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God's will is behind it. I don’t think that we will understand everything, but God understands, and that is enough for us! We must submit to His will, and realise that all things work out to the good to them that love God.

We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, - Rom 8:28.

One of the misconceptions of life, even in the Christian’s life, is that we need money to make us secure. That is why all these so called prosperity preachers, and their ilk, can control so many people’s minds; they meet that need for the greed that flourishes in their lives. If these Christians could only understand that their greed is a sin against almighty God, then these charlatans would go out of business very quickly, and then decent people could get on with their walk in Christ, knowing that He is all sufficient for us, and that He will never abandon us! Hallelujah!

Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. - Heb 13:5.

He that is down needs fear no fall;
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble, ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it, or much;
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.
- John Bunyan.

HOPEFULLY, ALL OF THIS HAS GIVEN US SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

Loving Father, Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to change my thinking, to fill my mind with the thought that you are everywhere with me! Lord, that I would totally trust in you, knowing that you would never leave or forsake me. Help me to understand that all things work for the good to those that love you. Teach me to be free from the love of money, and to be satisfied with what you have given me. In the wonderful and mighty Name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY - SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. Part 1.

Watts of power used by the human brain when it's engaged in deep thought… 14; Watts required to operate an IBM personal computer… 90. - Charis Conn (Ed.).

You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. - Eph 4:22-24. (CEV)

A man had bought a new gadget-unassembled, of course, and after reading and rereading the instructions he couldn't figure out how it went together. Finally, he sought the help of an old handyman who was working in the backyard. The old fellow picked up the pieces, studied them, then began assembling the gadget.

In a short time, he had it put together. "That's amazing," said the man. "And you did it without even looking at the instructions!"

"Fact is," said the old man, "I can't read, and when a fellow can't read, he's got to think." - Bits and Pieces.

Someone once said that our minds are gardens, that could be cultivated to produce the harvest that we desire, our minds are workshops, where the important decisions of life and eternity are made, our minds are armouries, where we forge the weapons for our victory or our destruction, our minds are battlefields, where all the significant battles of life are won or lost.

In the mind, the battle is fought for soul control! Most of the time, our minds are filled with carnal things, external things, temporal thing, and because of this, we reap anxiety, worry, stress, and every kind of emotional strain. God wants us to change our thinking by the Holy Spirit, and when we do, we will reap His joy, peace, and rest... The LORD gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. - Isa 26:3.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
- Frank Outlaw.

Now that we have SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IT, let us learn how to change our thinking through the Holy Spirit...

WE NEED TO FILL OUR MINDS, WITH THE THOUGHT THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL, OVER EVERYTHING!

When we do this, 3 things will happen...

We Will Have An Attitude Of Perfect Trust...
This will happen, when we know that God is in control, over every little detail of our lives. And when we experience difficulties, it will be as easy as breathing for us to say, “Our heavenly Father knows all about this!” We need to remember to go to God about our problems, instead of running from person to person, seeking help.

Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice. - Psa 5:11.

Uncle Oscar was apprehensive about his first airplane ride. His friends, eager to hear how it went, asked if he enjoyed the flight. "Well," commented Uncle Oscar, "it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I'll tell you this. I never did put all my weight down!" - Source Unknown.

We Will Have An Enthusiasm To Ask Of Him...
When we realise that God is in control over EVERYTHING, it will cause us to ask Him for answers! Prayer or communication with God, is not just about asking, it is an attitude of the mind which produces an atmosphere which makes asking and receiving, as natural as breathing!

Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. I will do whatever you ask me to do. - John 14:13-14.

If the request is wrong, God says, "No."

If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow."

If you are wrong, God says, "Grow."

But if the request is right, the timing is right and you are right, God says, "Go!"
- Bill Hybels.

We Will Have An Eagerness To Seek Him...
Knowing that God is in control of everything, and that He is very merciful, kind, and giving, it will cause us to seek Him, because we know every good gift comes from Him...

Ask, and you will receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. - Mat 7:7-8.

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. - Charles Kingsley.

HOPEFULLY, ALL OF THIS HAS GIVEN US SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

Loving Father, Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to change my thinking, to fill my mind with the thought that you are in control over everything! Lord, that I would have an attitude of trust in you, that I have never had before. Help me to be enthusiastic about my asking of you, and that I will have the eagerness to constantly seek your mind. In the wonderful and mighty Name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

Be encouraged!

GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY - ALWAYS SHOW A GENTLE ATTITUDE.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way. - Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor.

Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone. Titus 3:2.

Monday mornings can be very difficult for some people, for various reasons, returning to our place of employment where there is conflict, going to a meeting with someone who is manipulative, having to confront a situation that was left unsolved, etc., but as Christians we need to heed the advice of the Apostle Paul, and always show a gentle attitude.

