Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.
Henri Frederic Amiel, Swiss philosopher
Lord open my heart & eyes for opportunities to show gratitude.
Filed under encouragement, inspiration, prayer, thankfulness
Day after day he sat on the busiest thoroughfare he could find–the road outside of Jericho leading toward Jerusalem. Crowds meant revenue for the blind beggar and today the crowd was thick. The atmosphere intense. Then he heard that name. Turning his head he heard it again. Jesus . . . . Jesus.
He’s here. Jesus is here. This is my chance.
“Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Shhhh! Hush Bartimaeus!”
“Thou son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and turned towards him. “Bartimaeus, come here.”
And he, casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. Mark 10:50
Bartimaeus threw his garment, his security, his means of shade in the daytime and his blanket of warmth at night. Some scholars say blind beggars wore a certain type of outer cloak for identification so donors would know their disablity. If this is true, then Bartimaeus discarded his self-sufficiency, his tradition and his past when he cast his garment.
Oh to be like Bartimaeus–willing to lay everything aside! Willing to not let anything or anyone keep me from coming to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.
Mark 10:51-52a
Not only were Bartimaeus’ physical eyes opened that day but his spiritual eyes were opened as well. After his miracle he could have gone in any direction, yet he chose to follow Jesus–the lifestyle changer.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Mark 10: 52
Filed under Bible, devotional, God, inspirational, Jesus, praise
The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
Filed under encouragement, health, inspiration, life, philosophy, reflection
Last week we had a Kids Crusade. It was based on a Nascar theme and the highlight of each night was a race between Flash E. McManus and Sted E. Eddie. Flash thought he was all that. He thought he could take it easy and enjoy the adoration of his pit crew and fans. After all, he had earned the title Flash–not only for his speed, but for his style as well.
However, in the other lane was Sted E. Eddie. He wasn’t as flighty as Flash. He didn’t have a record of fast finishes but he had something that Flash didn’t have–sticktoitness. He took race car driving seriously. Even when the fans clapped and cheered, Eddie waved back to them, maintaining his solemn race day face.
The two competitors stepped into their cars. Their hands gripped the steering wheels. The crowd and engines roared. Their cars vibrated in their respective lanes. The starting flag signaled and they were off. Around and around they sped. After a couple of laps Flash thought he’d relax and sit a while. You see, he was Flash and he’d always won his races by a long shot. It wouldn’t hurt to get a drink, wave to the fans and share some laughs with his crew. “I’ve got it made,” he muttered.
Meanwhile, Sted E. Eddie stayed true to his name and continued the race. Just when Flash thought he could cinch another win, he jumped into his car, stomped on the gas and sped away to catch Eddie. But this time his clutch jammin’, foot slammin’ skills didn’t work. Sted E. Eddie was leading and Flash was in trouble. Sted E. Eddie saw his fellow racer lagging behind. He let Flash catch up to him and shouted, “Come on Flash, let’s cross the finish line together!” And they did.
Isn’t that what life’s race is all about?
Helping each other to the finish line?
Filed under devotional, encouragement, heaven, inspirational, Jesus, life, philosophy, youth ministry
Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NIV
Before the use of machinery, farmers used oxen or horses to pull a plow. If a plowman plows half-heartedly his rows will be shallow and crooked. His peers will scoff at his plowing skills. The soil will not be broken up and prepared as well as it could be to hold the seed. If seed is sown on poor ground–the result will be a poor crop. Therefore, a plowman must focus on the ground ahead of him and keep both hands on the plow to adjust the blade as it cuts through roots and clods of dirt. A plowman knows that once he starts, quitting is not an option because good soil will often reward him with a plentiful harvest.
Jesus compared a life of following him to that of a plowman. Just as a plowman can’t plow a deep, straight row while looking backwards, I can’t prepare the soil of my heart to receive the seed of His word if I’m looking back and hankering for the life I left behind. Also, quitting in the middle of plowing my heart, isn’t an option either. Oh, I may stop to rest. Catch my breath. I may even fall–but when I do I know I must get up again and . . . get back to plowing.
