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Dark Closets - 12/17/2007 7:27:34 AM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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Dark Closets
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. 1 Corinthians 4:5b
I recently helped with cleaning out the downstairs rooms of our church. We found all sorts of stuff in those rooms… we found electric wheelchairs, Vacation Bible School material from 5 years ago, pictures, a sofa... stuff that people didn't know how to take care of. So they just put it somewhere so that it couldn't be seen… somewhere that it could be forgotten about.
We sometimes do this with things in our own lives. We do things we know we shouldn't do so we hide them in the closets of our hearts… someplace where we won't have to deal with them anymore.
Maybe it is something someone said or did to us that hurt us. We hide it.
Maybe it is a line in a tax return. We've already received our refund so there is no need to do anything else... We hide it.
But is it really hidden?
Our verse today tells us that the Lord will bring to light the things we've hidden in the darkness.
How about it?
Are the dark closets of your heart bursting at the hinges?
Intersecting Faith & Life: Take some time to do some closet searching this week.
Further Reading
Hebrews 4:12-13
Search Me, Lord
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/17/2007 4:11:08 PM >
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Enduring Hurled Stones - 12/17/2007 7:30:18 AM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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Enduring Hurled Stones
by Fred Alberti - Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
Stephen was just an ordinary believer that God chose to use in an extraordinary way. He was chosen by the church leaders to assist in meeting the needs of the widowed church members. God chose to use him to work miracles and preach.
I like his speech recorded in Acts chapter 7. I can just imagine seeing the religious leaders drumming their fingers as he recounted Jewish history… they knew all of this already of course. But their drumming fingers soon came to be clenched fists as Stephen began to drive home their hard-headedness. It didn't take long before those clenched fingers were clutching stones waiting to be hurled in Stephen's direction.
You know, Stephen could have stopped at anytime. This wasn't his job; he was just supposed to make sure everyone got their food. Who would have blamed him? His life was in danger. But he didn't stop; he chose to allow himself to be swept away by the Spirit.
How about it?
Are you willing to be used by God?
Intersecting Faith & Life: Will you take a stand for Jesus regardless of the cost? Maybe you've been pounded by one to many stones. Take heart… Jesus is standing to the right of the Father. Be brave. Be strong. He will sustain you.
Further Reading
Acts 7
Psalm 46
The God of All Encouragement, by Adrian Rogers
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/17/2007 4:11:34 PM >
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Short on Change - 12/17/2007 7:34:11 AM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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Short on Change
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40
Ever come up short at the grocery stand? A good friend of mine shared with me an experience he had when he was at the store picking up a few items. The lines were long so he jumped in the shortest one but he still wasn't satisfied. But then he saw it... an even shorter line. My friend, not one to waste time, jumped in that line. The lined moved along briskly until it got to the elderly lady in front of my friend.
Snag!
The cashier totaled her bill and the lady suddenly realized that she was short by over $2.00. Oh, what a dilemma! Not quite sure what to do, she began searching her groceries, hoping to find something she could do without. There was no luck.
The Bible says, "Whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me" (Matthew 25:40). You know what my friend did? He stepped up to the cashier, asked how much was owed and then gave her the money that was needed. What a great act of kindness!
There's more to be learned here. The Bible says that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Ow, there's that word again: short. You know, when we pass on from this earth, we'll gather before the throne. It is here that we shall lay before God all that we have done in this life. He'll tally it up and say, "You're short." All that you have done won't pay the bill. But there's hope; you see, if you have acknowledged Jesus as your Savior, then He will step up behind you and say, "Here Father, I've paid for this person's bill. It's all right here." And then He'll show the marks in His side, hands and feet.
Oh what amazing love He shows toward us!
Intersecting Faith & Life: Is Jesus paying your bill or are you trying to pay the bill your own way? Maybe you know someone who doesn't know about Jesus. Make a point to tell them. Ask them to get in His line. He'll gladly pay their bill too.
