Philippians 4:13 (KJV) - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Does being a Christian mean your life will be free from trouble?
Does it mean freedom from stress?
How about freedom from illness and death?
Some ministers on television, on radio and in bookstores might have you believe that.
I would like nothing more than to tell you that becoming a Christian would mean freedom from all things that make life difficult.
I will not because I cannot.
If I did, I would be lying to you and I would not do so.
The plain and simple truth is that Christians encounter trouble.
Christians contend with stress.
Christians encounter illness and death.
Speaking for myself I can assure you that my life became more complicated when I decided to dedicate my life to Christ.
So, why do it?
A very interesting and remarkable thing happens when you hand control of your life over to Him.
He helps you cope.
When trouble comes, He reminds you that you do not face it alone.
Hebrews 13:6 (KJV) - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
When stress comes, He helps you to remain calm until the storm passes.
When illness comes, whether our own or that of a loved one, the believer can turn to Him.
What of death?
The Christian knows that Christ has conquered death once and for all.
1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) - O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
For the believer, death is not the end.
Death is a transition.
It a transition from this world to eternity.
Life may not become easier as a Christian, but there is one thing of which I can assure you.
Life is far better with Him than it is without Him.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, November 8, 2013.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
No Shutdown Here
Psalm 62:8 (NET) - Trust in Him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)
I am really grateful to God for the sense of humor He gave me.
It really helps when the times are uncertain,
Take current events, for example.
Political parties in the government could not reach an agreement.
The result was a government shutdown.
Services were disrupted.
Each side pointed their finger at the other and it was the people, not the politicians, who were caught in the middle.
When Sunday came along I found myself extremely busy at church well before Sunday School began.
I was asked to arrive early and open up the church.
I turned on the lights and the air conditioning.
I turned on the coffee maker so that the water had sufficient time to get warm.
I took a telephone call from a member asking me to take some things out of our refrigerator,
Being World Communion Sunday, I assisted our Communion Stewards by helping them carry items into the Sanctuary.
I found a friend and asked him to help me reposition the Communion table.
I made the coffee.
Chairs had been removed from my classroom so I had to replace them.
I was slated to lead our Senior Assembly and was about to go over my notes one final time when I was asked to do some troubleshooting on the church’s computer.
When all these things were done I had about one minute left before the Assembly began.
That's when a humorous thought hit me, so I logged onto Facebook via my mobile and checked in from the church.
I did so with the phrase "No shutdown here" and then turned off my mobile.
The sense of humor He gave me helps me get through my day and hopefully allows me to help others get through theirs as well.
It also reminds me that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.
That bit about the shutdown is a good example.
The church does not ever shut down.
That is because God does not shut down.
God is actively involved in our lives and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week even on holidays.
He can be reached at any time of the day or night regardless of the situation.
You don’t need appointment.
He is there whenever you need Him.
He is there even if you just want to talk to Him.
In fact, that is an excellent way to develop a relationship with God.
People, even those in government, can and will let you down.
God will never let you down.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 18, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, October 25, 2013.
I am really grateful to God for the sense of humor He gave me.
It really helps when the times are uncertain,
Take current events, for example.
Political parties in the government could not reach an agreement.
The result was a government shutdown.
Services were disrupted.
Each side pointed their finger at the other and it was the people, not the politicians, who were caught in the middle.
When Sunday came along I found myself extremely busy at church well before Sunday School began.
I was asked to arrive early and open up the church.
I turned on the lights and the air conditioning.
I turned on the coffee maker so that the water had sufficient time to get warm.
I took a telephone call from a member asking me to take some things out of our refrigerator,
Being World Communion Sunday, I assisted our Communion Stewards by helping them carry items into the Sanctuary.
I found a friend and asked him to help me reposition the Communion table.
I made the coffee.
Chairs had been removed from my classroom so I had to replace them.
I was slated to lead our Senior Assembly and was about to go over my notes one final time when I was asked to do some troubleshooting on the church’s computer.
When all these things were done I had about one minute left before the Assembly began.
That's when a humorous thought hit me, so I logged onto Facebook via my mobile and checked in from the church.
I did so with the phrase "No shutdown here" and then turned off my mobile.
The sense of humor He gave me helps me get through my day and hopefully allows me to help others get through theirs as well.
It also reminds me that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.
That bit about the shutdown is a good example.
The church does not ever shut down.
That is because God does not shut down.
God is actively involved in our lives and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week even on holidays.
He can be reached at any time of the day or night regardless of the situation.
You don’t need appointment.
He is there whenever you need Him.
He is there even if you just want to talk to Him.
In fact, that is an excellent way to develop a relationship with God.
People, even those in government, can and will let you down.
God will never let you down.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 18, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, October 25, 2013.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)