WEEPING

When Jesus went to call Lazarus back from the grave, He wept. Some have wondered why He wept.

The Jews must have thought it was from sorrow, because they said, "Behold how he loved him" (John 11:36). Yet we wonder why He wept, if He was going to call him back to life.

Some have said that Jesus wept because for His present purposes it was necessary to call Lazarus back from the joys of heaven. (moreillustrations.com)

Whatever, but when some people were weeping for Jesus as He was being taken to be crucified, this is what He said:

But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (Luke 23:28 ESV)

“I do not know when I am more perfectly happy than when I am weeping for sin at the foot of the cross.” - Charles Spurgeon.

“There have been times that I've wept as I've gone from city to city and I've seen how far people have wandered from God.” - Billy Graham.

“Every tear of sorrow sown by the righteous springs up a pearl.” - Matthew Henry.

IS YOUR ANTENNA POINTED TOWARD GOD?

Tony Evans writes that “Before cable television came into my neighborhood, I used a television antenna. I had a workman come out one time because I was having problems with my reception.

He said, “Your signal is strong, but your antenna is not pointed in the right direction.”

The Word of God is strong. There’s no problem with the “signal.” But our heart’s antenna is often not pointed in the right direction.

A lot of us are fiddling with our lives trying to fix them when the problem is that our spiritual antenna is not pointed toward God. Therefore, we cannot pick up the Spirit’s signal.” (preceptaustin.wordpress.com)

“If you're going in the wrong direction, turning around is the only right direction.” - Woodrow Kroll.

2Ch 7:14 (CEV): “If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again.”

DISCOURAGEMENT

The devil is having a big sale in his store of evil tricks. Everything has a price except for one box that has no price. It is not for sales.

After almost everything has been sold, his demonic assistant asks him about what is in the box without a price.

The old devil whispers, "It's Discouragement! When all temptations fail, I have this box of potent tricks to use! I have more success using these against the Christians than any other tricks! Once hit, few have the strength or wisdom to rise to their former glory. Many just become mediocre & die fruitless! Isn't that great!" (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.in)

“The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.” - Warren Wiersbe.

Heb 10:25 (GNB): “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.”

THE DEATH OF AN INNOCENT GIRL

I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said.

You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.

I didn’t drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you were always right.

Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I’d get home in one piece.

Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road

the other car didn’t see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.


As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,

the other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I’m the one who will pay.

I’m lying here dying, Mom. I wish you’d get here soon.

How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.

I hear the medic say, Mom, I’ll die in a short time.


I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn’t drink.

It was the others, Mom. The others didn’t think.

He was probably at the same party as I.

The only difference is he drank and I will die.


Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.

I’m feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don’t think it’s fair.

I’m lying here dying and all he can do is stare.


Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.

And when I go to heaven, Mom, put “Daddy’s Girl” on my grave.

Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.

If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.


My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I’m becoming very scared.

Please don’t cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye.

I didn’t drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?


This is the end, mom, I wish I could look you in the eye,

To say these final words, mom, I love you and goodbye.

- Author unknown (academictips.org)


Pro 20:1 (BBE): “Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.”

A BAD DREAM

The story is told of a man who had a horrible dream.

He said, “I dreamed that the Lord took my Sunday offering & multiplied it by ten & this became my weekly income. In no time I lost my color TV, had to give up my new car & couldn’t make my house payment. After all, what can a fellow do on $10 a week?”

If the Lord took your offering, multiplied it by ten & made that your weekly income, how much would you make? (ministry127.com)

“Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving.” – Unknown.

2Co 9:6 (GNB): “Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop.”

“Plenty of people are willing to give God credit, yet few are willing to give Him cash.” – Unknown.

EXCUSES

The story is told of a man who was asked, “Are you a believer in the Christian religion?”

“Oh, certainly!”

“You are a member of some church, then, I suppose?”

“Member of a church? No, indeed. Why should I be a member of a church? It is quite unnecessary; the dying thief wasn’t a member of a church & he went to Heaven.”

“But of course you have been baptized; you know the command -”

“Been baptized? Oh, no; that is another needless ceremony! I am as safe as the dying thief was & he never was baptized.”

“But surely, since you will not join a church or be baptized, you will do something in acknowledgment of your faith. You will give of your means - you will help the cause in some way?”

“No, sir; I do nothing of the kind. The dying thief ---”

“Let me remark, my friend, before you go any further, that you seem to be on pretty intimate terms with the dying thief. You seem to derive a great deal of consolation from his career. But, mind you, there is one important difference between you & him. He was a dying thief - and you are a living one.” - Charles Spurgeon. (ministry127.com)

“They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not come and spoken to them; as it is, they no longer have any excuse for their sin.” – Jesus (John 15:22)

“People who cover their faults and excuse themselves do not have a repentant spirit.” - Watchman Nee.

DETERMINING YOUR TRUE PATH

A master was strolling through a field of wheat when a disciple came up to him and asked, “I can’t tell which the true path is. What’s the secret?”

“What does that ring on your right hand mean?” – asked the master.

“My father gave it to me before dying.”

“Well, give it to me.”

The disciple obeyed, and the master tossed the ring into the middle of the field of wheat.

“Now what?” – shouted the disciple.

“Now I have to stop doing everything I was doing to look for the ring! It’s important to me!”

“When you find it, remember this: You yourself answered the question you asked me. That is how you tell the true path: It is more important than all the rest.”

-Author Unknown. (academictips.org)

Mat 13:44 (GNB): "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field.”

“When we seek His Word above all others, His encouragement before all others, His truth instead of all others, then we will be pleasing to Him more than all others.” - Woodrow Kroll.