"It's That Time"

It is that time of year where I am going to take a much needed break. This is the last post on my blog until, Monday, Aug. 10.

I am not certain how helpful this blog writing is. I know several that read it daily but they get enough of me as it is weekly! I want our attention fixed on Christ, knowing that He is the only answer to our lives. I would like to hear from some of you, if you don't mind, that live away from Jefferson City, to let me know what you think and how I can better help serve in my writings. If you have questions, please ask or things you would like to read me write on, please ask. I will be waiting to hear from you. My personal email is: kevinbnewton@yahoo.com.

May God richly bless you and grant you His grace and peace in abundance.

"What Do You See?"

She lived in the geriatric war of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland. She was an elderly lady and passed from this life. Everyone that knew her believed she had left nothing of value. The staff and nurses were going through her meager possessions and found the following poem:

"What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

What do you see when you're looking at me?

I'm a small child of ten...with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters, who love one another.

A bride at twenty, my heart gives a leap,

Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.

A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,

Bound to each other with ties that should last.

At forty, my children have grown and are gone,

But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.

At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,

Again we know children, my husband and me.

I'm an old woman now, and nature is cruel;

'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles; grace and vigor depart;

There is now a stone where once was a heart.

But inside this old container a young girl still dwells,

And now and again my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,

And I'm loving and living life over again.

I think of the years...all too few, gone too fast,

And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,

Not a crabby old woman; look closer...see ME!"

"Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." (II Cor. 5:16-17)

Let me ask you, when you look at your brethren, what do you see?

"He Served"

There were thirteen men in that upper room. Earlier the twelve had a quarrel over which one of them was the greatest. That night, there were twelve lords and one servant! Only one in that room knew anything about service!

It seems man is bent to strive for supremacy. People have sought for power for selfish reasons and some even gained power through wicked methods. This is a true display that happened and it left me in shock. A preacher was preparing to speak and as he walked up to the podium, there were two men on each side of him that took off an over-coat type cloak from him. Then he began to preach. What a show of arrogance. What a demonstration of "Look who I am!" From that point, nothing was heard because of display of arrogance and power! (By they way, at the end, these two men came back up and put the cloak back on him.) Men have used armies to show their power while others use their money and prestige. Others climb up a ladder of success by walking over those and squashing them that get in their way. People cheat, lie and do whatever it takes to become 'top dog' in our world.

Here came Jesus, the Master, the owner of all mankind. With more insight at twelve years old than those studious in Scriptures, they could not cope with His insight and wisdom. His power raised the dead, healed those lame and sick and could command nature. What did He do? HE SERVED! At twelve He served His parents by being submissive to them. His words of wisdom were used to speak and listen to others (Luke 2:46-47). His power over the demons was used to release those held captive. The most glorious, powerful, radiant life that ever walked on this created earth voluntarily laid down His life in order for us to live!

That night in that upper room, Jesus arose, taking a towel, poured water into a basin and washed the feet of these twelve lords! Greatness is measured in service. Christ is an exact representation of God and revealed God in His service to others. He served and continues to serve because...that's the nature of Jesus! When are we going to learn?

"7 Steps To Destruction"

The book of Hosea gives great insight to how God deals with His people. Hosea was the last of the prophets sent to the northern ten tribes of Israel. After the death of Solomon, Israel split into two different kingdoms and Jeroboam was crowned king over these ten northern tribes (I Kings 12). From this point onward, Israel constantly went astray and was ultimately carried off into Assyrian captivity, never to return. There were two tribes that remained faithful to Lord much longer, Judah and Benjamin. One lesson we learn from the book is that God's people can become so ingrained in what they want, they forsake the Lord, thinking they are right with God. Just like a disease, sin is contagious! Hosea gives us 7 steps that bring on the downfall of a nation or a person.

(1) Lack of knowledge. (4:6) We are speaking of something different that intelligence. Ignorance of God is what leads people into sinful actions. Their ignorance of God is passed from parent to child and as the next generation rises, they become more distant and ungodly even though they still worship God (4:7-10). God eventually punishes.

(2) Pride. (5:4-5) Pride is always built off of ignorance. People that are prideful get to a point of no return and God withdraws from such. We know from Scripture that God is opposed to the proud.

(3) Instability. (6:4) People many times are good starters but poor finishers. When people are unstable, up one day, down another, they need to realize they are not walking by faith but their instability withholds God from them (Jam. 1:7-8). How many people do you know that assemble for worship because of habit rather than loyalty and love?

(4) Worldliness. (7:8-11) People are slowly overcome by those around them, conforming to their standards. They turn to man for their comfort and strength (we see that in support groups) rather than flee and listen to God. Jeremiah said a person is cursed that makes man his strength and trusts in mankind (Jer. 17:5).

(5) Corruption. (9:9) Their corruption will bring a double guilt (10:10). God says he 'hated' them for what they are doing (9:15). It is hard to believe God hated but people become so corrupt that God cannot do anything for them. We are speaking about His people!

(6) Back sliding. (11:5-7) People at times seem bent to turn away from the Lord. No matter what, they will not listen and are determined to do things in their own thinking. They exalt themselves and their works. That is a back sliding heart!

