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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Are You InTouch with Reality?

Are You InTouch with Reality?  
                                       
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Luke 23:27-37 (KJV)


27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of women,
      which also bewailed andlamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said ,      Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep foryourselves, and for your children.29 For, behold , the days are coming , in the which they shall say , Blessed are
     the barren, andthe wombs that never bare , and the paps which never gave suck .
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death .33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary,       there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do .
     And they parted hisraiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding . And the rulers also with them derided him, saying ,
     He savedothers; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,37 And saying , If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.


"Some people say that Christian faith is out of touch with reality. But the life and death of Jesus show that this simply cannot be true. 

A real Jesus was pinned with real nails to a real piece of wood and shed real blood for real sins and chains. Therefore Jesus really saves." *

In Jesus being obedient to the Cross, God verified and made Holy everything that Jesus ever said and did by raising Jesus from His death on the Cross.  

It is foolish to deny the Resurrection  (1)- There were too many eyewitnesses to the event for the New Testament to have survived as it was written at the time.  There were just too many people to say no to it, if it did not happen exactly the way the Gospels present His life.  There are over 24,000 manuscripts and pieces of the Gospels dating back to the first 200 years of Christianity that are  "99% textually pure"(*1). Far more than any other document of that time. (2)-  Equally powerful, the Temple leaders, most of whom were Sadducees who did not believe in any resurrection, believed the tomb guards and the other witnesses of the Resurrection.  If there were no resurrection of Jesus, the reports of it would have been very quickly set aside,  people stoned for blasphemy, or simply ignored.  Without the Resurrection, Christ would not even be a footnote in history and His followers would have fallen away in disappointment.  But, the Resurrection DID Happen and the opposite came to be.  God lifted Christ from the dead, people did believe, and Jesus followers quickly multiplied, by the thousands and tens of thousands.  Committed Humble Love conquered death.  Love of Jesus did not simply survive, it thrived.    

The reality of our world is love, committed love, humble committed love.  Human beings ultimately are empty shells of life walking around without humble committed love.  Without it, you may be happy in your circumstances because of money, power, and/or personality and you may get all the "loving" here and there that you want.  But the Reality is people want to love and be loved with the intentional investment of long term daily humble commitments.  It not enough to love today and change tomorrow.  The human condition is we are born to love with commitments.  The reality is we are born that way, desire to be nurtured, and God made us that way.  The reality of God is He wants our humble committed love too.  In Jesus, God has shown He loves us beyond what we can understand and in that we find the truth, A True Love Story Never Ends, a Love Story of Committed Love--- God's Love for Us.  And He just wants humble committed Love from us.

John 3:16 (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

       that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , 

              but have everlasting life.

Jesus came to show us how to live and love God and love each other.  In showing us how to live according to God's will, He allowed himself to be sacrificed on the Cross.  And in the Real Reality of the Cross, God verified everything Jesus did by the Resurrection.  It was and still is a Theological Earthquake in people's lives ... everyday.  

Our greatest REALITY is found in the
 Christian Faith of a Personal Relationship with God; 
the very REAL problem in this world is 
This World is out of touch with the REALITY of JESUS!   

Kings and all the earthly Kingdoms will pass away, 
    but Jesus, 
        His teachings, and 
             His Love and Salvation will remain forever.

God Loves Us.  "O Yes, He does. God bless to all of us !!"*

It is by faith we are saved-

Ephesians 2:7-10 (KJV) 

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace     in his kindness towardus through Christ Jesus.8For by grace are ye saved through faith;
     and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast .10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,        which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In our Trusting God we become strong in the
      Reality of our faith, the
          Reality of His Love for us, 
             in our Love for God, and
                 in our love for each other.
Don't be foolish.

