A Quarter and a Dime

A Lesson in Giving from a Six Year Old

During a recent Sunday at our church, my wife and I both doubled our offering amounts for Super Sunday. So when a leader asked us to give a little more for the pastor's aid offering, I knew I didn't have much left. I dug into my wallet, and found nothing. In desperation I dug into my pockets, and the only money I could find was $.35. A quarter and a dime.

Thirty-five cents. It seemed like such a small amount for a grown man to give, but it was all I could give, so I resolved that I would give it.

As they called for our section to stand, I stood and closed the quarter and dime tightly in my fist. I'd give, but I didn't want someone to see me, and think I was being "cheap". Then my granddaughter Kaylin filed past. She was smiling broadly, walking confidently, and there ceremoniously perched in the palm of her upturned hand was..

You guessed it: a quarter and a dime.

I relaxed the tight grip on my offering. If giving $.35 was enough to bring a smile to my granddaughter's face, it was enough to bring a smile to mine. I walked up and dropped my two coins in the Pastor's offering basket, flashing a big smile to the ladies from Pastor's Aid. They both flashed big smiles back. Apparently, they understood that I gave from what I had, no matter how large or how small. Once I released it, it was up to God to stretch and provide.

When I returned to my seat, I was singing happily, and probably looked like I had dropped a hundred dollar bill in the basket.

Thank you Lord, for the joy you give children. Thank you for parents who teach their children to give cheerfully, so us old folks can learn too.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Who Guides the Wind

I cried again. Dolly stood in front of about 30 friends from the church one weekend at our house, telling them what a wonderful husband and help-mate I have been in her life and especially during her surgery and recovery.

And I cried.

None of them could fully grasp the incredible change God has made in my life. Only I am able to stand in the present, look back at such an UNglorious past as mine, and marvel at the goodness and blessings that I currently enjoy. And my joy is complete when I realize Dolly and others are involved in my blessing.

I am profoundly grateful for every moment of my life, because without them I'd be a different person today. God has patiently and lovingly watched while I stumbled through failed relationships and shameful habits, calmly listened as I asserted time and again how much I didn't need Him to run my life, because I thought I was doing a pretty good job of running my life my way.

Only He could know how these seemingly random and undoubtedly painful processes happened to define my character, and refine my very being. He already knew where my life would lead, and He allowed events to occur which would more appropriately prepare me for the life I live today.

I claim nothing in this world. I know now that every act and event in my life has occurred with God's assent.

I've spent many years aboard the ship of my life with sails furled and hatches battened, fighting and enduring the fury of the storms in my life, not knowing that a Higher Power was there with me, gently waiting until I trusted Him enough to release my tight control, unfurl and hoist the sails a bit, and allow the wind to take me in unfamiliar directions, to unfamiliar destinations.

I thought I was steering the ship of my life through my own courageous, independent actions, but I never gave thought to Who guides the wind.

Copyright 2009 by Scotty Ward

WHERE Should I Give?

I had a curious conversation about money with a fellow Christian that I wanted to share.

This young man approached me at work a few years ago. We're both professed believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord, but this was the first time he had approached me to ask my counsel on spiritual matters.

He asked for my advice on where he should give. He said he already paid his tithe to his local church, and wanted to sow seed into another Christian ministry. Praise God for a willing giver!

Then he told me about how he had heard that some ministries overseas were bringing dozens, and hundreds of non-believers to Christ. He had in the past given to an evangelistic ministry here in the U.S., but stopped when some un-Christian practices were reportedly discovered. He asked me, wouldn't it be better to sow seed into a "productive" ministry (in this case one in a faraway country), where his money would get the best "return on his investment"? These were his words, not mine.

I said I didn't have a specific ministry to recommend. I told him that according to the Bible, we're merely asked to give (see below). After we've given, I told him, we've done our part, and should trust God for what happens with what we've given.

Luke 6:38 (CEV) - If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
I think this young man was expecting my response to be more earth-shattering or profound or something. My quoting scriptures seemed too simple for his liking. As he left, he said he was going to ask another Christian friend for recommendations of a ministry where he'd get a "good return".

Well, first off, I praise God for ALL givers. According to Barna Research, total giving nationwide is up this year, but tithing to the local church seems to be at an all-time low. But the question remains: is one ministry "better" or "worse" simply by some observed positive effect on those in attendance?

Sorry. I'm not gonna get all deep or profound here either. I trust God and I trust God's Word. Jesus said to give. He never mentioned "return on your investment". So I'm going to just GIVE. I start with my tithes, then move to my offerings, giving in support of our Missions Department, Pastors Aide, and as many other ministries as I'm able. Once I've given, I leave all the rest to the maker of heaven and earth. He's big enough to handle it.

Am I getting a "good return"? WITHOUT A DOUBT. God blesses me and my family every single day, in ways I couldn't have imagined a few years ago. My blessings are temporal (finances, etc.), as well as spiritual. Can I add up my blessings on a calculator? Nope. But let me tell you, I just LOVE God's math!
So just give. Yes, it's that simple. Let God have your gifts, and prepare to receive your blessing!

© 2010 Scotty Ward

My Knees Hurt; THANK YOU!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

My wife and I were attending a workshop downtown one Saturday, and because I didn't have change for parking, I parked the car in Virginia and took the Metro back to the event (having dropped her off at the workshop first, of course!).

On the return trip I was leaving the Pentagon City Metro, coming up the (stopped) escalator steps, and remarked to myself how my knees were hurting. I considered it a minor inconvenience, but definitely didn't have any sort of "God moment", thinking about my aching knees.

Until one minute later.

As I rounded the corner to leave the Metro station, I came across a cheerful gent, sitting in his wheelchair begging for change, because he only had one leg.

