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Friday, June 21, 2013

Real Live Parable on Bearing Fruit

Real Life Parable on Bearing Fruit

Luke 13: 1-11
(below)
                                       
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In our everyday activities, thinking in terms of the Bible yeilds results, sometime beyond our imaginations often revealing just how little we understand, believe, and trust God's word.  This is a true story and I should not have been surprised.

For many years, because I love figs, I wanted a fig tree in my yard.  About six or seven years ago, more on that in a minute, I bought a small fig plant and put it where it would get plenty of sun, and I ran an irrigation line to make sure it had plenty of water.

After about two years, I had my first fig and was most excited until it dropped off the tree before maturing.  Maybe a year later I finally was able to eat one fig from the tree.  It bore two figs but one did not mature, a bird got it or something happened to it.  For the next several years, no figs appeared.

In talking to a neighbor a couple streets over, he had a fig tree planted about the time of mine and was getting figs galore.  But, I was going to be patient. Several years went by with no figs, but great frustration on my part.

The parable below came to mind on several occasions over the years as I held patience with the little tree about three feet high with two little branches.  In the Spring of this year, it is now at this writing six or seven years this frustrating tree has been in the ground with my tender loving care of water, fertelizer, and mulch.  

In the Spring as I looked at it while cutting the grass, my thought, my most very conscience thought was, I guess you could say it was a prayer.  I looked at that stupid little tree and mentally, but with great promise, my thought ran, "Lord, if you want me to have this fig tree, make it bear this year or I am going to dig it out, pull it up, and throw it in the woods."  I said the words with promise, but to tell the truth, I thought I would surely be digging it up this fall.  I really had no hope for it.  Also, I want to emphasize that I was not in any manner, way, or form testing God with my question.  Later, I considered that I would move it to another location.

With this writing, I went out about an hour ago and I could not believe my eyes and my count.  On that little tree, and I have a chill in my back as I write this, I first counted six figs.  I thought, six, why not seven!  I looked at the six, saw how they were configured on the limb, looked at other limbs and, well, there was a seventh fig!  So very tiny, hardly recognizable  but it certainly has the apparent makings of the seventh fig.  There may be more to come.

Now, I know, some people would read the next words with disdain, but I do not care because, I believe.

One thought that comes to mind about this experience is our lack of Godly expectation in the prayers and conversations we have with God.  He made us, He wants us to talk to Him!  Then, when we do our lack of faith often and glaringly shines through as it did with me when I had that short prayer/conversation with Him about the fig plant.  

Another thought:  This is exactly one of the ways how God builds our faith!  Like the old series on TV, "Candid Camera", God builds out faith when we least expect it.  Let me be clear, we do not build our faith, God does!  FAITH is a gift. Saint Paul makes it clear, "it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." (*2 below)  

I firmly do not believe that this event is a coincidence! This is most probably the seventh year of this plant in my yard, and even thought there may be more figs to come this year, when I went to see the plant for the first time this year to see figs, I counted seven figs! The important point about seven, is from the Old Testament, the word of God, Seven is considered throughout the OT God's perfect Complete number and used over 500 times (*1)! Just think about it, there are seven days in a week, seven planets we can see with the naked eye, seven continents, seven identified oceans, seven digits in phone numbers are there because seven numbers is easy to remember, and the list goes on (*1). And, then there are seven figs!


Finally, when something like this happens I do not believe we should be surprised! I pray everyday for God to lead me to where He wants me to be. God created this "finely tuned universe", why should we be startled, surprised, or amazed that He does something in our life when we have talked to Him! Talk to Him, Believe Jesus to be our Salvation, Accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Seek Him in all your do, Listen at least twice as much that you talk, and most of all Expect Him to Respond to you. Allow the Faith He builds in you Lead you to See what He Will do for You.
Thanks be to God

(*1) - For more on the Holy Number Seven 
           click here:  "The Amazing First Verse of the Bible"



(*2)
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)   Saing Paul writing:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and 
       this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9  not by works, so that no one can boast.



lonnie



Luke 13: 1-11

Repent or Perish

1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "


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ldcoggins@gmail.

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lonnie 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Do You Really Trust God?

                                                                         
Do You Really Trust God?
                                       
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Jesus Comforts His Disciples
John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. 
      Trust in God; 
        trust also in me."

We feel the Holy Spirit most when we are abundantly willing to accept the Spirit and we are most willing when submitting ourselves in obedience to God's will. There are many different circumstances we may abundantly feel the Holy Spirit in our lives.  This is but one.

