Little Things

J. R. Miller

"Littles make perfection," replied the artist to one
who asked him why he spent so much time in giving
the little finishing-touches to his statue. There can
be no perfection in any kind of workmanship, unless
attention is paid to the minutest details of construction
or finishing. One smallest flaw or incompleteness left
in the work, in any part of it—leaves a blemish on the
finished endeavor.

Life is a mosaic, and each small stone must be polished
and set with greatest care—or the piece will not at last,
be perfect. One whose daily life is careless—is always
weak in Christian character. But one who habitually walks
in right paths, no matter how small and apparently trifling
the things may be—grows strong and noble. Littles make
perfection. "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do—do everything for God’s glory."
1 Corinthians 10:31

:)

Lord this morning let my prayer be that where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is injury, let me bring forgiveness. Where there is discord, let me bring harmony. Where there is falsehood, let me bring truth. Where there is doubt, let me bring faith. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, let me bring light. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy. Thank you God for all of the trials, for all of the tough times, and for all of the things that you have placed in my life that have made me who I am today. I also pray God that from my past I can help others who will face the same trials, or who will face the same temptations, or struggles and sin. Thank you for all you have done and all that you will continue to do for me and for just giving me a peace this morning that everything is all going to work out and be well. Amen

In His Steps

I found the following article written by J.R. Miller

"Every truly consecrated life, with all its faculties, has been given over to Christ. Faith implies full surrender. "You are not your own." "You are Christ's." Christ owns us first by right of creation, then by right of purchase. We acknowledge His ownership and all that it includes, when we receive Him as our Savior and Lord. The first question, therefore, of the new believer is, "What will you have me to do, Lord?" We want to begin to work for our new Master. A heart of love for Christ, makes the sweeping of a room, the plowing of a field, the sawing of a board, the making of a garment, the selling of a piece of goods, the minding of a baby—as acceptable to God, as the ministry of angels!

One way of working for Christ, therefore, is to be diligent in the doing of life's common daily tasks. The true giving of ourselves to God, exalts all of life into divine honor and sacredness. Nothing is trivial or indifferent, which it is our duty to do. We are never to neglect any work, however secular it may seem—in order to do something else which appears to be more religious. There are some people who would be better Christians, if they paid more heed to their own daily business, attended fewer church meetings and did less religious gossiping.

We need a religion which puts itself into everything we do! The old shoemaker was right, when he said that when he stands before the great white throne, God will ask, "What kind of shoes did you make down on the earth?" We must do all our work for the judgment day—our common everyday tasks—as well as our religious duties. The carpenter must get his religion into the houses he builds; the plumber must get his religion into his plumbing; the tailor must get his religion into his seams; the merchant must get his religion into his sales. All our work—we must do for God's eye!

It is the little things which all of us can do in Christ's name, which in the end leave the largest aggregate of blessing in the world. We need not wait to do great and conspicuous things. A life that every day gives its blessing to another, and adds to the happiness of some fellow being, by only a word of kindness, a thoughtful act, a cheering look, or a hearty hand grasp—does more for the world than he who but once in a lifetime does some great thing which fills a land with his praise. Nothing which is done for Christ is lost! The smallest acts, the quietest words, the gentlest inspirations which touch human souls, leave their impress for eternity! "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 10:42".......

Intramural Sports

So today is kind of a bitter sweet day for me. Tonight will be my very last intramural(IM) sports game at UCF. For the past 5 years at UCF, IM sports has truly been a blessing from God to me. From the friends I have made, to the fun I have had, to the accomplishments achieved, but most of all from the ways God has used IM sports and flag football to work in me.


I think the most important thing I have learned and have tired to keep my main focus on was the before I step onto the field or court, as a Christian I must realize this isn't just simply or solely a field or court but, a context for worship. Scripture is clear in that we are to worship and glorify God in all in life, which includes sports. This perspective transforms the playing field into a context to worship and to glorify God, not to impress others or draw attention to myself. This view transforms the game into an opportunity to honor God, express ones love for God, reflect the character of God, and to bring glory to God, which I hope I have done and hope to continue doing.

Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to play flag football and other IM sports over the years. Thank you for giving me the ability to walk so I can play, the ability to see so I can play, the ability to run and so much more. Thank you for all of the people you have placed around me on and off the football fields and for the friendships that I have made from that. I pray that I have set a good example of being humble, patient, a good leader, and all of the things that as a Christian I should be doing. Lord thank you for the opportunities you have given me to reach out to the people I have met through IM sports and flag football, and forgive me for not taking more advantage of those opportunities over the years until now. Most of all Lord thank you for dying on the cross so that I could be saved and thank you for the relationship that I have with you. I pray that tonight no one gets hurt and that everything goes well. Amen.

Self Reliance

I found the following from one of Spurgeon's old sermons where he was talking about Peter's presumption and self-confidence and how it led to his sin...

"He reckoned that he could never stumble and for that very reason he speedily fell. A haughty spirit goes before a fall. Oh, that we might look to the roots of bitter flowers and destroy them! If 'presumption' is flourishing in the soil of our hearts, we shall soon see the evil fruit which will come of it.

Reliance upon our firmness of character, depth of experience, clearness of insight, or maturity in grace will, in the end, land us in disgraceful failure.

Christians are Christlike. None deserve the name of Christians, who are not Christlike in their prevailing character. True Christians are clothed with the meek, quiet, and loving temper of Christ. They are attended with the lamblike, dovelike spirit and nature of Jesus Christ. They naturally beget and promote a spirit of love, humility, quietness, forgiveness and mercy, as is manifest in character of Jesus."

Strong Faith

I found the following article titled "The Practical Believer Delineated" written by J. A. James.

"And we know that God causes everything to work
together for the good of those who love God and
are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Strong faith has a firm persuasion of God's over-ruling
Providence—so comprehensive as to include the destinies
of empires and worlds; and so minute as to extend to
individuals. Strong faith believes that God's Providence is . . .
ever active,
ever directing,
ever controlling, and
ever subordinating
all things to His own purposes and plans.

Strong faith is a conviction of this great truth—so deep, so
satisfying, and so tranquilizing—as not at all to be shaken
by the chaotic aspect of human affairs, or the prevalence
of gigantic evils.

A weak faith must give way before . . .
the deep mysteries,
the confounding events,
the defeats of what is good, and
the triumphs of what is evil,
which are perpetually going on in our world's history.

The stream of Providence is . . .
so twisting,
so dark,
apparently so murky, and
occasionally so devastating;
that it requires strong faith believe that it is the
work of God and not of chance; and that if it is the
work of God—it must be just, and wise, and good.

In the darkest dispensations of Providence affecting
ourselves, strong faith realizes that it is all from God;
and must therefore be wise, and just, and good. To be
able really say, "It is well. I am sure it is right. I cannot
tell how it is right. I do not understand why this deep
afflictive Providence came. I can find no key to unlock
the mystery. But I am as confident that it is right, as if
God's whole purpose were transparent to my reason, and
I could see the event in all its connections, bearings, and
results. I cannot see how or why—but I believe that my
deep affliction is for God's glory and my ultimate benefit. I
know that God causes everything to work together for good."

Faith assures us that the darker, the more confounding, the
more disappointing events—are all right and just, and good.

Strong faith walks on amid shadows and darkness, grasping
the arm of God, believing that He is leading us, and will lead
us right. Strong faith gives up all into His hands, saying,
"I cannot even see a glimmering of light! I cannot see where
to place my next step! But I can most implicitly trust in the
wisdom, power, and truth of God! I follow like a little blind
child, grasping the hand of his father!"

Times of great troubles and difficulties, are seasons and
opportunities for the exercise of faith. God is always the
Christian's best refuge—and often his only one!

Seeing Things For What They Are

How often do we all regard God's dealings in a wrong light and call them by the wrong name? We frequently speak of certain things as 'afflictions' when they are really 'blessings in disguise'. Lately I have been thinking about everything I have been through and how at the time, I would not have seen certain things as blessings, but in the end thats exactly what they were from the things I learned, to how they brought me closer to God, to helping me see how all things work together for good, to delaying things while He works in me, to revealing things in my own heart while I wait, but most of all just reminding me once again of how I serve a faithful and trustworthy God who will never let me down.

Another area of not seeing things for what they are is in that sometimes we, including myself, don't see our sin for what it really is. Reading "The Enemy within" really helped me see sin in a new way. We must not try to 'sugar coat' our sin to make it appear less bad, or ignore it. The bible is very clear on this, and does not have any 'gray scale' areas about sin.

I found the following in an article written by Theodore Cuyler, where he talks about God's light on dark clouds....