Thanks Lord for such an immediate and poignant reminder that your blessings come in all sizes and shapes, INCLUDING two (count 'em) knees that ache.

© 2010 Scotty Ward

The Luggage Went WHERE??

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Phillipians 4:11b (NIV)

At the end of a very successful business flight last week, I landed safely at the Baltimore Washington airport, but my bag seemed to have taken a detour. I stood at the baggage carousel, watching the same bags go around and around, but mine wasn't among them. As time went on and the crowd thinned, I noticed I wasn't alone. From the looks of it, nearly 20 people from my flight were still anxiously watching the carousel in the hopes their bags would somehow arrive.

During this time, all I could think of was "Lord, I thank you for a safe flight. Sure, my baggage may have gone AWOL. But I thank God I made it!"

As it became apparent our baggage wasn't going to arrive, we lined up at the baggage claim door. I heard the airline employee checking the tickets of all the people in front of me, and saying "Newark" over and over again. For whatever reason, nearly everyone's bags had somehow been rerouted to Newark NJ, and with the snowfall and the holiday hubbub, the airline employee guessed it would be at least a day before their errant luggage would arrive back at BWI.

The people around me were NOT pleased. They were griping and grumbling, some quite loudly. They were being inconvenienced, and weren't afraid to let everyone within earshot know how irritated they were. But I wasn't buying into their negative attitudes. I was in the exact same circumstances they were, but I was thanking God for a safe flight home. My situation seemed identical to theirs; but I was very thankful my ATTITUDE was not.

When my turn at the counter arrived, I stepped up and greeted the woman cheerfully. She nervously took my ticket, thinking she would have to give me the same bad news she'd given to all the people in front of me in line. But when she checked my baggage claim number in the computer, her face brightened noticeably. She handed me back my ticket and said "your bag is on the flight touching down right now". Well thank you for unexpected benefits, Lord!

Though I experienced some quite unexpected favor from God for my baggage, I wish to point out that when all is going crazy around us, we can either join the people who complain, or we can bring peace to the situation. The choice is entirely ours.

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Psalm 31:3

God is indeed the lifter of my head. I give God the praise and thanks for everything, so the good and the bad are all His to manage.

Lord, thank you for offering us your peace, regardless what the circumstances look like. You are the lifter of our heads, and we turn our situations over to you, so that you can get the glory out of our lives. You're in charge, Lord. Instead of grumbling and complaining of what we believe inconveniences US, we choose to give thanks for it all, Lord. Thanks for it all.

Amen

-
© 2008 Scotty Ward

Wearing the Jersey Doesn't Make You a Member of the Team

"Wearing the Jersey Doesn't Make You a Member of the Team"
~ Anonymous

I'm a member of our Evangelistic Outreach team, sent by Pastor Hunt into the neighborhoods of Charles County to knock on doors and seek the lost souls. We don't go knocking on doors to find someone to "win over", but instead to offer people a helping hand, if they desire to be saved. In some cases, we pray with them at their door, but more often than not, the people we visit tell us they're not interested.

One Saturday morning, we visited a particular neighborhood, and as a door opened to me, (after introducing myself) I asked our usual question: "Do you believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ?" One woman's response was curious. As we broke the ice with the above question, her only and immediate response was "I'm _______" (Major Christian denomination). If I'm able to guess what she was trying to indicate with her answer, she seemed to be telling us "Yes, of course I believe. I'm a ________, and ________s believe, so I believe".

Well, praise God. I picked up on her cue, that she was at least affiliated with a section of Christianity, I said "Praise God. Where do you attend?" "Oh, I haven't been to church in years."

She didn't seem interested in a message of salvation through anything but HER church's denomination, which is entirely her right, but more curiously, she also didn't seem interested in attending worship services, Bible study, or affiliating in any way with the Body of Christ, even with her own local denomination.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

It seemed she felt everything was okay in her life because she was a member of a particular Christian denomination. She didn't speak of a private worship or prayer life, or of her own study of the scriptures. I got the impression she believed that by being a member of this denomination, that fact alone automatically placed her in right standing with God.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT) - Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

This scripture tells me that IF I'm operating in God's will, I'm seeking to do His will all the time, and I'm doing it "with deep reverence and fear". Nowhere in the scriptures (with the exception of the Israelites; the Jews) does God indicate that by being a member of this or that particular religious group (i.e. "wearing the jersey") you are nearer to a right relationship with Him.

Bottom line: It's not about my membership. It's about working on my own soul's salvation.

I pray this blog serves as a reminder to all the readers that your (and my) salvation is a personal matter between you/me and God, and you'll find all about it by staying in God's Word daily and by attending worship where Christ is glorified (Scotty's Personal Opinion follows: how can you tell if one or another denomination or service is "good"? First, pray and ask God to show you where to worship. Second, try counting the number of scriptures they use as part of their worship. If you see only a few scriptures mixed in with all the beautiful robes, processions, incense, and high-falutin' language (see Isaiah 1:12-13), you might want to pray about where you're at, and why).

Don't make the fatal mistake of relying on your affiliation with this or that particular DENOMINATION (see Hebrews, above) for your soul's salvation. And by all means don't rely on whether it FEELS right to you (see Proverbs 16:2). Work your own soul's salvation, with the scriptures as your guide. It takes work, but Jesus said he'll never leave us or forsake us. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) is with us to guide us to all truth. Denominations don't make the difference. Jesus does.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend, and perhaps I'll see you at worship!

(Published Previously as "Salvation by Association?") © 2010 Scotty Ward

How About THIS Bread?

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

~Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)


During a recent trip to our local supermarket, my wife and I spent a very long time in the bakery section. We had resolved on this trip to find breads made with whole grains, but also bread that seemed agreeable to those who only ate white bread in the past.


