Don’t Return the Wrong Gift
John 1:11. …His own received Him not.
One of the hallmarks of Christmas is gift giving. Some make known that they are following the pattern of the Original Gift Giver, the Originator of all things, God Almighty. Judgment will tell the tale of whether that is true in the end.
Some gifts are long lasting and are passed down to another generation and others may be rendered useless before nightfall on Christmas day. Some gifts are for gags, for laughs and some are the entranceways into life altering lifetime relationships. Some gifts are expensive and some come from ‘Everything’s a Dollar’.
In the gift giving transaction, there is a giver and a receiver. Givers can give with the very best of intentions, but a gift given has no guarantee of a receiver’s approval or acceptance. A receiver can reject the most fitting gift given to them, and do so, sometimes with something as simple, yet powerful as a look.
After Christmas, we stand in line to take gifts back for refunds or swap, substituting one item for something else. Gifts may be returned because ‘it was not the one I wanted’ or a gift may be defective or ‘I thought I wanted it but now I don’t’.
To turn one’s nose up at a multicolored Christmas tree tie or the umpteenth Christmas Santa mug or bag of new socks is one thing, but to reject the only gift leading to eternal life is another.
Jesus is the gift that God gave to take away the sin of the world. (John 1:29, 3:16) Peter boldly declared, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
The toys, trinkets, and turtleneck sweaters of life have their place, but in the process and pull of time, they teeter, totter, fall down and apart, and then disappear forever.
The one thing left is the soul of man. The soul is inextinguishable, for it came from an inextinguishable God who made it thus. How shortsighted, we are to focus more on the temporariness of this life and fail ourselves by allowing our obsession with satiating our hunger for happiness today to blind us from considering more the huge hereafter, and especially our particular place in it.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matthew 16:26-27)
There is no real substitute for Jesus. It is not possible to swap Him for something better, for there is nothing better. He who made us in His image and likeness, came down to save us, by sacrificing His body, shedding His blood at Calvary’s cross to give us the gift of eternal life.
Sadly, I have hurt the feelings of others by my former far from righteous callous conduct in rejecting their heartfelt gifts to me. Now some people may be as I used to be, very finicky, downright picky, or even arrogantly particular. To be honest, I was proud, selfish, and ungrateful. The proper diagnosis would be a heart void of love, because my life was truly void of Christ.
I thank God, for Jesus and His healing mercy and gracious delivering power, for He healed my wayward will when He delivered my soul from the grip of sin. Even He, was a gift that I once rejected when I heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, about His great love for me and did not act on it because I was errantly enamored with things that could not eternally satisfy. How foolish I was to return the wrong gift in rejecting God’s Son.
I praise God that He called and sent preaching preachers, who kept proclaiming the Gospel, until that day when I said in the words of this song,
Take the world, but give me Jesus,
Sweetest comfort of my soul;
With my Savior watching o’er me,
I can sing though billows roll.
Take the world, but give me Jesus,
Let me view His constant smile;
Then throughout my pilgrim journey
Light will cheer me all the while.
Take the world, but give me Jesus;
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision,
Face to face my Lord I see.
Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above!
In my own words, “In the morning when I rise, at night when I close my eyes, just give me Jesus. No food on my table or fancy clothes with designer labels, just give me Jesus. No toys or no tree, I can be happy as I can be, if you just give me Jesus, the One who died for me.”
Don’t return the wrong gift, keep Jesus forever in your heart.
RevLDReed
I Owe Jesus
12/24/07
Monday, December 24, 2007
Take a mortgage reality check
Take a mortgage reality checkBy Julie McAdory
STRONG AND POSITIVE holiday memories are forged in most people's hearts. Meals around the dining room table, stockings hung by the chimney with care, the opening of gifts and the sharing of stories - all activities that take place at home.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans wants to help consumers avoid foreclosure at any time, but particularly during this holiday season. In today's uncertain economic environment, George Bailey of "It's a Wonderful Life" fame would have plenty of company. Mr. Bailey didn't anticipate the run on his bank, and undoubtedly would have done some things differently had he known.
