SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

LOSS MAN POWER
2 Timothy 2:2

August 28^th

On a Saturday morning, standing by the window at 6:30 a.m., I saw multitudes of men walking away from the rescue mission.  I worked the 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift at the Christian Mission where men that have lost their way to Jesus, enslaved by alcohol and drugs, come for temporary shelter as some try to find the Lord and improve their lives.

It is sad to say, but there are men who have never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  There are others that have taken Christ off the throne in their life and now aimlessly walk around like zombies trapped by chemical dependency, depression, high anxiety, and anger.  These men are someone’s grandfather, father, brother, son, uncle, nephew, cousin and husband, but their witness has been subjugated by the evil one.

The verse says; the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  Look at verse 9 and it states, wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer and an evildoer is one that leaves God out of his plans.  Could this be the reason that these men are in their present condition?  If this is the case, where will the faithful men that will teach others come from and when will they began their teaching ministry?

Timothy says, and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, but what things have we heard about these men in this mission.  They walk toward the downtown areas of this city, panhandle, hustle, steal and continue to use drugs.  Where is their witness?  If the Mission can reach some of these men and win them to Christ, then verse 12 will come to be and it says, if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him but it also says, if we deny Him, He also will deny us.  Let us realize that some of the most talented, intelligent, and creative men have fallen prey to the evil one, but if we are effective witnesses and not judge, we can help convert these men to the future faithful men that will teach others also.

--SOMETHING TO CHEW ON--

When you see a homeless man, pray that God will convert him, change him, correct him, and challenge him as He creates that faithful man that we so desperately need in this world today.

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ADVERSITY, WHY ME LORD?
2 Corinthians 12: 7-10

September 1^st

If we are honest with ourselves, we have asked GOD this question, why me Lord?  We have problems as we endure adversity, because it is painful.  Do not think all adversity is from the Devil with the goal to destroy you.  Our sins against GOD can open a corridor for adversity to creep in and cripple our walk.  Of course, (are you ready for this?)  GOD allows some adversity to develop us, or refine us, in order for us to be a more effective witness for HIM.

GOD can send adversity so we can look in the mirror to see what we are all about.  Look at verse 7, and lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the knowledge, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh.  How many times have we looked in life’s mirror and exalted ourselves, saw that we were so gifted and talented, maybe a little better than the next person?  What was the thorn GOD had to place in your flesh to bring you back to earth?  I have seen the financial thorn, when GOD put a cap on my financial ability and closed doors of opportunity.  The thorn of joblessness has been maximized in my life because I thought I was above and beyond the rest (verse 8).  I besought the LORD more than three times that it might depart from me.  It did not depart; I was wallowing in weakness, and did not want to hear, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  (Verse 9)  I did not want to glory in my infirmities that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me.  I wanted a job and I wanted some money.

It took time and the comfort of CHRIST before I could take pleasure (extremely hard to do) in infirmities and distresses for CHRIST’s sake.  (Verse 10)  When CHRIST was able to sweep away pride then I was able to depend more on Him and say, “When I am weak, then am I strong.”  Do you understand when you are standing there broken (not in GOD’S eyes) and unemployed (GOD always has employment in HIS kingdom), you wonder is this the only way HE can show his love to you?  Smile, GOD has w