We went to rack after rack, examining bread based on the subjective (how soft and eatable it looked) as well as the objective (whether it was made with whole grain, i.e. more healthy). Time after time, we'd pick up a loaf clad in bright packaging, proudly showing it to each other, saying "this one probably has whole grains", only to turn it over and find it contained none. The bread packaging was downright unreliable; it seemed the bread companies went to great lengths to accentuate the "selling points" of their breads, such as "soft", "rich", "goodness", and even "100% wheat". But after about five minutes of turning loaves over, we discovered that regardless what the pretty labels claimed, the only way we could learn if the bread truly contained whole grain was to examine the ingredients label on the back of the package.

Proverbs 21:2 (Amplified Bible) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.


If you consider it, the Bible is God's "content label" for our spiritual lives. The enemy and the rest of the world try to get us to "buy this" or "try this". And they sure make those sinful activities SEEM nice. Even Satan himself disguises himself as a beautiful, beautiful being to look upon (see 2 Cor 11:14). In his audio commentary, The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee says it nicely: "Satan is an angel of light, and if you could see him, if he made himself visible to you, you'd see the most beautiful angel you've ever seen." Satan (and sin) seem beautiful, desirable, and compelling. But human attractiveness is not how God measures His will for our lives.


There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. (Proverbs 16:25, The Message)


So if something LOOKS good, if it SEEMS pleasing to us, how do we determine if it's really what God wants for us? There's only one way. Open your Bible (just like you turn the bread over), and learn directly from the objective source of God's will for humanity, His Word.


Sunday School, Bible Study, Home Bible Study Groups, Personal Bible Study. All of these are extremely important to help you learn the appropriate course for your life, because it's only through God's Word that you will discover God's divine will for you. Everything else may SEEM pretty, noble, and even "spiritual" (whatever that is). But in the end, straying from God's word leads (as it says it in The Message) " ...straight to hell."


We have two choices in our lives: we can do what we think is best, or we can learn what God's Word tells us to do, and do that instead. Ignore the "packaging", the pretty claims, the hype and the downright desirability of an idea. God's word does not promise physical comfort in this life. It promises a course that leads to eternal life with Him.


So take your life's situations and desires, and compare them to God's Word (i.e. compare your thoughts and actions to the Bible). Ask Him if the spiritual "bread you're buying" actually contains the holy ingredients that are healthy for your soul.


His label will surely tell you the whole truth. Amen.


-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

Fear is NOT Failure!

This week has been very difficult: I allowed depression and fear to sneak in to my otherwise peaceful life, and it almost paralyzed me. At one point, my wife prayed for me through the phone while I just listened and cried.

But if we pay attention, God has a way of showing us why we're going through certain things. This was one of those learning examples. You see, I typically play the MP3 Bible in my truck as I drive, and for some reason, the Holy Ghost had me repeating - over and over again - 2 Chronicles 20, the story of Jehoshaphat, including the "neither know we what to do, but our eyes are on thee" phrase. It was pretty comforting, but this morning the Lord gave me my epiphany.

In verse 15, the prophet is telling King Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah that the Lord says "... be not afraid or dismayed...", but I just passed right over the implication of a prophet telling a king not to be afraid. This morning, the first three words of VERSE 3, earlier in the chapter, hit me like a spiritual brick in the forehead:

"And Jehoshaphat feared..."

Yup. The king of Judah FEARED. And this isn't an isolated thing in the Bible. 1 Samuel 21 tells us that the great King David, a "man after God's own heart" was afraid of King Saul, but was even MORE afraid of the king where he fled, to avoid Saul. In 1 Kings 19:3, we read that "Elijah was afraid and fled for his life." Yes, it's true, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but sometimes the spirit of fear arrives nonetheless. Even the mightiest of KINGS and PROPHETS have times when their own fears can momentarily overtake them.

But right after the Lord showed me about the king's fear, He showed me how the verse continues, "and set himself to seek the LORD..."

God keeps on blessing us, even through our fears. If one day I'm feeling fear and someone exhorts me with the familiar Bible verse, "God has not given us a spirit of fear", I shouldn't consider my feelings of fear as some sort of failure or shameful event. Fear in itself is only a feeling. Even kings and mighty prophets had moments of fear. Rather, the feeling of fear should remind me of where my blessings come from, and to turn in that direction.

Psalm 31:12-14 - I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

May God richly bless you and yours, today and every day.

© 2009 Scotty Ward

People Are Like Dishes

People are like dishes. Some people come straight out of the box, all shiny and new. A quick rinse, and they're ready for God's use. But some of us have been in use for years or even decades, and need a little work before we're 'meet for the Master's use'.

We've been used in many ways, some even having been MISused. But here we are, chipped perhaps, scarred and marred, but not in pieces. Some dishes have been VALUABLE enough to have God glue us back together after a traumatic, soul-shattering fall. Sure, he could have dropped the pieces - what was left of our lives - in the wastebasket. But there was something about us that caused him to take the pieces of our shattered lives, and lovingly re-assemble them so they would again be useful to him. For those 'peculiar' dishes he had to rescue from many other dishes' fate, God seems to have a particular affinity, a specific reason, a definite purpose.

For some of us, we arrive with a lot of junk. Some of us were so used for so long, we have stuff 'baked on'. We've made the rounds. Some were used in the dirt of the garden. Some were used to hold greasy nuts and bolts. Some held water for the children's fingerpaints. Some were taken to a vehicle, used once, and then tossed into the trunk, seemingly to live out the rest of our existence in separation and darkness. We sit there dirty and dry, jostled around in the darkness, and wonder if we'll ever get back to the pantry, to be used at a meal, as our master intended. But God gathers all the dishes together unto himself. Without all of us, God can't complete his 'place settings'.