More fortunate
Today's homeowners are more fortunate in that they can protect themselves from financial surprises surrounding their mortgages by using the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's Mortgage Reality CheckSM. This self-diagnostic tool is a predictor of the likelihood of foreclosure.
Continuing its five decades of financially educating and assisting consumers, the NFCC, of which CCCS is a member, created the Housing Crisis Resource CenterSM, an online consumer resource available in English and Spanish. The English site can be found at www.HousingHelpNow.org, with the Spanish site at www.nopierdastuhogar.org.
Within each site, consumers can find a wealth of resources including the Mortgage Reality CheckSM quiz. After answering a few questions, the consumer is placed into one of three categories:
· Immediate advice or assistance recommended
· Review the responsibilities of homeownership
· No apparent risk
Get help now
Consumers at risk can immediately connect with a NFCC-certified housing counselor by phone or online, and begin constructing a plan to save their home. Others can use the resource tools on the site to improve their knowledge of the homeownership process and responsibilities.
"Homeownership is a dream worth preserving. Every consumer would benefit from visiting this site and taking the Mortgage Reality CheckSM," said Tom Collens, executive vice president.
Consumers can receive immediate assistance by calling CCCS at (800) 880-2221 or visiting www.cccsno.org. For more than 50 years, the NFCC has provided consumers with sound financial advice as the recognized leader in financial education and counseling services, assisting more than 2 million consumers a year.
Housing counseling is a core service of nearly all NFCC member agencies and most are HUD-approved housing counseling services.
· Julie McAdory is the Mississippi Education Director for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans.
STRONG AND POSITIVE holiday memories are forged in most people's hearts. Meals around the dining room table, stockings hung by the chimney with care, the opening of gifts and the sharing of stories - all activities that take place at home.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans wants to help consumers avoid foreclosure at any time, but particularly during this holiday season. In today's uncertain economic environment, George Bailey of "It's a Wonderful Life" fame would have plenty of company. Mr. Bailey didn't anticipate the run on his bank, and undoubtedly would have done some things differently had he known.
More fortunate
Today's homeowners are more fortunate in that they can protect themselves from financial surprises surrounding their mortgages by using the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's Mortgage Reality CheckSM. This self-diagnostic tool is a predictor of the likelihood of foreclosure.
Continuing its five decades of financially educating and assisting consumers, the NFCC, of which CCCS is a member, created the Housing Crisis Resource CenterSM, an online consumer resource available in English and Spanish. The English site can be found at www.HousingHelpNow.org, with the Spanish site at www.nopierdastuhogar.org.
Within each site, consumers can find a wealth of resources including the Mortgage Reality CheckSM quiz. After answering a few questions, the consumer is placed into one of three categories:
· Immediate advice or assistance recommended
· Review the responsibilities of homeownership
· No apparent risk
Get help now
Consumers at risk can immediately connect with a NFCC-certified housing counselor by phone or online, and begin constructing a plan to save their home. Others can use the resource tools on the site to improve their knowledge of the homeownership process and responsibilities.
"Homeownership is a dream worth preserving. Every consumer would benefit from visiting this site and taking the Mortgage Reality CheckSM," said Tom Collens, executive vice president.
Consumers can receive immediate assistance by calling CCCS at (800) 880-2221 or visiting www.cccsno.org. For more than 50 years, the NFCC has provided consumers with sound financial advice as the recognized leader in financial education and counseling services, assisting more than 2 million consumers a year.
Housing counseling is a core service of nearly all NFCC member agencies and most are HUD-approved housing counseling services.
· Julie McAdory is the Mississippi Education Director for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans.
Friday, December 21, 2007
My Lord, I Pledge to Thee Mine All
My Lord, I Pledge to Thee Mine All
My Lord, I pledge allegiance to Thee.
