Making the Most of Life

Making the Most of Life

The Meaning of Opportunities

Excerpts from J.R. Miller

The real problem of living, therefore, is how to take what the hours bring. He who does this, will live nobly and faithfully, and will fulfill God’s plan for his life. The difference in men is not in the opportunities that come to them, but in their use of their opportunities. Many people who fail to make much of their life, charge their failure to the lack of opportunities. They look at one who is continually doing good and beautiful things, or great and noble things, and think that he is specially favoured, that the chances which come to him for such things are exceptional. Really, however, it is in his capacity for seeing and accepting what the hours bring of duty or privilege that his success lays. Where other men see nothing, he sees a battle to fight, a duty to perform, a service to render, or an honour to win. Many a man waits long for opportunities, wondering why they never come to him, when really they have been passing by him day after day, unrecognized and unaccepted.

"They perish, and are set down to our account”

There is something truly startling in this irreparableness of the past, this irrevocableness of the losses which we have suffered through our follies or our sins. About two centuries ago a great sun dial was erected in All Soul’s College, Oxford, England, the largest and noblest dial; it is said, in the whole kingdom. Over the long pointer were written, in large letters of gold, the Latin words, referring to the hours, “Pereunt et imputantur.” Literally the meaning is, “They perish, and are set down to our account” or, as they have been rendered in terser phrase, “They are wasted, and are added to our debt.”

It is said that these words on the dial have exerted a wonderful influence on the boyhood of many of the distinguished men who have received their training at Oxford, stimulating them to the most conscientious use of the golden hours as they passed, and bearing fruit in long lives of earnestness and faithfulness. The lesson is one that every young person should learn. In youth the hours are full of privileges. They come like angels, holding in their hands rich treasures, sent to us from God, which they offer to us; and if we are laggard or indolent, or if we are too intent on our own little trifles to give welcome to these heavenly messengers with their heavenly gifts, they quickly pass on and are gone. And they never come back again to renew the offer.
On the dial of a clock in the palace of Napoleon at Malmaison, the maker has put the words, “Non nescit reverti”; “It does not know how to go backward.” It is so of the great clock of Time – it never can be turned backward. The moments come to us but once; whatever we do with them we must do as they pass, for they will never come to us again.

"Then privilege makes responsibility."

We shall have to give account to God for all that he sends to us by the mystic hands of the passing hours, and which we refuse or neglect to receive. “They are wasted and are added to our debt.”

It's a New Day!

Just some thoughts from my journal

It's a New Day Indeed! 

Every morning God renews his mercies to us. And I am not going to worry because God is in control. I think I now know what it means, if not what it means at least one reason why it is necessary to meditate on God's word and speak it to yourself. Doing so produces a steadfastness and hope in Jesus, overcoming worries, anxiety, and the contemplation of negative thoughts. Thank you Jesus!

Taking Captive My Thoughts

If I allow my negative thoughts of doubt, discouragement, and pessimism to control the better portion of the day, I'm surely not adding even one hour to my life. But if I take captive my thoughts for Christ and preach to myself what God calls the Christian to meditate on, all my anxiety, fear, and worry will be banished into everlasting darkness where it belongs. 

Light Has No Fellowship With Darkness

What fellowship does darkness have with light? Absolutely none! I am not allowed, get that, NOT ALLOWED to let my negative thoughts of doubt, discouragement, and pessimism reign free. If I do I am disobeying God. He tells me to meditate on His word day and night. This includes preaching to yourself by thinking, talking, writing, sharing, singing, and any other form of communicating. This does not mean that you are not allowed to say or do things that you need to do for work or other activities as long as they are in accordance with God's law. Whenever negative thoughts start to manifest themselves, it is then and there that the law of God comes down and chops the head off of worry, chops the head off of doubt, chops the head off of anxiety, chops the head off that beast of pessimism. God is victorious in putting to death our darling sins. Don't cling to your sins of unbelief! Take the sword of the Spirit, the law/word of God, and slay your sins. Preach the word, use the sword of the law to accomplish victory in the name of Christ. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Victory in Jesus, Victory in Jesus is the SHOUT! Amen and Amen!