Often this willingness to accept the Holy Spirit comes in a time of stress where we feel a failure and most dependent on God and His grace. Submission to God's will in tough and rough times is the greatest demonstration of us Trusting God. How wonderful it is to Trust God and see His glorious work in our lives.  We may even call it a miracle, but for God, it is just His everyday work.

In His love for us, God is most concerned about what is Good for us.  God certainly wants us to love Him, but in His desire for peace in our lives, maybe He desires more that we Trust Him, for in trusting Him we will truly come to love Him.  Trusting God is the great demonstration that we truly believe and the faith He has built in us has fully engulfed our lives.  In our worst times, we must Trust God.  We may hate our circumstances, we may abhor our choices, we may even hate God in a moment of stress.  But, here and now as you read this, regardless of circumstances, commit to and set your mind to Trust God.  I did, my first night in Vietnam, 1972.  I was and still filled in the Glory He showed me in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the Great Example of living our lives Trusting God, showed this trait of submitting to God's will in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He could have perhaps run out the back gate as nobody wants to die at age 33.  But, in submission to God's will He gave us the framework in His final prayer.  Regardless of what we want in life, but more importantly regardless of our needs, we show submission to God's ways for us by starting our prayers on our knees and finishing our prayers with "... not my will but your will be done."

God Glorified Jesus raising Him from the dead.  Trust God, Trust Jesus and in your Trust you will receive your Salvation.  In your Salvation you come to understand and feel the Glory of Trusting God and the Inner Guidance of the Holy Spirit to build that Trust.

Thanks be to God.

© lonnie coggins

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lonnie

Publication  0144


intro

EXCESSIVE WORRY IS THE QUICKEST PATH TO DEMONSTRATE MIS-TRUSTING GOD. Jesus said in Matthew 6, "Do not worry...".  Yet in our self-centerness we sin in not trusting God.  Click the link on a few thoughts on Trusting God.
Please share the message on your Fb page as you like, and if you like, click the FB 'Follow' button to have notifications of these publications.  For other messages like this, visit my FB page, or on FB visit-"A Daily Thought Group".




Publication 0144

Monday, June 17, 2013

The Essence of God

The Essence of God



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Luke 7: 
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."                                       
John 8:
17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."19Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

It is not uncommon to think and wonder about the very essence of God.  The question on peoples mind is, "What is God really like?"  The answer is not far from the question. The reality, the Truth is  Jesus gives us the answer!

In this scripture, Simon is a Pharisee who has invited Jesus into his home for a meal.  The woman in the story found in Luke is an intruder which I am told was not uncommon in the times of Jesus.  When someone famous would come into a town and visit people, interested parties would make themselves welcome to the visit.  In this case the woman just walked into the discussion and did what she did.  She obviously loved Jesus based on what she did for Jesus and desired to serve him.  Maybe, she had even seen the lack of hospitality of Simon.

What is interesting in this story is how Jesus chastised Simon for not being a better host and how the others there were no doubt amazed at Jesus forgiving the woman's sins.

As Christians we find no amazement in this.  We know Jesus forgives sins.  But, for the times of Jesus, providing the forgiveness of sins was only something God can do.  Therefore, in this passage we see Jesus clearly and rightly claiming to be God and based on the passage above from John 8, we see the essence of Jesus and therefore the essence of God.

The great teacher Jesus allows this woman, clearly a sinful woman to do what she did to teach a lesson and define an Essence of God.

The lesson here is that we must give Jesus uppermost priority in our lives.  When we accept Jesus in our lives we must do everything to make Him welcome and the number one priority in our life!  In Jesus' visit with Simon, Simon did none of the normal traditional things of the day that were mentioned by Jesus.  But the woman, a stranger to Simon's home, she did!  By her actions, she clearly loved Jesus and she wanted to serve Him!

In the woman's behavior we see her contriteness for her sins.  It does not say anything in the scripture about her sins, she must have understood that Jesus knew her sins.  From this, we see the Essence of God.  By faith and Bible study, as we know Jesus, we too know God!  In that, our relationship with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit is established.

God wants peace in our lives that allows us to serve him better and this peace comes from knowing we are forgiven of our sins.  In our humility toward Jesus, just as the woman, we find our peace in our personal relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but most of all we find forgiveness.  
All this, in God's Grace, 
only and 
just because 

                                         He loves us.