So he proceeds to clean. Some of us are especially dirty, so God needs to leave us in the hot, soapy water a little longer than the others. Some of us have baked-on and caked-on crud. Those, he applies a bit of 'fingernail', lovingly scrubbing (and scrubbing and scrubbing), until he decides we're ready to be used. Then he lovingly rinses us in the warm, living water. Some of us still have specks of the former crud clinging to us, so it's back into the soapy water, and a couple more scrubs, this time perhaps employing the scraper, just to be sure. We're rinsed again, and then dried with care.

He wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to clean us up, only to drop us now, would he? Of course not. So it's only after we GO THROUGH the cleaning (sanctification) process that God can fully use us. I praise and thank God for the 'new dishes', those he can just lift out of the box and use. But for those of us who've had the tests and traumas - and God is still applying the glue, soap, and scrubber - we should be extra thankful that he thinks so much of us to make that extra effort, so we can take our place at his table.

I leave you with this thought: When the master of the house is serving guests, are they given the newest, cleanest dishes? Absolutely. But the old, marred, sometimes cracked ones he reserves for his own special use, perhaps in his study while enjoying a particularly good book, or while in the shop, turning out other vessels on the wheel (Jeremiah 18). He does this because these old dishes have special meaning to him. We're never set on display at the banquet; we're lovingly used daily for all those 'quiet moments', just us and our creator.

We're all God's dishes!

© 2008 Scotty Ward

Lord, Don't Let Go!

I taught our granddaughter Kaylin how to ride her new bike recently. She would sit on the bike and I would walk/trot alongside, with my hand firmly on the bike seat, to ensure she didn't fall over and hurt herself. During the early part of her lesson, my words were always of encouragement and instruction, but her exclamation remained constant: "Grandpa Scott, Don't Let Go!"

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." ~Psalm 37:23-24

All too often, we seem to have the idea that God wants us to "learn to ride that bike", so we can launch out into new, exciting worlds. But think about it: Kaylin's situation was safest, and she was most able to hear my words of encouragement and instruction during the time she felt the most insecure in her own abilities, while I was holding her bike seat. Her reliance was wholly on me, and as long as I held her seat, she was totally safe.

This scripture tells me I should spend less time "trying to learn to ride the bike", and more time relying on God to guide and keep me safe. Because as long as you and I remain fully reliant on the Lord, the Bible tells us He will continue to uphold us with His hand.

Lord, this day I promise to focus LESS on the road ahead and learning how to be self-reliant. This day I'll try to lean MORE on you, to listen MORE for your words of instruction and encouragement. You've told me I'm safe when my steps are being ordered by you.

I'll pedal as quickly or as slowly in my life as you want, Lord. Just DON'T LET GO.

God Bless You!


-
© 2010 Scotty Ward

Obedience, Unpopular?

I received another "feel good" forwarded Christian email today.

And went to my Bible.....

How often do we forward emails we've received that have the words "pray" and "God" in them? When we do, do we believe we're providing encouragement to other Christians, so that we're "doing our part" for the kingdom? I think we've all done this. We read these messages we've received from someone else, click 'Forward', add all our Christian friends' addresses and then click 'Send', and smile. And then we go back to living our lives, hoping that someone somewhere will be encouraged by our "Christian act".

But how many of us will commit to spend a little less time this year forwarding "Christian message" emails (that we didn't even create but were merely forwarded to us), and spend a little more time being truly obedient to God's word? The Bible says:

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" Isaiah 1:19 (KJV)"


Willingness is great, but obedience is also extremely important.

So let's talk about OBEDIENCE.

OBEDIENCE: How many of us will agree to start offering prayers for the sick, so that they will recover? The Bible says:
"...the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. Therefore... pray for each other so that you may be healed" (from James 5:15-16, NIV)

There are FOUR possible outcomes from our prayer activity, as explained by the above scripture:
1. We will offer prayers in faith for the sick, and they will be healed.
2. We will pray, but won't offer our prayers in faith as explained in the Bible, and the sick will remain sick.
3. We won't pray at all. See #2's outcome above.
4. James words aren't to be taken literally, or he really meant to say something else.

OBEDIENCE: How many of us will agree to regularly attend church services and encourage one another while we're there? The Bible says:
"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT)

Encouragement and assembly go together. The New Testament writers only sent their epistles when they were unable to come and assemble with other believers in person. Think about it: are you truly "unable" to attend church, once or twice a week? Or is church just "inconvenient" to your lifestyle? Be honest.

Again, I see FOUR outcomes of our activities based on the above scripture:
1. We attend church regularly and encourage one another, motivating each other to good works.
2. We don't attend, but perhaps we forward someone else's emails we've received, thinking that our act will provide the encouragement they need to get through another day in this sick, sinful world. And then we wonder why our fellow Christians aren't being encouraged.
3. We attend church, but not very often. And when we do, it's all about how WE feel, what WE like, and what WE want. Again, see #2's outcome.
4. We are not obedient to the scriptures, and stay away from church altogether, accusing this or that church or religious group of being full of hypocrites, or some other excuse. But in the end, our activities separate from others in the Body of Christ, and the Body is weakened as a result.

OBEDIENCE: How many of us will agree this year to spend more time each week studying the scriptures? The Bible says:
"Work hard so you can present yourself (the KJV says "study to show thyself approved") to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NLT)

God gave us sixty-six books of pure divine love, every word carefully penned to help us all to live lives in a close relationship with Him through our obedient activities. But do we take the time to learn about what God has given us? Do we "work hard" to be able to (as the scriptures say) "correctly explain" the scriptures to other Christians, or an unbelieving family member or friend? Or do we skip Sunday School and Bible study, instead perhaps tuning in to our favorite "tele-pastor" to receive some inspirational message, so we can sit and "learn" from a distance, being ever-prepared to switch the channels if even this distant and well-watered word becomes a bit uncomfortable?