Thou, who, pledged allegiance to me, made a curse for mine sin, Thou didst die on my behalf at Calvary out on a tree.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine heart,
For Thou, in love, personally, purposely planned mine beat, mine being and boundaries, before the world’s start.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine eyes.
I will continually lift them up unto Thee, Thou who dwelleth in glory beyond the visible skies.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine hands.
May I ever more joyfully labor to carry out Thy amazing, blessed, and consecrated commands.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine feet.
Guide me whithersoever Thou willeth, that Thou seest for me as essential, good, and meet.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine ears.
Make me to know Thy voice, for Thy voice strengthens and settles me, removes my doubts, and chases away all mine fears.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine voice.
May I ever preach, teach, and reach out to all men to compel them to sincerely cry out to Thee to make Thee their eternal choice.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine praise.
Thou, in Thy faithfulness, hast done marvelous things for me, for this cause, I will sing of and to Thee for the rest of my days.
My Lord, I pledge to serve Thee down to mine very last breath.
I rejoice to know that I will ever live with Thee, for Thou wilt raise me up victorious-hell shall not know me, the grave cannot hold me, neither shall I be ever bound by the shadowy clutch of death.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine soul,
For me Thou hung, bled, and died and faith in Thy sacrifice has saved me, making me every whit whole.
My Lord, to Thee I pledge, both now and ever, mine all.
Help me to be faithful, farsighted, and fruitful for Thee in such a time as this, my generation, as I await from Thee, eternity’s call.
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:7-11
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/21/2007
My Lord, I pledge allegiance to Thee.
Thou, who, pledged allegiance to me, made a curse for mine sin, Thou didst die on my behalf at Calvary out on a tree.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine heart,
For Thou, in love, personally, purposely planned mine beat, mine being and boundaries, before the world’s start.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine eyes.
I will continually lift them up unto Thee, Thou who dwelleth in glory beyond the visible skies.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine hands.
May I ever more joyfully labor to carry out Thy amazing, blessed, and consecrated commands.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine feet.
Guide me whithersoever Thou willeth, that Thou seest for me as essential, good, and meet.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine ears.
Make me to know Thy voice, for Thy voice strengthens and settles me, removes my doubts, and chases away all mine fears.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine voice.
May I ever preach, teach, and reach out to all men to compel them to sincerely cry out to Thee to make Thee their eternal choice.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine praise.
Thou, in Thy faithfulness, hast done marvelous things for me, for this cause, I will sing of and to Thee for the rest of my days.
My Lord, I pledge to serve Thee down to mine very last breath.
I rejoice to know that I will ever live with Thee, for Thou wilt raise me up victorious-hell shall not know me, the grave cannot hold me, neither shall I be ever bound by the shadowy clutch of death.
My Lord, I pledge to Thee mine soul,
For me Thou hung, bled, and died and faith in Thy sacrifice has saved me, making me every whit whole.
My Lord, to Thee I pledge, both now and ever, mine all.
Help me to be faithful, farsighted, and fruitful for Thee in such a time as this, my generation, as I await from Thee, eternity’s call.
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:7-11
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/21/2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
None of Self and All of Thee
None of Self and All of Thee
by Theodore Monod
Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
All of self, and none of Thee,
All of self, and none of Thee,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Less of self, and more of Thee,
Less of self, and more or Thee,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
None of self, and all of Thee,
None of self, and all of Thee,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
by Theodore Monod
Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
All of self, and none of Thee,
All of self, and none of Thee,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Less of self, and more of Thee,
Less of self, and more or Thee,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
None of self, and all of Thee,
None of self, and all of Thee,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
My Gift to My Lord
My Gift to My Lord
Lord, You came from above,
As a gift, wrapped and filled with love.
To give man opportunity for endless life,
Delivering him up from the grave consequences of sin and its misery and strife.
Oh, what gift to You can I give,
To You the reason I exist, the reason why I live?
