NAILS IN THE WALL

Moses Abang Wrote:
NAILS IN THE WALL 
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he drive a nail into the concrete wall. The first day the boy put 37 nails into the wall.

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails driven in daily reduced. He found out it was easier to control his temper than to drive those nails into the concrete wall. 
Finally the day came when he didn't lose his temper. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy begin to pull out a nail for each day that he was able to control his temper. The days passed and the boy was finally able to tell his father that he had taken all the nails out. 

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the wall. He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the wall. The wall will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like these holes in the wall. Once you hurt your loved ones, it won't matter how many times you say "I'm sorry." Though they forgive you, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Time might heal it, but the scar remains. 

Your friends are jewels. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed; They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to you.
YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I'M HONORED!
Hope I never left a hole in your heart!

The Corinthian Man-Creed

The Corinthian Man-Creed

Shawn McEvoy

The scripture board on the wall of my two-and-a-half-year-old son reads:

"Be on your guard, stand firm in faith, be a man of courage, be strong; do everything in love." -- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Years ago, long before my son was even an inkling, I came across that verse as I was sending my own father one of many letters I composed over the years to share with him the message and importance of salvation, and the value of life in Christ. My sister, mother, and I came to know the Lord in 1980, but it took another 17 years, seven months, and 26 days worth of praying, heart softening, and brokenness for Dan McEvoy to surrender.

And it wasn't this letter or the above verse that pushed him into it. No, this letter I was writing simply to tell him how blessed I was to have begun dating a woman (who eventually became my wife) for whom faith came first, and I was giving God all the glory and credit and all that good stuff, and probably telling him how God delights in blessing those who trust in Him.

With the letter I enclosed a quick-and-dirty page of graphic art involving the aforementioned verse from Corinthians in some fancy font, with a clip-art picture of a sailboat, kind of as a visual aid to my letter, indicating, I suppose, what it was like for the man of God to live in this world under the Captaincy of Christ.

Well, so. After he died in 2001, I found that letter and piece of "art" in my father's desk, looking as if it had been read and glanced at often. Something in me knew then that if I were ever to have a son, I'd commit to raising him to manhood under these same five principles:

Be on your guard. Be ready, be alert. Expect God to be involved, expect Satan to attack. Let the wonder of creation still catch your eye.

Stand firm in faith. Be unmoved because you know intimately that of which you believe in. Become biblically literate.

Be a man of courage. Fear is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7), so go your way boldly. The worst that can happen -- even death -- still ends in victory and glory for the Christian.

Be strong. Physically, yes, let's take care of ourselves, and present our bodies as holy. But remember that the Lord is the strength of the strong (Ephesians 6:10), and that "when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Do everything in love. Here's your motivation, because he that doesn't love doesn't know God (1 John 4:8), and the world shall know you by your love (John 13:35).

So when Jordan was born, and we had the dedication service at our church, that's the verse we selected to have read. My sister-in-law's sister-in-law (confusing enough?) had previously painted a scripture board for our niece's nursery, and graciously consented to create one for us as well. And there it has hung in Jordan's room for 31 months now. From time to time, I'd mention it to him, and read it aloud.

Two weeks ago, he started reciting it by memory. Well, the first two phrases, anyway. He asks me to read it all the time, and do the arm/hand motions he made up (an arm curl for "strong," arms crossing heart for "love," etc.). He has me calling it our "Man-Creed," which I think is completely awesome. When I get home today, he's going to smile at me and ask if we can say our Man-Creed, and my heart will swell with fatherly pride.

But here's the secret, which Jordan doesn't know...

These couple verses from the closing of Paul's first letter to Corinth aren't for him... they're for me.

Have you ever had the experience where, for example, you're hearing a great sermon in church, and all you can think about are the people you know who reallyneed to hear this? You start coming up with ways to tell them so as eloquently as the pastor is now? You consider reserving a copy of the sermon tape to send to them? You take the tape home, listen to make sure it's as good as you remember, get out your Bible to follow along, and without even knowing what happens, you suddenly come to the red-faced realization that, oops, this message is for you. Not Mom, not husband, not good friend going through a rough patch, you.

Heh heh. Yeah. And in this case, being caught "off my guard" in that respect gains a tinge of irony since here the very verse is preaching about being on my guard. I was more than happy to tell my own father how to "be a man," and perfectly willing to raise my son to be one according to the Word.