"Let us hesitate before we condole with a brother who is under the chastisement of our loving Father in Heaven. Be careful how you condole with a man who has lost all his money—and saved his good name; or congratulate the man who has made a million—at the expense of his piety. When a Christian is toppled over from a "dizzy and dangerous height of prosperity"—and "brought down to poverty," he is brought down to Christ, the solid rock at the same time. In the valley of humiliation he has more of the joy of God's countenance, and wears more of the herb called "heart's-ease" in his bosom, than he ever did in the days of his giddy prosperity.

The adversary tries hard to break our lamp, and to steal our diamonds in those dark passage-ways of trial. We need good eyesight in such times of trouble, so as not to stumble, or to lose sight of the Comforter, or of the bright light which shines at the end of the way.

I have seen people tenderly condole a weeping mother whose godly child has flown away home to heaven. But they never thought of condoling another mother over a living child who was a frivolous slave of fashion, or a dissipated sensualist, or a wayward son, the "heartbreak of his mother." A hundred times over have I more pitied the parent of a living sorrow—than the parent of a departed joy. Spare your tears from the darlings who are safe in the arms of Jesus—and spend them over the living who are yet dead in sin and obstinate impenitence.

Let us learn to see things correctly—and call them by their right names! We too often drape our real blessings with a shroud—and decorate our dangerous temptations with garlands! The sharpest trials this nation ever knew—have turned into tender mercies. President Garfield in his grave has done more for us than Garfield could have done in the presidential chair. Satan outwitted himself when he armed one of his imps to be an assassin.

Let us all pray fervently for spiritual discernment. Lord, open our eyes! Then we shall see this world to be a mere training-school for a better world; we shall see a Father's smile behind the darkest cloud; we shall see in duty done—our highest delight; and at the end of the conflict—we shall see the King in His beauty, and know Him even as we are known!"

Lord thank you for all the blessings you have given me Lord, and forgive me for not seeing things as I should have from the beginning. Please open my eyes to see my sin for what it is and to see my so called 'afflictions' as blessings, in which they are. Amen

Election 08

"On Sunday I told my church that after the election half the country would be elated, confident that all would be right in the world because their candidate won; the other half dejected and sure that the world had ended because their candidate lost. But Christians should realize that both sides are wrong. If you voted for Obama, he isn't worthy of your ultimate hope. And if you didn't vote for him, don't despair as though Jesus isn't reigning over the world.

Those who call Jesus their Lord can be filled with a quiet peace and confidence in all seasons. Our Savior is never in the White House. Our Savior is Jesus. We must turn to him with joy and faith. And as we do let's pray for our new President Elect that God would give him wisdom and grace to lead our nation in the days to come.

No matter who you voted for--or whether you voted at all--it's important to remember that, as President, Barack Obama will have God-given authority to govern us, and that we should view him as a servant of God (Rom. 13:1, 4) to whom we should be subject (Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 2:13-14).

• We are to pray for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
• We are to thank God for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
• We are to respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7).
• We are to honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).

Though I deeply disagree with Barack Obama on certain policy issues (most notably his support of abortion), I am committed to praying for him and his family in the years to come. And I am grateful to God that in his election our country has taken an important step away from its sad history of racism and prejudice."

Joshua Harris

Were You There?

Here you go Brett...

Sins changing God's plan...? Not so much

One thing that was on my mind today, is how our sins play havoc with us, and sometimes we wind up eating the fruit of our disobedience for a long time. Sometimes it can seem like we’ve derailed God’s design for our lives and now he’s had to opt for plan B. But I must remind myself that is simply Not true.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)

ALL things work together for good, including our sins.

God is in no way responsible when we blow it, for God is not the author of sin. God is so awesome he can take our wickedness and use it to accomplish his purposes. When Jacob duped his father and swindled his big brother Esau, God used it to fulfill his prophecy that the older would serve the younger. When Joseph unwisely boasted of his dreams to his brothers, God used his foolishness to provoke his brothers to sell him to slave traders who dragged him to Egypt where God exalted him to spare thousands from starving, including his scheming brothers.

When Jonah fled in the opposite direction from where God commanded him, God used Jonah’s rebellion to reveal himself to pagan sailors on the ship he’d taken. David began his relationship with Bathsheba with adultery, deception and murder. Yet God gave them Solomon, author of Proverbs and one of Israel’s greatest kings. Not even the worst sins can stymie God’s purpose.

