WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MAGNIFY TODAY?

Each day as we awake we are faced with the same question. Unaware that we are faced with it, we go about getting dressed as usual. We start with a shower, putting on a cup of coffee, grabbing a bite to eat. Little do we know that we are going to magnify something today. It’s just going to happen. You don’t have to plan it out.

Someone calls on the phone and begins to tell us something that happened yesterday. As we hear this piece of news we naturally start to dissect the information. Where did it happen? Why did they do that? What is it going to profit? And then, who all was involved?

Each piece of information that goes through our mind gets put under a microscope. We have the need to dissect the data in order to understand it properly. After understanding it, we are faced with a discussion of, “What are we going to do with the information now?

Many people will only dissect it themselves but there are others who will call someone else and magnify the information to them. In turn the next person will do the same thing, properly dissecting it in their mind and passing along the knowledge. Each of us dissect data differently thus by the time the story comes back around to the actual person that it was about, it isn’t even recognizable. Have you ever heard anyone make the statement, “She blows everything way out of proportion?” Meaning, she makes everything seem big. I’m sure we all have been guilty at one point or another of magnifying something more than it should be.

There are many wounded people out there that have been the victims to this sort of thing. We do it openly in conversations and act as if it’s normal. We need to guard against this in our churches and Christian lives. There are many times that new comers or new Christians come to me and are shocked that this happens so openly during fellowship time, while we are cooking, cleaning, or setting things up for Vacation Bible School. Yet at the same time we as Christians are too afraid to magnify the Lord. What is the matter with us?  It amazes me when Christians scold each other for praising God in a certain way and then a week later you here the same person that was doing the scolding for worshipping the Lord, profanity or gossip cones out of their mouth.  Let us scold the profanity and gossip and encourage worship and praise.

Did you know that most people that get wealthy were big thinkers? These are people who could see in their minds things bigger and better. If we minimize ourself we tend to meet up to how we feel about ourselves. On the other hand if we magnify ourselves, you have a tendency to stretch and try to achieve the goal we have magnified ourself to. Although we see there is a limit to even this. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

We are not to magnify ourselves too high as we see that those who think they are greater than God himself he says in Ps 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.

Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9. Therefore the name of it is called Babel

There are definitely times we should magnify certain things. Here are the things we should magnify. We should take the time to magnify the Lord as the psalmist said in Ps 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Magnify in this verse means to increase or glorify, lift up. To show forth his magnificence, his splendor, grandeur, sublimity. The Lord isn’t proud he just knows who he is. And the verse in Ezekiel 38:23 shows us this truth. “ Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD”.

We all need to take time to see if we are magnifying the Lord above all as we see he truly is magnificent, and worthy of our praise. If we are spending our time magnifying the Father, we will spend less time magnifying things that do not need to be magnified.

CHANGING YOUR VIEW

Life is filled with so many trials, defeats and problems.  Each of these trials will shape your life.   As I was reading about someone who does photography it was so obvious there was a lesson for us to learn.  This lesson helps us see exactly who God is.  Through this lesson it's plain to see that's it's not what the Lord Jesus Christ does but it's up to us and how we are viewing the trials in life. 

When taking a picture, in order to capture the perfect reflection, there are certain things a photographer has to take into consideration.

• The least little ripple in the water will cause the picture to be distorted. The stillness of the water is the key to taking a better the picture.

• A steady hand is necessary. The slightest shake or wobble will cause the picture to be distorted. Thus we see why the scripture says in Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Stress in our lives can cause us to be unsteady and give us a distorted view. When we see a reflection in the water we aren’t really sure it’s the Lord . We need to listen closely to this verse, for you will not be able to get a true sight of the Lord unless you quit causing ripples in the water

• Another important thing about getting a perfect picture of a reflection is the position the photographer gets into. To get the best image you will need to kneel down or lay down. This truth makes us understand some of the scriptures better. Ps 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. I Corinthians 15:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

• If other lights are used in trying to get this perfect picture many times that light will just bounce off the water. Therefore, when the photo is developed you will not be able to see the reflection. There are so many times when we are going through trials that we search in every direction except for looking into the Word of God. Then we wonder where the Lord is. Yet all the time it was our own fault that we couldn’t see the presence of God. 

• Preventing double images can be obtained by standing in certain direction. The photographer can actually capture a double view of the reflection if he positions himself incorrectly.

How many times do you remember hearing somebody explain how horrible their situation is?   When you look at the same situation, it looks so minor. And then there are times that a person has been through such a traumatic situation and they seem to think it was nothing. It all depends on where we are standing and how we allow the Lord Jesus Christ be reflected in our lives.

John 14: 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

The Lord is asking why we haven’t seen the reflection. After all he set the stage for a perfect picture. God being above and the Lord Jesus Christ being the Living Water, Phillip should have been able to plainly see the reflection. Phillip had probably looked in so many directions trying to figure it out but he failed to get on his knees. Are we not just like Phillip?

We also see that we were created to be a reflection. Ge 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. When others see our lives do they see the same image of Christ? If not, we need to ask the Lord to help us better reflect who he is to our world.