But how, I wonder, did I intend to do so without living out the credo, making it my own? The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible comments upon the 1 Corinthians passage thusly: "[Paul] shows that they ought to make their hopes of salvation to depend not on Apollos or any other teacher; that it rests with themselves." Yes, and on how I am willing to live, or better, whether I am willing to let my life be of greater worth than my words.

The Commentary Critical adds: "'Be on your guard:' for you are slumbering; 'Stand': for you are like men tottering; 'In the faith,' which was assailed by some; 'Be men...be strong': for you are effeminate; 'Do everything in love,' not with strifes as at present" (Language updated).

That's a great reminder of all the ways the Church is starting to come back into understanding what it means to be a man of God. John Eldredge's Wild at Heart, and Paul Coughlin's Epic have awoken within me the very elements of "the Creed." Books like David Murrow's Why Men Hate Going to Church and Paul Coughlin's Why Men Hate Going to Church and Paul Coughlin's No More Christian Nice Guy, among others, have educated and inspired many regarding the forgotten masculine side of Christianity. There are whispers everywhere that men's ministries are on the upswing.

I don't know about the other guys out there, but it definitely helps me to have something to live by, something to recite, something to write on my heart, ponder the meaning of, and connect to other scriptures as I strive to be a man after God's own heart. And it doesn't hurt that this creed I now follow is affecting its third generation in my family.

So please allow me to recommend teaching your child -- no matter how young -- to recite a Bible verse that reflects who they can and should be in Christ, and make it real in their lives. But while you're doing it, "be on your guard." It may just become your own credo.

LOVE IS ABOUT GIVING

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten son..."
Do you see how pure love is about giving? So, Instead of going around looking for love from someone and complaining that people don't love you, why not turn around and look for someone you can give your love?
if you feel people do not love you, then you start to love people and see if you'll not get the same in return.

Are you a child of God and you don't have love in you? 1 John 4:8 says, " Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Show the love of Christ today, and you'll see God manifesting in you and through you in Jesus name. Stay blessed.
Jesus loves you and I do too.

Joy, is what we always need

Joy, Joy, Joy
by Ryan Duncan, Entertainment Editor, Crosswalk.com

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. – Psalm 5:11

I am a pessimist, just ask anybody I know. For me, the cup will always be half empty and whatever’s in the cup will probably be backwash. So you can imagine the concept of joy has always been rather hard for me. The Bible, particularly the book of Psalms, is constantly telling Christians to have joy. Reading about joy is easy; putting it into practice is a lot harder.   

How are we supposed to have joy when our cars break down, when bills pile up, when bad days just get progressively worse? For me, it’s almost insulting for someone to tell me things like, “count your blessings” or, “things could have been worse” when I’m in the middle of cleaning up a crisis. I’ve often wondered if this makes me a bad Christian. Over time, I did realize my attitude could certainly use some work, but I also learned that our idea of joy has become somewhat skewed.    

                   

Take a look at these verses from the book of John,

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:20-22

A pastor of mine once told me being joyful is not necessarily the same thing as being happy. We live in a fallen world, and odds are, we are going to have tough times over the years. So when the bad times come it doesn’t mean we have to dance around and be happy about it, you just have to remember that these moments won’t last forever. The bad things in our life cannot become what define us, instead, we have to trust God and remember the grace he has shown us. He will help us endure and won’t abandon us to sorrow or despair. So take a moment, whatever your situation, to be joyful. No matter how bad things get, God is with us.   

Intersecting Faith and Life

Take moment to pray and search your Bible for scripture that applies to your life.  

Further Reading

Psalm 132

Delay and Suffering are Part of God's Promises

Delayed

Most of the time, when answers to our prayers are delayed and we keep on suffering, most people feel that God has abandoned them, not knowing that these are part of God's plan which must certainly happen before the promise come to pass. We see these in the following verses of Genesis where God actually promised suffering: 

"Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs; . . . they shall afflict them four hundred years; . . . and afterward they shall come out with great substance" (Gen. 15:12-14).

An assured part of God's pledged blessing to us is delay and suffering. A delay in Abram's own lifetime that seemed to put God's pledge beyond fulfillment was followed by seemingly unendurable delay of Abram's descendants. But it was only a delay: they "came out with great substance." The pledge was redeemed.

God is going to test me with delays; and with the delays will come suffering, but through it all stands God's pledge: His new covenant with me in Christ, and His inviolable promise of every lesser blessing that I need. The delay and the suffering are part of the promised blessing; let me praise Him for them today; and let me wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen my heart.
--C. G. Trumbull

***

Unanswered yet the prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail? Is hope departing?
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Nay do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your work is not yet wholly done.
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered,
Her feet are firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, "It shall be done"--sometime, somewhere.
--Miss Ophelia G. Browning

May God help us to be able to endure all our delays and sufferings in Jesus name.

