| Thought For The Week January |
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| 29 December 2002 to 4 January 2003 New Year Resolutions |
| This year I will quit smoking. This year I will loose weight. This year I will save money. This year I will exercise. This year I will quit drinking. Every New Year's Eve people promise to do something during the new year. Generaly the resolutions we make are to please either ourselves or someone else. However, it has been proven that less then a fourth of the people that make a New Year resolution actually keep it. There is one resolution that we can make that would help us with everything else thru out the year. And if you would keep just this one, there will be no need to make any others. This year, open your heart and give yourself to Christ. Take a moment each morning to pray to Him for His help and guidance thru out the day. Then each night give Him thanks for His help during the day. Then by the end of the year, you will find yourself prasing God and not having to make anymore New Year resolutions. J.L. Sager What this means is that those who become Christians, become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) |
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| 5 to 11 January 2003 The Eleventh Hour |
| Friday 2:00 PM "Hey, Charlie!" Bill shouted over the machine. "We're having a pot luck dinner at the church saturday night. How 'bout comin'?" "Naw. The game's on saturday." Charlie answered. "Besides, someone will probably ask if I'm saved. I'll come to church later when I'm ready." Monday 6:00 AM "You seen Charlie this morning?" Bill asked Terry. "You didn't hear?" Terry asked. "Charlie was killed saturday in a car crash. They said he was killed instantly." "When did it happen?" Bill asked. "That night. I think the news said about 10:45." Are you waiting for the eleventh hour? Jesus is ready anytime you are to hear from you. He is ready to forgive you of all your sins. All you have to do is open your heart and let Him in. To enter Heaven, you must first open that door and accept Jesus as your Savior. We never know when the eleventh hour is to come as death keeps it's own time. Too Many times it comes at 10:45 or sooner. Isn't it time to open the door to Jesus before death kicks it in? J.L. Sager If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. Matthew 16:25 (NLT) However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. Matthew 24:36 (NLT) |
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| 12 to 18 January 2003 Joseph As A Father |
| Can you imagine what it would have been like to be Joseph? "Your fiancee, Mary, is going to give birth to my Son. I want you, Joseph, to raise Him." This is what was revealed to him by God in his sleep. (Matthew 1:20-21) What was going thru his mind after he woke up? Can you imagine his thoughts? How can I be a father to the Son of God? How can I teach him right from wrong? What will God do to me if I make a mistake? Then Jesus was born. As Joseph held that small, fragile child in his two strong hands, what were his thoughts then? I'm just a man. A sinner. How can God trust me to raise this child, His Son? Teach Him what is good and evil? Bring Him up right in the faith? Instruct Him in how to make a living with His hands? This child, this baby is to be the Savior of all mankind. And God has made me His guide? His counselor? His father? Now the Bible does not tell us a lot about Joseph, so we can only speculate as to his life as the earthly father of Jesus. In fact the last we read about him was when Jesus was speaking with the teachers at the temple at age 12. (Luke 2:49) But I would like to think that Joseph lived long enough to see the resurrection of Jesus. The next time you hold your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, think about Joseph. What will be your thoughts? God has given me this child, this gift of life. Can I teach this child right from wrong? Can I guide this life in the path of our Lord? Can I truely be a father that God wants me to be? J.L. Sager And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) |
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| 19 to 25 January 2003 God Forbid |
| "Dale, I heard you were at the new strip club last night. How was it?" Bill asked. With a sly smile, Dale looked around the table of his co-workers. "Great. All the women are great looking and you'll never believe who I saw there as well. Carl was there." "You mean our new supervisor?" Lance asked. "The one who was too good to drink with us at the bar saturday?" "Yea. Mr.Snob himself." answered Dale. "Speaking of saturday, how you feeling Ted?" "Better then sunday morning." Ted answered. "I don't know if it was that joint I smoked or the Jack Daniels, but I don't remember much after midnight." Laughing, Joe slapped Tod's shoulder. "Hell, I'm supprised you remember anything before midnight. You were so tanked and high at the same time. And Carl? God forbid we asked him to have a drink with us." The room suddenly went silent. Everyone was looking at Joe. "I can't believe you said His name." Dale quietly stated. "You know we can't say His name here unless you want to get fired. There could have been somebody from the office or a visitor in here. You know you can't say His or His Son's name in public." Sound foolish? Maybe, but how far away are we from just such a scenario? It has become acceptable to discuss sexualy related subjects in public. To gossip about other people. To be proud about being intoxicated and using drugs. But it seems to have become unacceptable to mention God or His Son, Jesus in public. Think that I'm wrong? When was the last time you mentioned their names where you work? Do you feel uncomfortable saying anything about them at work ot in any other public setting other then at church? We not only should feel comfortable about mentioning them, but we should be proclaming the grace of God and the salvation of Christ at the top of our voices. J.L. Sager Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT) |
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| 26 January to 1 Febuary 2003 The Watchman |
| I am the Watchman, I do not sleep, As the shadows of night upon us creep. I am the Watchman who looks for the enemy. I warn my brother before they can reach me. I am the Watchman that searches evil out. I tell my sister that he lurks about. I am the Watchman who finds where sin has been. I warn the people that there is only one way to win. I am the Watchman who shouts to be heard. I bring from God and Christ above the holy word. Only in the blood of Christ can we be saved. I am God's Watchman and this is the word to me he gave. J.L. Sager |
| For again I say, when righteous people turn to evil, they will die. But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live. Ezekiel 33:18-19 (NLT) |
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