(7) Idolatry. (13:2) Today we can be idolaters. People worship their smarts, their jobs or wealth. All of this is idolatry. People are taken captive through man's ideas and thinking, which is all idolatry.

How can we avoid such trappings? "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them." (Hosea 14:9)

"How Well Do You Know Your Bible?"

This is something a little different today. I am going to list several statements that people seem to adopt as from God. See which ones you think are from God and His word.

"All men are created equal."

"An idle mind is the devils workshop."

"Spare the rod, spoil the child."

"God's mill grinds slow but sure."

"Blood is thicker than water."

"I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth."

"Bread is the staff of life."

"God moves in mysterious ways."

"God helps those who help themselves."

"To err is human, to forgive is divine."

"Charity begins at home."

"All's well that ends well."

"Beauty is only skin deep."

"Sweet are the uses of adversity."

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain."

"The gift without the giver is bare."

"Better half a loaf than no bread."

"A penny saved is a penny earned."

"United we stand, divided we fall."

"A liar will not be believed even when he speaks the truth."

"Confession is good for the soul."

"Honesty is the best policy."

"There is none so blind as those who refuse to see."

"Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

"Cleanliness is next to godliness."

"Idle hands are the devils workshop."

By the way, if you want the answers above, just drop me an email and I will send you the answers: kevinbnewton@yahoo.com. I would like to hear from you. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, hold to His word and be steadfast in prayer. May God meet your every need.

"Enemies"

There are people who just won't like you. That's a fact! No matter what, they will treat you as an enemy. The danger involved is we become bitter, harboring resentments toward them and find ourselves just as lost as they. Many still think they are in a loving relationship with the Lord never realizing that harboring bitterness toward another forfeits the grace of God toward you (Heb. 12:15). What are we to do with those who have made themselves our enemies? "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt. 5:44-45) Children of God do good to those who are their enemies and prays for them.

In the days of the American Revolutionary War there was a preacher that lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania named Peter Miller. Mr. Miller enjoyed the friendship of General George Washington. In that same town, there also was a fellow named Michael Wittman, an evil and hateful man who did all he could to abuse and oppose Mr. Miller.

One day Michael Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to death. When the old preacher heard this news, he started out on foot and walked the seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for this man's life. Mr. Miller was admitted in George Washington's presence and he began asking to spare the life of this convicted traitor. Washington stated, "No, Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend." Peter Miller responded, "My FRIEND? Why, this man is the bitterest ENEMY I have." Washington, with a look of surprise said, "What? You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an ENEMY? Now that puts the matter in a different light. I will grant the pardon."

That day Michael Wittman was pardoned and Peter Miller took him from the shadow of death back to his own home in Ephrata, no longer a hateful enemy but as a dear friend.

As I read the above story, my thoughts dwell upon what Jesus did for us, all of us. While we were rebellious, living our lives for us and sin, He walked this earth and pleaded for our pardon. Upon entering Jesus, pardon was granted and we are no longer enemies but His brother, a child of God. That leads us to this, what are we going to do with our enemies?

"It's On the Inside That Matters"

There are three things that are a must within our being in order to gain strength from the power of God whenever we are in difficulties. James 1:2-4 addresses them. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

(1) "Consider". If you won a sweepstakes, how would you consider yourself within? When good things happen to us and go our way, how do you react inwardly? When we face various trials, something on the inside of us starts happening immediately. We start "considering". We "consider" it to be helpful or depressing! When people go through difficulties, many take a "poor me" attitude within. They "consider" all bad happening and feel for themselves. What is the spiritual value in that? They get an outpouring of sympathy and attention from people, but they never gain any strength or power from the Lord! Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Do you want to be faithful? Do want to grow into a more complete, mature child of God? Where do we have to focus and with what attitude? Jesus had the joy set before Him and that's where He set His heart and focus. He knew that good was coming despite what He suffered. Where do we look and place our faith? Your response determines the direction things go in your life as far as the Lord is concerned.

(2) "Knowing" . Not only "consider" but we should "know" certain things that are going on. If we are not walking with God with a whole heart, there is no help or discussion from the Lord about "testing your faith." Too many times people question God or why certain things happen. It results in self pity. They do not "know" that anything is happening from the Lord. A faithful child of God should "know" that the testing of their faith produces endurance, the very help we need from the Lord. It is endurance that makes us stronger if we "know". If all one "knows" is depression and hurt, they receive no help or strength from the Lord.

(3) "Let". You must allow and permit all of this to happen. Remember the old saying, "Let a sleeping dog lie."? The advice is leave it alone, letting it be and not aggravating the situation. Some people just will not "let". They can't "let" things go or "let" things take them where God wants. They hold to things and it destroys their faith. Endurance is how God helps people mature if we will "let" it work. It will make you whole and complete, allowing you to grow. Many never "let" but try to control outcomes and situations. The result is anxiety in the heart and a miserable day! The word "let" is a small English word but a powerful word in the Greek. It's up to you if you will allow it or not. God will respond or not respond depending on your "let".

These three things are a must within if we are to gain spiritually. I have found many times people who claim God as their God never believe He is actively working and it comes to the surface when we face difficulties and trials. There are things that are deteriorating us spiritually and many never see it. Remember, if you face a difficulty these three elements must take place within our beings. True, genuine Christianity is about what is happening on the inside of us!