OBEDIENCE: How many of us will agree to give God more of our financial blessings this year? Even if you get hung up on whether the act of giving tithes is still biblically necessary, Jesus encouraged us to give far more than 10%. The Bible says:

"While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:1-4, NLT)

Some may argue about whether a 10% tithe is truly a biblical directive, but through his statement Jesus seems to be encouraging us to give everything like the widow (that's a 100% tithe!). So it seems we can legitimately complain IF we're asked to give more than 100%. Everything less than that is subject to interpretation.

Jesus also said "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38, NLT)

Read your Bible (or get yourself to more Bible studies). If you drop a dollar in the plate on Sunday, don't expect more than a dollar in return, through the people around you. A buck, even one repaid to you in full as described in the Bible, doesn't seem like much, does it? Imagine how God feels when he sees your solitary dollar drop into the plate.

We CAN make a difference this year, to our families and those other believers around us. But instead of just reading, clicking and forwarding, let's all agree to give more PRAYERS, ATTENDANCE, STUDY, and FINANCES, to show God just how important he is to us.

I'll commit to this. Will you join me?

May God richly bless you, so you can richly bless those around you.
-
© 2010 Scotty Ward

"I'll pray; it won't help..."

Sometimes you hear the strangest things from fellow Christians....

I recently overheard two people, talking about a very sick family member. The one who's family member was dying, was clearly distraught. The other, a very well-respected leader, said "I'll pray; it won't help...."


Now here's the toughest thing.... He was exactly correct; his prayer was not going to help.

..... stunned silence (see graphic) .......

Let me explain. One of our biggest challenges as Christians is BELIEF. We may go to church, sing beautiful songs, perhaps recite a prayer or two (or three), and may even pray to a god (little 'g') who lives "out there". And as we examine our lives and the lives of those around us, guess what? Nothing happens. That's because performing all those 'religious' activities doesn't make us believers. And without belief, there is NO WAY God is going to work wonders in our lives. So when this person said "I'll pray; it won't help", he was exactly correct. HIS prayer was doomed from the start, because he didn't believe it was going to help!

Matthew 13:54-58 tells us of a time when Jesus the very Son of the almighty God, was stopped in His attempts to perform miracles, by the unbelief (NIV says "lack of faith") of the people he attempted to heal. Through their unbelief (lack of faith), they had turned aside the very power of God. The same is true today. God won't force us to believe in Him. But without belief, we've removed the opportunity to allow God to work in our lives (or as in the convesation I overheard, the lives of our friends and relatives). Without our belief, our prayers WON'T work, people around us WON'T be miraculously healed, and God's miraculous power will have been stopped cold.

But it doesn't have to be that way, thank God.


The Bible says. "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (James 5:16)


That's what the Bible says. How about an example closer to home, something you probably said/sang yourself. Do you remember this?

"How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed" ~Amazing Grace

Those aren't just pretty words. Ephesians 1:12-14 reminds us that at the moment we truly believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (God's 'amazing grace'), as a promise, a guarantee, that He will give us the inheritance of eternal life with Him.

'You mean it's not about what church I sit in, or how big a cross I wear, or how many times I attend services in a week, or how much I gave at church, or how many fish bumper stickers I put on my car?' (that last one is supposed to be a humorous example, but I think you get the point)

The answer is no. The Bible tells us to believe. Simply believe. And at the point of belief, the very power of God, working through the Holy Spirit that takes up residence in us, WILL be with us, WILL enable us to have a powerful and effective prayer ministry, and WILL answer our prayers, including prayers to HEAL THOSE AROUND US.

Provided THEY believe too. (Remember, Jesus didn't heal those who didn't believe).

"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" from Romans 10:17

It's not about pretty buildings. It's not about denominational groupings. It's not about where you were born, where you were baptized, or where you sit on Sunday (or Saturday, for you Adventists). It's not about the size of the church body. It's not about how many or how often you attend church. The Bible says, it's about hearing the word of God, and allowing that word to work a work of faith in you.

I leave you with this morsel to consider. In my 35 years living as someone who THOUGHT I was a Christian believer, I now see how difficult it was to hear the word of God through my personal reading of the scriptures alone. It was also difficult to hear the word of God when it was buried in man-made liturgies, incense, robes, candles (for the denominationalists out there), or even hopping, screeching, hankie-waving preachers (for the fundamentalists). God's word, the Holy Scriptures, brought to our ears through a preacher sent by God, work the power of belief and faith in each of us.

Lord, as it says in your word, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!". Give me that essential foundation of faith, and help my faith to increase, so that I become a more effective tool to bring your word and your amazing, healing grace to those around me. Help me, Lord, to walk truly live my belief in you, so that I may positively affect those around me, through your word and your power. Let your word convict me all the more, Lord. I'm putty in your hands.

I Believe. Now help me to believe all the more. Use Me, Lord!

God Bless each and every one of you!
-
Copyright 2009, by Scotty Ward

Fear is NOT Failure

This week has been very difficult: I allowed depression and fear to sneak in to my otherwise peaceful life, and it almost paralyzed me. At one point, my wife prayed over the phone while I just listened and cried.

But if we pay attention, God has a way of showing us why we're going through certain things. This was one of those learning examples. You see, I typically play the MP3 Bible in my truck as I drive, and for some reason, the Holy Ghost had me repeating - over and over again - 2 Chronicles 20, the story of Jehoshaphat, including the "neither know we what to do, but our eyes are on thee" phrase. It was pretty comforting, but this morning the Lord gave me my epiphany.

