One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for ......hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
You have two choices... smile and close this page,
or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson .
God bless us all!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Silent Before God's Judgment
Aaron's sons were suddenly struck down by God and without notice in Leviticus 10:2. Aaron could have wailed and protested, but he had just been commissioned by God as holy. Aaron had been given a specific command to minister as high priest to the Israelites, and if he did not obey, he would have been killed, too.
This passage almost makes God seem to be uncaring and apathetic. After all, where is His mercy in all of this? But God is not apathetic to our situations. Our God is just and holy; His Law requires that He be treated as such. Aaron and his family had been lifted to a position of high authority. They had been given a great gift, which they then heinously abused in the sight of God. They were the intercessors between God and His people, so when they sinned, there was no one to intercede on their behalf (which is what makes Christ all the more special)
Arthur Pink writes, "Consider the circumstances. Aaron's two sons, most probably intoxicated at the time, were suddenly cut off by Divine judgment. Their father had no warning to prepare him for this trial; yet he 'was silent!' O quarrel not against Jehovah. Be clay in the hands of the Potter. Take Christ's yoke upon you and learn of Him who was 'meek and lowly in heart.'"
Through Christ Jesus each one of us has automatic access to the mercy of God. Do not forget that mercy is unearned. It is relief from punishment that is deserved. As we come to understand that mercy, our hearts should begin to resonate with humility and thanksgiving.
Living Life
This passage almost makes God seem to be uncaring and apathetic. After all, where is His mercy in all of this? But God is not apathetic to our situations. Our God is just and holy; His Law requires that He be treated as such. Aaron and his family had been lifted to a position of high authority. They had been given a great gift, which they then heinously abused in the sight of God. They were the intercessors between God and His people, so when they sinned, there was no one to intercede on their behalf (which is what makes Christ all the more special)
Arthur Pink writes, "Consider the circumstances. Aaron's two sons, most probably intoxicated at the time, were suddenly cut off by Divine judgment. Their father had no warning to prepare him for this trial; yet he 'was silent!' O quarrel not against Jehovah. Be clay in the hands of the Potter. Take Christ's yoke upon you and learn of Him who was 'meek and lowly in heart.'"
Through Christ Jesus each one of us has automatic access to the mercy of God. Do not forget that mercy is unearned. It is relief from punishment that is deserved. As we come to understand that mercy, our hearts should begin to resonate with humility and thanksgiving.
Living Life
Relational Mercy
Whatever we give to God, God takes very seriously. Material things do not entice God the way they entice us. While God does demand un-bruised and unbroken sacrifices, God is not as interested in what we bring to Him as He is about the heart.
The first account of men offering sacrifices to God is found in the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The Bible states that God approved of Abel's sacrifice because Abel offered his best, while Cain did not. Instead of accepting this as a lesson from God, Cain resent Abel and murdered him.
God may not always accept our sacrifices, especially when our hearts are far from Him. But when God sees our hearts and is moved to accept our sacrifices, He will move in our lives. Leviticus 9 shows the people of God giving Him everything exactly as He asked for it. They listen to the words of God and follow through with action. God is so pleased that He shows up in power (vv.23-24)
Leviticus demonstrates how relational God is with His people. Notice that God first spoke to the Israelites. The Israelites listened to God, and then they acted in obedience to His commands. Finally, God appeared before them in power, and they praised Him. Henry Law writes, "Profoundest worship was their instant act. Believer, do the like. God sends His Son to seek - to save... Witness after witness from His courts assures, that pardon, acquittal, release from every woe, admission to the home of heaven, are yours. Oh! then, let every breath praise God."
In all things, we are meant to be relational with Christ. When God showers us with mercy, we are meant to respond relationally.
Living Life
The first account of men offering sacrifices to God is found in the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The Bible states that God approved of Abel's sacrifice because Abel offered his best, while Cain did not. Instead of accepting this as a lesson from God, Cain resent Abel and murdered him.
God may not always accept our sacrifices, especially when our hearts are far from Him. But when God sees our hearts and is moved to accept our sacrifices, He will move in our lives. Leviticus 9 shows the people of God giving Him everything exactly as He asked for it. They listen to the words of God and follow through with action. God is so pleased that He shows up in power (vv.23-24)
Leviticus demonstrates how relational God is with His people. Notice that God first spoke to the Israelites. The Israelites listened to God, and then they acted in obedience to His commands. Finally, God appeared before them in power, and they praised Him. Henry Law writes, "Profoundest worship was their instant act. Believer, do the like. God sends His Son to seek - to save... Witness after witness from His courts assures, that pardon, acquittal, release from every woe, admission to the home of heaven, are yours. Oh! then, let every breath praise God."
In all things, we are meant to be relational with Christ. When God showers us with mercy, we are meant to respond relationally.
Living Life
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