Blog Archives - The Remarkable Blog

Jesus Principles (#30 in the Series)

5/15/2017

"A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." ~Billy Graham, Christian Evangelist and Author

“Is it not arrogance or narrow-mindedness to claim that there is only one way of salvation or that the way we follow is the right way? I think not. After all, do we fault a pilot for being narrow-minded when he follows the instrument panel [while] landing in a rainstorm? No, we want him to remain narrowly focused!” ~Billy Graham

I remember being in an outside auditorium in Florida with my brother and after Billy Graham gave his call to those in the audience to come to Christ my brother got up and went forward. I cried and thanked God that my little brother was going to be in Heaven with me one day. That was many many years ago. My brother has remained true to that decision throughout the years. He served our country in the Army and was deployed during the Iraq war. He has been a soldier in the army of the Lord as well as the US and has since retired as a Major but continues to serve the Lord in all he does.

2 Timothy 2:4 - No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

To be a great leader we must first learn to become a great follower. To be a great follower we must follow some one greater than ourselves. I pray that you make or have made the same decision my brother and I have made. Jesus said, "Come follow me..."

Jesus Principles (#29 in the Series)

5/12/2017

“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed....Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust." ~Elie Wiesel

“To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” ~Elie Wiesel

When I read the book written by Elie Wiesel titled "Night", I couldn't help but see it as a prophetic warning to all of us called according to Christ. We must not remain silent. We must remember all that Christ has done for us and make Him known to others. We remember Christ in communion when we take the bread and the wine but we need to make Him known in all that we do and all that we say. It is you. It is me. It is all of us together that need to let our light shine and drive out the darkness that seems to be suffocating us with every breath we breathe. We need to be the light of the world.

We are also called to be the Salt of the Earth. Salt is a preserving agent but it also makes one thirsty. When we are caught up to be with Christ in the clouds the preserving agent of this world will be gone. The time for us to cause the lost to thirst is now. Now is the time. Today is the day.

I encourage you to read this book. It will change your life. It will create an urgency of the day and hour in which we live.

2 Timothy 3: 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Live a life worthy of all that Christ has done for us. We are called. We are chosen. We are His hands and His feet and His mouth piece. Speak the truth in love loud and clear.

Jesus Principles (#28 in the Series)

5/11/2017

"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul." ~Douglas MacArthur

"The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war." ~Douglas MacArthur

Plenty of controversy surrounds this man's life. President Truman released him of his duties for insubordination in 1951. He was an amazing man who fought in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Having graduated from West Point with highest honors, he was brilliant yet controversial. He finally retired to private life but remained zealous for honor, country, and duty.

Warriors are warriors in their heart first. One has to believe in what he is fighting for. He, like King David must from deep within ask himself the question, "Is there not a cause?" When the answer to that question is settled then the want to and how to can be found.

God has called us into battle. He never promised us easy victory but instead promised us adversity and trials. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we have accepted all that goes with that. Yes, we know the war is won but many battles are yet to be fought.

Each day as you arise to a new horizon of friend or foe, you can read your battle plans and get your strategy from the Word of God and those that have fought before you.

Never give up. Never give in. We are more than victorious through Christ our Savior.

"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt;as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear;as young as your hope , as old as your despair." ~Douglas MacArthur

Jesus Principles (# 27 in the Series)

5/10/2017

"I must govern the clock, not be governed by it." ~Golda Meir

"We have always said that in our war with the Arabs we had a secret weapon - no alternative." ~Golda Meir

Numbers always interest me. When I found that Golda was the fourth Prime Minister and Founder of the state of Israel, I thought about what that number meant. Four means (Rule and Reign). Her work in trying to bring peace ended when war broke out for the forth time between Israel and the Arab nation. She resigned in 1974 and then she died in 1978 just four years later. Golda Meir ruled and reigned while fighting leukemia for twelve years. This fact was little known until after her death. Perhaps that is one reason she earned the name, "The Iron Lady", long before Margaret Thatcher.

Golda Meir knew well the meaning of her quote, "You'll never find a better sparring partner than adversity."

Perhaps we all need more adversity and less looks, peace, and passivity. Perhaps the adversity we face really makes us what we are. Perhaps strength really comes from struggles.

James 1:2-4 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

2 Tim. 2:12 (KJV) "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"

Today do all you can for those that can not do for themselves. Speak for those that have no voice. Be brave and live life with no regrets.

Jesus Principles (# 26 in the Series)

5/9/2017

"If you work just for money, you'll never make it, but if you love what you're doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours." ~Ray Kroc

"The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves." ~Ray Kroc

The founder of the McDonald's Corporation revolutionized the fast food restaurant business. He worked at a small burger place in San Bernaradino, California run by the McDonald brothers. He knew the assembly-line method of serving burgers, fries and shakes was simple but efficient. He opened his first store on April 15, 1955.

When we are devoted to quality and to serving others, success is inevitable. His life was so successful that he set up several charities and educational organizations. His way of doing things has been a model for others.

