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Philemon Vss. 10-11 - I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, 11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. NASU
In speaking with Dan years ago I asked him about that one loss and he said, "It was the best thing that had happened to him. I refocused after that loss and trained harder than ever before." In 1971 he will become the Pan-American Champion and the World Champion at 68 kg. In 1972 Dan would become the Olympic Champion at the same weight and he wouldn't even be scored upon.
Paul says to Philemon that Onesimus who was once useless to you is now useful. He has a blemish on his resume but that doesn't mean he is useless.
Do we need to change our thinking? There are way too many people who have become the victim of "stinking thinking". That is when we think negative about our life and what we are going through. We start thinking "Everyone else always gets all the breaks and we never get anything to go our way". One of the first things we were taught in a counseling class I took was to be on the look out for when you hear people who are complaining using the words "always and never". The first thing you want to do is challenge them on the "Always and Never" statements. They have had something go there way in life. So this negates the "never". They are just not seeing them now. They have allowed themselves for some reason to fall into the "poor me-isms". When things don't go our way the best thing we can do is refocus. Investigate why things didn't go our way. What little adjustments do we need to make to become the victor? Identify it, correct it and move on up the ladder. We all have had blemishes on our resumes but that isn't any reason to trash the resume (your life) and not even try for what it is you desire. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says to Philemon about Onesimus, "but now (he) is useful both to you and to me." It is your time to be useful now. Do we need to submit our resume or help someone submit their resume for a better life? Think About These: The right angle to approach a difficult problem is the "try-angle". Giving it another try is better than an alibi. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Luke 2:15 -16 - When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger." NASU
I send this Pump Up out every year at this time for all my new subscribers. I have made some updates to it this year. May you have a very Merry Christmas.
What some may not know is the meaning of Bethlehem. It means "house of bread." Jesus was the Bread of Life or the Bread of God that came from the "house of bread" to give spiritual life to the world. John 6:33 - "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:41 - So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:48 - "I am the bread of life." John 6:51 - "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus was and is the Bread of Life. If you are spiritually hungry Jesus is the One who can take away all of your hunger pains. If you have been wondering - "What is my purpose in life?" Then look to Jesus for your answers. I did and have never regretted looking to Him for guidance in this life.
The sheep were offered on the altar were special as they were sheep without a blemish. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said this about Him. John 1:29 - The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John saw Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and this Lamb was born in Bethlehem where a lot of other lambs were born and would sacrifice their blood. But only the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, could atone for the sins of mankind. I hope and pray you have allowed the blood of Jesus to wash away your sins.
What greater gift could anyone receive? Truly, Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving. Think About These: The Christmas season is only as meaningful as we make it. Keeping Christmas is good, but sharing it with others is much better Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Luke 2:34-35 - And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed — 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul — to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." NASU
Jesus' teachings would cause some Israelites to fall and yet His same teachings would cause others to rise. How is this possible? It was the same teacher, teaching the same lessons and yet some would benefit from His teaching and others would fall according to Simeon's prophecy. My answer says it depends on the "heart" of the hearer. Take a candle or even a crayon and some moist clay soil and lay them all on a plate in the hot sun of the Arizona desert in the middle of August. The candle or crayon will be melted while the clay will simple become hard and brittle. So what is the difference? It is the material of which the item is made. Some hearts are open to the gospel message while others become hard. Some Israelites hearts were hardened with prejudice and pride. While at the same time some hearts were humble and open to Jesus' teachings. What is your heart made of today? Are you open to Jesus' teaching or do you know it all?
Mary was hearing a mixed message. On one hand, Jesus was going to cause people to fall or stumble and on the other hand at the same time He was going to help people rise. Every parent wants to believe their children are going to be used by God to help others and I am sure Mary was no different. Simeon says, "…and a sword will pierce even your own soul…" What I believe this prophecy means is when Mary watches Jesus die on the cross many years from now it will feel like a sword has pierced her soul. Any parent who has lost a child probably knows to some degree of the pain that Mary is going to experience. How could she not feel like a sword pierced her soul? She watched Jesus, her Son, be tortured right before her very eyes.
As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, please don't forget the reason He was born. He was born so He could die for us. He was the Light of the world. He came into this dark world and some didn't want to hear His message of light, life and hope. They wanted Him to go away. He went away for three days and then He came back for all to see. I hope that you will be one of the ones that "rise" on account of Him. After all it will be better to "rise" than "fall" because of Him.
Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word James 3:7-10 - For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. NASU
His meditation gave me the idea for today's Pump Up. What would be your last words?
James says the tongue can't be tamed. It is restless and full of deadly poison. The tongue has been used to praise God and curse men. What would be your last words? Would your last words give praise to God, be words of love for your family members, or would they be curse words?
My tongue wasn't used to praise God; in fact, I used God's and Jesus' name in vain. Since I have given my life to Jesus Christ I have been able to change my vocabulary for the better. The good news is I have tamed my tongue to some degree. I never use God or Jesus' name in vain now. It has been 47 years and when I speak of God or use Jesus' name it is always in a praiseworthy fashion as it should.
Choose well, my friend.
Think About These: The written word can be erased, not so with the spoken word. The man who has to eat his own words never asks for another serving. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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