What gift can I, upon You, bestow?
You birthed the idea of my conception, brought me into being, and nurtured me to grow.
By Your handiwork of grace, You formed and then reformed me.
Your Spirit has regenerated me with a new heart of understanding and new eyes to see.
What gift can I give to You for all the gifts You’ve given me?
I can’t give You anything new for all I have came from thee.
So that I can give You something You desire, I ask this one request.
Help me to love as You love me, for the way You love me makes me know I am blest.
Help me to love fervently, intentionally, and unconditionally, too.
Help me to love chastely and sacrificially, for that is the best way to emulate You.
Lord, my gift of love to You, I bring.
It may seem only a trifling, token, little thing.
I am glad You accept heartfelt effort, however big, however small.
I pray thee to accept my little offering of love…My gift to You is a pledge of my all…
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
John 13:15
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/11/2007
Lord, You came from above,
As a gift, wrapped and filled with love.
To give man opportunity for endless life,
Delivering him up from the grave consequences of sin and its misery and strife.
Oh, what gift to You can I give,
To You the reason I exist, the reason why I live?
What gift can I, upon You, bestow?
You birthed the idea of my conception, brought me into being, and nurtured me to grow.
By Your handiwork of grace, You formed and then reformed me.
Your Spirit has regenerated me with a new heart of understanding and new eyes to see.
What gift can I give to You for all the gifts You’ve given me?
I can’t give You anything new for all I have came from thee.
So that I can give You something You desire, I ask this one request.
Help me to love as You love me, for the way You love me makes me know I am blest.
Help me to love fervently, intentionally, and unconditionally, too.
Help me to love chastely and sacrificially, for that is the best way to emulate You.
Lord, my gift of love to You, I bring.
It may seem only a trifling, token, little thing.
I am glad You accept heartfelt effort, however big, however small.
I pray thee to accept my little offering of love…My gift to You is a pledge of my all…
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
John 13:15
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/11/2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
I'm a Senior, but I'm Striving
I'm a Senior, but I'm Striving
I'm a senior…
I'm not as young as I used to be,
But, I'm striving.
I'm a senior…
I can’t see as far as I used to see,
But, I'm striving.
I'm a senior…
I no longer move about as quickly as a bumblebee,
But, I'm striving.
I'm a senior…
I'm no longer as strong as an oak tree,
But, I'm striving.
Yes. I'm a senior…
Striving to do what, you may ask me?
With the mercy of the Lord, I'm striving to enjoy each day despite any pain or frailty I may feel in my weakening frame.
By the grace of God, I'm striving to enjoy my family and friends with the time I have left-I wish I could freeze-frame.
With the help of the Lord, I'm striving to invest the wisdom that God has given me in someone else. To help them is my aim.
Because of God’s love and by His mighty power, I'm striving forward looking unto Jesus who died for me and keeping my faith in Him and telling others to do the same.
Yes, I'm a senior, but I'm striving every day. I'm pressing on trying to reach my heavenly home in Jesus Name!!!
But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house, they flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!” Psalm 92:12-15 New Living Translation
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/2006
I'm a senior…
I'm not as young as I used to be,
But, I'm striving.
I'm a senior…
I can’t see as far as I used to see,
But, I'm striving.
I'm a senior…
I no longer move about as quickly as a bumblebee,
But, I'm striving.
I'm a senior…
I'm no longer as strong as an oak tree,
But, I'm striving.
Yes. I'm a senior…
Striving to do what, you may ask me?
With the mercy of the Lord, I'm striving to enjoy each day despite any pain or frailty I may feel in my weakening frame.
By the grace of God, I'm striving to enjoy my family and friends with the time I have left-I wish I could freeze-frame.
With the help of the Lord, I'm striving to invest the wisdom that God has given me in someone else. To help them is my aim.
Because of God’s love and by His mighty power, I'm striving forward looking unto Jesus who died for me and keeping my faith in Him and telling others to do the same.