HOW TO BUILD CHARACTER

 

A few weeks ago the pastor of First Baptist Church called and asked me to play the piano for the Baccalaureate. After weeks of practicing Pomp and Circumstance, I am still making a mistake from time to time while playing it.

To me, it is a big thing to make a mistake during the ceremony. Practice makes perfect so practice we will. Practice makes perfect, so we'll practice still. Each time the thought crosses my mind, "What if I make a mistake?"

"Maybe it’s time to call and let them know I can’t do it."

 This thought kept ringing in my mind all day long. It occurred to me they are relying on me for this. My word was given and there is no reason I can’t follow through.

Oh yes there is: Pride!

Not wanting to humiliate myself in front of a large group would be a good reason to back out.

When there are times I say, "I can’t," Nick Vuijicic, a physically challenged individual comes to mind. Nick was born with no arms or legs and is now a motivational speaker.

Now if I had a cast on my arm, then that might be a reason to back out of playing for the Baccalaureate. Maybe if I had been working in the yard and a rock flew up and hit me in the eye then that would be a reason to back out. But to just back out would be a lack of character.

The bad things and hard things are the things that make us better. They are the things that build character in us. Note the word build, thus meaning it is going to take time. It's not going to be an easy thing.

If we live in a bubble we will never learn certain things, thus keeping us weak. Just a moment of reflecting on Nick’s life helps me get my perspective back in place. If Nick can accomplish all the things he does in life, surely I can play a five minute piece of music in front of a crowd.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians: 4:13)

If Nick can find happiness and success in life, then why can we not find it. We are the ones that determine our destiny. No matter what you are going though, you can still build character.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY

 

 

SHARING THE GOSPEL USING ONE SYMBOL

It being my Sunday to prepare for the Children’s Sermon at the church, a time of prayer was the first thing that needed to be done. After a time of prayer the next step was to think, think, think.  Let’s see, when Keith was here, he would use a clown suit on some Sunday’s to teach his lesson. Many times he would use a drawing as he taught. I was always amazed at his wonderful ability to relate to children. To me, Keith was the best person I had ever met in relating to the children. After him moving to Midland we started a rotation of several of us doing it. As I began to prepare, the thought crossed my mind to go to the internet and do research for a lesson where a picture could be drawn. Surely I could be at least ½ as good as Keith. After an hour of looking at different material that was online, I still felt very unsettled about what I should teach.

The Lord laid on my heart to draw a straight line on a piece of paper. I followed.  Now let’s see, “What does that straight line mean?”   I must have had a puzzled look on my face as I just didn’t get it. Then I asked myself, “what can a line represent?”. There are so many lessons in just a line that I was totally amazed. Therefore, this became the lesson for the Children’s Sermon.

• This straight line can represent l.

And God said unto Moses, l AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, l AM hath sent me unto you. The scripture lists hundred’s of names that the Lord say’s I AM. Here is a list of just a few

l AM,

GOD,

HOLY ONE OF ISREAL

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
VINE

HEALER
LIGHT OF THE WORLD

SEED OF DAVID

YEHWAH – YOUR DELIVERER

BREAD OF LIFE

RESURRECTION AND LIFE

DOOR

LORD

YOUR GOD

LIVING WORD

ROCK OF SALVATION

EVERLASTING FATHER

PRINCE OF PEACE

SAVIOUR

REDEEMER

SON OF GOD

SPIRIT OF TRUTH

WORD OF GOD

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS THAT WE COULD LIST

• It can represent the number I - "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5

• It points us in a direction. - There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12

• It can be the starting line l and the finish line l. Jesus said, “I am the beginning and the end. The first and the last.

• It can be the line that separates good l evil. It is also the line that separates us from God’s  blessings l destruction.  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov 14:12

If we choose the way that seemeth right unto man, we will find ourselves in destruction. The scripture also says,” If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Ch 7:14. If we do what he says, then we will see the blessings of God.

I realized how simple the gospel can be. The Lord made it so simple that many times we look right past it. We try to make it complex in our own minds. It was so simple that even the youngest in the group understood the truths about Christ and who he is and how we are to live our lives.

LEAVE MY CHILDREN ALONE!

 Have you ever wanted to hurt someone badly?  It doesn't take most of us very long to get upset when someone wrongs us.  

If someone does something harmful to one of your children, the reaction is many times stronger. If you see this happen to your child your muscles tense up, your heart rate increases and your adrenaline kicks in.

If it happens again, the reaction is much stronger.  After repeated times, every muscle in your body reacts and woe to the person that keeps hurting your child.

I remember back when my sister and I attended school in San Antonio, Texas.  We walked about ten or twelve blocks to school everyday. Many of the kids in San Antonio were pretty rough, actually very rough.  

One day, walking home from school, a gang circled one of the boys walking just a few paces in front of us.  Everyone stopped in their tracks. As they began to beat on him, nobody moved. They were beating him to a bloody pulp and none of us stepped in to save the boy for fear we would be their next victim.

