Sunday, April 16, 2006

HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!!

RESURRECTION DAY!
DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY APRIL 16, 2006
(Matthew 28:5-7)

HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!! Today, marks the greatest historical event in human history...the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The reason the resurrection of Jesus is the greatest historical event is because it is the absolute key to our faith. Paul said in his first letter to the church at Corinth in the 15th chapter, that if Christ did not rise from the dead, then we are still dead in our sin and most vain of all. However, if He did rise from the dead, then we have the assurance our sins are forgiven and of everlasting life.

You see, Jesus is either the biggest fraud in the history of mankind or He is exactly who He claims to be...the Son of God. The resurrection is the key event.

The historical evidence of Christ's resurrection is irrefutable. The fact that he died on a Roman cross, the claims of followers seeing the risen Lord, evidence of the empty tomb, the inability of the Jewish leaders to disprove the resurrection claims in the very city Jesus died and was buried, and the radical transformation in the lives of His disciples are all well documented. His disciples went from being normal men concerned only about there own welfare from the night Jesus was arrested, to bold preachers who were willing to die for their faith. You also have Jesus' own predictions of His resurrection as well as the fact that soon after was the birth of the Christian church that started meeting on Sunday. That is significant since these were monotheistic Jews who were used to worshipping on Saturday.

My friend, the Christian faith has never meant to be a blind leap in the dark. God never asked His children to just believe without any evidence of what we believe in. He has given us plenty of tangible historical evidence to help us know without a doubt that what is in His inspired, inerrant Word is the ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Absolute truth that you can stake your very life on. Of course, once we get to the point we accept the resurrection as a fact, and we accept His Word as TRUTH, it then demands that we totally and unconditionally surrender our very life to Him.

That becomes the logical conclusion of this spiritual journey. Because you see, it is not our life any longer, it belongs to Him. Our purpose is to simply serve and glorify Him with our lives. I pray that on this day in which we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, you will recommit your life to Him. We can all do better. None of us have given it ALL to Him...we can give Him more. Make this day the day that you realize that Jesus rose from the dead, to insure that you will live for eternity with Him if you have accepted Him into your heart and life by faith.

I love you and care about you so very much. I pray you have a wonderful Resurrection Day. For those traveling to be with your family, you will be in my prayers for a safe journey. May you be richly blessed as we stand together to proclaim to this hurting and dying world that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings....HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

http://www.liveprayer.com/devotional.htm

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Nail in the Fence - The Holes of Life

Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.

(Most importantly the last sentence)

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.

"A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."

One of my best friends sent this to me!

Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole.

Lessons Learned

As I sit in deep thought from time to time; many things flood my mind. I would like to share one in particular.

The pain of relationships! There are so many paining people who are currently in or have been privy to very bad relationships. Many have had one bad experience after another. So many are crying for help; it seems like a never ending process!

This is what I have learned in life! Before I purchase any product, I conduct extensive research, validating it before allowing its access to my home.

As sad as it may sound, many relationships start out merely on how one look; people fail to get all the facts about their gaining lover. Before long the calls arrive from the other men or women (This addresses both man and woman), but all the drama could have been avoided if only we would have checked a little closer before allowing him or her home privileges.

To add a few other facts to the madness, most relationships fail because your gaining lover never properly disconnected from the previous relationship. In addition to that, many people out there cheat on their wives, husbands or significant other; what make you think they are going to be real with you? Just a thought!

Want a good relationship? Invest a little time and effort, don’t be sold by looks alone; this kind of behavior is like shopping for a vehicle, you’re drawn to it because it look good, but when you investigate a little closer, the engine is no good.

Ladies and gentlemen, its time for hard love decisions! Stop test driving; find the person that want to be with you, he or she is out there – stop running after someone who could care less about what your feelings are! This may hurt for a moment, but if processed, it could save your very life. Be blessed!

Daddy's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.

Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.

What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.

And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.

About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.

Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats One by one the teacher called a student from the class; to introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare; each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.

“Where's her daddy at?” she heard a boy call out.
"
She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, "Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom; and looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak, and out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away, but I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know; all about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone; and though you cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone.

“Because my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart.”

With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest, feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears, proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life, doing what was best for her, doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd, she finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.

I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star, and if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far. You see he was a policeman and died just this past year when airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.”

And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day, and to her mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise; a room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them, who know what they felt inside, perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out, and what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed, but there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star, and given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget, it's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends.

Take the time...to live and love! Until eternity, God bless!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

My prayers go out to all of our soldiers, spouses, and their children’s for their sacrifice. In addition, I pray for our firemen, policemen, and anyone who try to keep the peace. May we work together while we are able, so that children everywhere can live in peace, the way our Father designed it. God Bless All!

A quarter too much...

Several years ago, a new preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver with a smile replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test! Always be on guard and remember (as I try to remember) that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

~Sara H. Stewart~
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I hope you all have a blessed life!!!

Mothers out their should enjoy this!

Being a Mom.....
or Mom's as Beings....
Answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.
==============================
THE MOMMY TEST
I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

"Why?" my daughter asked.

"Because it's been laying outside, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs" I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Wow! How do you know all this stuff?"

"Uh," ...I was thinking quickly,” All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.

"OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy."

"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.