What Do You Want To Go To Heaven For?

If Jesus were the only one you would see in Heaven, would you be happy there?

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Straight Paths Bible Church

New Years Resolutions

The Bible is such a wonderful Book! I find that the more I read and study, the more little pieces come together like a puzzle. It gives such food for thought. I was reading this morning from Luke 11, and in verses 24-26 it speaks of an unclean spirit coming out of a man and when he goes back, he finds the "house" empty and clean. Finding it thus, he goes and brings in seven other spirits worse than himself, making the latter state of that man worse than he was at the first. Trying to reform without repentance and surrender to Christ only leaves your soul empty and susceptible to the invasion of the devil in a worse way than before. If Christ were there, of course there would be no room for those demons to come in and take over again. During this time of the year, many people will make resolutions to do better in many ways: stopping smoking or overeating, keeping their temper under control, having a better disposition, reading their Bible every day,…the list is endless! But just how long do these resolutions last? Two months? One? Maybe not even as short as a week. And it is not that the person making the resolution is not sincere. So what is the problem? When a person tries to "do better" on his own, he builds upon a foundation of sand that cannot support him. Our firm foundation is Christ, and all other works that we try to do ourselves without him are "filthy rags". You can not use him just for the things that you need and then drop him off like a garment that your are finished with, but you can come to him in sincerity for the help you need in your life. If there are things about yourself that you would like to be different, look to the One that can change your life completely. He will not take the cigarette out of your mouth or lock up your computer so you cannot use it for sinful purposes, but he will give you the courage and reason to persevere and live a good life. He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28) Jesus is all that you need!

After Christmas Weariness

Christmas can really be stressful, even though we try our hardest not to let be that way.  I read this poem in "Streams in the Desert" on December 23rd and thought it may be a blessing to you.  Enjoy!

Too Tired To Trust

I'm too tired to trust and too tired to pray,

Said I, as my overtaxed strength gave way.

The one conscious thought that my mind possessed,

Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest.

Will God forgive me, do you suppose,

If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,

Without questioning if I may,

Without even trying to trust and pray?

Will God forgive you? Think back, dear heart,

When language to you was an unknown art,

Did your mother deny you needed rest,

Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

Did she let you want when you could not ask?

Did she give her child an unequal task?

Or did she cradle you in her arms,

And then guard your slumber against alarms?

Oh, how quickly a mother's love can see,

The unconscious yearnings of infancy.

When you've grown too tired to trust and pray,

When overworked nature has quite given way:

Then just drop it all, and give up to rest,

As you used to do on mother's breast,

He knows all about it--the dear Lord knows,

So just go to sleep as a baby goes;

Without even asking if you may,

God knows when His child is too tired to pray.

He judges not solely by uttered prayer,

He knows when the yearnings of love are there.

He knows you do pray, He knows you do trust,

And He knows, too, the limits of poor, weak dust.

Oh, the wonderful sympathy of Christ,

For His chosen ones in that midnight tryst,

When He told them, "Sleep and take your rest,"

While on Him the guilt of the whole world pressed--

You have trusted your life to Him to keep,

Then don't be afraid to go right to sleep.

~ Ella Conrad Cowherd

Straight Paths Bible Church
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