In Faith, In Grace, In your heart, 
Know Jesus, Know God,
confessing your sins, then 
in the forgiveness of your sins 
you can live, truly live, 
and live triumphly in the peace, joy, and
guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Love- The Very Essence of God!

Thanks be to God.


lonnie



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© Lonnie Coggins
ldcoggins@gmail.

If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission.  Typically, I will most likely give permission.


God has very well made most obvious what is essential of his desires toward us.  With this message I hope the very basic nature of God will be quite clear.  Click the link for the message.  Share on Facebook as you feel led to do so.

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-essence-of-god.html


lonnie 

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A Thought on the Resurrection                    July 15
In the Beginning God...                                 July 12
A Few Things to Pray For                            July 11
A Thought on Self-Control                           July 9
Six Key Words for Successful Living           July 5
Finding Confidence in Trusting God           July 4
The Essence of God                                       June 17
The Dangers of What "I" Can Do               June 14

Weeds in our Lives                                        Feb 21st

Jesus, the Theological Earthquake             Feb 16

Jesus, The Master of Patience                     Feb 17th



Encouragement- Food for the Soul               Feb 8

9+1 Behaviors that Separate us From God   Feb 6

Finding Peace in Our  
   Circumstantial Discontentment
                  Feb 3rd


Finding Real Life Through Prayer               Feb 1st
Part 1       Part 2

Sneaky "little" Sins                                    Jan 25th

Approaching Jesus Correctly                   Jan 20th

More Thoughts On Prayer                       Jan 16th

Give thanks in All Circumstances? Really?  Jan 13th

Why Did Jesus Pray So Often         Jan 3rd - update

The Power of Prayer                        Jan 2nd 2013
Part 1     Part 2     Part 3

Borders In Our Lives Bring Real Freedom   Jan 2nd

Why Do We Stand In Amazement 
of God's Work in Our Lives?                   Dec 30th

Great Expectations of the Magi               Dec 27th

What Did Mary Do?                                 Dec 23rd

Christmas Time in the Trenches              Dec 25th

Random Thoughts December 2012          Dec 14th

What Line Are You In                              Dec 12th

Living Worry Free                                    Dec 12th

Radical Ideas                                              Dec 9th

Encouragement- Food for the Soul          Dec 6th

The Irony of Jesus and Christianity         Dec 3rd

Random Thoughts - on Faith                    Dec 1st

The Goodness of Knowing When You are Lost   Nov 27

The Leadership Skills of Jesus,            Nov 23rd
      Setting the Example





Saturday, June 15, 2013

Thoughts on the Danger of What "I" Can Do

Thoughts on the Danger 
   of What "I" Can Do
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For a long time in my life I thought I was a pretty smart guy.  
While in the Air Force "I" did some really neat stuff,  "I" was successful in business and teaching careers.  

"I", at age 24, developed for a Vietnam combat required emergency the navigation techniques to air-drop a 2000 lb bundle from 10,000 feet and consistently hit the leading edge of a soccer field.  


"I", as a young first lieutenant took that airdrop project to Vietnam, trained about 20 other crews how to do it and helped save the lives of 300 soldiers surrounded by 40,000 bad guys.  One of the best job activities I have ever been a part of.


"I" 'saved' my crew one monsoon rainy, stormy night, when almost out of gas and no visibility outside the cockpit of our C-130 plane, and ground control could not 'paint' our airplane because of the storm, "I" used "my" navigation skills, "my" talent, and "my" abilities to talk the pilot to the runway.  The pilot never saw the runway until I told him to flare (pull up) the nose and settle the plane for landing.


"I" started and had a successful business.


"I" was a good middle school teacher.


"I" did a lot of unusual stuff very successfully in my life.


BUT,


     my first night in Vietnam I was so scared of dying that I knew that on the next day I would not be able to function.  It was staggering great responsibilities I felt for what I had ahead of me the next day.  For some reason, that night I prayed, something I had not done in years.  In that prayer God relieved my burden and the next day "I" started implementing the air drop procedures and process described above.


In those next days, "I" also forgot about what God did for me.  It took me 37 years to come full circle to realize and came to understand that "I" had done nothing.  I had also prayed about how to do the process of dropping those bundles on the soccer field and God had shown me the way.  God truly showed me how to do that airdrop procedure, God relieved me of my burdens and then, .. I forgot about Him! Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.



