Monday, November 22, 2004
It is difficult to be thankful for what we have until we are thankful for the God we have!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 69:30 NIV
I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
The days of wine and roses end in most marriages when the checkbook is too empty to buy them!
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Cor 13:4-8 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Monday, November 15, 2004
The cost of being a friend to someone often comes with a high price. Sometimes we have to pay with a broken heart. To some, friends are disposable items. I prefer to think of friends as “no deposit, no return,” I get back what I put in. Unfortunately, there are times we get back what we don’t deserve and our hearts are broken. I have found that the cure is quick if I see people the way God sees them. Our spiritual eyes are clouded as if we have cataracts while God’s vision is perfect. Through the eyes of Jesus, peace can be found through the most difficult of trials.
-Lyn Sahr
-Phil 1:27 NIV
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Friday, November 5, 2004
It is easy for preachers who have pay packages in excess of $50,000, $60,000, $70,000 or more to deliver sermons about the concept of living by faith. For many people in the church who live in upper middle class luxury it is easy to talk of their faith and God’s blessings. The strange thing is most of these people think they are poor! People who live in $200,000 – $400,000 houses think they are poor! Lately I have come to the realization that, regardless of what people earn and possess, most people think they are poor! Poverty is a “stated mind” not “stated income!” What we need in America is for people to “downsize their lifestyle and “upsize their generosity!”
Many ministries and churches are closing their doors because of lack of funds. Some will say they are not being blessed because it is not God’s will. I say they are not being blessed because of people’s will, the will of selfishness.
Every minute of every day children are still starving to death around the world. In the developing world, more than 1.2 billion people currently live below the international poverty line, earning less than $1 per day. Among this group of poor people, many have problems obtaining adequate, nutritious food for themselves and their families. As a result, 798 million people in the developing world are undernourished. To some, the color of ones skin makes them more or less valuable in God’s sight. But I am thankful God doesn’t see the color of ones skin but only the color of ones heart!
When a mother holds her child in her arms who hasn’t eaten for three days and prays for God’s help, faith becomes personal. When a pastor serving God among the poor has no money for his family, the families in his church have no money and he kneels down in a dirt floor church next to an old hand me down chair to pray for God’s help, faith becomes personal. We need to make the plight of the poor personal by being personally involved and introducing them to a personal Savior.
Martin Luther King said, “Because I’ve been to the mountaintop…. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land.”
I too have been to the mountain and I have seen the glory of God. And I also just want to do God’s will. But He has called me to the valley. I have seen the plight of the poor. And my heart has been broken! But I know the God of the Mountains is also the God of the valleys and he wants to use each of us to be a bridge so that all mankind can see His grace. That even in the midst of suffering His loving kindness will be manifested to the poor through the helping hand of those who call themselves Christians.
For heavens sake, quit being so selfish and give greatly to the church and missions carrying out the Lords work. Remember, our God is an honest God. If you give Him too much, He will give it back!!!
-Lyn Sahr
-Rev 3:14-22 NIV
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
