Potluck

We've all been there..... Its party time and its potluck style. Everyone is supposed to bring a dish to share. When its time to sit down to the meal you realize there are 10 bags of chips and some potato salad. Not much of a meal. No one is satisfied. Everyone makes with some small talk and quickly bows out to get something more substantial.

Potluck number one: Nobody is in control. Its like when we were kids and we thought it would be cool to party. A party without control was never fun. They are full of sexual immorality and drunkenness. They are full of a bunch of people who don't really care about you. These people bring alcohol and drugs as their dish to share. Too much "pot" and no luck. Girls losing their virginity to a boy they never met. Crying inside as they give up the innocence they will never get back.  Boys forcing themselves onto girls too messed up to stop them. Getting excited to have such power. Excited for this sexual pleasure, not realizing they are destroying someone else.  Young people choking on their own vomit. Kids so drunk they fall asleep outside and die from hypothermia. Huge fights break out. Kids get hurt. People make mistakes that put them in the hospital, give them STDs or babies. Mistakes that end their life. I've been part of these potlucks and have know firsthand the life changing effects of living without control.

Potluck number two: The event is organized by the wrong person. This potluck seems better than the first but is still a mess.You have much to choose from but still are hungry. This potluck is organized by false prophets. The people that tell you its ok to be self seeking. They have more than the booze and drugs you've learned not to let tempt you. They bring idolatry, hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition, greed, lies and false promises of self fulfilling desires. This potluck is selling salvation at a discounted price. You can cheat on your spouse- they don't fully love you the way you deserve to be loved. You can steal from your employer- they aren't paying you what you deserve anyway. You can avoid talking to your children about your past mistakes and addictions- they will live and learn just the way you did. You don't have to follow the teachings of the gospels- its not like living the "perfect" way has given you anything extra. You are still broke, still sick, still stressing on each day. You can have anything you desire with little responsibility.... and its going for the low, low price of just your soul!!!! Act now and they will throw in Hell for your children at no additional cost.

Potluck number three: God is throwing the party!!!! Now this is satisfaction. Your cup is full and your harvest is plentiful. When we let God have the control. When we let him organize the events in our life. We become so satisfied with our dish. He will put people in your life that have the right treats. Friends who share kindness, joy, love, patience, generosity, goodness, faithfulness, and self control. These dishes will fill you. They are the fruits of the spirit. They satisfy you and please the lord. When you are at a God potluck you are blessed. Your children are blessed. No, maybe you don't have a lot of money. Maybe your still taking your child to the cancer center waiting for more test. But having a loving God who promises a new body for that child in an eternity of joy should fill your soul with peace. When you feel that you are last in the line of life stay faithful.Realize he who is last shall be made first, and he who is first shall be made last. Do not be dis concerned for that which you don't have instead eat of the fruits of the spirit. Find peace in the rewards that await. The promises made by God spoken through his Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
    

³Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,

for they will be filled.

⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

Now, who wants to go to a real potluck?

If you're hungry, its time to ask the Lord to fill you up!

Sail or Sink, now that is the question

 We live each day knowing that there are low and high tides. Sometimes it seems everything is going our way. You know the "hot streak" so to speak. You land the job, buy the house, everything is smooth sailing. Then inevitably the wind comes..... you lose your job. Then the rain comes.... You can't pay your bills, lose the new car, lose the house. And Here comes the storm.... Your spouse is so stressed they quick paying attention to the kids. The kids are so angry they start using drugs, sneaking out in search of affection in lustful arms. Your life is in a Hurricane.

Wouldn't it be great if in the middle of a hurricane we were able to stop the storm like Jesus did. Just say stop and it all calms and we're back in smooth sailing again. Sometimes when we are caught in the whirlwind of life its hard to see the peace. Its nearly impossible to believe things will be good again.

I can think of different storms in my life. Today I was thinking back to some of the life altering choices I have made. You know those shoulda woulda coulda mistakes. The ones that start to give you anxiety just thinking of them. Then I had a peace come over me. I had a message laid on me. In those moments although I couldn't stop the storm I wasn't alone. Even though It was rough and I wanted to give up God was with me. The great thing about asking Jesus into your heart is he doesn't run back out. once you've let him in he doesn't leave. You never have to face another storm alone.

Sail or Sink? Was that the question? hmmmm.......
Jump Ship..... I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. As he is in me he gives me the strength to walk on water until I am out of the storm!