would challenge you to surrender to the call of heaven. This destiny provides meaning and significance.
Have you seen the movie Antwan Fisher? This film tells the moving story of a young man who struggles with anger and pain because of the abuse he experienced growing up in a foster home. He feels disconnected because he doesn't know his family. His deepest desire is for family, to know to whom he belongs, to have a home.
While serving in the navy, Antwan is encouraged to find his family by a navy psychologist (played by Denzel Washington), who serves a mentor and father figure in his life. With bits and pieces of information, Antwan heads out on his search, and he is successful. He learns his father is dead but meets his father's family. Then an uncle takes him to meet his mother.
As he enters the apartment of the woman who gave birth to him in prison, he is filled with anticipation and hope that this is going to be a joyful reunion. But it's not. She sits there, not knowing how to respond. It's as if she's in shock. The meeting is a disappointment.
Disappointed and once again rejected, Antwan returns to the home of his aunt. He walks through the door, and to his surprise he finds a room full of people - his extended family that has gathered to meet him. He is swallowed up in a sea of love and acceptance. And when he walks into the dining room, there is an enormous feast, a banquet in his honor. His grandmother, the matriarch of the family, says, "Welcome home."
As we live the Christian life, we must embrace the tension of both living this life to its fullest down here and at the same time understanding that this is not our home. We are pilgrims on a journey to our real home, where there is a family and a banquet waiting for us, and a Savior eager to say, "Welcome home."
Purpose, Passion, Perspective
The apostle Paul points us to the perspective and the motivation that should anchor us on our journey. Read carefully these words from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Weigh them. Let your mind absorb them.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
There are four observations I want to make based on this passage. First, the foundation of our lives is Jesus Christ (v.11). The Christian life is the life of Christ living in and through us. Jesus Christ should be everything to us. He is our reason for living, and as our foundation, He brings strength and stability to the structure of our lives.
Second, we must approach life with discernment and great care because our lives reflect the foundation upon which we are built (vv.10-11). Ever time we trade in the motivation of responding to god's love and provision for the stuff of this life, we introduce foreign substances to our foundation. It weakens the building (our lives) and cheapens the structure.
Some of us have absorbed the "foreign substances" of this life. It weighs us down and it is causing damage to our spiritual structure. In a word, we need to strip our foundations and return to the bedrock: Jesus.
Third, we will be held accountable for our choices and approach to life (v. 13). It is true that as followers of Christ we will not be judged concerning our eternal destiny. That was settled at the cross, and when we placed our faith in Christ, our sins were forgiven and we received the gift of eternal life. But that doesn't mean we should live carelessly, following the whims of whatever we desire. According to this passage, we will be held accountable for what we do with our lives. The critical question is: What will be revealed when "the fire itself will test the quality of [your] work"?
This leads me to the fourth observation: The enduring (eternal) quality of our lives will be rewarded (vv.12-14). Every day of our lives we must choose that which endures ("gold, silver, and precious stones") over that which may be so appealing but is perishable ("would, hay, straw"). It is my view that this passage clearly teaches that although we are saved for eternity, some of us will experience the loss of reward because we settled for the perishable. In this regard, we're wasting our eternal wealth.
The burden of my heart, and the reason I'm writing this lesson because , that God has called us to be a people of destiny. We have a longing in our souls because eternity has been written in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Eternity is a powerful motivation. Someone once said that if you have a why for living, you can stand almost any how. Our home in heaven is our motivation and destiny. When we live up to that sense of destiny at the center of our lives, we will experience purpose, passion, and perspective. We have been called to live for a time we cannot see.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Monday, November 14, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Dark Shadows Fall in the lives of us all :
Dark Shadows Fall in the Lives of us All :
Sickness and sorrow
come to us all ,
But through it we grow
and learn to stand tall ,
Far trouble is part and parcel of life
and no man can grow
without struggle and strife ,
And the more we endure
with patience and grace
The stronger we grow
and the more we can face ,
And the more we can face ,
the greater our love ,
And with love in our hearts
we are more conscious of
The pain and the sorrow
in lives everywhere ,
So it is through trouble
that we learn how to share .
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
God asks no man whether he will accept life .That is not the choice . You must take it . The only choice is how .
Sickness and sorrow
come to us all ,
But through it we grow
and learn to stand tall ,
Far trouble is part and parcel of life
and no man can grow
without struggle and strife ,
And the more we endure
with patience and grace
The stronger we grow
and the more we can face ,
And the more we can face ,
the greater our love ,
And with love in our hearts
we are more conscious of
The pain and the sorrow
in lives everywhere ,
So it is through trouble
that we learn how to share .
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
God asks no man whether he will accept life .That is not the choice . You must take it . The only choice is how .
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Friend
A friend is a person of great understanding
Who shares all our hopes and our schemes ,
A companion who listens with infinite patience
To all of our plans and our dreams
A true friend can make all our cares melt away
With the touch of a hand or a smile ,
And with calm reassurance make everything brighter ,
And life always seem more worth while –
A friend shares so many bright moments of laughter
At even the tiniest thing –
What memorable hours of light-hearted gladness
And pleasure this sharing can bring !
