One day a father of a rich family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family.
When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, “Well, what did you think, son? How was the trip?”
“Very good, Dad!”
“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.
“Yeah!”
“And what did you learn?”
The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden. They have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden. They have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.”
As the little boy finished, his father was speechless.
Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!”
The whole congregation of the Israelites [grew discontented and] murmured and rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,and the Israelites said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger.” (To understand Israel’s rebellious behavior, it is important to grasp the contrast between life in Egypt and nomadic life in the wilderness. Despite the hardships of slavery survival was not an issue in Egypt, where they were guaranteed food and other necessities. But the desert wilderness was hostile and unforgiving, and survival was an art. Desert nomads needed to understand the wilderness in order to stay alive; they had to learn, among other things, how to protect themselves from the weather, where to find water and pasture, and how to find and prepare scarce food, or live primarily from what their livestock could provide them. So the Israelites viewed every new problem they faced as life-threatening. Instead of looking back and taking comfort from God’s earlier miracles, they doubted God’s ability and willingness to help them. Their fears and doubts subsequently came to be expressed as irrational anger toward Moses. ) Exodus 16:2-3 Holy Bible Amplified Version
How many of us ask Jehovah for something but are never satisfied?
We ask for a job but when we get one we do not like the work because it is too hard or it is too boring.
We ask for a place to live but it is too far from the bus stop or grocery store or park.
We ask for direction in life but it is not where we want to go.
We desire good Christian friends but can always find fault with them.
I think the real reason we are discontented is because of greed. We want the best and nothing less is good enough for us.
Jehovah blesses with what we need not always with what we want. Joseph son of Jehovah
That is the ultimate insult of ungratefulness and a huge slap in the face to our loving generous Father in Heaven. More so for those of us that have walked with Christ for any length of time and so can reflect back at His previous provisions for us. Peevish discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it but that it is too good for them.
Those that might be very happy often make themselves very miserable by their discontents. Matthew Henry
Prayer: Please Jehovah Heseh (God is love) bless me to always have a grateful heart towards you and those around me for all the wonderful blessings You and those around me share with me every day. I ask this in the name of the greatest blessing of which I am eternally grateful for Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8 New International Version
The pig of course is its happiest when it is wallowing in the mud.
When do you think the cat is the happiest?
When it is laying contentedly in the warm sunlight of course.
So too it is with people. There are those who are quite content to wallow in sin. When they see a Christian living a godly life they snort and laugh at us. If you try to coax a pig into the sunlight it will viciously fight you. . There are some that after you share Jesus with them and they refuse you have to walk away. No matter what you do they refuse to come into the light.
Christians are the most contented when they are basking in the warmth of Christ’s love. Joseph- Anthony: Green
Just as mud is disgusting to a cat, so too is a sinful life to a Christian A Christian must avoid fellowship with those in the filth of sin less they be drawn into it. That does not mean we are to refuse to talk with them. It does mean when they want to live the sinful lifestyle like using drugs we are to run away.
Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more.’ José Mujica Uruguayan president gives his wages to the poor.
Prayer: Please Jehovah Rohi (God our Sheppard) please guide me to those living in the filth of sin and provide the opportunity to guide them into Your beautiful sunlight of love. If they enjoy the filth, give me the strength and wisdom to walk away knowing there is nothing I can say or do to change their ways. Thank you my beloved for Your wonderful warm sunshine of love that has blessed me so much. I ask this in the name of He who is the light of the world Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day.
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:17-18 New King James Version
Just think of the amazing blessing Jesus preformed in healing the lepers. They were ostracized from society yet with their cure they could go back to their family and friends.
Yet how many showed Him gratitude for His awesome blessings?
Only one.
So when you do something good for someone, do not be surprised if the majority do not thank you, they did it to Jesus as well.
Just be comforted in knowing that Jehovah knows what you did and you will be rewarded in Heaven for your graciousness. It will be a jewel that is placed in your crown that Jesus will place upon your head in Heaven.
As well, give thanks for the opportunity to show kindness to others as Christ did for you with His sacrifice.
I personally just quietly praise the Lord for an opportunity to show His divine love through me, His humble servant. Then, there is no room for anger if I am slighted for the act of kindness I show others.
Prayer: Please Jehovah Chanan (God is gracious) remind me to thank you every day for the abundant blessings You graciously shower upon me. Please remind me my love that the ultimate purpose for sharing with others as You have shared with me is to bring You glory and heal the injury inflicted by the calloused ones that take the gifts for granted. I humbly beseech You in the name of He whose innumerous gifts were taken for granted when He walked amongst us Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 New King James Version
We must go on Jehovahs time not our own.
The quickest way to disaster is to go on my time and not Gods. Joseph- Anthony: Green
When I first became a Christian I wanted to go out and share the message with everyone, even though I was not mature enough to do it. As a consequence I failed miserably.
It took my King another eight years of preparing me before He assigned to me the task he had prepared for me to do in service unto Him. Then when I did receive His commission I did not want to go.
It is the same in every aspect of life. We must wait for His timing not our own.
This applies to waiting for marriages (think of how many divorces there are because folks got married before they were mature enough or until the right mate came along).
The same could be said for having children. How much less child abuse would there be if unsuitable parents never had children or waited until they were mature enough to handle being a parent?
You name it and we must wait for the appropriate season in our lives whether it be a career or service unto our Master.
Following the Masters leading detours us around a lot of pit falls. Joseph- Anthony: Green
Prayer: Please Jehovah Jireh (God our provider) bless me with patience and strength to wait upon You time in Your way to provide for me the blessings You desire. I humbly pray in the name of He who waited centuries before He provided salvation for us on the cross Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day
I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken. Psalm37:25 New King James Version
To be a servant of Jesus means we give up a lot of the worlds luxuries and most times just survive, all be it comfortably but frugally.
