John 3:16

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.  John 3:16

(clip art courtesy of this site)

Children are a gift from the Lord.

This morning Amari showed me a book entitled What Every Child Needs.  It’s a small, flip the pages calendar type book with daily encouragement for moms.  My favorite 3 and ½ year old turned to the first page which said “Children are a gift from the Lord”; she wanted me to put her name after “To” and mine after “From”.  I did it, and she smiled.  I smiled too.

(Image from Christian clip art and graphics here)

First take the plank out of your own eye

There are portions and passages of the Bible that immediately speak to me.  At other times, the meaning and impact comes much later.

An incident came up recently.  I moaned and groaned to myself and others about how, when and if a particular chore was done.  The details aren’t important because there have been way, Way, WAY too many similar situations.  A vague recollection of a verse came to mind; I looked for it and found:

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay not attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (emphasis added) Matthew 7:3-5

It finally dawned upon me that I’ve always been real, real good at seeing a speck of sawdust in another’s eye.  I’ve been equally proficient at ignoring the lumberyard in my own eyes.  Insight can be humbling.

Here a click, there a click

Bible Verse Motivational John
by James Davidson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(You may find this print and more at the AllPosters site under Christianity Posters here)

Sunday

Birds chirping at dawn,

morning coffee with raw honey.

The colors of late spring,

blooming purple, orange, red, pink and yellow.

Wispy clouds in a blue sky,

a slight breeze and dogs barking behind hedges

on a stroll to the park.

Stopping and looking both ways at the corners,

holding hands with a three year old

who giggles on the climb

to the top of a slide, says “wheeee” going down.

Other children kicking a soccer ball,

still more playing catch.

An afternoon nap, coffee with milk

and slowly reading the New York Times

while rocking on the porch.

Thank you Father.

Only through Christ?

Are Muslims, Jews and a host of others condemned to hell, or eternity as a few specks of dust, because they haven’t accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior?  Does a righteous life or fervent belief in one God count for nothing on the Day of Judgment if one is not Christian?

The cartoon is by David Hayward, the Naked Pastor.  You may find out about him and his artwork here.