A friend is cherished and precious possession
Who knows all our hopes and our fears ,
And someone to treasure deep down in our hearts
With a closeness that grows through the years !
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Take moment and think who this is .
Who shares all our hopes and our schemes ,
A companion who listens with infinite patience
To all of our plans and our dreams
A true friend can make all our cares melt away
With the touch of a hand or a smile ,
And with calm reassurance make everything brighter ,
And life always seem more worth while –
A friend shares so many bright moments of laughter
At even the tiniest thing –
What memorable hours of light-hearted gladness
And pleasure this sharing can bring !
A friend is cherished and precious possession
Who knows all our hopes and our fears ,
And someone to treasure deep down in our hearts
With a closeness that grows through the years !
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Take moment and think who this is .
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It's me again , God
It’s me again , God
Remember me God?
I come every day
Just to talk with You , Lord ,
And to learn how to pray .
You make me feel welcome ,
You reach out Your hand ,
I need never explain
For You understand .
I come to you frightened
And burdened with care ,
So lonely and lost
And so filled with despair ,
And suddenly , Lord ,
I’m no longer afraid ,
My burden is lighter
And the dark shadows fade .
Oh , God , what a comfort
To know that You care
And to know when I seek You
You will always be there !
Jan Bagwell
God Bless
Come to me , all who labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest .Take my yoke upon you ,and learn from me ; for I am gentle and lowly in heart , and you will find rest for your souls . For my yoke is easy , and my burden is light
Matthew 11: 28- 30
Remember me God?
I come every day
Just to talk with You , Lord ,
And to learn how to pray .
You make me feel welcome ,
You reach out Your hand ,
I need never explain
For You understand .
I come to you frightened
And burdened with care ,
So lonely and lost
And so filled with despair ,
And suddenly , Lord ,
I’m no longer afraid ,
My burden is lighter
And the dark shadows fade .
Oh , God , what a comfort
To know that You care
And to know when I seek You
You will always be there !
Jan Bagwell
God Bless
Come to me , all who labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest .Take my yoke upon you ,and learn from me ; for I am gentle and lowly in heart , and you will find rest for your souls . For my yoke is easy , and my burden is light
Matthew 11: 28- 30
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Secrets of Providence
The Secrets of Providence
There are secrets of Providence which God's dear children may learn. His dealings with them often seem, to the outward eye, dark and terrible. Faith looks deeper and says, "This is God's secret. You look only on the outside; I can look deeper and see the hidden meaning."
Sometimes diamonds are done up in rough packages, so that their value cannot be seen. When the Tabernacle was built in the wilderness there was nothing rich in its outside appearance. The costly things were all within, and its outward covering of rough badger skin gave no hint of the valuable things which it contained.
God may send you, dear friends, some costly packages. Do not worry if they are done up in rough wrappings. You may be sure there are treasures of love, and kindness, and wisdom hidden within. If we take what He sends, and trust Him for the goodness in it, even in the dark, we shall learn the meaning of the secrets of Providence. --
"Not until each loom is silent,
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the pattern
And explain the reason why
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern which He planned."
He that is mastered by Christ is the master of every circumstance. Does the circumstance press hard against you? Do not push it away. It is the Potter's hand. Your mastery will come, not by arresting its progress, but by enduring its discipline, for it is not only shaping you into a vessel of beauty and honor, but it is making your resources available.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Please be in prayer for Nyica Greg she is my niece and she will have operation Tuesday morn at 10 o' clock .
"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" (Ps. 25:14).
There are secrets of Providence which God's dear children may learn. His dealings with them often seem, to the outward eye, dark and terrible. Faith looks deeper and says, "This is God's secret. You look only on the outside; I can look deeper and see the hidden meaning."
Sometimes diamonds are done up in rough packages, so that their value cannot be seen. When the Tabernacle was built in the wilderness there was nothing rich in its outside appearance. The costly things were all within, and its outward covering of rough badger skin gave no hint of the valuable things which it contained.
God may send you, dear friends, some costly packages. Do not worry if they are done up in rough wrappings. You may be sure there are treasures of love, and kindness, and wisdom hidden within. If we take what He sends, and trust Him for the goodness in it, even in the dark, we shall learn the meaning of the secrets of Providence. --
"Not until each loom is silent,
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the pattern
And explain the reason why
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern which He planned."
He that is mastered by Christ is the master of every circumstance. Does the circumstance press hard against you? Do not push it away. It is the Potter's hand. Your mastery will come, not by arresting its progress, but by enduring its discipline, for it is not only shaping you into a vessel of beauty and honor, but it is making your resources available.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Please be in prayer for Nyica Greg she is my niece and she will have operation Tuesday morn at 10 o' clock .
"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" (Ps. 25:14).
