by Debbie on November 21, 2009
In this big world with busy schedules, it has become such a task, at times, to stay in contact with friends and even our distant family members. In recent years technology has given us venues to stay in touch with each other that most never dreamed would be possible. One of those venues that has caught my attention and millions of others, is Facebook. Facebook is a global social networking website allowing users to add friends and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. This website is the most popular social networking site in the United States and even many other countries. I have to admit that I am now on facebook and I have reconnected with many friends from the past and with family members who live a far distance away from me. It is fun to visit these friends and family everyday through Facebook. I am able to communicate and connect in ways I never thought possible. I have found this networking to be so much fun, yet so time consuming. I have found myself feeling the need to check my Facebook site in the mornings and the evenings. It is so interesting to see what my friends and family are saying on their wall. Some of my friends have admitted that they are addicted to Facebook. Well, I am not addicted to it and I certainly don't want to be either. However, I have to admit that if I did not discipline myself and my time I could allow myself to be checking out what my friends and family are doing and saying, numerous times of the day. However, God has reminded me that he has a book that is of utmost importance for me to be checking out and I don't need to let what others are saying and doing be more important to me than what God is saying and doing.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; mediate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
God has a facebook too! His facebook is the Bible. When we read it we can see what God has to say and what he has been up to for years and what he has planned for the future. So many people want to seek God for what is in his hand. They want what he can bless them with but they never really know God. The way to get to know God is by letting him talk to us He talks to us through his book, the Bible. So many want to be prosperous and successful but they go about it the wrong way. God wants us to know him but he also wants us to know that he already knows us. He reads our "wall" everyday.
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Psalm 139:1-4
Do you want to know God better? Do you want to know what he has to say everyday? Then add him as a friend today. Check out his "facebook", the bible everyday, and meditate on it day and night. Take some time to share your heart with God. He will be the best friend you will ever have. He created you and he loves you, even though he knows everything about you. We all can use a friend like that. God's facebook also can benefit us in ways that you might not be aware of.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11
Did you notice the benefits of reading God's book and seeking his face? His book contains words that revive the soul, make wise the simple, give joy to the heart, and light to the eyes. When we read his book and keep his word there is great reward! Okay, so can your facebook website promise you all that? Perhaps it is time to spend a little less time getting to know your friends on Facebook and a little more time getting to know God. Perhaps it's time to face the book that can make you prosperous and successful! Think about it the next time you visit your Facebook website. There is nothing wrong with being connected with friends and family on Facebook but the best friend and connection we can ever make is with Jesus. Give him some of your time each day and face the book that comes with a great reward! When we look into the words of the bible we are looking at God's face! When was the last time that you looked at God? Log into God's book, the bible today. By the way, your password is JESUS!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for giving us family and friends to communicate with and enjoy life with. You are so generous to us. God we have so many venues to stay in touch with them that sometimes we spend more time with them than we ever spend with you. Please forgive us for letting others come before you. Help us to be like Mary in Luke 10:38-41...who sat at Jesus' feet listening to what he said. Help us to face the book that has many rewards and benefits, your book the Bible. Thank you for your Word, the truth. Help us to seek your face and not your hand. Help us to get to know you better. When Mary sat at Jesus feet, he told Martha her sister that Mary had chosen what is better. Lord when we are tempted to worry and be upset about many things and spend more time trying to keep up with what others are saying and doing, help us to stop, drop it all and face the book, your book, the greatest facebook of all, the Bible. Thank you for your Word that is more precious than gold! In Jesus name, amen.