HE HAS RISEN, JESUS IS ALIVE

Rejoice all ye saints, the Lord Jesus has risen. He is alive, and this is the bedrock of Christianity.
1 Corinthians 15:17 says, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Sure, our faith is not worthless because Jesus has risen.
Yes, there is no other person who had been able to resurrect like he did. They tried to put soldiers around his grave to stop him from resurrecting, but even the soldiers could not prevent him because he is unstoppable. Therefore, we his children are unstoppable. 
Now, if you know that you are unstoppable, rejoice as you worship him today, and type a confirmatory Amen because you are victorious. 
May the resurrection power that got him up, uproot every root of bitterness in your life,  as you celebrate his resurrection in Jesus name.
Happy Easter.  

THE SATURDAY IN-BETWEEN EASTER DAYS

When we celebrate Easter like this every year, only what many people think about is the Good Friday and the Easter Sunday. What about the Saturday in-between these two days. what happened, and why is this Saturday very important to us as believers?

We know that Good Friday was the day that Jesus suffered many things. He was beaten, scourged, given a crown of thorn, and you know what a thorn can do to somebody, it will give you pain as it is penetrating into the body. He was nailed to the cross on which he died, and finally, he was buried, and everybody left, thinking all was over. Thus, it seems whenever we think of Easter, we think only of Easter Sunday -- the celebration of resurrected life -- or Good Friday -- the death Christ suffered on the cross. 

We never thought as pastor and author Pete Wilson points out in Plan B, of the Saturday In-Between:

"Saturday... It seems like a day when nothing is happening.

It's a day of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting...helplessness or hopelessness.

Is it possible that Saturday is actually a day of preparation?

... Saturday was the day God was engineering a resurrection."

Yes, there were mixed feeling and thoughts in the hearts of people. But after Saturday, there was Resurrection on the Easter Sunday, he who was dead, is alive again.

So, as believers, understand that when you are suffering many things, even when you have prayed and it seems nothing is happening, know that even in silence, God is working. And after those sufferings and a period of silence, your Resurrection will surely come. Psalm 46:10 says, "“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Sure, the Lord will be exalted in your life. Also. 1 Peter 5:10 says, And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Hallelujah!!! Glory to God.

Now, if you know very well that Jesus is on the throne of your life, begin to rejoice as you wait patiently for him, and type a confirmatory big Amen
Jesus loves you and I do too.

Easter: Sometimes It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

When Easter Feels Overwhelming: Sometimes It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

Bonnie Gray

"You see, there are two very different types of hope in this world.  One is hoping for something, and the other is hoping in Someone." ~ Pete Wilson

I didn't see it coming. 

I went to bed like I always had, ate dinner with my chopsticks and brushed my teeth just fine.

The next morning, I got dressed and drove into work as usual.  Logged into my account and started checking my emails. 

I started typing.

Needles of pain shot through my wrists.  My fingers felt numb and tingly, like they'd fallen asleep.   Confused, I tried to mouse and click around.  My forearm started hurting even more. My fingers refused to hit another keystroke.

Two hours later, I found myself sitting in front of a doctor who specialized in treating work related injuries.

"You won't be going back to work for a while.  You have RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury).  Might be carpel tunnel syndrome.  We won't know yet, until you get some therapy."

How long will I be out? I asked, thinking a day or two.

When it all was said and done, combining full and partial disability, my road to recovery took nearly three years.

Getting Better Or Getting Worse?

When I first started physical therapy, I was very optimistic. 

I was determined to heal fast.  Take my meds, get my therapy, do my exercises and wear my wrist braces.

The problem was healing isn't a linear process.

I was progressively hurting more week after week.  My pain extended to my upper arms, my shoulders, neck and even my back. 

Was I just falling apart?

My physical therapist Tom educated me. You're actually getting better, even if it feels like you're getting worse.

Tom drew a swirl of concentric circles on his note pad. He said that healing is like peeling an onion.   He said that I had ignored the fatigue initially in my muscles so well, that it caused my body to compensate in other areas.

Pain, Tom explained, was a healthy indicator that my body was finally speaking to me.

My path to recovery was to swirl out first -- to understand exactly how far my injury went. 

Tom gently pointed out that as one muscle group got better, I would start feeling the pain in other areas that had been masked on top of the other.

