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Showing posts from April, 2006

Center Our Desires

WE WISH TO SEE JESUS. John 12:21 The constant cry of the world is, "Who will show us any good?" They seek satisfaction in earthly comforts, enjoyments, and riches. But the quickened sinner knows of only one good. "I wish I knew where I might find Him!" When he is truly awakened to feel his guilt, if you could lay a fortune before him he would say, "Take it away: I want to find Him." It is a blessed thing for a man when he has brought his desires into focus, so that they all center in one object. When he has fifty different desires, his heart resembles a stagnant pool spreading out into a marsh, breeding disease; but when all his desires are channeled in one direction, his heart becomes like a river of pure water, running swiftly to fertilize the fields. Happy is he who has one desire, if that one desire is set on Christ, though it may not yet have been realized. When a soul desires Jesus, it is a sure indication of divine work within. Such a man will never...

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. 1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Christ the Lord is Risen Today Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and others Christ has won the final victory The grave has been "boasting" of its power since Eden. But now it has finally met its match. It wraps Jesus up at the Cross and "forbids him to rise," but our Champion, Jesus Christ, fought and wo...

Don't Step on the Ducks!

Three women die together in an accident and go to Heaven.   When they get there, St. Peter says, "We only have one rule here in Heaven: Don't step on the ducks!" So they enter Heaven, and sure enough, there are ducks all over the place.  It is almost impossible not to step on a duck, and although they try their best to avoid them, the first woman accidentally steps on one. Along comes St. Peter with the ugliest man she ever saw.  St. Peter chains them together and says, "Your punishment for stepping on a duck is to spend eternity chained to this ugly man!" The next day, the second woman steps accidentally on a duck and along comes St. Peter, who doesn't miss a thing.  With him is another extremely ugly man.  He chains them together with the same admonishment as for the first woman. The third woman has observed all this and, not wanting to be chained for all eternity to an ugly man, is very, VERY careful where she steps. She manages to go...

You Took My Place

One day, a man went to visit a church.  He got there early, parked his car, and got out.  Another car pulled up near and the driver got out and said, “I always park there!  You took my place!"  The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down.  A young lady from the church  approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"  The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down.  Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"  The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.  Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.  Someone from the congrega...

What God is Like

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results: God is like… BAYER ASPIRIN He works miracles. God is like… a FORD He's got a better idea. God is like… COKE He's the real thing. God is like… HALLMARK CARDS He cares enough to send His very best. God is like… TIDE He gets the stains out that others leave behind. God is like… GENERAL ELECTRIC He brings good things to life. God is like… SEARS He has everything. God is like… ALKA-SELTZER Try him, you'll like Him. God is like… SCOTCH TAPE You can't see him, but you know He's there. God is like… DELTA He's ready when you are. God is like… ALLSTATE You're in good hands with Him. God is like… VO-5 Hair Spray He holds through all kinds of weather. God is like… DIAL SOAP Aren't you glad you have Him?  Don't you wish everybody did? God is like… the U.S. POST OFFICE Neither...

That They May Be With Me

FATHER, I DESIRE THAT THEY ALSO, WHOM YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, MAY BE WITH ME WHERE I AM. John 17:24 O death! Why do you touch the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness finds rest? Why do you snatch away the excellent of the earth, in whom is all our delight? If you must use your axe, use it upon the trees that yield no fruit; then you may be thanked. But why will you chop down the best trees? Hold your axe, and spare the righteous. But no, it must not be; death strikes the best of our friends; the most generous, the most prayerful, the most holy, the most devoted must die. And why? It is through Jesus' prevailing prayer--"Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am." It is that which bears them on eagle's wings to heaven. Every time a believer moves from this earth to paradise, it is an answer to Christ's prayer. A good old divine remarks, "Many times Jesus and His people pull against one another in prayer. You be...