It is obvious from our text that we must not speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly. This is not as easy as it sounds, there will be circumstances and situations, where we will have to try real hard, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can achieve this. We must pray and ask Him to help us put Paul’s advice into practice, whatever the situation.

As well as praying, I thought that a few examples of people who have faced difficult situations would be helpful...

In The Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient, Norman Cousins tells of being hospitalized with a rare, crippling disease. When he was diagnosed as incurable, Cousins checked out of the hospital. Aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body, Cousins reasoned the reverse was true. So he borrowed a movie projector and prescribed his own treatment, consisting of Marx Brothers films and old "Candid Camera" reruns. It didn't take long for him to discover that 10 minutes of laughter provided two hours of pain free sleep. Amazingly, his debilitating disease was eventually reversed. After the account of his victory appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Cousins received more than 3000 letters from appreciative physicians throughout the world. - Today in the Word.
-----------------------------
Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation's deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do. - Steve Goodier.
----------------------------
The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, "What are you doing?" The first replied, "I'm cutting stone for 10 shillings a day." The next answered, "I'm putting in 10 hours a day on this job." But the third said, "I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London's greatest cathedrals." Source Unknown.
---------------------------
A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. "You have lost an arm in the great cause," he said. "No," said the soldier with a smile. "I didn't lose it--I gave it." In that same way, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it purposefully. - Source Unknown.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, not to speak evil of anyone, but to be friendly and peaceful, and to always have a gentle attitude towards everyone. I thank you for this, and I praise the wonderful Name of my Lord and Saviour, who was the greatest example of a gentle attitude. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DOGGIE TAILS #12 - Meet Doctor Dog.

Now and again, along comes a fantastic story of yet another trusted canine coming to the help of his best friend. This is such a story from Sydney, Australia. Enjoy...

A REMARKABLE dog has been trained to save the life of a Sydney teenager who risks dying in her sleep every night.When 13-year-old Brooke Kelly goes to bed, she puts her trust in a scruffy terrier called Neville to ensure she wakes up each morning. Brooke suffers from an extremely rare condition in which she sometimes stops breathing while she is asleep.

Neville sits by the side of the bed watching over his charge and barks to raise the alarm if Brooke's breathing suddenly ceases. He is one of only two dogs in the world and the first in Australia trained to be such a lifeline.

"I've always wanted a dog and Neville could save my life. We are training him so he knows what means danger," Brooke told The Sunday Telegraph. Brooke suffers from congenital central hypoventilation syndrome – a genetic condition that occurs in one in 300,000 births and affects the instinctive control of breathing during sleep.

"If Brooke stops breathing when she is asleep her trigger doesn't kick in to wake her up," her mother Letitia Kelly explains.
Brooke was diagnosed at birth at Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick and returned there last week to have her nocturnal oxygen levels monitored.

"Babies can die without treatment and diagnosis," Sleep Medicine Unit director Dr Arthur Teng said. "There is no medicine for this yet and this is a lifelong condition."

Until now, thousands of dollars have been spent on carers to stay with Brooke during the evening. She is looking forward to falling asleep without another person watching her for the first time in her life. "I'm looking forward to having some space and just being by myself," she said.

A cross west highland/scottish terrier, Neville is 18 months old and knows that when his owner slips on his yellow jacket he is in charge of her welfare.

Alex Van Oeveren, founder of Disability Aid Dogs, helped train both Brooke and Neville and said the little terrier is special. "You can't make mistakes in this area. If the dog doesn't perform at the right time it could cost Brooke her life," he said.

After just six weeks of training, Neville is already in tune with Brooke's rhythms and, while even the most diligent human carers have been known to fall asleep, Neville always has one ear cocked for the sound of his owner's breathing.

"He is a shift worker," Mrs Kelly said. "He sleeps while Brooke is at school and at night he can still nap – it's like a mother who always has an ear out for her small child."

Brooke used a tracheotomy to help her breathe until the age of 10. Once it was removed, she could go to school without her peers knowing about her condition.

Neville was the perfect sleep companion, Brooke said. "His size is perfect, too, because he can sleep on the bed with me."

WOW! What a story!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG – THE CALL TO HOLINESS.

God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness. So then, whoever rejects this teaching is not rejecting a human being, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. - 1 Thess 4:7-8.

When God called us to be his followers, it was not that we should lead lives of immorality, but lives of holiness. The Lord calls none of us into his family to live unholy lives, but He calls us that we may be taught and empowered, to walk before him in holiness. We should, therefore, fulfill the purpose, for which we were called into His kingdom.

The call to holiness is easy to ignore in a world which lives by much different standards. Satan gets us to compare our lifestyle with those around us, deceiving us into denigrating our sins, in comparison to others. But the issue is not in comparing our sins; the issue is a thankful heart that has been cleansed by the Holy Spirit, and saved by grace. Ignoring, or watering down, the Spirit's call for holiness is rejecting God.

Let's be passionate about holiness in our lives, both because it is what God wants, and also because it is what we should seek.

Loving Father, forgive me for trying to water down the significance of my sin. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to fire up in me a passion for holiness, and empower me to live in a way which honours you. In the wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - A JOYFUL HEART. #7

"Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again."

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Pro 17:22.

Wow! That was a quick week! Sorry I am late for the Friday post, but Jean and I have just returned from a couple of days away, on a very peaceful Mountain retreat, our batteries are charged, and already we are preparing for an exciting weekend! More time to spend with our families, do the little chores around the house, mow the lawn, weed the garden, tidy up around the house, settle in with a nice book, watch a favourite movie, have a favourite meal/BBQ with friends and family, etc,.

And then for the most exciting item of the weekend... CHURCH on Sunday! Hallelujah! Time to Praise and Worship the Lord, time to fellowship with the saints, time for a challenging Sermon, time to bask in the love and warmth of the brothers and sisters in the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise the wonderful Name of Jesus! Here are a few laughs/thoughts to keep you going till then...

ONE LINERS:
"Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever."
"Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage. He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married, and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked."
"Knock, knock. Who's there? Goliath. Goliath who? Goliath down, you looketh tired."
"We all have expiration dates, but only God can read the bar code."
"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."

WHO ARE YOU?
At his request, each morning three-year-old Ray's mother pinned a bath towel to the back shoulders of his size two T-shirt. Immediately in his young imaginative mind the towel became a brilliant magic blue and red cape. And he became Superman.

Outfitted each day in his "cape," Ray's days were packed with adventure and daring escapades. He was Superman. This fact was clearly pointed out when his mother enrolled him in kindergarten class.

During the course of the interview, the teacher asked Ray his name."Superman," he answered politely and without pause.The teacher smiled, cast an appreciative glance at his mother, and asked again, "Your real name, please." Again, Ray answered, "Superman." Realizing the situation demanded more authority, or maybe to hide amusement, the teacher closed her eyes for a moment, then in a voice quite stern, said, "I will have to have your real name for the records."

Sensing he'd have to play straight with the teacher, Ray slid his eyes around the room, hunched closer to her, and patting a corner of frayed towel at his shoulder, answered in a voice hushed with conspiracy, "Clark Kent."
- Source unknown.

You Know You Have A Bad Computer When . . .
10. The lower corner of screen has the words "etch a sketch" on it.
9. When you insert a disk, it spits out a pack of cigarettes.
8. You have to pedal it.
7. The manual contains one sentence: "good luck!"
6. The only chip inside is a Dorito.
5. When you turn it on, the dogs in the neighborhood start howling.
4. You catch a virus from it.
3. Screen frequently freezes and message comes up: "Ain't it break time, Chester?"
2. While running, it emits deafening calliope music.
1. It cyber-snickers at you.--Source Unknown

MOTHERS FROM HISTORY...
COLUMBUS' MOTHER: "I don't care what you've discovered, you still could have written!"
MICHELANGELO'S MOTHER: "Can't you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?"
NAPOLEON'S MOTHER: "All right, if you aren't hiding your report card inside your jacket, take your hand out of there and show me."
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S MOTHER: "Again with the stovepipe hat? Can't you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?"
MARY'S MOTHER: "I'm not upset that your lamb followed you to school, but I would like to know how he got a better grade than you."
ALBERT EINSTEIN'S MOTHER: "But it's your senior picture. Can't you do something about your hair? OY! Styling gel, mousse, something...?"
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOTHER: "The next time I catch you throwing money across the Potomac, you can kiss your allowance good-bye!"
THOMAS EDISON'S MOTHER: "Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb. Now turn it off and get to bed!"
PAUL REVERE'S MOTHER: "I don't care where you think you have to go, young man, midnight is past your curfew." - Good Clean Funnies.

Some Real Groaners... for Blogotional, because he loves them!
1. He's a chiropractor, and she is a pain in the neck.
2. He's a funny old goat, and she's a great kidder.
3. He doesn't have a dollar, and she has no sense.
4. He sells balloons for a living, and she's full of hot air.
5. He's Bow-legged, and she's as straight as an arrow.
6. She's a Math teacher, and he's a guy with a lot of problems.- Larry Sourbeer.