Further Reading
Becoming a Christian
Romans 2:16
1 Corinthians 3:13
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/17/2007 4:11:46 PM >
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Breath of Fresh Air - 12/17/2007 7:38:05 AM
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Breath of Fresh Air
by Fred Alberti Sr.; and Fred Alberti Jr., Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
40 years ago, while anchored in the Philippines Islands, I was jarred from sleep by the 'battle stations' klaxons. After finding my way to my battle station, I was told there was a fire spreading aboard ship and was issued an OBA (Oxygen Breather) and sent below decks to search for injured shipmates in need of help.
Two decks below the hanger bay I came across my friend Tony. His eyes were nearly swollen shut and he was semi-conscious. Fortunately he was as skinny as I was, about 130 pounds soaking wet. I removed my Oxy mask and gave him a few breaths of pure air. I put him over my shoulder and struggled up the first ladder. At the top, I stopped to give another breath of Oxy to Tony, then began climbing another ladder to the hanger bay where I slipped Tony to the deck and yelled for a medic.
Like many of the injured, he was transferred to the USS Constellation for emergency medical treatment. That was the last I saw of Tony, until recently. I've since learned that Tony lost 50 percent of his lung capacity in that fire on the Kitty Hawk. He claims that if I hadn't removed my mask and given him some of my Oxy, he probably would not have survived.
Everyday we come into contact with people who are suffering from the choking "smoke" of sin. The easy thing to do is to judge them and turn our back.
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2)
Tony would probably have died if he had not been given the oxygen his lungs craved. How many people have you come into contact with who need the fresh oxygen of an encouraging word or a helping, loving hand?
Intersecting Faith & Life: Take some time to help in a homeless shelter this month. Be the bearer of a breath of fresh encouragement.
Further Reading
Romans 12:6-21
Living Free
On the Verge of Collapse
Fred Alberti Sr. served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk 1967-1969. He has two children and lives with his wife. He may be emailed at nukeglow@gmail.com.
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/18/2007 11:12:47 AM >
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They Call Them Black Walnuts For A Reason - 12/17/2007 7:41:07 AM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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They Call Them Black Walnuts For A Reason
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manger of Communities
"Although you wash yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign Lord. Jeremiah 2:22
I came outside one day to find one of my daughters sitting in a seat with a stick and what looked like a green ball.
"What are you doing honey?" I asked.
"I'm using this stick to make a hole in this walnut so it will dry out and turn black."
Being a "fixer", like many other dads I know, I sat down beside her and pulled out my trusty pocketknife and began to cut into the skin of a green colored black walnut.
As I started to carve away I took no heed of the greenish yellow juice that came out and ran down my hand. I just figured I would scrub it all off my knife when I was finished.
I finally got all the skin carved away and was down to a nice walnut. Ha… she was still poking away with a stick and would have to wait who knows how many days for the skin to turn black. Meanwhile, I had my nut.
I was victorious.
I had conquered with my trusty knife.
Me Man!
Now all I needed to do was head into the house and wash off my hands and my trusty knife.
Ummm… yeah.
Newly discovered trivia… black walnut juice stains hands and fabric.
Oh, at first it is a little greenish but it doesn't stay that way. Over the next few hours that stain will turn blacker and blacker.
For the next two days I scrubbed and scrubbed trying to get the stain off my hands and out from underneath my finger nails.
I can now report that black walnut stains takes about 5 days to come off.
Enter what God said to Jeremiah. We can wash and wash with cleaners of our own makings but we will not be successful in removing the stain from before the Lord.
Fortunately, God has provided the means by which we can be cleaned. He alone has the product that can cleanse us. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…"
Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you recently experienced the stain of sin in your life? Now is the time to repent and experience the refreshing of the Lord.
Further Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-14
Acts 22:16
Hebrews 10:1-6
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/17/2007 4:12:10 PM >
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The True Light That Shatters the Darkness - 12/17/2007 3:57:50 PM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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The True Light That Shatters the Darkness
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5; 9-14
In the stillness of the birth of time God gazed upon the darkness that blanketed the void and declared, "Let there be light." The blaze shattered and separated the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
We're at the time of month now when people are busily putting up Christmas lights. How do I know this? Well, our neighbor believes it is his duty to test the energy output of our local electric company by plugging in 15,000 lights. I often wonder if the space station orbiting earth re-adjusts their coordinates based on the illumination from the house across the street.