I have found myself in the same condition for many Easters.

I wanted so badly to celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday resurrection, I ignored the layers of stress and unanswered questions from my everyday life.

The Saturday In-Between

Don't get me wrong, I've been filled with joy for Jesus on Easter Sunday, in praise and thankfulness for the sacrifice and love He poured out for me on Good Friday 2000 years ago. 

I am always brought to tears meditating on the suffering our Lord endured emotionally, physically and spiritually by taking up the cross.  But, I was often heart heavy waiting to taste the power of resurrection in some difficult circumstances.

It seemed whenever I thought of Easter, I thought only of Easter Sunday -- the celebration of resurrected life -- or Good Friday -- the death Christ suffered on the cross. 

I never thought as pastor and author Pete Wilson points out in Plan B, of the Saturday In-Between:

"Saturday... It seems like a day when nothing is happening.

It's a day of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting...helplessness or hopelessness.

Is it possible that Saturday is actually a day of preparation?

... Saturday was the day God was engineering a resurrection."

My One Thing

This year, I'm celebrating Easter Sunday with a lot of my story resurrected from my "Saturday" life.  Not in a way where everything has worked out. A lot of the questions I've been asking for a very long time haven't been answered. 

In fact, some of the problems I've asked God to solve haven't gotten better. 

But, I have learned one thing through my time in this extended season of waiting.

That one thing is this:  Jesus' love continues to be one thing I can always say yes to.

In lieu of answers and resolution, I had to continually make a choice.  Do I let my pain and hurt shape my faith -- or do I take my faith and run into the arms of Jesus?

This has been my greatest joy:  Not that my life is perfect, but that I can choose love -- because Love chose me.

I've been able to find when I couldn't possibly wait any longer in dissonance and lack of closure -- the love of Jesus continues to heal me, carry me and attract me to Him.  I can continue choosing to love God, love others, and pour myself out -- even in weakness and imperfection.

All because Jesus loves me.

Because of the cross.

~~~~~

I had given up hope of ever getting better. Then I got up one day, not feeling any pain.

But, it took me many years to get to that one morning. 

I will always remember who got me through it. 

It wasn't hope in recovery. It was hope in Jesus.

I don't know how long our Saturdays will last, friend.

But one thing I do know, Jesus has walked that Saturday into eternity for us. 

His love will never leave us and His love will get us through to our Easter Sundays.

He knows all about the Saturday-in-between.  And He won't leave us all alone in that time of waiting.

He loves us all the way.

"The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you
and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
~ 1 Peter 5:10

~~~~~

How is Jesus speaking to you this Easter?

Pull up a chair.  Click to comment.    Give voice to your thoughts on the journey of faith with me today.

~~~~~

Join Bonnie on her blog at http://www.FaithBarista.com, on Facebook or Twitter.

Bonnie Gray is an inspiring Christian writer and blogger, offering encouragement to keep faith fresh in the daily grind. Her writing springs from the belief that the beauty of faith often takes place when life goes off script. Bonnie is the Founder ofFaithBarista.com and featured writer for Hallmark subsidiary DaySpring's (in)Courage. Bonnie is currently working on her debut book, to be published by Revell Books. Bonnie is a native Californian living in the heart of Silicon Valley with her best friend Hubby, wrangling their two heaven-sent boys on the homestead.

WHAT MAKES IT A GOOD FRIDAY?

Are you wondering why it's called GOOD FRIDAY? A man asked, "Did you say they killed the Lord on this Friday? The reply was, yes. What makes it a good Friday then? Sure, what makes it a good Friday is that he took our place, and that by his death, a full payment for our sins was made. Hallelujah! 

Now, if you know that Jesus had already paid your debt, and that your sins had been washed away by his precious blood, rejoice with me today, and let me see you honour this our King of kings with an overcoming Amen here.

Yes, Jesus paid the debt he did not owe, because you owe the debt you cannot pay. Praise the living Jesus for you are greatly blessed. Jesus loves you and I do too.

WHAT I'VE LEARNT IN LIFE

I’ve learned-
that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned-
that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned-
that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned-
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.

I’ve learned-
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned-
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned-
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned-
that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned-
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned-
that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned-
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned-
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned-
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned-
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned-
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned-
that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.

I’ve learned-
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned-
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned-
that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned-
that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned-
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned-
that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned-
that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned-
that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.

I’ve learned-
that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

----WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ALONG THE WAY ?----- —