How about you? What ideas do you have that would help make others lives better? Do you have any ideas that you think would work? God delights in the prosperity of His saints. Don't be afraid to jump out and try something. If God be for you who can be against you?

Model for others! You are bound to prosper.

Jesus Principles (# 25 in the Series)

5/8/2017

"One man with courage makes a majority."
~Andrew Jackson

"You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing."
~ Andrew Jackson

I have heard so many say, "It's because I was abandoned as a child." or "I experienced too much violence in my life to be able to function." Well, I am sorry to disagree. What you came from helps make you who you are today. The Bible tells us that God gives us grace to do what we need to do.

Imagine if you were be orphaned at the age of 14 years old. Imagine being born in a log cabin. Then imagine all this happening in 1781. With all that in your history now become a lawyer, a judge, a congressman, senator, military hero and the seventh President of the United States.

In the war between the British "Old Hickory" as Jackson was nicknamed because of his self-reliance and determination that brought him into national prominence defeated the British in New Orleans. Jackson was quoted as saying, "Any man worth his salt will stick up for what e believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."

Today take a stand for what for what is right. Stand up for the principles of the Bible. Do what you believe to be right.

Jesus Principles (#24 in the Series)

5/5/2017

"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." ~Margaret Thatcher

"If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing." ~Margaret Thatcher

I have always said that if you have to tell someone your a Christian your not. The Bible tells us in John 13:35 (KJV) "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Our love walk and example should shout that we are a child of God. How we treat people should be an indicator of what we are.

Still in another place in the word of God it tells us that we can be known by the fruit we bare in our lives. What are we leaving in our wake? Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV) "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

Margaret Thatcher was the first woman in European history to be elected Prime Minister. Her father was a grocer. She went to college and became a research chemist but also studied law, specializing in taxation. From 1950 to to 1979 she worked toward her goal of achieving the office of prime minister. She is quoted by having said, "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."

I would like to continue that thought by saying living life as a Christian is a daily battle. I agree with Thatcher in that we will have to fight many a battle to win this race set before us but how we battle will tell much about us and who we serve.

Choose you this day who you will serve. Joshua 24:14-15 (KJV) "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Live a life that lets the world know what you are. Actions speak louder than words.

Jesus Principles (#23 in the Series)

5/4/2017

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ~Harry Truman

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." ~Harry Truman

On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer. Today is that day. I will be joining you in praying for our great nation.

The 33rd President of the United States faced tumultuous years at the close of World War II with great determination, fortitude, and, grit that made him a hero of his day. Besides serving as a captain in World War I he was also a judge and a senator before becoming the Vice President. After Franklin D. Roosevelt died Truman was faced with some of the most difficult decisions in U.S. history. Perhaps this is why he called for a National Day of Prayer. Prayer still changes things. It may help us to be bold and give us wisdom in our decision making or it may cause others to go in a different direction but it will do something.

Truman helped arrange for Germany's unconditional surrender, brought an end to the war in the Pacific by using the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He is also credited with the forming of (NATO) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and implementing the Marshall Plan for economic recovery in Western Europe.

God has always had men and women that will call upon His name in times of trouble. "Actions are seeds of fate. Deeds grown into destiny." ~Harry S. Truman Who knows if we have been born for this day. The choices you and I make will determine the America our children and grand children inherit. "America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.

Today our job at hand is to pray. Pray for those in government.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV) "First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…"

Jesus Principles (#22 in the Series)

5/3/2017

"Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within." ~Helen Keller

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." ~Helen Keller

To be happy we must have the spirit of the Lord within us. It has been said that happiness is when all the happenings are right and let's face it that is a rarity. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 29:2 (NIV) "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan." Together as Americans and even more so as Christians if we would unite as well as run for offices ourselves we may not be experiencing today the troubles that we are experiencing.

I always say when voting...vote the Bible. If God is nudging you to pursue a political career then, go for it. With National Day of Prayer being tomorrow take advantage of this day being acknowledged and pray. If your community offers something at your court house or school be a part of it by showing up and praying.

It fascinates me, that though blind Helen Keller could see what many are still blind to.

Jesus Principles (#21 in the Series)

5/2/2017

“Individuals don’t win. Teams do.”
~Sam Walton

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” ~Sam Walton

Today there are over 3,000 Wal-Mart stores with over $104 billion dollars in sales. Sam Walton started retail business in 1940 but didn’t open his first store until 1962 in Arkansas. Walton was a child during the depression. Coming from humble and hard-working roots he was the pioneer of discount shopping. He cut cost and passed the savings on to the customers. The key to his success was computerization and automated distribution centers. In 1991 Walton was the largest retailer in the world.

Jesus came from humble beginnings as well. Born in a stable. He also knew individuals don’t win teams do. He chose 12 to be on His first team and they turned the world upside down. Without computers, cars, TV or Radio’s those 12 took the Gospel to the known world.

What about you? What has God called you to do that seems too big to imagine? God is no respecter or persons and what He did for Sam Walton He is willing to do for all His children that believe and ask and then obey fully.

God rejoices in the prosperity of His Saints.