Regret can easily slide into self-pity. And excessive regret is an insult to God, because we are saying what Christ did on the cross was somehow not enough to remove all our guilt. Excessive regret is also an insult to God’s sovereignty, because we are saying that our sins are too hard for God to turn to good.

Now I am not saying we should go out and sin, thinking God will use it for good. For sin has painful consequences. But if you believe your sins have ruined God’s plans for you, know that the cross of Christ and the power of God is infinitely greater than your offenses. God hasn’t opted for plan B, and neither should we.

Secret Sins

"But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

- 1 Samuel 16:12

In Romans it mentions that on that day God will judge the secrets of men. In Ecclesiastes 12, it also says that God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. All sin is an assault against God, whether it is done in public or in secret. And God, who beholds even the innermost secrets of the heart, sees our sin clearly, no matter how well we think we have covered it.

I know for me, sinning secretly in the past actually intensifies my guilt, because it adds the sin of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a grave sin in its own right. It also produces guilt, because by definition hypocrisy entails the concealing of sin. And the only remedy for any kind of sin involves uncovering our guilt through sincere confession.

Now by saying secret sin, I am not just talking about lust, although that could be a secret sin that one has, but I more so talking about sins that we do in our private life, that no one knows about. These sins could be anything from gambling, to cheating on a spouse, to pornography, to the ways you think, to how you spend your time, to the secret idols of your heart, and so on...

I think our secret life is the real test of our character. We should all take a hard look at our private life and be honest with ourselves and confess to God and ask for help. Having accountability partners helping us with our secret sins is extremely important as well. History repeatedly proves that our sin will find us out. We will never regret being transparent about this issue. The longer we wait the farther we’ll fall. The sooner we confess, the sooner we’ll find freedom. In James, we are told to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another, that we may be healed. So let us do that.

The Benefits of Affliction

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

- James 1:2-3

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

- James 1:12

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I found the following from an article written by John Newton from back in the day, so it is worded a little funny, but still good.

"Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes—has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. But troubles rouse our spirits, and constrain us to call upon the Lord in good earnest—when we feel a need of that help which we only can have from his almighty arm.

Afflictions are useful, and in a degree necessary, to keep alive in us—a conviction of the vanity and unsatisfying nature of the present world, and all its enjoyments; to remind us that this world is not our rest, and to call our thoughts upwards, where our true treasure is, and where our heart ought to be. When things go on much to our wish, our hearts are too prone to say, "It is good to be here!" It is probable, that had Moses, when he came to invite Israel to Canaan, found them in prosperity—that they would have been very unwilling to move out of Egypt; but the afflictions they were in—made his message welcome. Thus the Lord, by pain, sickness, and disappointments, by breaking our cisterns and withering our gourds—weakens our attachment to this world, and makes the thought of leaving it, more easy and more desirable.

A child of God cannot but greatly desire a more enlarged and experimental acquaintance with his holy Word; and this attainment is greatly promoted by our trials. The far greater part of the promises in Scripture, are made and suited to a state of affliction; and, though we may believe they are true, we cannot so well know their sweetness, power, and suitableness, unless we ourselves are in a state to which they refer! The Lord says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you." Now, until the day of trouble comes, such a promise is like a city of refuge to an Israelite, who, not having slain a man, was in no danger of the avenger of blood. He had a privilege near him, of which he knew not the use and value—because he was not in the case for which it was provided. But some can say, I not only believe this promise upon the authority of the speaker—but I can set my seal to it! I have been in trouble; I took this course for relief, and I was not disappointed. The Lord truly heard and delivered me. Thus afflictions likewise give occasion of our knowing and noticing more of the Lord's wisdom, power, and goodness, in supporting and relieving us—than we would otherwise have known.

Afflictions evidence to ourselves, and manifest to others, the reality of grace. When we suffer as Christians, exercise some measure of that patience and submission, and receive some measure of these supports and supplies, which the Gospel requires and promises to believers—we are more confirmed that we have not taken up with mere notions; and others may be convinced that we do not follow cunningly devised fables.

Afflictions likewise strengthen us—by the exercise our graces. As our limbs and natural powers would be feeble if not called to daily exertion—so the graces of the Spirit would languish, without something which was provided to draw them out to use."

- John Newton