THESE ARE CONSTANT

One day I was visiting with a lady that seemed to be deeply distressed. She was telling me all the things that were going wrong in her life and when she came to the end of her list, I asked her: "Is there one thing consistent in all these things?" Her reply was, "Yes, problems!" To her with the rising of the sun, she was certain the problems of the day would arise as well.

One of my favorite cartoons is Peanuts. One day Linus and Charlie Brown were walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don't like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it can't be run away from!"

No problem will be defeated by desertion of the battle. For Christians, the opportunity to battle the trials of our daily routines can be the most glorious battle of all for we have Christ on our side.

Only by desertion can we be defeated. When Christ is present the victory is certain.

A wise man once said, "We can lose the victory by flight but not by death. Happy are you if you die in battle for after death you will be crowned. But woe to you if by forsaking the battle you forfeit at once both the victory and the crown." Maybe this is a day of battle for you. If that is true, invite Christ to join you and I promise you the victory.

Mid-Week Prayer

Loving Father, today we promise to meet the problems of our living with new zeal. You have promised us that nothing can defeat You, so we lay claim to that glorious Word. Remove from our hearts the anxiety and frustrations that we might feel and place there the warmth and assurance of Your holy love. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Many times people tell me they do not listen to people. Join me next week to see the danger that could bring.

TWO WORDS!

Recently, a dear friend sent an email telling the results of a biopsy on his wife. In the message there were two special words: "Completely contained". If ever you have been involved in this in your life, these words carry such a sigh of relief.

To me, the words began to take on a new meaning. Many people struggle with things in their lives that they feel they have no power over. They feel helpless and hopeless. However the truth of God is that there is nothing that is out of the power of God, everything is "completely contained" within the scope of His love. Nothing in the world is outside the power of God. What He invites us to do is to accept the power of our decision to bring Him into our lives and be changed.

When Jesus faced death upon the cross, the world was not out of control, the truth was made manifest by His power over death and in the payment in full for all the sins we have ever done.

Will you commit everything to God? Will you let your life be "Completely Contained" within Him?

Mid-Week Prayer
"Loving God, come into our hearts today and open us to the fullness of Your Holy grace. We ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for problem philosophy.

WHAT A PARADOX!

Do you know what it means for something to be a "paradox"? Webster's dictionary has a wonderful definition that reads: "a statement that seems contradictory, unbelievable, or absurd but that may actually be true in fact." Finally, a new definition of a Christian.

Phillip Brewer wrote these

PARADOXES OF A MAN OF GOD".

Strong enough to be weak;

Successful enough to fail;

Busy enough to take time;

Wise enough to say, 'I don't know';

Serious enough to laugh;

Rich enough to be poor;

Right enough to say, 'I'm wrong';

Compassionate enough to discipline;

Conservative enough to give freely;

Mature enough to be childlike;

Righteous enough to be a sinner;

Important enough to be last;

Courageous enough to fear God;

Planned enough to be spontaneous;

Controlled enough to be flexible;

Free enough to endure captivity;

Knowledgeable enough to ask questions;

Loving enough to be angry;

Great enough to be anonymous;

Responsible enough to play;

Assured enough to be rejected;

Stable enough to cry;

Victorious enough to lose;

Industrious enough to relax;

Leading enough to serve.

Now if that doesn't describe THE life of Christians who serve Jesus Christ, I don't know what would. Can you place your life or the life of your friends in that comparison today?

Christ tells us a wonderful paradox in Matthew: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will love it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:24)

And Paul in His letter to the church at Philippi said: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

Oh, those crazy Christians. How God must love them in this world.

Mid-Week Prayer

"Loving Father! In the glory of Your Holy Spirit let our lives become a paradox to this world. What the world would understand as love, let us show them the willingness of a sacrificial love. And what the world would know as truth, let us show it to be the darkness and evil that it is.

Come to our lives and bring the glory of your loving presence so that we might bring others to You. We pray this in Your Holy Name. Amen."

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me again next week for another Mid-week Epistle.

Where Did You Come From?

There is a wonderful story about St. Peter as he was walking around heaven. You must first of all understand Peter’s place in God’s Kingdom. He is the gatekeeper and has been given very close charge of all who would enter heaven. Peter was glad that he could remember almost everyone who had passed by his challenge at the gate. He remembered the quiet ones, the noisy ones, and the ones who were amazed.

But this day, he met several strangers. People he did not know. As he challenged them, their reply was we came in last night by the back wall.

This puzzled Peter. God had not told him of anyone else having a gate keeper's role. So that night, he slipped into the garden and went to the back wall of heaven.

There he saw Jesus Christ as he was lifting up a corner of the fence and waving for some dirty, scraggly looking people to come into heaven. Peter yelled, "Jesus, what are you doing?"

"Oh, don't be angry Peter; these are just a few of my friends. You don't mind do you?"

The moral of the story is, don't forget who it is who offers entrance not only into heaven, but into other's lives as well. He will always be the one who will prepare others to hear the good news that only you can bring.

Mid-Week Prayer

Oh, loving God, open the gates of our hearts and minds to the understanding that all are called to enter heaven, and we are not given the power to deny even a little child. We are told to rejoice and not judge, guide and not hold back. Today give us Your children that we might invite them to the celebration of your love just as you have invited us. We pray this prayer in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I do not know what will await me when I come before the Lord in heaven, but I can find out what is waiting in the hearts and minds of the strangers in our midst. Will you do the same? Come and serve another in Christ name.

Ever Wonder if You need to be a "Mean Parent?”

Has anyone ever told you that you are mean? Have you heard children say this to their parents when the child was denied what he was sure was the greatest opportunity of a life time? I want to share this letter that was sent to me by a minister friend years ago as we were talking about the way to strengthen families. It has a good message for both kids and parents. "I had the meanest parents in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast. When other kids had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. "My parents insisted on knowing where I was all the time. I felt like I was on a chain gang. They had to know who my friends were and what I was doing. They insisted that if I would be gone for an hour, that I be gone for an hour or less. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but they actually had the nerve to break the child labor law. They made me work. I had to help them do chores in the house and outside in the yard. You know things like make my bed and rake the leaves - all sorts of odd things. I think they'd actually lay awake nights thinking of mean things to do to me. "And when I became a teenager, it got worse. They'd make me bring my friends and dates to the door so they could meet them. Humiliating! "My friends were lucky. They got to date at the mature age of 12 and 13, but my old-fashioned parents refused to let me date until I was 16. "my mom and dad were complete failures as parents. I was never arrested, never got into fights, never talked back to a teacher, never got kicked out of school. I got along with everybody. And who do I have to thank for this terrible way I turned out? My 'mean' parents. "They made me grow into a God fearing, educated, honest adult. "Thank you, Lord, for giving me the meanest parents on earth. They saved me much heartache and pain. They saved my life." I am not sure of the author of this letter, but I agree wholeheartedly with every word. Thank You God for my mean parents and maybe some day my children will say the same.

Mid Week Prayer
Father, You are as mean as those parents we heard about. You do not give us everything that we ask for in our prayers, and You are always challenging us to do more with our lives. You call us to love one another when we ourselves feel like we are the prime candidate for the Unlovable person of the Year. Give us the grace to be mean to every child that we meet. Let us show the love and concern that will encourage them to make something of their lives and not destroy themselves. And Father, if it is necessary, let them truly become a part of our lives and grant us the strength to endure the pain and struggles of every child as they search for You this day. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me again next week for another Mid-week Epistle.