Salvation Is Today

Today God will deliver me from all my enemies! Today is the day of salvation. I'm not allowed to worry! Jesus evidently thinks this is important or else it would not have been in the sermon on the mount. When I worry, what I am saying is that worry and anxiety are my gods. Worry and anxiety are bad task masters. They are a work of the flesh and God calls me to take up the sword of the Spirit and hack them to pieces just as Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 

Christmas in Herman Park 2011

This is a brief 11 minute message presented at the City of Goldsboro's Christmas in Herman Park 2011. Reading the story of that first Christmas as revealed in Luke chapter 2, then briefly explaining why the righteousness of Jesus has great implications for our lives today, just as it did for the original hearers. And a closing prayer by J.R. Miller called "A Prayer for Christmas Day."

A Husband's Part

Just a brief snippet from J.R. Miller's "The Family" (a.k.a home-making) on the husband's part.

"Yet there are men who would not willingly tread upon a crawling insect or worm, who would not injure a dumb animal nor needlessly hurt any of the lowest of God's creatures, who every day bring many a pang to the heart of the tender, faithful, loving wife of their bosom by their sharp words or their impatient looks or acts.

The trouble is that men fall into free and careless habits at home. They are not so in society; they are gentle to other women. They pride themselves on their thoughtfulness. They are careful not even by tone or look to hurt a sensitive spirit. But at home too often they are rude, careless in speech and heedless of the effect of their words and actions. They blurt out in their own houses the ill-humor they have suppressed all day on the street. They answer proper questions in an irritated tone. The speak impatiently on the slightest provocation. They are sullen, morose and unsocial."

Miller evidently experienced what most, if not all, husbands fail in their duty to succumb. He writes so that we may be cautioned and take heed not to fall prey to our hard, impenitent hearts. These are great words of truth that every husband (or future husband) should take to heart.

Childbearing and Birth Control

What is God's will for a Christian couple in regards to childbearing and birth control? I came across an interesting analogy that sheds a little light:

"The fruit of the ground is a reward and a blessing."

"The fruit of the womb is a reward and a blessing."

If a farmer plants as many seeds as he can without consideration for the ground, the health of the plants, etc.
...and thinks the fruit of the ground should be God's area and we should NOT get involved whatsoever in the number of seeds planted, or the spacing of the seeds, or the size of the garden which he can reasonably and responsibly care for...

...the seeds will produce fruit of course (it is the nature of the creation) and he will have more plants!

However, the ground will suffer, the plants will not be healthy (because there are not enough nutrients in the soil to supply that many plants), and the plants will ultimately be neglected since there are more plants than the farmer has time to weed, prune, fertilize, and care for.

Likewise...

If a man plants as many seeds in the womb without consideration for his wife's body (the ground), the health, training, discipling, educating, providing, and loving of the children, etc. and thinks the womb should be God's area and he and his wife (the farmers) should not get involved in the consideration of the number of seeds planted, or the spacing of the plants (children), or the size of the garden (family) which they can reasonably care for, the seeds will produce fruit (children--it is the nature of the creation)...

...they will have more children.

However, the wife's body will suffer as well as her emotional state, the children will not be healthy (because there is not enough emotional, spiritual, and physical nutrients in the parents to supply that many plants/children), and the children will ultimately be neglected to some degree since there are more children than the couple have time, energy, and resources to weed (rebuke), prune (discipline), fertilize (teach, train, disciple), and care for (love and meet their emotional needs).

The farmer is responsible before God to be a good steward of his land and the fruit of the land.

The husband and wife are responsible before God to be a good steward of the womb and the fruit of the womb.

They are responsible in God's Word to provide for them, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, keep their hearts turned to each of them, and provide a rich example of the love of Christ for the church as the children observe their love for each other and how they relate to each other.

Therefore, since we want to walk in a manner worthy of Christ and the gospel, we must have the same attitude as He had (emptying ourselves, humbly serving, and willing to lay down our lives for others) and to think about the interests of others (our wives/husbands first, and then the other children) more than our own interests (reputation or self-esteem or own desires).