Obviously, for those lights to be noticed there needs to be darkness. So it was during the fullness of time that God once again spoke the Word and brought forth the Light. Not the neon lights of Vegas or the funny little fake Christmas tree lights that our neighbor uses but the True Light.
The Light who brought forth creation was now going to become an intimate part of that creation by being born Himself. The begotten of God once again would shatter the darkness declaring the glory of the Father.
Jesus appearance upon the map of time was just as momentous as His first act of creation. For in the words of Isaiah, "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)
It is easy to fall into the illusion that we are walking in the land of the shadow of death when death surrounds us all. However, as Christians we are not in the darkness. Peter says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
Are you shining for the glory of God?
Now is the time to "plug in" and declare Jesus Christ, the Light… the True Light of the world.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Purchase a small stuffed animal and donate it to your local law enforcement to be given to a small child who is facing a dark time in his or her life.
Further Reading
2 Peter 1:19-21
The Difference Between Light and Darkness
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/17/2007 4:12:21 PM >
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Too Late - 12/17/2007 4:01:47 PM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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Too Late
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27
"No," she said, "it's too late for reconciliation. I've put up with this for close to twenty years and I can't do it any longer."
"Please seek the Lord's will first before you tell your husband to leave. The Lord will guide you if you let Him." I responded.
"Don't you understand? I don't even want God to fix it. I just don't care to be with him anymore. I don't want to make it work anymore." She replied.
"Maybe the Lord will use this time to change your husband's heart like a wake up call." I countered. But with a heavy heart I heard her say, "No, it's too late for that."
Ever encounter a situation where you just sit back and say, "No, it's too late?"
You know, Jesus heard this expression quite a few times.
In Luke 8 we meet Jairus, a man whose daughter is dying. Jesus decides to pay her a visit but is stopped along the way when a woman in the crowd is healed by touching Him. During this unexpected delay, the daughter dies and messengers are sent to tell the father it was too late. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
But Jesus went anyway. There at the house He was laughed at as He stated, "The child is not dead. She is just sleeping."
Too late? Not hardly.
Nain… flip back to Luke chapter 7 and we find the widow woman and the funeral procession. The only son was being led to the tomb by his weeping widowed mother.
"Don't cry," Jesus said.
Now why in the world would you say that to a mother at her only son's funeral? Well, you would if you were Jesus and you had other plans.
"Young man, get up!"
Just imagine the body laying there suddenly gasp and sit up. The mourners are stunned and the mother's tears of sorrow are turned to tears of joy.
Tears… hmmm… "Jesus wept." That is what John records in chapter 11 of his gospel.
You know that Mary had to be thinking, "Jesus, you're too late," when she said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Mary's grief so moved Jesus that we see His first tears ever recorded in the Gospels. It is then that the Son of God raises a man who had been dead for four days back to life.
Too late? No, it is never too late for Jesus to work miracles in the lives of those He loves. His power transcends all bounds of time. His love surpasses all understanding, transforming the hardest of hearts and the most decided of minds.
Oh, that reminds me… the lady who felt that it was too late for her marriage? It turns out that God agreed. He felt He needed to do some work on TWO hearts. After He completed that task, He gave them back to each other as a brand new marriage.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Seek someone who is in need… a situation where, to them, things seem too late. Help them meet that need.
Further Reading
Luke 8:40-56
Luke 7:11-16
John 11:17-44
Releasing Impossibilities
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< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/17/2007 4:12:32 PM >
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The Danger of Doubt - 12/21/2007 11:42:06 AM
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The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news."
Luke 1:19
In the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas I thought I'd take a moment to review another birth.
He was the cousin of Jesus and just like him; his birth was a miracle too.
His mother and father were both advancing in years when dear old dad, who was a temple priest, was privileged to be the one chosen to burn incense in the temple of the Lord while the people prayed.
It was during this honorable activity that Zechariah was visited by one very busy angel, Gabriel. (He not only had to meet with Zechariah but would also later meet with Mary to inform her of the role she would be playing in God's plan of salvation.)
Gabriel informs Zechariah about the pending pregnancy of his aged wife. It is then that Zechariah makes a major mistake. He doubts all that God has made known to him.
Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." Luke 1:18
This is when Gabriel gives his qualifications stating, "I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you…"
It is almost like Gabriel is saying, "Excuse me buster, but do you know who I am? I stand in the presence of God, pal. He's the one who told me to come and tell you these things. Are you out of your mind? Well, clearly it seems like you need to just believe more and wag your tongue less. Very well… *poof* you shall not speak until all of this comes to pass."
Zechariah didn't just doubt Gabriel; he doubted God's plan and promise. As a result of his doubt he would have to pay a huge price. What should have been a time of great excitement and loud rejoicing instead had to be endured in silence? (I can't imagine having to experience the joy of announcing the pending birth of any of my five kids in silence.)
We sometimes do the same thing as Zechariah. We doubt God's ability to do marvelous works of joy in our lives or more importantly in the lives of others. Instead we try to steal their joy because we don't want them to be hurt by what we deem will surely be a failure. As a result, the doubt we foster robs us and them of God's intended joyful celebration.
So during this season of joy, wonder, and the miraculous don't be silent when it comes to declaring what God has done for you and encourage others to seek the joy inspiring pleasure of God's gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Make a donation of blankets and other baby needs to your local crisis pregnancy center.
Further Reading
John 20:19-31 (What did the doubt of Thomas cost him?)
Changing Doubt to Trust
Have you ever experienced periods of doubt?
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A God of Contrasts & Non-Conformity - 12/24/2007 9:53:52 AM
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A God of Contrasts & Non-Conformity
by Fred Alberti
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:4-11 (NKJV)
As I continue to meditate on the celebration of the birth of our King I tend to think of the incredible contrasts we see between God and the world.
This isn't anything new. It was around back when God selected Abraham to produce His people of promise. A despised people, according to Ezekiel 16:5, to the line of the King of Creation.
While the world sought to conquer through the might of a vast army God chose to display His might through the weakness of people to overcome vast armies. (Judges 7:1-8)
His chosen people constantly rejected His rule and would eventually demand to be ruled by a king as were the people who surrounded them. (1 Samuel 8:6-8)
Is it any wonder that when the time came to accomplish the prophecy of the King of kings that God would once again spurn the world's ideal by bringing forth from the womb of a virgin the Son of God?
The Son of God made flesh brought forth not in a lavish palace ornately decorated, but rather in the manger of an inn which didn't have any room for His parents.
His birth was indeed announced with fanfare but not to the nobility of the land. Instead it was made known to lowly shepherds who stunk of the animals they cared for.
Instead of being raised as a prince He was brought up as the son of a carpenter.
When it came time for him to begin selecting close followers God again broke the mold of the world's conformity by choosing ordinary and unschooled men. (Acts 4:13)
He taught that to be first you must be last, to lead you must serve, and to live you must die.
In death, He suffered and bled as a common criminal yet He was without sin.
Instead of a royal tomb He was laid in a borrowed one… borrowed because even in dying He shattered the normal by raising Himself from the dead three days later.
Even in celebrating His birth we rejoice because of His death because it was His death that redeemed a fallen people and brought the promise of eternal life to all who will believe in Him.
How about you?
Have you truly celebrated His birth by recognizing that His death paid the price for your sin?
Intersecting Faith & Life: Take some time this week reflect on what areas in your life you have allowed to be conformed to the world's standards and expectations. Then seek how you can be a living sacrifice for Jesus this holiday season.
Further Reading
Who is Jesus?
Romans 12:1-2
1 Peter 1:3-5
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RE: A God of Contrasts & Non-Conformity - 1/10/2008 3:25:57 PM
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New Life in the New Year
by Fred Alberti
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
As I consider the New Year I'd like to draw your attention to something else that is made new… Us!
When we become a follower of Christ we are given a new birth and a living hope.
What does that mean though?
I like what Paul had to say to the Ephesians:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer lives as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking… You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17, 22-24
Our new birth comes through the renewing of our minds. Instead of a mind that is clamoring to please our selfish desires we are given the desire to please the Lord.
Our old habits are laid at the feet of the cross and we instead strive to deny ourselves for the sake of our new Lord and Master.