In verse 15, the prophet is telling King Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah that the Lord says "... be not afraid or dismayed...", but I just passed right over the implication of a prophet telling a king not to be afraid. This morning, the first three words of VERSE 3, earlier in the chapter, hit me like a spiritual brick in the forehead:

"And Jehoshaphat feared..."

Yup. The king of Judah FEARED. And this isn't an isolated thing in the Bible. 1 Samuel 21 tells us that the great King David, a "man after God's own heart" was afraid of King Saul, but was even MORE afraid of the king where he fled, to avoid Saul. In 1 Kings 19:3, we read that "Elijah was afraid and fled for his life." Yes, it's true, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but sometimes the spirit of fear arrives nonetheless. Even the mightiest of KINGS and PROPHETS have times when their own fears can momentarily overtake them.

But right after the Lord showed me about the king's fear, He showed me how the verse continues, "and set himself to seek the LORD..."

God keeps on blessing us, even through our fears. If one day I'm feeling fear and someone exhorts me with the familiar Bible verse, "God has not given us a spirit of fear", I shouldn't consider my feelings of fear as some sort of failure or shameful event. Fear in itself is only a feeling. Even kings and mighty prophets had moments of fear. Rather, the feeling of fear should remind me of where my blessings come from, and to turn in that direction.

Psalm 31:12-14 - I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

May God richly bless you and yours, today and every day. Amen.

-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

How About THIS Bread?

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

~Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)



During a recent trip to our local supermarket, my wife and I spent a very long time in the bakery section. We had resolved on this trip to find breads made with whole grains, but also bread that seemed agreeable to those who only ate white bread in the past.


We went to rack after rack, examining bread based on the subjective (how soft and eatable it looked) as well as the objective (whether it was made with whole grain, i.e. more healthy). Time after time, we'd pick up a loaf clad in bright packaging, proudly showing it to each other, saying "this one probably has whole grains", only to turn it over and find it contained none. The bread packaging was downright unreliable; it seemed the bread companies went to great lengths to accentuate the "selling points" of their breads, such as "soft", "rich", "goodness", and even "100% wheat". But after about five minutes of turning loaves over, we discovered that regardless what the pretty labels claimed, the only way we could learn if the bread truly contained whole grain was to examine the ingredients label on the back of the package.

Proverbs 21:2 (Amplified Bible) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.


If you consider it, the Bible is God's "content label" for our spiritual lives. The enemy and the rest of the world try to get us to "buy this" or "try this". And they sure make those sinful activities SEEM nice. Even Satan himself disguises himself as a beautiful, beautiful being to look upon (see 2 Cor 11:14). In his audio commentary, The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee says it nicely: "Satan is an angel of light, and if you could see him, if he made himself visible to you, you'd see the most beautiful angel you've ever seen." Satan (and sin) seem beautiful, desirable, and compelling. But human attractiveness is not how God measures His will for our lives.


There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. (Proverbs 16:25, The Message)


So if something LOOKS good, if it SEEMS pleasing to us, how do we determine if it's really what God wants for us? There's only one way. Open your Bible (just like you turn the bread over), and learn directly from the objective source of God's will for humanity, His Word.


Sunday School, Bible Study, Home Bible Study Groups, Personal Bible Study. All of these are extremely important to help you learn the appropriate course for your life, because it's only through God's Word that you will discover God's divine will for you. Everything else may SEEM pretty, noble, and even "spiritual" (whatever that is). But in the end, straying from God's word leads (as it says it in The Message) " ...straight to hell."


We have two choices in our lives: we can do what we think is best, or we can learn what God's Word tells us to do, and do that instead. Ignore the "packaging", the pretty claims, the hype and the downright desirability of an idea. God's word does not promise physical comfort in this life. It promises a course that leads to eternal life with Him.


So take your life's situations and desires, and compare them to God's Word (i.e. compare your thoughts and actions to the Bible). Ask Him if the spiritual "bread you're buying" actually contains the holy ingredients that are healthy for your soul.


His label will surely tell you the whole truth. Amen.


-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

BIBLICAL PRAISE

What does the word "Praise" mean? Does it mean the same thing to you as it does to the person "praising" beside you? How do you know you're truly "giving God praise", if you don't fully recognize what "praise" is?

An individual's definition may fall short of the actual Biblical use of the words we see as "praise". Yes, the Bible has numerous words in Hebrew and Greek that have been turned into "praise" in the English language versions of the Bible. Here they are: Examine them closely to see how closely your church's praise aligns with praise from the Bible.

First, we need to view the word PRAISE and determine what it means in English (the "roots" of words can be very helpful). The word "praise" is derived from the Latin pretium, “price” or “value” (Thus it may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth).

Now, let's examine the Biblical words that were translated into our English (formerly Latin) word, "praise". It's very important to note that praise can describe a number of different things. The numbers you see are from Strong's Concordance.

OLD TESTAMENT
#1984, “halal” – to be clear, often of color; to shine (hence to make a show, to boast); to rave; to be clamorously foolish; celebrate, commend.

#3034, “yadah” – to use the hand; revere or worship (by extending the hand); praise, give thanks.

#8416 “tehillah” – from halal; laudation, a hymn, praise.

#2167 “zamar” – striking of the fingers; to play, make music, accompanied by the voice (hence to celebrate, give praise, sing forth praises).

NEW TESTAMENT
#133/134/136 “aino/ainesis/ainos” – a commendable story; the act of praising, thanking; a story of praise.

#1867/1868 “epaino/epainos” from #134 – to applaud, commend, loud, praise; laudation, praise, a commendable thing; (“epi”=toward or upon, unto).

#2127 “eulogeo” – to speak well of, to bless, praise; thank or invoke a benediction upon.