Monday, November 7, 2011
Don't Grow Old
Don't Grow Old
Many people are afraid of growing old.
I'm afraid of growing old and boring.
Many people are afraid of growing old, alone.
I'm afraid of growing old, insane.
Many people are afraid of losing their looks.
I'm afraid of losing my dreams.
Many people are afraid of losing their youth.
I'm afraid of losing my soul.
When you're 15, 35 seems ancient.
When you're 35, 15 seems juvenile.
A turnaround in a split second - two decades zoom past and
before you know it, it's only a mile to the next millennium.
Don't fear age,
it's a right of person-hood.
Don't fear death- it's God's greatest jest.
Don't grow old - you don't have to.
Don't date because you're desperate.
Don't marry because you're miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't separate because you think it's fashionable.
Don't drink because you have troubles.
Don't gamble because you think winning is inevitable.
Don't philander because you think you're irresistible.
Most likely, you're not.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat.
Don't lie.
Don't pretend.
Don't try to buy your way into the kingdom of God.
Don't dictate because you're smarter.
Don't demand because you're stronger.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family or your ideals.
Don't stagnate.
Don't regress.
Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Don't live in the past.
Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
Don't throw you life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your
biological clock is ticking and you can't afford to have your
eggs harvested before the new millennium.
There's always a mad rush to something, somewhere - but victory
does not always belong to those who finish first.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid
for some of life's more hasty decisions.
You can't always go with the throng who could be wrong.
Sometimes, you have to be alone to be enlightened.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong
reasons.
To keep yourself warm, buy a jacket.
In the long run, it will be less complicated and less costly.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of
what you can be.
Simplify your life.
Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements - abusive friends, nasty habits
and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities, but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your
family.
Be true to yourself. Don't commit when you're not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Fall in love - it's the greatest thing on earth.
But take care and remember, after the fall must come the rise.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you must even at society's scorn.
Write poetry. Love deeply. Walk barefoot. Hold hands.
Dance with wild abandon. Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except you.
It is true that life doesn't get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid.
Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't grow old.
Just grow up.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Many people are afraid of growing old.
I'm afraid of growing old and boring.
Many people are afraid of growing old, alone.
I'm afraid of growing old, insane.
Many people are afraid of losing their looks.
I'm afraid of losing my dreams.
Many people are afraid of losing their youth.
I'm afraid of losing my soul.
When you're 15, 35 seems ancient.
When you're 35, 15 seems juvenile.
A turnaround in a split second - two decades zoom past and
before you know it, it's only a mile to the next millennium.
Don't fear age,
it's a right of person-hood.
Don't fear death- it's God's greatest jest.
Don't grow old - you don't have to.
Don't date because you're desperate.
Don't marry because you're miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't separate because you think it's fashionable.
Don't drink because you have troubles.
Don't gamble because you think winning is inevitable.
Don't philander because you think you're irresistible.
Most likely, you're not.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat.
Don't lie.
Don't pretend.
Don't try to buy your way into the kingdom of God.
Don't dictate because you're smarter.
Don't demand because you're stronger.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family or your ideals.
Don't stagnate.
Don't regress.
Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Don't live in the past.
Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
Don't throw you life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your
biological clock is ticking and you can't afford to have your
eggs harvested before the new millennium.
There's always a mad rush to something, somewhere - but victory
does not always belong to those who finish first.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid
for some of life's more hasty decisions.
You can't always go with the throng who could be wrong.
Sometimes, you have to be alone to be enlightened.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong
reasons.
To keep yourself warm, buy a jacket.
In the long run, it will be less complicated and less costly.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of
what you can be.
Simplify your life.
Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements - abusive friends, nasty habits
and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities, but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your
family.
Be true to yourself. Don't commit when you're not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Fall in love - it's the greatest thing on earth.
But take care and remember, after the fall must come the rise.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you must even at society's scorn.
Write poetry. Love deeply. Walk barefoot. Hold hands.
Dance with wild abandon. Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except you.
It is true that life doesn't get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid.
Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't grow old.
Just grow up.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Future Is Yours
The Future Is Yours
The future is yours ,
It belongs to you ,
And with faith in God
And in yourself , too,
No hill’s too high ,
No mountain’s too tall ,
For with faith in the Lord
You can conquer them all .
And all that you wish for
That is honest and true
The Lord will certainly
Give to you ,
Not always the way
You most desire ,
But He always gives
What you most require .
So accept what He sends
Be it bitter or sweet ,
For God knows best
What makes life complete .
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !!
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while he has overcome while trying to succeed .
The future is yours ,
It belongs to you ,
And with faith in God
And in yourself , too,
No hill’s too high ,
No mountain’s too tall ,
For with faith in the Lord
You can conquer them all .
And all that you wish for
That is honest and true
The Lord will certainly
Give to you ,
Not always the way
You most desire ,
But He always gives
What you most require .
So accept what He sends
Be it bitter or sweet ,
For God knows best
What makes life complete .
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !!
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while he has overcome while trying to succeed .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
