The World Keeps On Changing

It was nice when I was little. I knew my dad was better than your dad. I knew there would be food on the table every evening at 5:30. I knew, no matter what, that as long as my dad was there I was going to be ok.
Now that I am older, my dad has gone to be with my Father and while some things have changed, some things will never change. I know my Father is great and worthy of praise. I know my Father knows my needs and cares for me. I know my Father is with me, no matter what and at the end of this life, He will welcome me home.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

“Us and Them” Something to think about.

In Your Health Al Hinman writes:
“A spotless kitchen may harbor as many bacteria as a less tidy one, says a surprising new finding from the University of Arizona, in Tucson. That’s because the most germ-laden object in a kitchen is often the sponge. Researchers tested sponges and dishrags collected from five hundred kitchens across the U.S. and found that as many as one out of five contained salmonella bacteria. Almost two thirds had as least some other bacteria that, when ingested, could make people ill.”
Some attempts to cleanse can cause more harm than good. So it is when a pharisaical attitude prevails. Condemnation, self-righteousness, and judgmentalism are the salmonella of the soul.
Gal 6:1-2
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (NIV)
Just something to think about.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER

Last Sunday at the Brownwood Skilled Nursing devotional, we sang an old song that has a great message.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
These words, written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855, have a great message and I have been moved to meditate on them several times since that devotional.
How often do I see prayer as a Christian obligation instead of an intimate privilege? How often do I hurry in and hurry out of my prayers? How often do I wring my hands in worry instead of folding them in prayer?
Jesus said in Matt 11:28-29
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” NIV
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Set your desires

Over and over in scripture we are given instruction on how to reach our eternal destination with God. (Col 3:2)"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Matt 6:33)"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Heb 12:2)"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,".
As a new driver discovers that the car tends to go where they are looking, so our lives tend to go in the direction our eyes (heart) are looking. What is it that you are longing for? What is it you have set your sites on? What is so important to you that you can not keep it to yourself? Does Jesus ever make it to your list?
When Peter was walking on the water, he took his eyes off of the Christ and he began to sink.
In this world full of sin, if we take our eyes off of the Christ, we will sink.
So let us set our minds, seek His kingdom and fix our eyes on the only one who gives the victory, Jesus Christ.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

The Grateful Heart.

Ps 97:10-12
Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
NIV
I love this time of year, not because of the great food, and not because of the presents. I love this time of year because it calls for reflection. We stop and reflect on the great blessings God has lavished on us.
God guards us, delivers us, shines His light on us and places joy in our hearts. Every day for a child of God is a day filled with thanksgiving.
I want to encourage you to intentionally set aside a little time each day and just praise His holy name.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Count Your Blessings

One of the “old” songs, I grew up singing, has this chorus,
“Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”
This song was published in 1897, one year after the first speeding fine was issued, one year after the third deadliest tornado in history hit St. Louis Missouri, one year after an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan and killed 27,000 people.
The world of 1897 and the world of 2011 have a lot of differences, but there are also a lot of similarities. This song reminds me that regardless of the time in which I live, God is always there and He has blessed me greatly.
Take some time today and offer thanks for what God has blessed you with.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

A Call To Focus

This past week I went to my sister-in-laws funeral. As a part of that celebration (and it really was a celebration) several women read from a book that Sharon had put together over several years. The book listed what Sharon believed. I was impressed that anyone would take the time and thought to list the bedrock beliefs that guided their life. I was so moved by the reading that I thought it would be good for me (everyone) to start my list of things I believe.

I Believe:
I believe Jesus is The Son of God.
I believe every word of the Bible is true.
I believe God created the world and everything that is.
I believe God knows my name.
I believe Jesus loves me.
I believe Jesus lived a perfect life.
I believe His Church is precious to Him.
I believe I am saved by grace through faith in Him.
I believe baptism is where I come in contact with the forgiving blood of Jesus Christ.
I believe in God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and even though I don't totally understand it, I believe they are one.
I believe God has placed His Holy Spirit inside me.
I believe God hears my prayers.
I believe God puts me where I need to be, in order to give Him glory.
I believe I am not alone.
I believe Jesus will return some day.
I believe He has prepared a place for me.
I believe I am forgiven.