Parents should remember, having children is not about them, it's about Christ. And if all of life is about Christ, then it is about others. So the question about how many children should a couple have can only be answered by each couple accurately understanding their abilities, gifting, health, and God's provision with an attitude of stewardship before God for His glory.

One farmer may have planted 10,000 seeds in his plot and there stands 10,000 stunted corn plants because the farmer did not accurately assess what the ground could supply and he care for.

Another farmer may have planted 1000 seeds in his plot and there stands 1000 healthy, fruitful corn plants because the farmer did accurately assess what the ground could supply and he care for.

Which farmer brings more glory to God in his stewardship?

One husband plants as many seeds as he feels like and his wife allows in her womb and there stands # of children (the number is not important) emotionally, spiritually, physically, neglected children because the couple did not accurately assess what they could reasonably care for.

One husband plants seeds wisely and lovingly guided by the Holy Spirit in the womb of his wife and there stands # of children (the number is not important) emotionally, spiritually, physically healthy children because the couple did accurately assess what they could reasonably care for with the Lord's fulness and strength.

Which couple brings more glory to God in their stewardship?

One couple may not pray or seek the Lord in his (their) stewardship because the law (what is being taught by some as God's law) is "have as many children as God wants you to have". On the other hand, another may have their children conceived and birthed out of faith in fellowship and prayer with Jesus Christ. They may have 1 child after many attempts or they may have 10, but they come together freely and with excitement because they are living by the Spirit, in fellowship with God, and with His attitude for His glory.

So the most important consideration isn't how large the family is, but are they walking by faith, in love with God, living with the attitude of Christ for His glory..."

A couple can have only a few (or no children) out of a heart of selfishness, AND a couple can have many children out of a heart of selfishness. God isn't looking at numbers, or lack there of, He is looking at our hearts. He is looking to see His name glorified, whether it be a couple is led to have 2, 4, or 8, etc. He is desiring us to follow His leading to be good stewards and to be responsible to raise our children for Him and with a heart to love Him and others.

This article is a great encouragement to me - one, because I believe that the fruit of the womb is a reward/blessing from the Lord - yet at the same time, we as a couple are called to be responsible before Him, to seek Him, to fellowship with Him, to ask His will (as a couple) in regards to the size of our family and to live by the Holy Spirit and not out of law.

We are to love God and love others and walk this out in all areas of our life. One thing that constantly motivates me in my motherhood calling is to be a good steward of the children I have. Whether that number is 2 for some, or more for some, we have a calling as parents - in God's Word - to provide for them, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, keep our hearts turned to each of them, and provide a rich example of the love of Christ for the church through our marriage.

This can ONLY be done out of a relationship with Jesus... a living, daily relationship with Jesus Christ that is the real deal.

Motherhood is a calling that cannot be achieved for His glory without first acknowledging that it cannot be done without HIM! Click here to continue reading...

Crown Rights Media

A good friend of mine, Marcus Pittman, has started a ministry called Crown Rights Media. He uses "creative media as a tool to restore the Crown Rights of Christ to his rightful place in all areas of life." God has gifted Marcus with the ability to skillfully and creatively use technology and media for Christ's kingdom. Marcus is currently working on a project called the Open Air Preacher profile series. The video below, is an example of some fruit coming forth from Crown Rights Media. God is doing some great things!

I would like you to prayerfully consider supporting Crown Rights Media, with prayers and donations. Producing video is not cheap and takes financial resources to make it happen. Not only does it cost for video equipment and computers, but travelling expenses to document and produce. Crown Rights Media is currently in need of a few items:

1. Firewire Hard drives

2. Computer memory

3. Wireless lapel microphone

Donations to support the project can be made right from his blog http://crownrightsmedia.blogspot.com/

You can also follow Marcus on Facebook by pressing the like button for Crown Rights Media page. This will keep you informed on how the project is coming along.

Thanks Marcus, for your joyful and diligent work in serving King Jesus!! And your desire to see the nations worshipping Him!!

America's Holocaust

IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THIS 30MIN MOVIE--WATCH IT NOW!