Thanks Be To God

* This post inspired by Shekhar Samuel

© lonnie coggins

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REFERENCES
(*1)  http://carm.org/manuscript-evidence
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ldcoggins@gmail.com

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lonnie

Publication  0205


intro
MANY PEOPLE, including Rich people THINK THEY KNOW REALITY.  Click the link for a message on the one source of Reality in our lives.  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".
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2014/01/are-you-intouch-with-reality.html




Monday, January 27, 2014

Judging, Planting Seeds, and the Harvest

Judging, Planting Seeds, & the Harvest
                                       
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Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

6Train up a child in the way he should go:         and when he is old , he will not depart from it.


People who plant seed to raise flowers and vegetables know the importance of having and preparing good soil.  But, the important part is providing the proper nourishing conditions for and during growth.

I once ask a minister that I hardly knew that was the managing director of a youth church camp why my adult son was so faithful to his family, church, Jesus, and God.  Without hesitation and knowing nothing about me from our one conversation, he immediately said, "Your son saw you reading the Bible when he was a young boy and young teenager.  As I thought about it, he was right.  I taught Sunday School most every Sunday for 12 years, my son's first 12 years.  In those teen years too, he saw our daily and weekly Spiritual activities

The minister went on to say that one of the most important elements in raising a child is for the child to see the parents reading the Bible in their younger years.  It affects the children too seeing the parents reading the Bible in all their years.  What is important to the parents most often become important to the children eventually, some sooner, some later.

Parents never stop being parents and an influence on their children.

Training and Nourishing our Children

In preparing those Sunday School lessons, taking my son to church, him seeing me carry my Bible, singing the songs in church, listening to the preacher, and taking part in other ways of the church community was training and nourishing my son.

Oh, we read Bible stories to him often, but it was seeing his mother and I making Christ an everyday part of our lives that had that real influence.  We were not 1-Hour Per Week Christians,   He saw us most every week participate often during those weeks in our love of the Lord.  In making Christ important to our lives, in his life, Christ too, became important.

My son's mother and I did not see his self motivated Christ like activity until Anthony was on his own in college.  It was so exciting to see that he had taken Christ into his life.

We cannot judge our days by the harvests of our day, 
but judge the day 
  rather about the service we give 
       in the seeds we plant and
            the nourishment we give to that which we raise.


Thanks Be to God.
    and the Blessing of Godly Children

It is never to late to start planting seeds and 
          nourishing the plants.


(c) Lonnie Coggins


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Note-  Raising children is hard work.  The problem with Proverbs 22:6 is this.  Many parents get frustrated with their wayward children in the years between the training of the child and "when he is old".  That is the time we must Trust God and hope our training and nourishment kicks in before 'society's norms' overwhelm them.  In those between years and in all our days, we just have to keep setting the example and live our absolute best in Christ.

TB2G



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© Lonnie Coggins
ldcoggins@gmail.com

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.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.


lonnie

Publication  0204


intro
Judgment of our days is perhaps not so difficult, click for some ideas.
 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".
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2014/01/judging-planting-seeds-and-harvest.html




Saturday, January 25, 2014

The Best Is Yet to Come


"The Best is Yet to Come"
                                       
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Galations 5:22-23  NIV

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
In my youth growing up, like many people, we sometimes had lunch on Sunday's with my grandmother.  Now, grandmother could be grumpy,  but, she would finish her lunch and start clearing the table; and as she picked up our plates, she often, said, "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."  There were lots of grandmothers like this in my childhood day, telling her children and grandchildren to keep their fork.  Little did we know how profound she spoke.  She may have been grumpy, but her dessert was always the best.


Life, it is often filled with the PITs, Problems, Issues, and Troubles and we cannot avoid them.  As we try to avoid the PITs, our circumstances often bring them anyway.

The PITs may cause us to be unhappy, but even in our unhappiness, we can have vision to make Godly decisions as we walk in the Holy Spirit through the minefield of our PITs.  It is all about the goals we set.  In the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, we set better goals, worthy goals, and we cannot ever give up, even when the PITs get in our way.  And, it will happen!  Just never give up, and make any failures in your PITs be your stepping stones to success.

Even in unhappiness with our circumstances, we find Joy in life's trip of God-worthy everyday achievements.  