THE BEAUTY OF LIFE
Sunset and sunrise
Rain when the sky cries
Rainbows and moonshine
Dew on a tall pine
Flowers and butterflies
Sunny days and blue skies
The oceans waves crashing
Waterfalls splashing
Mountains with snow
Gentle breezes that blow
Icy peaks with frozen sky
Lonely deserts always dry
Wild windy nights
Filled with starry lights
A raging storm
Before a misty dawn
All of these things
God to us brings
The beauty of this earth
Makes life all the more worth.--Author Unknown.

SO ONCE AGAIN LET US REMIND OURSELVES, THAT BEING CHEERFUL KEEPS YOU HEALTHY. IT IS SLOW DEATH TO BE GLOOMY ALL THE TIME!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remind myself that Jesus died to set me free, help me Lord to live that life, and be determined in Him to have a joyful heart, in Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen!

HAVE A GREAT AND GODLY WEEKEND!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY - JESUS CHANGES LIVES. The Conclusion.

Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, indeed is painful; yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope. - Thomas Carlyle.

"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" - John 4:29. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." - John 4:39.

Christ met unbelievers where they were. He realised what many Christians today still don't seem to understand. Cultivators have to get out in the field. According to one count, the gospels record 132 contacts that Jesus had with people. Six were in the Temple, four in the synagogues and 122 were out with the people in the mainstream of life. - J.K. Johnston.

Yesterday in Part 2, we were looking at the ministry of Jesus, and He answered the questions of the woman at the well, and that was the beginning of the change in her life. We now realise that we have a “principle of change” here in this situation, and that Jesus used it as He touched the lives of people. It is the principle that we must still use as an extension of Christ Himself, as we minister to the lost.

In John 4:4-42, Jesus puts this “principle of change” into action, as He changed the lives of a Woman, His Disciples and a Town full of People. These verses are incredibly powerful, for they speak to us as individuals, and as universal body of believers, that we too must be in the ministry of change, a ministry that changes the lives of people. Having risked His reputation, and answered her questions, we now conclude with the final “principle of change” as...

JESUS MAKES HER FACE THE REAL ISSUE

With her derisive response, Jesus made the woman face the real issue in her life, sin. This is the issue that every person must face. Jesus had told the woman ... "Go and bring your husband." - John 4:16.

When she replied to Jesus that she had no husband, Jesus mediately showed her the sin within her life... "That's right," Jesus replied, "you're telling the truth. You don't have a husband. You have already been married five times, and the man you are now living with isn't your husband." - John 4:16. She quickly changed the subject by placing a “smoke screen” question, dealing with the differences between the Jews and Samaritans.

Jesus quickly answers her, and again shows her she has a “SELF PROBLEM,” and that she is avoiding the truth about herself. He then showed her that she has a “SIN PROBLEM,” and that she was living out a lifestyle of sin. This in turn leads to Jesus telling her about her “PROFESSING PROBLEM,” where she is telling Him that where she worshipped, was more important than the one you worship.

Again she attempts to avoid the real issue of her life, and proclaims that when the Messiah comes , all this will be straightened out. Jesus responds with... "I am that one," Jesus told her, "and I am speaking to you now." - John 4:26. In wide-eyed amazement she runs off to her town to proclaim the good news. One woman with the revelation of who Jesus is, is instrumental in bringing a whole town to Jesus! Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve!

I read about a court case that was lost because of the silence of an attorney. The distinguished lawyer Samuel Hoar (1778-1856) was representing the defendant. When it was time to present his case, he told the jurors that the facts favoring his client were so evident that he would not insult their intelligence by arguing them. The jury retired to deliberate and returned in a few minutes with a verdict of guilty. Samuel Hoar was astonished!

"How," he asked, "could you have reached such a verdict?" The foreman replied, "We all agreed that if anything could be said for a case, you would say it. But since you didn't present any evidence, we decided to rule against you." Silence had lost the case.

How often the opportunity to speak a word of testimony for Christ is lost because we remain silent. Those who need to hear the gospel may conclude that salvation is not important enough to talk about. - Source Unknown.

Are we in the ministry with Jesus of changing lives? Or are we people who need to be changed? These scriptures speak so much to us today, to tell us that we can change people through the witness of Jesus, that we can be changed to view people differently, and that we can change our towns and cities, because of the difference of Jesus.

Has Jesus Changed Us?

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to risk my reputation, and be ready to change my life, that I may be instrumental in changing other people’s live. Help me to lovingly answer any legitimate question that people as. Grant me wisdom, to help people to face their real issues, that they may be won for Jesus, and thirst no more in His Kingdom! In His wonderful name I ask this. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY