"Christian Voices" (1-22-04)

July 5, 2010

HUMOR

POLITICALLY CORRECT STATEMENTS FOR THE

21st CENTURY

~ Your bedroom isn't cluttered, it's just "passage restrictive."

~ No one's tall anymore. He's "vertically enhanced."

~ You're not shy. You're "conversationally selective."

~ You don't talk a lot. You're just "abundantly verbal."

~ It's not called gossip anymore. It's "the speedy transmission of near-factual information."

~ You don't have detention, you're just one of the "exit delayed."

~ Your homework isn't missing, it's just having an "out-of-notebook experience."

~ You're not sleeping in class, you're "rationing consciousness."

~ You don't have smelly gym socks, you have "odor-retentive athletic footwear."

~ You're not being sent to the principal's office. You're "going on a mandatory field trip to the administrative building."

....."Mikey's Funnies" (funnies-owner@lists.MikeysFunnies.com) (http://www.mikeysFunnies.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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THOUGHT PROVOKING – INSPIRATIONAL

HELPLESS OR HOPEFUL?

And He [Jesus] was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

-- Mark 1:13 (NASB)

Some years ago, I received some news that even now strikes fear into my heart and mind. I was away from home on a trip to speak at a Christian summer camp, when I called home to check in with my wife. I was expecting to hear the usual news that "everything's okay," when instead I heard the words that still echo through my memory, "I had a heart attack last night."

Being away from home was enough to cause a sense of helplessness to flood over me. I was worried about my wife's health and overwhelmed with the feeling that I could not do anything to help her. I was too far away, too isolated from her, and too startled to even offer some strength through conversation and prayer. This feeling of helplessness led to hopelessness, fear and a strange kind of paralysis. I didn't know what to do.

Helplessness is a feeling that every one of us has to deal with at times in our lives. Feelings themselves aren't bad, evil or destructive. They are feelings -- emotions -- given to us as a gift from a creative and loving God. The issue with any feeling, especially helplessness, is what you do with it after it becomes a reality in your life.

What really matters are the actions the feelings produce. Helplessness can lead to paralysis, rendering us unable to do anything. That's why Jesus is such an inspiration! I cannot imagine what Jesus was going through as he went through the temptations in the wilderness. Being fully human, he probably experienced the full range of emotions that could have led him to a complete shut down of His life's purpose. Yet, in the midst of the temptations, he was ministered to, and He was strengthened and encouraged.

The next time you go through a feeling of helplessness, what will bring you hope? When those moments come, find someone you trust with whom you can talk; someone who can bring you perspective. In addition, never forget that God is our hope and strength. He is very present in times of trouble, waiting to renew us with His Spirit.

GOING DEEPER: When was the last time in your life when you felt helpless? What did you do about it? How did you find a sense of hope? How did you reach out to people or to God?

.....Robin Dugall by way of Cup O'Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com) (Cupocheer316@yahoo.com) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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The Burning Bush

Moses was born a Hebrew slave under Egyptian rule, but circumstances allowed him to be raised as a prince in Pharaoh's court (Exodus 2:1-10). As a young man, Moses began to see the injustice toward the Hebrews. At one point he took matters into his own hands and killed an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew slave. This action caused Moses to be misunderstood by the Hebrews and hunted by the Egyptians, so he fled across the desert to the land of Midian where he settled as a shepherd.

Going from Egyptian prince to Midianite shepherd was quite a change. As a prince, Moses received the finest education as well as the most advanced military training; but it was as a simple shepherd that Moses received the training he most needed to accomplish God's work.

Moses was a peaceful shepherd for 40 years; but then? "The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush" (Exodus 3:2). The bush was on fire but not actually being burned. This definitely got his attention so Moses went to take a closer look.

Exodus 3:4
"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!' And Moses said, 'Here I am.'"

Notice that God waited until Moses saw the bush, stopped what he was doing, and drew himself near. I wonder how long this bush had been burning before Moses noticed? During the last 40 years, how many "burning bushes" were placed in his path? "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). How long had Moses needed to experience the "stillness" of tending the flock before he was ready to hear God? Oh Lord, help us to be still!

God is at work all around us, and He's calling us to join Him today. The bushes are burning, but in the hurriedness of our daily lives we most often fail to notice - fail to stop and draw near. Is it any wonder we have a hard time hearing His call? What will we see when God allows us to look back at the life we might have lived if we would only have taken time to listen?

Let's not miss the opportunity to participate in God's wonderful plan. Let's create time to be very still and look intently for where God is working. Then, with great expectation, let's join Him and draw near to the burning bush.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

.....Steve Troxel - God's Daily Word Ministries (www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm) by way of "The Daily Encourager" (dlangerfeld@HarrisburgBaptist.org) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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