Can You Sleep At Night?

A farmer needed a hired man. After trying several, all of whom failed to meet his standards, a quiet man walked up to the farmer and asked for the job. "What qualifies you for this job?
The man answered, "I can sleep at night." That wasn't the exact answer the man was looking for, but he was getting desperate so he hired the man.
Later on, there was a terrible thunderstorm. The farmer awoke, ran to the hired man's room and tried to arouse him. He could not.
Muttering to himself, the farmer went outside into the night and the driving rain. He found the barn doors securely closed, the hay stack well covered and the tractor put away in the shed. There was nothing he could do but return to the house and go back to bed. Then he understood why his new hired man had said, "I can sleep at night."
Jesus told much the same parable with the ten maidens. Five were prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom and five were foolish and tried to rush things through at the end. Which are you? One who is anxious about everything or one who sleeps well at night?

Mid-Week Prayer

O God, we know that You keep watch over all things. We rest assured in the fact that You will guard and keep us from harm. But You also ask us to do our part by preparing and growing a life that is secure in Your way. Help us to find more of Your strength daily as we prepare for Christ's Holy coming. In His name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. As you place your heart and desires in the hands of God, realize that He never slumbers or sleeps as the Psalmist tells. In so many ways that message gives us comfort and strength to not only sleep at night, but the true desire to live in the day. See you next week for another Mid-week Epistle.

What an Invention!

Isaac Asimov once wrote a challenging question. See if you know the answer. "If you could build a small package, something small enough to carry in your coat pocket, a machine which would instantly start and stop, in which you could instantly reverse yourself or go forward, which would require no batteries or other energy sources, and which would provide you with full information on an entire civilization, what would you have?"
What is your answer? In our world today, to create something like that would probably bring you a small fortune. Imagine the power in it, and the ways in which you could even touch people’s lives. Why not try to create one or is there one right in front of you?

Mid-week Prayer

Loving God, how wonderful it is that you inspire people with words and then you begin to create thought and pictures in our minds. We thank you this day Almighty God, that someone created this wonderful instrument already. In fact, that is where many people first encounter You. Thank you, O God, for a book. May Your Holy Book become ours. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I hope your heart is caught by what John Peterson wrote in “The Message: as a translation of Heb. 4:12-13: “God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.” See you next week in the Mid-week Epistle.

Wheat Sifter

I remember as a child being in the kitchen and my mother would use a sifter to break up the clumps of flour before she would bake. It was the type with the handle that you would move back and forth and the flour would fall through it. It would be my job to shake it back and forth and watch the fine granules fall into the bowl. The harder I would shake, the more flour would fall out.
Jesus once told Peter that Satan demanded to have him, to sift his life like wheat. He knew the ways that Satan had of turning our heart from granite into fine sand by denials and betrayals. And then Jesus said, “But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brother.” (Luke 22:31-33)
Aren’t those wonderful words to hear? Satan will try all his wiles to destroy us, but Jesus will pray for us. It reminds me of my parent being there while I was “sifting” in my life. God will always be by us and reminds us that even in the darkness of sin trying to sift our life and cause us to fail, God is present to help guide and protect. That is why the wonderful words come in the scripture, “Jesus will pray for us!”

Mid-week Prayer

Loving Father, what a powerful witness the life of Your Son has become for all the world. It can move darkness into light, and sorrow into joy. Come this day, let the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit become Your prayer for our life. In Christ name. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I am glad that you have joined me again in another Mid-week Epistle. Your prayers and thoughts make the Word of God come alive in the world. See you next week in another Epistle.

Why Keep on Jiggling?

A man stopped to help a lady get her car started. “If you jiggle the battery wife, it will be OK.” She said.
Raising the hood, the man noticed the loose battery cable and offered to get a wrench and tighten the cable so she wouldn’t have more trouble later. “Oh, no.” she said, “My husband said, ‘All you need to do is jiggle the wires.’”
As the man jiggled the wire, he became aware that he had not fixed any problem, he had just jiggled the wire, and the car started one more time, but she kept the same old problem.
God had come into the world to no longer allow man to simply “jiggle” the problems of a life condemned in sin. He came in the form of Jesus to take the most horrible punishment and suffer death on the cross so life eternal could be gained for all. Do you continue to “jiggle” the problems of the day, hoping simply to start one more time and eventually someone will come and help? He is here now; let him “fix” your life.

Mid-week Prayer

Eternal God. Let us come this day before You and bring our life to be repaired with the fullness of Your grace and the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for another Mid-week Epistle and let us share life together.

What Are You Using for Seed?

I once read about some farmers who theorized that they could eat their big potatoes and keep the small ones for seed. Consequently, they ate the big potatoes and planted only the eyes from the smaller potatoes. As a result of this practice, after many years, the farmers made the startling discovery that nature had reduced all of their potatoes to the size of marbles.
Is that what you are doing with your life? You are enjoying the best moments and giving God the leftovers? Maybe you need to think what your harvest will be when the Master comes into the field?
God gives so many blessings in our lives but we are so busy that we do not realize the depths of His love. I love the words of Paul that are found in Philippians 2:12-13:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
This salvation is definitely not “small potatoes” for God. It is the greatness of His Holy Love.

Mid-week Prayer

Father, You tell us that “whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap”, and then You tell us about corruption, a sinful spirit, and other harmful things. If we give all of our lives to that, it is no doubt that we will have a small harvest of Your love. Help us change our “crops” of life. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will see how people think you can “jiggle” with life and be O.K.