The Rabbi and the Pope

Posted on February 17, 2011 by eflowsemaj

The Chief Rabbi and the Pope are in a meeting in Rome. The Rabbi notices a fancy shmancy phone on a side table in the Pope’s private chambers. “What’s that phone for?” he asks. “It’s my direct line to the Lord!” the Pope replies.

The Rabbi is doubtful, but the Pope insists that he tries it out and, indeed, he is connected to the Lord and chats away with Him for a while.

After he hangs up the Rabbi says. “Thank you very much. This is
great! But listen, I want to pay for the charges I have used up.” The Pope doesn’t want to take the money, but finally gives in, checks the counter and says: Allright! The charge was 50,000 Lira,” which the Rabbi gladly pays.

A couple of weeks later, the Pope is in Jerusalem on an official visit. In the Rabbi’s chambers he sees the identical phone he has with a direct line to the Lord. The Pope asks if he could use it, because there were some urgent matters he needed to consult with Him.

The Rabbi gladly hands him the phone and the Pope chats away. After he hangs up, he says: “Now I also want to pay for my charges on your phone.” The Rabbi looks on the counter and says: “1 Shekel 50!” The Pope looks surprised: “Why so cheap?” The Rabbi smiles: “Local call.”

Prayer works! It doesn’t matter where you live:

 But certainly God has heard me; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. – Psalm 66:19

What does matter is that you pray. If you don’t pray, don’t expect results! But if you do pray, expect results!

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them. – Mark 11:24

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what about you?

Posted on February 16, 2011 by eflowsemaj

Are you worthy? That’s the question of the day…

It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken to you first, but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. – Acts 13:46

Paul and Barnabas had been in Antioch preaching. However, when the Jews gathered together and saw the great multitudes of people, including the Gentiles, they were angered and wouldn’t listen to God’s Word. The Word was first given to the Jews so that they could receive eternal life, but they quickly became jealous, and lost focus on God. Because of this, they did not receive Salvation. However, the Gentiles (non-Jews) that were present, did listen to God’s Word and we find out in the later verse (48) that they were “appointed to eternal life” (got Saved). 

The point? Don’t lose focus on what God has in store for you. There are many things going on in our lives, as well as others’ lives. Don’t become jealous over what God does for others. He blesses each of us in our own ways.

Keep focused on Him and allow Him to finish the work He started. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” – Philippians 1:6

Will you make your own decisions about your “worthiness” and your future? Or will you allow God to guide you?

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how early is too early?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by eflowsemaj

1 Corinthians 13:13 - ”and the greatest of these is love”

Tonight on the radio while driving I heard the poem listed below…  And with it being Valentine’s day, it seemed appropriate to comment on love.

I have tried (unsucessfully) to find the author, but it still tells a good story (interesting dialect also). It  reminds us that we shouldn’t spend months preparing for a 1-hour wedding if we haven’t spent years preparing for a life-long marriage:

 

“Married at an Early Urge”

Nice night in June, stars shine, big moon
In park with girl, heart pound, head swirl
Me say me love, she coo like dove
Me smart, me fast, me never let chance pass

Get hitched, me say, she say okay
Wedding bells ring, honeymoon, everything
Settle down, married life, happy man, happy wife.

Another night in June, stars shine, big moon
Ain’t happy no more, carry baby, walk floor
Wife mad, she stew, me mad, stew too
Life one big spat, nagging wife and bawlin’ brat
I realize, at last, me move too fast.

 

Love is wonderful! But without God and a lot of prayer and patience it can end badly.

Looking for Mr. or Mrs. “Right” ??  Consider this . . . stop looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right, and start trying to be Mr. or Mrs. Right (then you’ll find that Mr. or Mrs. Right will show up in God’s timing without you looking).

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on your way to school…

Posted on February 8, 2011 by eflowsemaj

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He thought he was a “big boy” and didn’t want her to walk with him. And she wanted to give him  a feeling of independence, but she also wanted to know that he was safe.

When she expressed her concern to her neighbor, Shirley offered to follow him to school every morning for a while, staying at a distance so he wouldnt notice. Shirley said that since she was up early with her toddler anyways, it will be a good way for them to get some exercise. All week long, Shirley and her daughter followed Timmy as he walked to school with another neighborhood girl.

As the two children walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy’s friend said, ‘Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?’

Timmy replied, ‘Yes, I know who she is. That’s my mom’s friend Shirley Goodnest and her litle girl Marcy’.

‘Shirley Goodnest? Why is she following us?’

Well, Timmy explained, every night my mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm, it says, “Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all days of my life.” I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.

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a simple reminder:

Posted on February 1, 2011 by eflowsemaj

“The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Sometimes we get caught up in the world. We get distracted by activities such as work, school, hobbies, etc. But we must ALWAYS remember that our God is always there beside us, waiting to talk to us, waiting to reach out to us, waiting to help us. But also remember, God is not  a crutch! We should not wait until we need help to reach to Him. This verse essentially reminds us to love Him at ALL TIMES!

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speaking or doing…

Posted on January 25, 2011 by eflowsemaj

 2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
      And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
      For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
      Therefore let your words be few.
       3 For a dream comes through much activity,
      And a fool’s voice is known by his many words. -Eccl. 5

Are you a talker or a doer?  This passage from Solomon (a very wise man indeed) reminds us that speaking or talking can make us foolish. The old saying “he talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk” is essentially what Solomon was trying to convey.

If we only talk about God, but don’t follow God’s Word through obedience, we are but fools in everybody’s  eyes, not just God’s. Therefore, next time you say something . . . anything . . . are you just saying it, . . .  or are you doing it also?  Food for thought…

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Mary Had a Little Lamb (the modern version)

Posted on January 21, 2011 by eflowsemaj

Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school each day,
T’wasn’t even in the rule.
He made the children laugh and play.
To have a Lamb at school.

And then the rules all changed one day,
Illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name.

Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That’s in our schools today?
Let’s let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!

                                       – Author Unknown

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Let’s talk Commandments…

Posted on January 19, 2011 by eflowsemaj
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

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suggested books

Posted on January 15, 2011 by eflowsemaj

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a BIG step…

Posted on January 13, 2011 by eflowsemaj

TODAY is a BIG step. After all, my wonderful wife turns 40!  So how does this have anything to do with God?

Well, first off, God gave us life.

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture – Psalm 100:3

And we also know that God gave us long life (if we follow Him):

And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” – 1Kings 3:14

The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. – Proverbs 10:27
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” – Ephesians 6:2-3

I want to THANK Kimberly for her obedience to the Lord, obeying His commands, which resulted in her living a long life, and also led to my Salvation. Without her I would be nothing, have nothing, and be lost. So I want to say Thanks from the bottom of my heart and soul for helping to lead me to Christ!  I love you sweetie!

Posted in Devotion, God, Love, Obedience | 1 Comment