Pay Attention

By Gillis Killam –

 

Just think of it! We could be having a coffee with someone and make a decision that will change our lives forever.  It could alter our direction and have a drastic affect on the future of our family.

When we have a bad feeling in our spirit about something, it is usually a sign to pay attention. It may be about some relationship that might seem like an insignificant decision, or it could be a decision about marriage to someone, but we don’t have real peace in our hearts about it. It is better to stop and listen. This is one choice that will have far-reaching effects on every other relationship in our lives.

It does matter when we refuse to heed warnings in our lives. Mike DeWine writes, “On every journey you take, you are met with options. At every fork in the road, you make a choice. These are the decisions that shape your life.”

The most important decisions have to do with listening to God. We all come to forks in the road of life where we make decisions about our spiritual life, and what God has said.  The writer to the Hebrews gives a stern warning about not heeding God’s warnings.

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrew 2:1 NIV). Note the word “drift”. It is not always that we all of a sudden leave what we know is right, but gradually lose our way by not heeding the warning signs from past experiences and teaching.

Jesus used the example of building a house on the solid foundation, or building on the sand (Luke 6:47-49). He said to take heed because when the storms come your house (life) will be tested.  If we build on the word of God we can withstand the storms of life; if we don’t our house (life) will crumble and fall.

It may be about attending church—fellowship with God’s people—about forgiving people who have wronged us, about gossiping, holding a grudge or our uncontrolled anger. Listen to what God says about these things.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for reminding us of those little things that we do, or forget to do that affect our relationship with you and others. AMEN

 

Eternal Prizes

By Gillis Killam –

The 2014 Olympics were held this year in Sochi, Russia amid some of the most difficult circumstances ever. There was the threat of terrorists, causing great fear that this would erupt and put many lives in danger. Another concern was the controversy in Russia over gay and lesbian rights and their safety at the games.

Many game participants will have labored throughout their lives for these few moments on the stage of time to gain the recognition of the world as the best in their field. Thousands of hours and dollars have been expended to enable hopefuls to even qualify to be there. So much was on the line for each one of them. I truly admire their physical and mental tenacity, willpower, and endurance to be able to gain a gold medal. I admire the sacrifices that have been made in order to stand on the Olympic platform.

Not to downplay the importance of their achievements, but it causes me to ask the questions: “For what gains? Recognition by the world? A medal to possess for the rest of their lives? Then the benefits of being a Gold Medal winner on the world stage and being able to make great gains through being icons for the advertisements of powerful companies?”

I watched the athletes with wide smiles raise their medals, proof of their accomplishments. I do honor and admire them. However these are wonderful attainments in the temporal world, but are not lasting in terms of the eternal.

The Apostle Paul spoke of the Olympics of his day and made this comparison to the race for eternal rewards or prizes: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Cor. 9.25 NIV).

We spend so much time, energy, and money to attain accomplishments and to get a lot of things that will pass away, but the things we do for the Lord will last forever. His rewards are eternal. The prizes of the world fade away, the medals tarnish and in a few years everyone forgets what we attained; but God never forgets, and His rewards are forever. Why then do we not spend more time and energy on that which is eternal?

PRAYER: O God, help me to fix my eyes and my energies on things which are eternal. AMEN

Generations to Come

By Gillis Killam –

Every generation leaves something for the next, whether good or bad.

The New Testament opens with the genealogy of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, which is traced back through David and the nation of Israel to Abraham and to Adam. This shows how important generations are to God.

When God looked at the evil antediluvian world and decided to destroy it, He found only one man who was perfect in his generation. The world had become so corrupt that everyone but Noah and his family were contaminated by evil. God provided a way for him and his family to escape the sin of this world.

It didn’t mean that Noah was sinless when scripture says he was perfect; but he had protected his family and himself from the influence of toxic atmospheres that dominated a planet that gave birth to families that were murderous, socially evil, and filled with violence. Families were contaminated in their generations.

Originally God intended that families would promote His values and beliefs and pass on their faith in God to generations to come (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

This should make us take a look at our world where the evils of the ancient world are the same as those that characterize the world today. Listen to the news and watch it on television. Worst of all they are the sins that condemned the world that are the same sins that are now deemed right and are classified as not evil. God’s patience with the antediluvians ran out and it will also run out for us. Read 2 Peter 2:1-10.

Now we are living in a world that is the same as that of the days of Noah. Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37 NIV).

Before the children of Israel entered the land of Canaan, a land that was filled with evil, God gave a remedy for saving future generations. It was by teaching the children to “Love the LORD your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV), and to “impress them on your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV).

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for past generations who have lived out their faith so that we have examples of how to live in a godless world. AMEN

What Happens when we Sleep?

By Gillis Killam –

God wants us to have a good sleep, but we need to lie down!

“Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?” (Psalm 127:2 MSG).

God does wonderful things in our minds and bodies when we get the proper sleep. What may be problems on our minds, when going to sleep, take on a new perspective when we wake up, and our bodies are rejuvenated.

According to The National Sleep Foundation there are four stages of sleep, and in the third and fourth stages the following things happen: This is the deepest and most restorative sleep, blood pressure drops, breathing becomes slower, muscles are relaxed, blood supply to muscles increases, tissue growth and repair occurs, energy is restored, and hormones are released: such as growth hormone, essential for growth and development, including muscle development.

God works miracles while we sleep! He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4) but He is silently planning in love for those who trust Him.

God created Eve while Adam was sleeping (Genesis 2:21).

While Jacob was running away from the wrath of his brother Esau, he fell asleep on a stone, and while he slept God gave him a vision that showed him God was present with him, and that He had given him and his descendants the land on which he was lying (Genesis 28:10-22).

David felt abandonment when he said “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).

When Herod was seeking to kill the baby Jesus, God directed Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13).

An Angel spoke to the Apostle Paul in the night and told him what to do when the ship was sinking (Acts 27:23-26).

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord, for worrying about things and losing sleep. Help me to leave these troubles in your hands. Thank you for the gift of sleep! AMEN

So Much for Which to be Thankful

By Gil Killam –  

My wife was in the hospital for two weeks recovering from hip replacement surgery. The operation went well but the recovery has been very slow. We had lots of time to observe a lot of what was happening among the patients and nurses. There were many patients who were in worse condition than my wife. One woman who was in the bed nex to my wife had cancer and there was not much doctors could do to help. Her groans and her breathing made us know that she was suffering great pain. My wife began to think of what she was thankful for: illnesses that she didn’t have; her family; her children who are now grown and married, still loving and caring for her; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Being in the hospital reminded us of how much we have to be thankful for! It gave us a new perspective about what is really important in life.

Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonian 5:16-18 NIV).

Have we ever stopped to give thanks to God in the midst of the suffering in our lives? This was Paul’s secret as to why we may be suffering: that you may have a ministry in comforting others in their time of need (2 Corinthians1:4).

A characteristic of the generation in the last days is ungratefulness. Along with this come pride, abusiveness, disobedience, envy and strife (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

If we were more thankful, many of our problems would disappear. If world leaders would be thankful for what they have, the more peace they would experience. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Something wonderful happens to each of us when we say thank you. Note how people’s faces smile when they are appreciated.

PRAYER: “Thank you Lord for the tests you allow in my life. Help me realize you may be preparing me to help someone in need. Amen

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