Timeless Text Messages

I am a bit of a sci-fi fan, but I don't care for the ones about aliens and such. The ones I most enjoy are the ones that are likely to become reality in the future. Take flying to the moon for instance; it is a reality now, but a hundred years ago it was considered a sci-fi idea.

And what does that have to do with today's post. Very little, except the fact that things are constantly changing, yet they stay the same. It is simple really. Just take a look at what this ancient king had to say about life.

8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:8,9 NIV

Solomon received wisdom from God because he asked for it. He received favor from God because he asked for wisdom instead or riches or fame. He had the three most coveted things of men everywhere; wealth, wisdom, and women. Yet in all of his majesty, he was not satisfied.

9 Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 10 Whatever exists has already been named, and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he. 11 The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone. Ecclesiastes 6:9-12 NIV

God is the only one that knows every aspect of the past, present, and future. Our lives are held in His grasp. A Christian's past has been covered by the blood of Jesus, his present is being shaped by the Holy Spirit, and his future is determined by the choices that he makes.

12 Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. Ecclesiastes 8:12,13

In the end, it will be truth that will stand the test of time. Truth that can not be refuted or changed. The living Truth within the Christian gives him both strength and hope eternal. Outside of the Truth, there is no life.

10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:10,11

Today I want to examine the first sixteen verses of Romans chapter sixteen. The text is lengthy but the observations brief. Here the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Rome. He begins with a recommendation of Phoebe, a sister in the Lord.

He speaks of her as being a helper to the multitudes. He refers to her as a servant of the church. Although the word that he uses for servant is the same one that can be rendered as deaconess; we can gather from verse two that he means to accentuate her servanthood rather than an office.

All but one of the following 14 verses, begin with the word, "Greet" followed by a name of a brother or sister in the Roman church. What is interesting to me is the descriptive words that he adds about each person. These descriptions range from extended compliments to just stating his relationship with them. And a few greetings are extended to nameless groups of folks.

How would he have qualified his greetings had he been writing to your pastor? Would you be considered his fellow-worker? Would he have recognized you as the first convert in your area? Would he have expounded on your faithfulness and maturity in Christ? Would he have labeled you a hard worker or just a relative? Would you be miffed if he greeted you only as motheror sister? Or would you swell with pride at the suffix "chosen of the Lord"? And what if he openly stated his love for you?

It is a lot to think about. There may have been one listening to the letter and wondering if their name would be mentioned and what glowing remarks would be added. Still others may have gotten their feelings hurt when their names were not called. Perhaps some were tempted to be jealous or resentful. It is impossible to know for sure.

One thing is certain, Paul knew his flock. How else would he have had the confidence to instruct them to greet one another with a holy kiss? I'm afraid to contemplate the repercussions of such an act in today's churches. Holiness is considered old-fashioned by today's standards and is near obsolete in many congregations. And kissing in church? I think that there's a lot more than that going on behind some church doors. God have mercy!

I didn't mean to slide into the rants of moral decay, it just somehow came to my mind. Nevertheless, I want my name to have some goodness attached. I want to be remembered as a fellow-laborer in the Kingdom. I want to be able to give and receive holy greetings, salutations, and kisses.

I am on vacation. Enjoying some time away from my job. We are having a great time with family and friends in New Mexico and Colorado. Church yesterday was awesome.

And I was able to visit with granny b from Compassion to Sympathize. It was great to see her too.

RevGals Friday Five posted by RevHRod

This is certainly a strange way to start out a Friday Five but it made me think about what I might like to do if I knew it would only last for 24 hours. There are no reality boundaries to these imaginings. So here are the five things for you to consider...

1.If you could dramatically change your physical appearance for 24 hours, what would you do? Like millions of others, I would drop a huge amount of weight.

If you could live in another place for 24 hours where would you go? Alaska, I have seen its beauty only in pictures/video. 24 hours would be more than enough of the cold for me.

You get to do somebody else's job for a day... that would be no fun unless I also had their authority and power.

Spend the day with another person from anywhere in time and space... I think a day with the Prophetess Deborah would be most enlightening.

A magical power is yours. Which one would you pick? I think it would be so much fun to be invisible and get into some harmless mischief.

Forgive me for the delay.And thank you all for your prayers.

Mr.Green Sr. lay in a coma-like state for about 24 hours, then began to respond to family members and caretakers. At present he is feeding himself, talking a little bit, and will soon be transferred to a skilled rehab unit. God answers prayer.

Initially, I notified my supervisor that I might need a couple of days off pending Mr.Green's condition/demise. She and my co-workers agreed to be flexible under the circumstances. God still answers prayer.

My Golden Boy has been a real trooper. He has been faithful to pray for his grand-daddy. He has exhibited that child-like faith that we all should possess. Thank God for a child that has been taught the value of prayer.

Though the past few days have been difficult for this family, we have not been without comfort. Only the Lord knows what lays ahead for each of us. But there is one thing for certain. He will never leave or forsake us, nor leave us alone.

History tells us that all of the trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 AD. Yet there are olive trees there today. They could even be off-shoots of the trees that were growing in the days that Jesus walked the Earth. It has been said that olive trees can regenerate from their roots. This means they can be cut completely down and sometime later sprout, flourish, and bear fruit again.

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep." Job 14:7-12 ESV

As long as there is breath in a man, there is hope. Hope for salvation. Hope for regeneration. Hope for an eternal life with Jesus Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He searches the depths of man’s soul. He is the one who pricks the conscience of man. He is the one who draws man to the Father. He is the one understands the non-verbal communications of man.

God created man in His image. He put within man a place that can only be filled with Him. Many search the world over for something to satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and plastic surgery are a few things that have been sought to stop the gnawing of emptiness. Oftentimes a person will have to hit rock bottom before they realize that Jesus is the answer to their woes. But some only need to witness a life that is vibrant with the love of Jesus.

Our mandate is to go and tell. To that I add; and live well. So what if you have been battered and cut down? Let the Holy Spirit water you soul today and you will begin to sprout again. As long as you have breath, there is hope.

Dear Readers,

Just a quick post to alert all prayer warriors of an urgent need. My sister's father-inlaw has had a massive stroke and his death is expected in less than 24 hours. He has been sick for an extended period of time, but that does not lessen the pain of what is now evident.

The Green family needs your prayers. The usual ones for comfort and guidance will certainly be of value in this circumstance. But I am asking you to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as you intercede. Surely He knows exactly what each member of the family needs during this difficult time.

Please offer continued prayers for my Golden Boy nephew. He is 8 years old and has experienced the pain of losing a grandmother, great-grandmother, and a great-grandad in his few years. He is a thoughtful child that ponders many things in his heart and is slow to share his feelings. I know that he would like for his Aunt Cala to be near to console him at this time. Due to work constraints, my time with him is somewhat limited.

This leads me to one more request. Pray for my employers to be lenient with me so I can be a help to my sister and the family, so I can be with "my boy" as I so often call him.Thank you for your continued support. I will update as I am able. Any encouraging comments may be left on the matching post at her site. Thank you.