Did you notice general "themes" in the use of the word "praise"? I saw some. For example, praise is dynamic in nature. It's vocal, lyrical, and often with others. It often involves movement of the body. In some cases, it's loud and boastful, perhaps so much that it may seem "foolish" to others around you. But in the Biblical sense of the word, if you do the above, you're praising like they did in Biblical times.

All of the above uses of the word "praise" are literal Biblical examples for us, of what true, historic praise looked and sounded like. Now examine the praise in your church, and see how closely aligned (or widely variant) your church's "praise" is to Biblical "praise".

If the praise you partake in during your church services doesn't align with the Biblical use of the word..... well, let's just say an examination may be in order.

In Psalms 146-150, the word "PRAISE" was used 41 times! Now THAT'S PRAISE!

God Bless!

-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

Prayer A.D.D.?

James 5:16b (KJV) - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

My prayers do make a difference, in my own life and the lives of those around me. But during time of prayer, I often find my mind wandering. I catch myself thinking on the day's activities, what I'm going to eat, running "dialog scripts" in my mind of what was said or what I plan to say, etc. It's like my mind wanders into and out of prayer, like prayer is just one of the items on my mental "to do list". My mind has a real problem staying focused. It's like I have 'prayer attention deficit disorder'.

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I searched for some understanding of this scripture, and the Lord had me to delve into the word "stayed". Here's what I found:

According to Gesenius' Lexicon, the Hebrew word we read as "stayed" means 'to place, or lay something upon anything, so that it may rest upon, and be supported by it. To lay the hand on anything, so as to lean upon the hand.'

So using this definition, I can conceive that this word describes the 'laying my mind upon the Lord, so as to lean on the mind, which is already placed on God'. See where this goes? The Lord wants us to keep our minds STAYED (placed) on him, so that when the time of trial comes, our minds are already prepared, so we can 'lean' on him!

Psalm 37:39 (KJV) - But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Lord teach me. Help me renew and refocus my mind toward you, during the good times and the bad times. When things are quiet and when they're in turmoil. I want to learn to 'place my mind on you', so later on when all hell is breaking loose, my mind has been prepared to lean on you.

Thank you for showing me my prayer isn't just arriving, isn't just kneeling, isn't just about the words. Its much, much more. It's also a time of training and preparation, because only YOU know what awaits me around the corner.

Teach me Lord. Teach me.

© 2008 Scotty Ward

Sorry, my Foot's at Home on the Couch

I posted a Twitter micro-blog over the weekend, which generated a question, so I thought I'd address it here. This was my Tweet:

Do you believe the Bible? Then church is where you should be (choose based on Biblical truths being taught, not denom).

Then I added a link that pointed to the following scripture:

Hebrews 10:25 (CEV)
Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.

Someone read the tweet and responded: "Where does Bible say to be in church? I read that God doesn't dwell in Temples made with hands."

First thing's first. The scripture they mention is not a reference to church or to the body of believers. The scripture is from 2 Corinthians 5:1, which does indeed mention "... an house not made with hands". But the scripture refers to the human body (tabernacle), and that if the tabernacle (human body) "were dissolved", the resurrection body "eternal in the heavens" would be our dwelling place. The Contemporary English Version clarifies this very nicely:

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (CEV) - Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home.

So when I spoke of church in my tweet, I was referring to the body of Christ, the assembly of the saints, those called to "go and tell" the gospel.

Romans 12:4-5 (CEV) - A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.

Which brings me to the (albeit humorous) blog topic. We are all one body in Christ Jesus, yet if some members of the body forsake (deliberately turn away from) the assembling together as that body in worship, then we are less of a body, and therefore less effective.

Romans 10:13-17 (MSG) - Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help. But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? ... The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.

And no, the television, gospel radio, and internet streaming sermons are NOT substitutes for assembling. They are ways to OBSERVE, but none of them allows CONTRIBUTION on your part. Basically, you're "all take and no give", if these are your primary means of staying spiritually connected. And when left to his own, man will invariably stray. God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah in describing this sad situation.

Jeremiah 50:6 (KJV) - My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

Lord, help us to remember that we are connected, one to another, within the body of Christ. I need others just as much as they need me, because we are all of one purpose, and together we strengthen each other. Alone, we're just sheep, just prey for the enemy. Keep us together in worship of you and love for one another, Lord. Keep us connected.

Amen

© 2009 Scotty Ward

Wearing the Jersey....

"Wearing the Jersey Doesn't Make You a Member of the Team"
~ Anonymous

I'm a member of our Evangelistic Outreach team, sent by Pastor Hunt into the neighborhoods of Charles County to knock on doors and seek the lost souls. We don't go knocking on doors to find someone to "win over", but instead to offer people a helping hand, if they desire to be saved. In some cases, we pray with them at their door, but more often than not, the people we visit tell us they're not interested.

One Saturday morning, we visited a particular neighborhood, and as a door opened to me, (after introducing myself) I asked our usual question: "Do you believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ?" One woman's response was curious. As we broke the ice with the above question, her only and immediate response was "I'm _______" (Major Christian denomination). If I'm able to guess what she was trying to indicate with her answer, she seemed to be telling us "Yes, of course I believe. I'm a ________, and ________s believe, so I believe".

Well, praise God. I picked up on her cue, that she was at least affiliated with a section of Christianity, I said "Praise God. Where do you attend?" "Oh, I haven't been to church in years."