I remember that a little old lady came out of her apartment about the time one of the boys pulled a knife and started cutting Frank’s face. She was feebler than any of the bystanders but she walked over there and began to smack those boys with her cane. She told them to get out of her neighborhood and never come back again. The gang could hear the sirens in the distance and took off running.  

Frank was not her child but the little old lady intervened in his behalf.  She was angry and her anger caused her to step up to the plate and run the boys away. 

When God created the angelic beings he never said, "this is my child.”  I never saw in the scripture where it stated that he breathed into them the breath of life.  He never states that he walked with them in the garden or desired them to be like him.  

When Satan began to think he could be greater than God himself, he led the other angels away from glorifying God. He wanted to be above God.  Many people have asked this question, "Why did God only kick Satan and his angels out of heaven and not destroy them right then and there?”  

The Lord loves his children more than life itself.  He was willing to lay down his life for his children.  The Lord loved the angels but he loved his creation, mankind enough to lay down his life for them.  The Lord didn’t lay down his life for Lucifer when he did wrong.  This puts mankind and Satan on different levels. 

After God created the sun, moon and stars, the lakes, flowers and trees and all the wonders of the earth, he saw that creation was still incomplete.  On the sixth day, he created mankind.

In Genesis 1:26-27 the scripture says:  

And God said,
Let us make man in our image,
 after our likeness:
and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air,
and over the cattle,
and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them.

It also says God breathed into man his breath. That breath gave him life.  In 1 John 3:1 and many other places, we are called the son's of God.  Woven all through the scripture it says that we are his children if we believe and follow him.

I believe one of the reasons God’s wrath toward Satan is so strong is because of God’s love and protection toward his children.  The wrath of a father or mother is much stronger against an enemy when the hostility is directed toward their child.

Let's move our attention back to Frank in San Antonio. He was about to get his eyes cut out with a knife from a boy called Fat Albert. This boy was very intimidating and there were some rough boys that followed him and looked up to him.  They were the “Fat Albert Gang.”  All the kids knew to stay clear of Fat Albert and his gang.  Better never mess with one of his guys or hurt one of his friends in any way. 

The event in which he hurt Frank would change Fat Albert’s life from that moment on.   Little did he know that he had messed with the wrong person.

There was a father that was ticked off.  The word began to circulate around the school, “Don't ever be seen with Fat Albert”

Frank’s father said he was going to kill the boy. “Don't know when, don't know where, and don't know how, but that boy is going down.”

When Satan pulled the angels away and persuaded them to follow him instead of God, this angered God.  But when he began to do the same with God's children, we see all throughout scripture just how angry that God has become. 

In the Revelation, we read the rest of the story – the destruction of Satan.  It will not be a pretty sight.  I don't claim to understand all of what the book of the Revelation says, but I do know that I am the Lord's child and he is coming after Satan. I don’t know when, but I do know where and how – Satan is going down.

The Lord has done the same with Satan as Frank’s father did.  He has sent out the warning. Hundreds of years ago a book was written that sent out a warning to all those who might want to hang out with Satan. The scripture says, “Woe to you.”  The word has been spread all over the world.  He is waiting for the perfect moment.

Just as Frank’s father sent out a message, the Lord is asking you to tell your friends and for them to tell their friends, that the day is coming and when it does, woe to Satan and his gang.

Fat Albert did come up missing. Nobody knows where he is. As far as I know he was never found.

Just as Frank’s father sent out the warning, the Lord said he is sick and tired of his children being pushed around, tempted and whispered lies to that would cause them to do evil.

One day he will say, "Today is the day" He is going to come riding on a white horse, leading an army.  For all the times you have been wronged, or had your family led away from the Lord he will unleash his fury upon Satan and his gang in one great swift moment. The Lord will say,

"LEAVE MY CHILDREN ALONE!"

The Lord has saved that very time for himself.  I promise you, the Lord, our judge is coming back one day.   Some people may be sitting at a football game, others shopping, some reading a book. 

He will say one day, “It is time” when he splits the heavens open and comes back riding on a white horse in all his majesty, honor and royalty.  Satan is going to try to run and hide.  For all the times the Lord said, “Judge not lest ye be judged,”   for the times he has said, “Turn the other cheek,” for all the times you were left hurting and suffering because of the horrible things that happened in life, he is going to say, “My child, I have come to judge those who have harmed you.”

“Woe to anyone who has wounded one of my precious children.  Woe to you that cursed and mocked them as they tried to lead you to Christ.  Woe to Satan, the prince and the power of the air and all his angels who have caused many earthquakes in people’s lives and led God’s creation astray.”

That’s my Father, who has come to do more than just kick you out of heaven, Satan.  My Father is the Lord God Almighty.  He is the Great Judge.  He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is the Beginning and the End.  He is my All in All and he will have the final say! 

My Father has prepared an eternal place for you called hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  This is a place where your thirst can never be quenched throughout eternity.  You can no longer destroy lives, cause pain or touch one of my children.” You will never be able to walk or crawl out of it.