As happiness is a reflection of our circumstances, 
   Joy is found through the Holy Spirit and 
      becomes fruit of the Vine in our decision to be 
          in humble repentance in accepting 
              Christ Jesus and His salvation, and 
                  Seeking His Kingdom.  

Our happiness is circumstantial but Joy in the Holy Spirit is forever. 
Rise above your PITs, living in the Guidance of the Holy Spirit.

At the end of my Journey in this world with the Holy Spirit, as I lay in my casket, I will have a fork in my hand with a note card, "The Best is yet to come".  Near by will be this writing.  

My grand mother taught me to "Keep your fork", but in my mother dragging me to church I learned the wisdom in those words, "the best IS yet to come".  I learned, Believe in Jesus, Repent, Receive the Holy Spirit, Trust God, and bear fruit.  In this, we have the best of this world in us, and in the Promises of Jesus, 
the best IS STILL yet to come.


Thanks be to God
and for Godly-mothers and Wise-grandmothers.

(c) Lonnie Coggins

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Author's note-  Years ago, I read something similar to this in another magazine, Guide Posts I think.  This is my experience, my writing.  I am thankful it made an impression on me.  The Best is still to come.   


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© Lonnie Coggins
ldcoggins@gmail.com

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.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.


lonnie

Publication  0203


intro
MOTHERES ARE SPECIAL, so to are GRANDMOTHERS.  Grandmothers often have great thoughts that mothers have to teach the real meaning, one day at a time.   Click to find out about how true it is that: the best is yet to come. 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-"A Daily Thought".
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-best-is-yet-to-come.html

Friday, January 24, 2014

Being a Giant Killer



Being a Giant Killer
                                       
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1 Samuel 17: 46-51

45David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.46This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.47All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."48As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.49Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.50So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.51David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.


For David, killing the Giant was 'in the bag', a guaranteed homerun, a three pointer from the other end of the court. 

Just think, 
He had God on His side, 
was annointed, and 
had slung rocks all his life protecting his sheep.  


He knew He was good.  He was the Micky Mantel of Home Runs and the Michael Jordan of Rock throwers of his day.  But, best of all, He knew He was better with God.

We all have our own skills, our own gifts, and our special capabilities to serve God.  

When we accept Christ into our lives, pray and live in a humble obedient repentant state in our God-given faith, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us in all we do.  

We just have faith in the Holy Spirit to lead us to where we have to be.

Jesus Walks on the Water

Matthew 14:22-33pp -- Mk 6:45-51; Jn 6:16-21 14:34-36pp -- Mk 6:53-56

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

For the longest time, I had thoughts about Jesus and the Bible I wanted to share.  I am sorry it took me a year to feel the courage of the Holy Spirit before I began these publications.  Be like Peter, have courage, step out of the boat in the middle of the storm, feel the Holy Spirit lead you to doing great things for Christ.

We do not have to kill Giants like David, but perhaps our greatest giant we have is ourselves and our fears.  "Do not be afraid" said Jesus.  


Listen to the voice of my experience.  Our most serious giant in life and what we have to kill is our fear of failure!  Believe in Jesus, Trust God, live in Repentance, and have no hindering fears; let the Holy Spirit guide you in choosing your goals wisely, persue them relentlessly, and never ever give up.  And failure, just let failure become a stepping stone to greater success.


Thanks be to God.

(c) Lonnie Coggins


Please Join 'A Daily Thought Group' on Facebook.  It is designed to be an uncluttered library of only ‘A Daily Thought’ postings.  

 Thanks and God Bless.


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You can print the message including this sharing message only for your friends and for non-profit.  You will have to copy and paste the message to a word processing document.   After you copy and paste add the following at the end of the message:

© Lonnie Coggins
ldcoggins@gmail.com

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.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.


lonnie

Publication  0202


intro

HOW OFTEN IN FEAR HAVE YOU FAILED TO TRY.  All basketball coaches will tell you, "You miss every shot you do not take."  Click the message for thoughts on DAVID being the Giant Killer and you being like PETER stepping out of the boat. ------- 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".
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2014/01/being-giant-killer.html