Filed under Bible, devotional, encouragement, God, inspiration, Jesus, life
In Judges chapter 7 the Midianites, Amalekites and the eastern people were enemies of God’s chosen people, Israel. While encamped in a valley the bible describes them as a multitude thick as grasshoppers and their camels were like the sand on the seashore–too numerous to number. In spite of their vast number, it appears that an army of 32,000 Israelites could defeat any opposition. However, Gideon their leader, followed God’s command and told every soldier who was afraid to leave Mount Gilead. Get this– 22,000 men left, leaving Gideon with 10,000 (Judges 7:3). An army of 10,000 sounds like a lot but God said, “No, I want only those that pass the water test,” (Mary’s paraphrase–Judges 7:5,6). It’s hard to believe it, but 9,700 men failed the water test leaving Gideon with 300 chosen men to defeat a multitude. Gideon’s 300 men equipped themselves with a trumpet, a pitcher and a lamp. What? No armour? No swords? No arrows? For a mass of ruthless, idol-serving warriors? No. None of that.
So Gideon’s army took their positions, blew their trumpets, broke their pitchers and shouted “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” The startled enemy screamed. They ran. Amid the confusion they turned on each other–killing one another with their swords. Gideon called for back up and eventually Gideon’s forces captured & decapitated two Midianite leaders. He continued fighting until there was peace in the land and Israel enjoyed peace throughout Gideon’s lifetime because he yielded to God’s unconventional ways.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8,9 NIV
Filed under Bible, devotional, encouragement, God, inspirational
Ever hear a crowd erupt into applause? It sounds like a cascading waterfall or the voice of many waters (Revelation 19:6). That’s what John heard when he peered into heaven. So . . . if that’s what heaven is like–perhaps I should rehearse down here.
O clap your hands all ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Psalm 47:1
Filed under Bible, devotional, encouragement, God, heaven, inspiration, Jesus, praise, Uncategorized, worship
I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Psalm 143:6 NIV
“When you lift your hands you make a funnel for God’s spirit to come down to you,” said Reverend Lee Stoneking at a recent conference. Hmmm? I’d never thought of it that way. I’d always thought of it as a sign of surrender. Here I am God. I give up. I give it all to you. But make a funnel? OK.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. (and make a funnel) Psalm 63:4
Pour it on God.
Filed under apostolic, Bible, devotional, encouragement, God, holy ghost, inspiration, Jesus, pentecostal, praise, religion, worship
In John Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian the journeying pilgrim traveled with a heavy load on his back until he came to a hill. On it stood a cross and below it, at the bottom, was a tomb. When Christian came up to the cross, his burden loosened from his shoulders and fell onto the ground. It rolled and rolled until it tumbled into the empty tomb. He never saw it again.
Christian stood in awe at the sight of the cross–amazed that his oppressive burden dropped and rolled away so quickly. He felt released from the pressure he had carried. As a result, he wept and sang and leaped for joy. The cross became a bridge that brought him from a life of despondent sighing, to over flowing gladness and singing.
Like Christian, I basked in a feeling of warm joy when I met Him at the cross. He gave me a new song and turned my mourning into dancing.
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing. Psalm 30:11a
Thank you Jesus!
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What I learned from my dad, Melvin Magee,
You can make a meal out of sardines and saltine crackers.
The only way to be on time is to be ahead of time.
Dreams come true if you just get out of bed.
A penny saved is a penny earned, and if you put it in the bank it’ll earn interest.
How to change a flat tire. (When I was 17 he purposely deflated one so he could watch me change it.)
Despite the weatherman’s forecast, go outside, look around and check it for yourelf. (He was a pilot for 50 years.)
Go to church on Sunday, give God what is rightfully His.
Filed under childhood memories, family, inspiration, life, reflection
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