If I have learned anything in this life
whatever it is that we do, 
we do more if we allow God to direct our lives.  
In my lowest moments in those days now 41 years ago, 
God, 
when requested through prayer, 
lead me to the solutions,
calmed my heart
and helped me save many people.

It often comes to mind that I could have done so much more in those 37 intervening years if I had prayed daily as earnestly as I prayed in those days of the Spring of 1972.  Prayers came to me from time to time, mostly in times of crises and I prayed often when teaching my SS class, praying for Guidance of my words.  But, only on the rare occasion of a crises in my life did I pray.  I do not remember praying about business decisions, family decisions, even if I should teach middle school.

On our own, we may do some good things with our life.  But, I thank God He showed me His power in those prayers in those hard days of 1972 and what He can do through me when I allow Him to guide me.  Again, I regret it took 37 years for me to realize that "I" is dangerous.


It is my testimony that the biggest problem of achieving our greatest accomplishment is one little word, "I".  God gives us our brain and its capabilities, he give us life and the breath to sustain live, He gives us the desire and will to do our best, and everything else we have.  We owe to Him everything we accomplish, for without Him we truly are not much more than dust, at best we are dirt, and maybe not even good dirt.  In giving everything we do to His Glory, He will give us more opportunities to serve Him.


A most simple direct example-- I do not consider myself much of a writer, but, when I allow Him to guide my words, some good words are on this page.  Maybe I am "wordy", maybe I mispell a word, drop a comma, maybe a hanging participle lingers around, maybe sometimes I do not even make a bit of sense, but I try my best, seek His guidance, and it seems to work.  All this, from a me, a guy that required three semesters to complete freshman college English Composition.


I appreciate you, my readers, for your encouragement. I write what I feel moved to write and a good many of you seem to like it, take the time to read, feel moved by it, and then feel encouraged to do more.


My testimony, "Seek ye first His Kingdom...", letting God guide you to where He wants you to be, and you and those around you will be the better for it.  (Matthew 6:33)


Above all, do not let "I", your inborn self-centered selfishness, get in your way of what you should be doing and being what God has planned for you.  Pray and pray and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and God will build your faith as the Holy Spirit guides your life into far greater accomplishment than what only "I" can do.


"I" is perhaps the most dangerous word we use to cloud our lives, hinder our vision, and hold us back in our doubts.  "Seek first the Kingdom", it is, after all, a command of Jesus!  



We truly are strongest and at our greatest potential,
when we humble ourselves to God 
asking for His guidance in all we accomplish for Him.

Thanks be to God,

lonnie

Monday, June 10, 2013

A Couple Thoughts on Prayer

A Couple Thoughts on Prayer
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God's Grace
In faith we pray and receive God' Grace. 
God's Grace, Gifts, and Generosity is
    far beyond what we deserve,
       worth far more than we could every repay,
           is far greater than what we could ever earn,
   and that is the way God wants it.
God does not want us to have anything to do with His grace but to be humble enough to accept it, realize how much He loves us and understand how much He wants us to know Him.

When we are humble enough to understand that then we will be most authentic in our prayers.


Prayer is an Act of Faith and Trust
One of the great humble acts of our faith is our trust to ask others to pray for us. And, in our prayers, the prayers we request for ourselves, the prayers we request for others, the prayers others have for us, and in the prayers we have for others, God builds our our faith and we build our Trust in Him.  In our humility we are the most receptive to His guidance and in that, God does His best work on us.
    Great is our God. Praise be to our Lord God.

Authentic Prayers
Authentic prayers are the ones 
when we feel most humble toward God, 
feeling the need and desire of His Guidance, and 
most of all, acceptance of His answers.  

In our humility 

we easier submit in obedience 
to our Salvation through Jesus 
and 
have a proven barrier shielding us 
        our selfish arrogant sinfulness.

As we pray for ourselves we should also in the same prayer pray to be in God's will.  It is so easy to have a need and pray for God to answer that need and He will, but it is also easy to slip into praying for our wants without realizing we are also slipping into selfishness.
  
In praying for too many of our wants 
we may very quickly 
be disappointed with HIS answers.

Praying for others is probably our most authentic prayers.  
We are not very likely to pray for their wants and
   but be most discerning and earnest 
         in our prayers for their needs.

Our Humility is found in our most authentic prayers. 

Prayers begin best on our knees and 

             ends authentically with 
                 "not my will but yours be done".

Please pray for me and my wife,

thanks be to God,
lonnie

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publication 140