SS THOUGHTS.
Unable to post for a little while. Traveling. Some computer problems. Sorreeee......
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Friday, 19 June 2015
SS Thoughts
#23: Ticket to Fly
Suppose you
received a free ticket to go to …… Alaska! Would you be interested in going? Would you
spend the time between receiving the ticket and the time to go being anxious and
fretful—worrying about the cold, or how long the nights are, or where you will
sleep? Oh no. You would probably be planning interesting things to do when you
get there, and I daresay some persons would be so excited they wouldn’t be able
to keep themselves from telling others about the upcoming trip!
Well to go on
the trip, 2 things must happen first. The price for the ticket must be paid,
and you must accept the gift of the ticket. Then you can be on your way
rejoicing!
Going to heaven is a bit like that.
You have been offered a ticket – with your name on it! And the price has
already been paid! (John 3:16; 14:1-3).
The only question is: Do you want to accept that ticket?
Hopefully the answer is—Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! And once you accept you
don’t have to worry anymore! You can
spend your time preparing to go and getting to know the One who paid the
price—with His life. And hopefully, you will be soooooo excited that you must tell others how to obtain a
ticket, so that they too can go with you on that wonderful trip…….
Exciting news!!! I will be
flying next week on a virtually free
ticket – earned by surrendering my seat on a confirmed flight and taking the option to fly at a later time. The
offer was made to anyone who had no deadlines to meet and therefore could fly
later without any problem. And the incentives were tempting – a $500 flight
voucher to be used at any time later + a confirmed
seat on the next flight + a meal voucher + hotel accommodation and
transportation voucher if necessary!
But now I’m
wondering….. Could we be tempted to surrender our ticket to heaven with the
option to fly at a later date??? DO NOT BE FOOLED!! The first flight (first
resurrection) is for those who will spend a millennium in heaven and eternity
on the new earth. The second flight (second resurrection) is for those who will
be destroyed with Satan and his angels when the earth is cleansed of sin.
Wake up friends!!
Jesus’ return is at hand. I want to confirm my ticket on that first flight. How
about you?
Here's a wonderful song to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_BB0NrSkKw ("I have set my mind on another time" - Reggie Smith)
Here's a wonderful song to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_BB0NrSkKw ("I have set my mind on another time" - Reggie Smith)
Thursday, 11 June 2015
SS Thoughts
#22: Help! Help!!
[Developed from
my SS remarks 06/06/2015)
Have you ever
wanted to learn a trade? For example carpentry, or building construction – as
it is now known? A good way to learn is to link up with someone who already
knows the trade. This expert person can show you how to measure and cut, and hammer
a nail straight – without smashing your thumb!
Or what if you
wanted to learn to sew? Again, you can link up with an expert who can guide you
in operating a sewing machine, cutting out a pattern, assembling the pieces of
fabric together, and so on.
Medical students do not learn how to be doctors just by studying big
heavy books! They also follow around more experienced doctors and learn from them
how to diagnose and treat patients.
Even so called ‘dumb’ animals learn from experts. For example, an older
matriarch leads elephant herds. Her decisions influence
when the herd eats and where, when they spend time with other elephants, and
when to leave the large groups of animals that form around feeding and drinking
sites.
The death of
a matriarch is almost inevitably followed by a period of confusion amongst the
herd. The young elephants have no one to protect them, alert them to danger, or
teach them social skills. The group basically falls apart and becomes wild and
uncontrollable.
Yes, mentors/experts
inspire us, motivate us, and help us to succeed.
Pastor Samuel Telemaque (SS Lesson Outline #10 Q2, 2015) asks:
"So what do you do if you want to learn to live life well? Where do you go if you want to live in a way that corresponds to the way God created human beings to live? You seek out an example of a life that has been lived in that way. This is what Jesus offers when He says, “Follow me”.
Pastor Samuel Telemaque (SS Lesson Outline #10 Q2, 2015) asks:
"So what do you do if you want to learn to live life well? Where do you go if you want to live in a way that corresponds to the way God created human beings to live? You seek out an example of a life that has been lived in that way. This is what Jesus offers when He says, “Follow me”.
Yes, follow
Him and be His disciple. No, it will not be easy. It is a daily challenge that
takes your hands, head, heart, time, means, and your prayers - everything. It demands your full surrender. But the reward will be
worth it all. [Or as a pastor friend says, even if He rejects me I’ll serve Him
anyhow….]
Listen to T.
Marshall Kelly sing “It Takes Everything” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfbZ8BItk5g
Or listen to
the Aeolians sing “It Pays To Serve Jesus” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnTvwvyi2Tc
Friday, 5 June 2015
SS Thoughts #21: Emerging like Diamonds
Do you
know that the lead (or graphite) in a pencil is very similar to diamond? They
are both forms of carbon, although with a different crystalline structure. However:
· Graphite is dull and soft. It is
inexpensive—you toss a pencil away without even a second thought!
· Diamond is shiny and hard—it is
the hardest substance known, and is used to make fine cutting instruments, e.g.
for surgical procedures. Diamond is very
expensive. You would want to think twice before throwing your diamonds
away!
Here’s
the interesting part. If graphite is subjected to enormous pressures and extremely high temperatures, it can change into a diamond! Almost
unimaginable! From a worthless pencil lead to a valuable “diamond in the rough”!
But rough
diamonds do not look much like the ones in rings and other jewelry. They must first be subjected to the cleaving, sawing, cutting and polishing of a master diamond cutter. This removes flaws; reveals the brilliance; and adds to the value. And all of this is possible
because of the hardness of the diamond.
Many
times, the sufferings and trials we go through cause us to be discouraged. Instead
we can be encouraged if we think about them as part of the refining and reshaping
process we must go through to bring out the best in us, and make us spotless to
be presented before our Master. Submit yourself to the process…. Be patient…. Be
strong….. God is not finished with you yet……
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