Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Fork



~ A Young Woman and Her Fork ~

The following is from an unknown source.

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live.  So as she was getting her things ‘in order,’ she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what Scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.  Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

“There's one more thing,” she said excitedly…  “What's that?” came the Pastor's reply?  “This is very important,” the young woman continued.  I want to be buried with a fork in my Right hand.”

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.  “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the young woman asked.
  Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the Pastor.

The young woman explained.  “My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.  In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, “Keep your fork.”  It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.  Something wonderful, and with substance!”

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder “What's with the fork?”  Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork… the best is yet to come!

The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye.  He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death.  But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.  She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge.  She knew that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.  Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?”  And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.  He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.  He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right.  So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.  The best is yet to come!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Keep Christ’s Words



~ 7 Ways Christians Should Keep Christ’s Words ~

Key Passage  ~  “[Jesus said,] ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.  A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live also.  At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’   Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me” (John 14:15-24). 

Keep Christ’s Words Faithfully  ~   example:  Like Adam was to keep the Garden of Eden.  “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:15-17). 

Keep Christ’s Words Constantly  ~  example:  Like the Lord keeps us.  “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.  Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them.  Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me” (Psalm 17:6-9). 

Keep Christ’s Words Completely  ~  example:  Like the Levites kept the charge of the tabernacle.  “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.  And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle.  Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle” (Numbers 3:5-8).  “Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them” (Numbers 3:31).
“‘And from the children of Israel’s half you shall take one of every fifty, drawn from the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep, from all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.’  So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses” (Numbers 31:30-31).  “And from the children of Israel’s half Moses took one of every fifty, drawn from man and beast, and gave them to the Levites, who kept charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses” (Numbers 31:47).

Keep Christ’s Words Diligently  ~  example:  Like Jonathan did in looking out for David’s enemies.  “So Jonathan told David, saying, ‘My father Saul seeks to kill you.  Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide” (1 Samuel 19:2).  

Keep Christ’s Words Vigilantly  ~  example:  Like Saul’s messengers watched for David.  “Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning.  And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, ‘If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.’  So Michal let David down through a window.  And he went and fled and escaped” (1 Samuel 19:11-12). 

Keep Christ’s Words Attentively  ~  example:  Like the example of a Godly man.  “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace” (Psalm 37:37).  

Keep Christ’s Words Carefully  ~  example:  Like God did for Israel in bringing them to Canaan.  “So the people answered and said: ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed.  And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land.  We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God’” (Joshua 24:16-18). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Monday, May 29, 2017

Identity in Christ, 124



~ I Am Able to Access Abundant Mercy ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  
(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.
(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 
(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.  I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 
(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .