Trivia:
Good morning everyone, If you are able please uphold Becky in prayer for her eye surgery this morning at 8:30. She will be in great pain for the next three days so pray for her.
Well in answer to yesterdays trivia of; How many U.S. states border the Gulf of Mexico. There are five states. Texas; Louisiana; Mississippi; Alabama; Florida. Way to go everyone.
Challenge:
Psalm 39:4-6 "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered--how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it."
There are a number of passages in the Bible that speak to the issue of the brevity of life. Job 6:11; Job 7:7; Job 14:13; Job 16:21,22; Psalm 90:12; Ecclesiastes 2:3 are just a few of those verses.
In verse 5 the writer compares the length of life with the smallest popular measuring unit of ancient times, "four fingers". Then in the next phrase we are reminded of the brief time that we have in which to influence our world, in comparison to God's existence.
I was reminded of this fact by reading about the oldest trees on earth, the Bristlecone Pines. They are estimated to be 3,000 to 4,000 years old (that is 2,000 years before Christ was born). There is the oldest tree that has been named Methuseleh which is estimated to be 4,850 years old! Just think, it was old when the Egyptians built the pyramids. These trees grow on top of the mountains in western U.S. at the elevation of 10,000 to 11,000 feet. They face the harshest of living conditions, arctic temperatures, fierce winds, thin air, and little rain fall. But it is these harsh conditions that have produced the great strength that these trees.
Now for a few minutes we must focus on what our lives should be the result of our existence. We must be careful to guide our life by these two things:
Verse 6b be careful that we don't spend our life on gathering the riches of this world
Verse 7b we should rather put all of our hope, (attention) on honoring God
It is so easy to focus this life on the gathering of things rather than the gathering of the souls of men. We must place attention in our lives to the desires that God has place before us., "our walk with Him and the needs of others to hear of His love for them".
Yesterday we drove by a black car that had written in large white writing saying all over this car, Jesus Saves and Repent. Though this is an important message it must first be founded on the Love of God that draws us to these truths.
Our mission while on this earth is found in John 12:32 "to draw all men to Him" the Savior of our souls.
SO GO WITH GOD my dear child of the king, strive to draw those people in your life, by placing your hope, and trust in Him. Then as we place this level of trust in Him, that very trust will become the drawing power of Jesus to our world. Though that strong message of Repent, and Jesus Saves are so vitally true; On the other hand the message of "God Loves You and has an eternal design for your life" is supremely important to share with others.
So we must pass out this message to our world through placing your hope in Him. Yesterday while I was in the waiting room for Beck's pre-op I was wearing my hat that says God is Good. I noticed the man across the room staring, and readin my cap. I smiled at him and told him its message, he walked across the room and asked to set beside me. Then he told me His story of the loss of his wife, and son, do you still think that the message of your hat is true. I then asked him how old were these loved ones, and how long did he have them in his life? He then pondered about that and said the number of years, I then asked him to rather than being angry with God about his loss to maybe spend some time reflecting of how empty his life could have been. He began to cry and then he was called into the office, he hugged me and said thank you. I encouraged him to joy in his times with them.
Oh my dear one, Joy in what have had throughout your life and don't get caught up thinking of the things that you wish you would have.
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Yes, prayers for Becky.