ASK AUNT MARY-MONEY

October 26th, 2011 | By admin

DEAR AUNT MARY-MONEY 

Dear Aunt Mary, I don’t have a lot of money, but I want to spend it wisely. Can you help me? Frugal

Dear Frugal,

There are ways to save money, and there are ways to waste it. Being frugal is very good. That means you want to use what you have wisely.

The first thing I would say is to think about what you are purchasing. Is it really something you need? Maybe it’s a fad, and you want to be in the “in” crowd. Fads never last long. It’s better to shop wisely.

You can save money at second hand shops, Goodwill Stores, and sales. I love sales. Stores start stocking for the next season before the current season ends. Sales usually start in July for summer things and before Christmas for winter things.

Look at the item well. Will you wear it? Is the color right? Does it fit you? Don’t buy in hopes you’ll lose weight. It usually doesn’t happen. Try the item on, look at yourself in the mirror, and if you have a buddy along, it’s even better.

What will you wear with that item? Do you have shirts and sweaters already that you can wear with it, or do you have to buy something? If you buy in neutral colors, you always have something to coordinate with the item. That makes that purchase a little sweeter.

Know how much you can spend on an item and don’t go over that amount. We should all use that strategy when shopping.  Keep a total of how much you spend.

When you start a job of any kind, and start earning your own money, it’s time to make a budget. The first thing on the budget is how much you will set aside for contribution for the Lord. We are not told how much to give in the New Testament, but give the amount you feel comfortable with. 2 Corinthians 9:7, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.” That verse explains it. God gives so much to us, we should give something back to Him.

“Is Today The Day”

October 24th, 2011 | By admin

“Is Today The Day?”

By Tim Hall

I’ve been prepared for many years.  During that time I’ve changed the
locks on the house in which we live a time or two.  I’m satisfied
they’re working properly, and we keep the doors locked.  I can’t help
but wonder, though – will today be the day that a thief tries to break
in?  I hope not, but if so I feel we’ve done all we can within reason
to keep him out.

Honestly, I don’t think about thieves breaking into my house very
often.  But today is a good day to bring up the subject.  Why?
Because Harold Camping has predicted that today is when Jesus will
return to earth a second time.  Prepare for that event, he warns.
I’ll agree with that latter message.

But wait – Isn’t Harold Camping the same fellow who predicted Christ’s
return back in May?  That’s true; the 90-year-old former civil
engineer had said that the world would witness Jesus’ return on May
21.  That prediction caused quite a reaction with some.  Some invested
all or large chunks of their savings to purchase billboard space
warning neighbors to get ready.  Many put their full faith in this
man’s ability to see in Scripture the exact date of the Second Coming.

You and I know that Jesus didn’t return on May 21.  Camping admitted
an error in his calculations, but announced October 21 as the
corrected date.  Not as much excitement has been aroused over this new
date, though.  No billboards have been rented in my town to publicize
this date.

Let me be clear on this matter: I cannot tell you that Jesus will not
return today.  But I would be going against what the Bible teaches if
I were to say that I know that He will come back today.  What I’ll
admit is that I simply don’t know.  Nor do I think that any other
person knows.

Jesus Himself taught this truth.  “But of that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew
24:36).  What “day” did Jesus have in mind when He said that?  The
next verse makes it clear: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37).  How could Jesus
have made His point more clearly?

A few verses later Jesus used the image we used above: “But know this,
that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken
into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:43,44).

Thieves generally do not inform their targeted victims ahead of time
of the day they plan to strike.  Why did Jesus choose this image?
Because just as it’s wise to always be ready for the thief, so it’s
even wiser to always be ready for the Lord’s return.

Let there be no doubt: “But the day of the Lord will come …” (2
Peter 3:10).  Also be sure of this: “… as a thief in the night” (2
Peter 3:10).

No, I cannot tell you that Jesus will not return to earth today.  But
I have no basis on which to claim that He will.  The best advice I can
offer is to live as if this really is the day.  Living by this
philosophy, we’ll be ready – whenever He comes.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him
in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like
to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright, 2011, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless
otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990,
Thomas Nelson, Inc.).

I DATED AN ALIEN

October 21st, 2011 | By admin

Tomorrow night I have a date with the cutest boy in school. Scott is handsome, a sharp dresser, drives a dreamy car, and is a Christian. What else could any girl want? I am so excited he asked me out for a burger and a movie. I doubt if I will sleep any tonight, but I’m turning off my light and wishing for sweet dreams.

My room faces the street, so I can see Scott when he arrives. Then I will walk down the stairs and by then he should be knocking at my door. Oh, here comes a car. It stops in our drive, but who is driving that ugly car? Each door is a different color, as well as each fender. What a horrible car! I’m glad that person is not picking me up. He must be at the wrong house.