She didn't seem interested in a message of salvation through anything but HER church's denomination, which is entirely her right, but more curiously, she also didn't seem interested in attending worship services, Bible study, or affiliating in any way with the Body of Christ, even with her own local denomination.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

It seemed she felt everything was okay in her life because she was a member of a particular Christian denomination. She didn't speak of a private worship or prayer life, or of her own study of the scriptures. I got the impression she believed that by being a member of this denomination, that fact alone automatically placed her in right standing with God.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT) - Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

This scripture tells me that IF I'm operating in God's will, I'm seeking to do His will all the time, and I'm doing it "with deep reverence and fear". Nowhere in the scriptures (with the exception of the Israelites; the Jews) does God indicate that by being a member of this or that particular religious group (i.e. "wearing the jersey") you are nearer to a right relationship with Him.

Bottom line: It's not about my membership. It's about working on my own soul's salvation.

I pray this blog serves as a reminder to all the readers that your (and my) salvation is a personal matter between you/me and God, and you'll find all about it by staying in God's Word daily and by attending worship where Christ is glorified (Scotty's Personal Opinion follows: how can you tell if one or another denomination or service is "good"? First, pray and ask God to show you where to worship. Second, try counting the number of scriptures they use as part of their worship. If you see only a few scriptures mixed in with all the beautiful robes, processions, incense, and high-falutin' language (see Isaiah 1:12-13), you might want to pray about where you're at, and why).

Don't make the fatal mistake of relying on your affiliation with this or that particular DENOMINATION (see Hebrews, above) for your soul's salvation. And by all means don't rely on whether it FEELS right to you (see Proverbs 16:2). Work your own soul's salvation, with the scriptures as your guide. It takes work, but Jesus said he'll never leave us or forsake us. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) is with us to guide us to all truth. Denominations don't make the difference. Jesus does.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend, and perhaps I'll see you at worship!

(Published Previously as "Salvation by Association?")
© 2010 Scotty Ward

What Lord? STOP clapping??

Romans 11:33 (NLT) - "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!"

A few years ago, when I was seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I was doing all I knew to do for God. I was turning down my plate and fasting, I was tithing (for the first time in my life), and I was attending every service I could at our church. I would drive to Southern Maryland from Alexandria Virginia for each service (not a short drive), and even at that, I often arrived early and stayed late. I had my "mind stayed" on God; sure enough. So it's no surprise that I began to hear (or perhaps to HEED) that still, small voice a little more. And one message I heard caused me to scratch my head in wonder, and ask for a second opinion from our pastor.


You see, I had joined the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC), which is the largest pentecostal denomination in America. Their services are - to say the least - dynamic, musical, and vibrant. I take great pleasure in praising God in this fashion, standing near the front, clapping my hands, and singing along with the praise team or the mass choir.

Then one day, in the midst of all this, I heard a voice say simply "stop clapping." WHAT?? "stop clapping for one week". Nothing else. No explanation, nothing. But clapping is my ..... my "vehicle" for showing God my praise. It was one of the principal "tools" I used, to show God how much I love and appreciate him. How could I praise him WITHOUT clapping?

I was so confused, I spoke to my pastor, and his response was beautiful. "Well, if the Lord told you to stop clapping, then you'd better do what he said."

Now I was REALLY confused. But I decided that I'd do exactly what I had been instructed, no matter how silly it sounded to me.

So I stopped clapping. And the first couple days were positively excruciating. The music would start, the people would stand and begin to clap and sing, and I went right along with them. I'd stand, I'd sing too, but as soon as I put my hands together to clap, the words of instruction came back to remembrance, and I put my hands back at my side. It was tremendously difficult to NOT clap!

But then, after a few days of uncomfortable obedience, a wonderful thing happened! God had stopped me from using my hands to praise him, and I just HAD to show him praise. So if I couldn't use my hands in praise, what else could I use?

Psalm 51:15 (KJV) - "O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise."

Yep. By asking me to withhold the praise I had been giving God through my clapping, God allowed my spirit to discover a new avenue of praise. My MOUTH.

Hebrews 13:15 (KJV) - "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

And after that week, I again began to clap during the services. But this time, my clapping and toetapping and singing was accompanied by the "fruit of my lips".

Psalm 47:1 (KJV) - "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."

Nowadays, I tap my feet. I clap my hands. I dance, I jump, I even run. And now, in addition, because I was obedient to God's loving instruction, I can now praise him as loud as I like, with my voice. I can even shout my praise (and frequently DO).


Thank you, Lord. You taught me a valuable lesson. When you ask me to go somewhere or do something, I don't need to run your instruction through the "does that make sense to Scotty" filter. When you ask, help me to remain constantly obedient.

© 2009 Scotty Ward

Come On Home....

"...your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!"

from Luke 15:32 (NLT)

The parable of the prodigal son tells us just how far God will allow us to roam, but it also gives some wonderful insight on how patient and loving God is when we choose to return.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT) tells us: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

So based on the two scriptures above, we can see that:

1. The father KNEW the son would be asking for his inheritance
   
2. The father KNEW the son would waste it all in riotous living
   
3. The father KNEW the son would go hungry as a result of his own selfish actions
   

but best of all...

The father KNEW the son would eventually "come to himself", and return, asking for forgiveness.

Because God is all-knowing, he knows EXACTLY what we've been doing, and yet loves us enough to keep watching the road, awaiting our return. There's only one thing delaying this joyful reunion: Our own pride.

Proverbs 21:4 tells us that a proud heart is sin, and we know that sin separates us from God. Until you lay aside your own prideful thoughts and your own self-seeking paths, God will continue to stand and watch the road for you, expectantly waiting for you to turn from your own foolishness and re-join the family. He knows where you are; you know it too. But you haven't strayed too far; you're not entirely lost. The Bible assures us He's waiting for you to return. No matter how far you've gone, the return path to God is ALWAYS available.

Come on home. Visit God in a Bible-believing Christian church near you. And if you don't seem to be finding God at the church you visit, I invite you to give New Community a try.

He's waiting for you. God Bless.

© 2009 Scotty Ward