This is good because we learn to depend upon Jehovah for our daily needs. Because He generously supplies them we grow deeper and deeper in love with Him and develop a deeper respect for Him.
As we age and are no longer able to serve Him as we did when young we have no government pension to fall back on and most times no savings in the bank.
Through His love and grace Jehovah always supplies for us in our old age just as He did in our younger days.
Three times I worked hard, lived frugally and saved.
Three times I was wiped out. Since living for Christ, He has always supplied my every need (not necessarily my every want but definitely my every need).
Now I am getting old and my chance of getting a good work contract is nil.
In fear of my future I prayed to Him about my future with no money and no job.
Each time I did, there was a dream where I was led into an apartment. It was comfortable and spacious but the one thing there always hit me was the cupboards were always full and the lady that led there would look at me and smile and say:” This is yours.” She said it like I was not renting or purchasing the place but rather that is was given for me to live in all the rest of my days. Then I would wake up.
That day while doing Bible reading a verse like the one in this article would jump out at me.
I like Jehovahs retirement plan.
“Live to please God, and He will breathe on thee His peace. Seek His glory, and He will make thy heart His home. Do His will, and thereby good shall come to thee.” F. B. Meyer
Prayer: Thank You Jehovah Jireh (God our provider) for always providing for Your child in his service to his loving King. Thank you for promising and keeping Your promise to always take care of Your children whom You cherish so deeply. I give thanks for this blessing in the name of He who taught about the birds in the sky Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17 New King James Version
covet: to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately Mirriam Webster Dictionary
How much unhappiness is in our world today because everybody is trying to keep up with the Jones?
How much anger is there in the world because of jealousy?
Why not look at all the blessings Jesus has abundantly blessed you with?
If you are not grateful for all the little blessing Jehovah abundantly gives you every day, why should He give you big blessings?
In the western world so many people think they are hard done by. Go and live in a third world and you will be jealous of how content they are with the smallest of blessings.
I know, I have lived in both worlds.
I love to begin and end every day with thanking my Beloved for all the wonderful gives He generously blesses me with every day.
“Lord Jesus, You have given so much to me. . . . Give me one thing more—a grateful heart. Amen.” George Herbert
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Emunah (God is faithful) for faithfully blessing me every day for that days needs. I exalt You in the name of He who provided food for the two thousand Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. Psalms 16:8-9 New King James Version
To set the Lord before me indicated that we are following the Lords path in our life. The right hand is the one of honesty and strength.
Therefore these verses indicates that we trust and obey the Lords leading and we are not moved by others opinions or motives.
I do not conform to what others think I ought to do but rather to what I know Jehovah has made me to do. Joseph- Anthony: Green
As a consequence of this our hearts are filled with gladness and we know that our glory comes from Christ so we rejoice in His divine leading and strength in our lives.
Our hope is not like hoping to win a lottery (good luck) but rather in the assurance of a rock solid guarantee.
The guarantee of course is confidence that we have a calling, we are walking in that calling, and the Lord provides for us in that calling.
As a result of this we have a guarantee of a permanent Heavenly reward which brings joy to our spirit.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus Rohi (Jesus our great Sheppard) for blessing me with a divine calling and the Heavenly joy that comes with walking this path with You. I exalt You in Your magnificent name. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day.
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy Romans 9:16 New International Version
Most times when we are younger we are cocky and depend upon ourselves more than we depend upon Jehovah.
As the years pass and we reflect how much our Beloved was walking with us through our trials and tribulations we respect and love Him more.
As we age we come to the realization that we will not be one this earth much longer and we have more aches and pains. We depend more upon our Cherished one and long to be with Him.
As a consequence growing older brings us closer to God.
Reflecting back I see a slow progression from self dependence to God dependence in my life. As well I see a deeper love, respect and admiration for my Beloved. I have grown closer to Him than I have with anybody or anything else. The consequence is a lot more peace, security and serenity in my life.
When the time comes for us to depart this world and we are laying in bed wondering if Jesus is real, if Heaven is real and if we are going to a Heavenly home the Holy Spirit comes to comfort and encourage us.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7 New International Version
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Chanan (God is gracious) for Your magnificent awesome infinite grace You have so richly showered upon me. Thank you for the comfort and encouragement of the Heavenly home You have so lovingly prepared for me to experience an eternity of love, joy, peace and good health with the one I so deeply love and long to live with. I exalt You in the name of my Heavenly king who is patiently waiting to greet me home Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 New King James Version
covetousness: feeling or showing a very strong desire for something that you do not have and especially for something that belongs to someone else Merriam- Webster dictionary
I have met many that have sacrificed their families and their health because of the disease of covetousness. They spend so much time working just because of their insatiable lust for more, more, more. It is an addiction. It never ends. Then one day when they are old before their time and the children have moved away and no longer keep in contact with the parents who were strangers to them because the spent their lives addicted to their lust they look around and see it was all for nothing.
I have seen many homes filled with many expensive inornate objects yet felt empty because there was no love there.
They have wasted away their lives and are as phony as a three dollar bill.
I cannot wait to get away from them.
I have met people who use old pickle jars to drink out of and their furniture looks like they picked it up out of a junk yard. Yet, they are very content with their lives because they walk close with Jesus. Their hearts are hearts of gold. I look forward to spending time with them.
Which one are you?
Prayer: Please Jehovah Jireh (God our provider) bless me to be content and appreciative with Your abundant blessings in my daily life. Please help me to stay focused on being rich spiritually in Your world instead of the worthless material wealth in this world. I humbly beseech You in the name o the richest king Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day
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