Encouragement
After our children were grown and away from home, we went many years without having a pet around the house.
A few years ago, our daughter Kristin (who is a Prof. @ Texas Woman's University) enlisted in the Army Reserves Medical Corp, so we 'inherited' her little dog, Cosmo.
For about 4 yrs. Cosmo (who is now 9 yrs. old) has been staying with La Moyne and me.
Our son Kevin teases Kristin about how Cosmo is not ever going to want to leave here because 'she's living in Shangri La!'.
At our age (and Cosmo's age) we all take naps at the same time! (:o)
Kristin is so faithful to pay for all of Cosmo's upkeep, so recently when I took Cosmo in for her haircut, I arrived early for our appointment.
I'm glad that I went early as Steve was reading the Bible.
I said, "You're reading a good book there!"
He replied, "Oh I know! I couldn't get by without it. Like this morning, a lady called and cancelled an appointment...which took a chunk out of today's income! I was a little rough on her, then realized that I needed to call her back and apologize."
I said, "Well Steve, the 'Golden Rule' is 'golden' and the only way to keep it...
is by staying in The Word!"
Each day we do not know whom we will meet nor what they are going through.
The only way is to let the Word of God dwell in us richly. (Col. 3:16)
I asked Steve about his salvation and he said that he was saved many years ago, but had just recently renewed his experience. Since he was not able to recall his baptism,
he was going to be baptized at his church in OKC.
When I went back that afternoon to get Cosmo, I took him a little 'gift bag' with one of our music tapes as well as some of my articles.
I got to thinking about his comment about the Bible...."I could not live with out it".
I have had a bad cold/cough all week and La Moyne is not doing well physically this week, so I decided to put you readers to work. (:o)
Following is a listing of Life's Indispensables.
In the Bible, these are 'precious jewels of God' that we cannot really live without:
1) "WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please God"
(Hebrews 11:6...whole chapter is 'Hall of Faith')
Faith is the only medium of exchange in the Kingdom of Heaven.
(See I John 5:4 and James 2:26)
2) "WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD there is no forgiveness." (Heb. 9:22-29)
The whole chapter compares old sacrifices to the new.....
Vs. 14 is especially good:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ cleanse us from all sin?"
Other Scriptures:
Revelation 1:5
I Peter 1:18-19
I John 1:7-10
Ephesians 1:7
John 1:29
Hebrews 7:25-27
Revelation 7:14
3) "WITHOUT HOLINESS no one shall see God. (Hebrews 12:14)
Vs. 6:
"Whom the Lord loves, He chastens for without chastisement, we are not 'sons of God'. (Heb. 12:8)
Holiness is not:
an emotional experience...
nor a matter of good deeds...
nor moral achievement.
Holiness has to do with that which is different...or set apart.
For example:
Old Testament items that were considered 'holy' were set apart for usage in worship of God.
The New Testament calls it ''sanctification' (a work of God setting us aside for His use).
The one thing qualifying us for 'holiness' is to be without sin.
The bad news is that there is not ANYTHING we can do to achieve 'holiness'...
because we can not get rid of sin.
But the Good News is that God CAN....through Salvation provided by Christ!
4) "WITHOUT LOVE I AM NOTHING" (I Cor. 13)
Love is indispensable, but there is nothing substituted far more, than Love!
There is no substitute for God's Love. He loves us in many ways, but especially through Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit, our salvation and eventually Heaven!
Other great Chapters on Love are: I John 1, 2, 3, 4.
CONCLUSION:
The whole chapter of John 15 sums up:
"Without me, you can do nothing"....(He is The Vine....we are the branches)
Matt. 19:26 says "with us things are impossible, but with God ALL things are possible!"
One of my favorites is "Without Him" by Mylon R. Lefevre (1945)
'Without Him, I could do nothing...without Him, I'd surely fail.
Without Him, I would be drifting, like a ship without a sail.
Without Him, I could be dying....
Without Him, I'd be enslaved...
Without Him, life would be worthless (hopeless),
But with Jesus, thank God, I'm saved.
Jesus, oh Jesus...
Do you know Him today?
Please don't turn Him away.
Oh Jesus, my Jesus.
Without Him, how lost I would be!'
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Thanks for the article and to God for making it possible for you to write them It is always an enriching experience to read what God has inspired you to write.
Another beautiful and meaningful article Travis. May God just bless both you and La Moyne for your faithfulness to Him.
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