The horn blows.  (more…)

DEAR AUNT MARY-TELL ME ABOUT ATHEISM

October 19th, 2011 | By admin

Dear Aunt Mary,

In my school, we are taught evolution and atheism. How can people believe that there is no God? A Christian

Dear Christian,

There are some advantages to being raised in the south, especially the Bible Belt. The beliefs in God run strong and deep in that particular part of the United States. We are raised to be God fearing, Bible thumping, and believers. God is first in our lives, next comes the home, and the country comes last. That’s the way people are brought up in the south.  (more…)

A CHRISTIAN AND ALOCHOL

October 17th, 2011 | By admin

by Katt Anderson

A friend of mine related to a group of us Saturday that she was an alcoholic. I never suspected that she drank at all. She told us how she began going down that road, and I’d like to share it with you. It was so simple and anyone of us could fall in the same hole.

She began drinking in college. Doesn’t that sound familiar? She was the oldest of nine children. When she started college, she felt free and began partying. The longer she partied, the more she drank. Her grades plummeted almost to the bottom. Her parents were disappointed. She returned to school with a determination to keep her grades up, but she continued to party. Her grades did stay up at a 3.0 average. (more…)

DIFFERENT, BUT ALIKE

October 10th, 2011 | By admin

DIFFERENT, BUT ALIKE

By Katt Anderson

Recently I spent a few days in the hospital, and I became more aware of how each of us is different, but alike. We have different tastes in clothes, books, movies, and other things. If anyone gave me a choice of my favorite thing, it would have to be people watching. That should be a sport.

The nurse who checked me in to the hospital before surgery, and put the IV in my vein was very talky and friendly. We laughed about how hard I was to stick, and how high my blood pressure had risen. I was terrified of the surgery. Before I knew it, I was ready to go to the holding area and be ready for surgery.  (more…)

AGONY IN DEFEAT

October 7th, 2011 | By admin

AGONY IN DEFEAT

AGONY is extreme and generally prolonged pain; intense physical or mental suffering. (more…)

I Had No Choice

October 3rd, 2011 | By admin

I Had No Choice

How many times have we heard that statement? How many times have we said, “I had no choice?” We always have a choice! The only question to be answered is: Are we willing to accept personal responsibility for the choices we make no matter what? It is those mind-numbing, life changing consequences of our choices that are sometimes almost impossible for us to face and bear!

When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden, He gave them freedom of choice. Since that time the human race has been confronted with making choices between right and wrong, and discerning between good and evil. God gave us that freedom out of love for us because that is who He is. Everything God does originates from His love. “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” (I John 4:9)

We make choices every day God gives us. Some of the choices we made when we were younger are affecting our lives to this day! Some of the choices we are presently making will impact us until our lives end.

We make the choice to graduate from high school or college. We make the choice to struggle through those years of high school and college, or we make the choice to drop out of high school or college and struggle, in many instances, for the rest of our lives. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7:8; “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

We make the choice to move to another area, state, or country or stay where we were brought up from childhood. That choice alone will many times dictate our employment opportunities and possibilities of advancement. That choice many times also dictates whether we will move from that location or if we end up living and working there until retirement.

We make the choice to marry or to stay single. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God. After God created Eve, Genesis 2:23-24 says; “And Adam said, `This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh.” Our choice of a lifelong mate will most definitely affect our future in a way we cannot begin to appreciably comprehend at the time of the marriage!

We make the choice to have children or not to have children. Psalm 127:3-4 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.” Children who are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord are a blessing indeed to their parents. Children left to rear and guide themselves will ultimately bring shame and disgrace to their parents.

We make the choice to earn money through a job/career, or to live off the government, or live from another’s financial means, or go into a life of crime or unlawful activity. From the beginning, God’s expectation has been for us to w-o-r-k for a living! Genesis 2:15 says, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” God’s expectation for us to work is further emphasized in II Thessalonians 3:10; “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

We make the choice to be health conscious or not to be conscientious about our physical and dental health. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” As one good sister stated, “God wants a temple, not a rundown shack!”

We make the choice to follow God or Satan. Sin is the debt we owe; God has given us two choices in making payment. We can all understand debt, especially in the current economic atmosphere! What we must understand about our sin debt is that it will be paid! Our first choice is to accept the payment Jesus Christ made when He died on Calvary. We accept this payment for our sin debt when we obey the gospel.

Our other choice, if we reject the Lord’s sacrificial payment, is to pay for our own sins in hell forever! These are our only two choices because God cannot and will not allow sin to go unpunished or dwell in His presence! Acts 17:30 Paul said, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Our choice to obey and serve God will permeate and direct every other choice we make if we expect to live with Him.

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