by Debbie on October 10, 2009
I really enjoy buying gifts for those I care so much about. My family and friends never know what they might receive. Sometimes I come up with a theme and buy several gifts pertaining to that theme. Then I have fun wrapping each of these gifts and filling a box full for them to open one at at time. I usually don't buy real expensive gifts when I follow a theme. That is definitely my favorite way to bless others on a special day of their life. However, one particular time I was looking for a gift for someone and I could not come up with a theme. I did feel like I should buy a certain kind of expensive jewelry though. I kept putting off that purchase because I had no idea what this person would really like. I knew exactly what name brand of jewelry to buy for them and where to go to purchase this gift but I knew that the selection of the perfect piece of jewelry might be a hard one. Finally I had no choice but to go shopping for this gift. I had never been to this particular store before because I knew it would tempt me to buy something for myself. As I entered the store I was overwhelmed with beautiful, expensive jewelry. I had very little time so I knew I had to make this purchase rather quickly. There were so many styles and colors to chose from that I almost felt dizzy. I asked the sales person for the name brand of jewelry that I was looking for and she took me to that section. As my eyes scanned the many styles and colors, I noticed one piece of jewelry that seemed to jump out of the showcase. It was a beautiful cross. I knew the moment that I saw it my search was over. I was hesitate to ask the clerk for a price but she explained that everything was on sale that particular week. Wow, lucky me, I had chosen the sale week. That made me a little less apprehensive about the purchase. I knew without a doubt that I had found the perfect gift. It was a Sorrelli cross necklace. It was the only one they had and I have to admit I wanted to buy it for myself instead of as a gift. Unfortunately I knew this was a purchase I must make for a gift instead. I secretly hoped that one day I could come back and buy one of my own.
So the purchase was made and I wrapped the gift and gave it away. I was certain that I had chosen the right gift. Several days later I spoke with the recipient of this cross and she briefly thanked me for it and began discussing other matters. After the call I realized that she had no idea what Sorrelli jewelry was or how much it cost. She had no idea what a sacrifice I had made when I purchased that cross. It made me feel sad until the Lord reminded me of a cross that he had purchased for me that I too had no idea of the cost. He began to show me that he had paid a high price for me and that he had made the biggest sacrifice of anyone. He had sacrificed his life! I immediately realized that the value of that Sorrelli cross was nothing compared to the cross that Jesus bought for me. It made me realize that I had not thanked him properly for the cross. I also realized that the cross was valuable and that because that cross had purchased me, then I must be very valuable.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I realize now how much Jesus wants me to value the cross and value what he purchased on the cross. Everyday I am reminded to thank him for the cross and to take care of my body because I have no idea the cost that Jesus paid for it. I can read about it in the gospels but I can never really know the cost and the sacrifice that was made for me. It made me realize that I must not live as an enemy of the cross but everyday think of the expensive cross that was purchased for me and value it.
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3:18
I invite you to take more time to value the cross. Tell Jesus everyday how thankful you are for the cross. Show him how much you appreciate his sacrifice by valuing your body. Take care of yourself and don't live as an enemy of the cross. Only a true friend would buy you such an expensive cross. Take time each day to take your mind off earthly things and think of the cross and try to realize the expensive price that it cost Jesus. There is a wonderful song entitled "Once Again" by Matt Redman that is so awesome to help us give thanks for the cross of Christ. It is available on You Tube. Take time to thank Jesus for the cross, once again!
Now I am so thankful that the recipient of my gift did not know the value of my purchase. It gave the Lord an opportunity to bring to my attention that I too had received a very valuable gift that I had no idea of the cost that was paid. It made me realize that I had not thanked him properly for this gift. Please join me in thanking Jesus for the cross everyday and valuing what he purchased...your body.
Jesus,
Thank you so much for the cross. I am so sorry that I never really thanked you properly and that even when I did, I never knew just how much it cost you. I still don't know just how valuable the cross is but I want to know more and more . Help me to realize how much it cost you and the sacrifice you made to purchase me. Help me to value the cross and value my body. It was bought at a price that I will probably never really know. I am sorry that you had to pay so much for me through the cross but I am so very thankful for the cross. Once again, I say..thank you Jesus for the cross and I sincerely mean it. In Jesus name, Amen.
