"Leaving A Mark"

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"  Mark 8:36

Recently, I was talking with someone and the conversation turned to us telling each other some of the works we were involved in.  This person has done much volunteer work with several "big" organizations that have helped masses of people.  They made the statement that they felt complete and like they had "left their mark" on society through all the helpful things they have done.

What this person said triggered a thought.  We should be "leaving a mark" for good behind us.  When we leave this earth, we should leave a part of it better than it was before we got involved.  We should be interested in helping others and making life better for mankind and those around us.  I hope to leave a mark for good behind me when I die.  I hope I have made life better for someone else because of the help that I have given them.   

But just leaving a mark here is not enough.  Leaving a mark in history, no matter how good a mark it is, is not good enough.  You can leave a mark that will further a social cause, establish a nation, free people, secure equality for all people groups, leave an invention that will help multitudes, feed thousands of hungry people, leave a legacy of peace or come up with a cure for a deadly disease.  But the greatest mark you should have is not left in this world.  It is not one that you leave behind.  It is one that proceeds you and is waiting for you when you leave this life.

The old timers used to call their signature, or written name, their "mark".  Your name and your mark were the same.  The greatest "mark" you can have is having your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  Leaving a mark here is great... we all should.  But what will it profit you if that is the only mark you have?  It will profit others.  They will benefit by the mark for good that you leave behind.  But you will lose out if you haven't made sure your mark is in the Book.  Is it?

Have a great day.  Leave a mark for good behind you that will benefit mankind when you leave this earth.  But make sure you have a mark that will benefit you when you leave this life-- your name/mark in the Lamb's Book of Life.        

"Talking To God Or With God?"

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God".  Philippians 4:6

We tend to make prayer something we do "to" God.  We look at prayer as a time of talking "to" God about our needs.  Prayer is so much more than that.  It is not just a list that we present to God for Him to answer.  Prayer is communication with God.  We don't talk "to" God, we talk "with" God. 

Prayer is not one sided.  Prayer involves us talking with God.  We make our request known to Him, we bring our needs to Him, we tell Him what is on our mind, but we should always listen to Him and wait for Him to speak to us as well.  We listen to what He wants to say.  We wait for Him to respond.  We listen for His instructions, His direction and what He wants to convey to us.

How do you view prayer?  Is it a list that you talk "to" God about only? Or is it a time when you talk "with" the Lord? Do you tell Him what you want, or do you give Him the opportunity to tell you what He wants?  Prayer is a two-way street-- talking and listening. 

Have a great day.  Do you talk to God or with God?     

"Greater Understanding Of Him "

"And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, 'What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'" Mark 4:41

When Jesus rebuked the storm and commanded it to be still, the disciples were amazed and wondered just who this man was.  The answer is-- He was the same one who got in the boat with them to begin with.  The presence of the storm didn't change who He was and had always been.  He was the same miracle working, power demonstrating, demon casting out, healer of the sick that He was before He got into the boat.

What I am trying to say is that the problems we face, the storms that threaten, the demons that rage, the fiery furnace trials, the pit of despair, the den of roaring lion's, the oppression of the enemy, the loss of possessions, the break in relationships, the fear of drowning does not change nor diminish who He is.  He is still God.  He is still Ruler over all the universe.  He is still the Deliverer, the Healer, the Savior. 

He hadn't changed in the boat.  Their revelation of who He was in a greater dimension had changed.  They saw Him in a "new light".  But He was the same Jesus.  He was already the ruler over nature when He got in the boat-- not when He rebuked it.

Our times of trials, problems and testing don't change Him.  They change our perspective of Him.  They change our understanding of who He is.  We see Him in a greater way than we saw Him in other situations.  I can remember being sick once and praying for the Lord to touch me--- He had on many occasions.  This time He spoke to my heart and told me that I already knew He was my Healer, this time He wanted to show me something different about Himself-- He wanted to give me another revelation of His greatness.  (And He did.) 

So remember, your circumstances don't change Him.  He is still Who He has always been.  But they change the way you see Him and give you a deeper, clearer revelation of Who this Glorious, Amazing, Wonderful, Almighty God is.

Have a great day.  The Lord is the same all-powerful God during the trials as He was before the trials.  They don't change Him.  They change our understanding of Who He is and broadens it.  

"I Call Him Lord"

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost".  1 Corinthians 12:3

I was thinking about a song I haven't heard in a long time.  The chorus says, "And if you can remember ask him what's his name, and if he tells you Jesus just say we're so glad you came.  But tell him you know someone who still calls him Lord, then send him on to me cause that's the man I'm looking' for". 

As I listened to the words, the line that says, "tell Him you know someone who still calls Him Lord", just "jumped" out at me and brought tears to my eyes. 

Does anyone truly call Him "Lord" anymore?  Is He Lord to those who profess to be a Christian?  Is He Lord to those who say they know Him? 

I hear so many people call Him "The Big Guy Upstairs"; their "Homey"; their "Best Bud"; their "Running Buddy"; etc.  Personally, He is my best friend who sticks closer to me than a brother.  He is my Elder Brother.  He is my Confidant.  But He is FIRST my GOD!  He is my Lord!  I still call Him Lord. 

Because He is so personal with us and desires to have a personal intimate relationship with us, calling us His children, we have forgotten the reverence that He is due.  While He is all that to me, He is my Lord.  He is the object of my worship.  He is the Potter and I am the clay-- He can mold and make of me anything He desires.  He commands me.  He gives me my marching orders.  He is the one I submit my will to.  He tells me what to do, not vice versa. 

I praise Him for a close relationship with Him.  I am so thankful that I can approach Him without fear of being "consumed".  I am thankful that He is a God who is near and not far away.  I am so glad I have access to come to Him.  I am so blessed and appreciative to be allowed to be His child.  I am indeed thankful that I can share the deepest secrets of my heart with Him.  But I must never forget that He is first my Lord and not be flippant about that relationship. 

Have a great day.  I still call Jesus Lord!  Because He is!  Do you?   

"The Direction Of Choices"

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live".  Deuteronomy 30:19

Life is made up of choices.  Some are simple and don't affect us much-- such as choosing what to eat for lunch.  Others are major and carry lifelong consequences with them.  I want to start with a question this morning.  "Are the choices you're making bringing you closer to the Lord or taking you further away from Him?".

David made the choice to commit adultery with Bathsheba.  It didn't bring him closer to the Lord.  King Saul made the choice to disobey the words of Samuel the prophet.  His choice didn't bring him closer to God.  Mary made the choice to submit to the will of God to give birth to the Messiah.  That choice brought her closer to the Lord.  Adam made a choice to disobey God, and it took him and all of mankind away from God.

The Bible admonishes us to "acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He would direct our steps".  We are to seek Him in every decision we make, every choice we make, every direction we go and let Him direct us.  When we do, He will always lead us in not only making the right choice, but in making the choice that will bring us closer to Him at the same time.

Have a great day.  Are the choices you are making bringing you closer to the Lord or taking you further away from Him?