Yes, I'm a senior, but I'm striving every day. I'm pressing on trying to reach my heavenly home in Jesus Name!!!
But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house, they flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!” Psalm 92:12-15 New Living Translation
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/2006
Sunday, December 2, 2007
His Hands
His Hands
By His hands, man was made…
By His hands, man receives his most vital aid…
By His hands, nature maintains a seasonal parade…
By His hands, all creatures enjoy their own little escapade…
By means of His hands, the multitudes were fed…
By way of His hands, the disciples were led…
By the use of His hands, men were raised from the dead…
Because of His hands, demons were filled with dread…
His hands can relieve all of man’s burdens and stress…
His hands lovingly hold, comfort, and caress…
His hands have straightened out many a man’s mess…
His hands cover us when we’re repentant of our transgress…
His hands administer to me mercy and grace…
His hands wipe away tears from my face…
His hands guide and hold me into my right place…
His hands shield me from harm by their encase…
His hands bore the nails meant for me…
His hands, instead of mine, were fastened to the tree…
His hands were affixed to the cross so I could be free…
His hands bore the marks of just how much He loved me…
His hands’ power put Satan to shame…
His hands rendered Satan’s power lame…
His hands are empowered to accomplish whatever His aim…
His hands were given all power; above death, hell, and the grave, He overcame…
Through His hands, the nails administered my sin sick soul’s cure...
By His hands, my heart bears His incomparable signature…
In His hands, my soul is at rest in serenity, spirited, and secure…
Because of His hands, my future is bright, glorious, and sure…
Are you in His hands? Have you entrusted into His hands your heart, your mind, your soul; your yesterday, your today, your tomorrow, your eternity; your joy, your sorrow, your pain, your shame, your fears, your tears; your family, your friends, your enemies; your career, your retirement; your sickness, your health; your wealth, your poverty; your all and your everything-down to your very last breath? O’ let, Him touch and hold you with His hands! His hands will soothe and satisfy your longing soul!!! Touch now, Lord Jesus!
And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Mark 6:2
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. John 10:27-29
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/2/2007
By His hands, man was made…
By His hands, man receives his most vital aid…
By His hands, nature maintains a seasonal parade…
By His hands, all creatures enjoy their own little escapade…
By means of His hands, the multitudes were fed…
By way of His hands, the disciples were led…
By the use of His hands, men were raised from the dead…
Because of His hands, demons were filled with dread…
His hands can relieve all of man’s burdens and stress…
His hands lovingly hold, comfort, and caress…
His hands have straightened out many a man’s mess…
His hands cover us when we’re repentant of our transgress…
His hands administer to me mercy and grace…
His hands wipe away tears from my face…
His hands guide and hold me into my right place…
His hands shield me from harm by their encase…
His hands bore the nails meant for me…
His hands, instead of mine, were fastened to the tree…
His hands were affixed to the cross so I could be free…
His hands bore the marks of just how much He loved me…
His hands’ power put Satan to shame…
His hands rendered Satan’s power lame…
His hands are empowered to accomplish whatever His aim…
His hands were given all power; above death, hell, and the grave, He overcame…
Through His hands, the nails administered my sin sick soul’s cure...
By His hands, my heart bears His incomparable signature…
In His hands, my soul is at rest in serenity, spirited, and secure…
Because of His hands, my future is bright, glorious, and sure…
Are you in His hands? Have you entrusted into His hands your heart, your mind, your soul; your yesterday, your today, your tomorrow, your eternity; your joy, your sorrow, your pain, your shame, your fears, your tears; your family, your friends, your enemies; your career, your retirement; your sickness, your health; your wealth, your poverty; your all and your everything-down to your very last breath? O’ let, Him touch and hold you with His hands! His hands will soothe and satisfy your longing soul!!! Touch now, Lord Jesus!
And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Mark 6:2
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. John 10:27-29
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
12/2/2007
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