Paul addressed the Romans with the same thing when he said:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
Romans 12:2a
You will notice that in these passages this renewal is something that we are to be actively doing ourselves.
We are to put on the new self.
We are to refuse to conform to the world's pattern.
We are to pursue the transformation of the renewing of our minds.
These are not passive changes that just happen without any effort on our part.
But even in this knowledge we are not to assume that we can accomplish them all within our own strength. We can, however, take comfort that in our weak areas we are made strong through the power of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 12:10.)
But what if we fall?
What if despite our best efforts we give into the temptations we face?
When we fall down, we get back up.
Paul had this to say to the Corinthians:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24
When we fall we get back up and continue to run the race as though despite our failure we were still in the lead because despite our fall we are still "more than conquerors through him who loved us…" (See Romans 8:37.)
Welcome to the New Year, a new slate, and new life shielded and held safe by the power of God.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Give a receiving blanket or some other baby gift to a family who has recently rejoiced over the addition of a new life.
Further Reading
Acts 5:17-20
New and Improved
The Necessity of Spiritual Growth
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RE: A God of Contrasts & Non-Conformity - 1/15/2008 3:19:29 PM
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A Flower's Lesson
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
My wonderful wife gave me a lovely red poinsettia for Christmas this year. Sadly, it looks a little worse right now than it did when she presented it.
However, despite the numerous light saber duels which have taken place around the ill-fated plant, it has only managed to suffer just a few lost stems.
Even with a few missing leaves, my poor plant has a lesson to share…
Not forgetting my recent lesson with a black walnut (mumbles to self), I decided to make a closer inspection of this holiday plant to see just what made it so eye-catching.
Leaving the abused plant's flowers (or what was left of them) intact, I discovered that the bright red "petals" were actually leaves. The flower of the plant is actually at the center of these brightly colored leaves.
It's the leaves that are closest to the flower at the center that show off the brilliant color.
Likewise, the closer we are to having Christ as the center of our lives and the stronger relationship with Him, the brighter we'll shine.
That brings us to the next lesson.
Why should we shine?
It certainly isn't supposed to be to gain attention for our own accomplishments.
Rather, it is to point people to God so that He will be praised for our good deeds.
I love the story of a certain disciple named Tabitha (See Acts 9:36-42 ).
She always performed good works and was active in ministering to the needs of the poor. It just so happened that Peter was in a nearby town when Tabitha died from an illness she had been fighting.
The local disciples sent for Peter in the hopes that he could help. Upon his arrival he was welcomed by a group of weeping widows. They were showcasing all the garments that Tabitha had made while she was with them.
Why? What did they expect to happen?
They clearly hoped for a miracle.
And a miracle is exactly what they got when God raised Tabitha back to life. She may have been a little worse for wear -- like my plant, perhaps -- but still pointing people to God.
How about you my friend?
Have you suffered a few light saber blows from life lately?
Maybe you have neglected to keep Christ at the center of your life. If that is the case, it is never to late to rededicate your life to Him.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Connect with a widow or widower in your church and see if there is yard work that you or your family can do.
Further Reading
Actions Speak Louder than Words
Christapalooza?
1 Peter 2:10-14
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Stones Do Speak - 1/30/2008 4:33:19 PM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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Stones Do Speak
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God."
Joshua 4:20-24
We recently enjoyed some rather unseasonably warm weather. Not one to let such an opportunity get away from me, I asked my wife and family to join me in a walk of the fields surrounding our house.
As we went along we began to observe and identify all the various animal tracks left in the soft ground. First, we came across our resident guinea hen's track, then we saw a dog track, next it was plenty of deer tracks and then a raccoon track.
Each track was a sign that something had been there. The track was a lingering witness to the presence of that animal on our property.
In the scripture focus today we see that God used the Israelites to help him leave a testimony to the power of the Lord.
They had just miraculously crossed the Jordan River on dry ground when God gave instructions to have a representative from each of the twelve tribes pick up a stone from around the priests' feet. These stones would be used to help the people remember what God had done for them. But that wasn't all they were for. They were to be a testimony to all the people of all the earth that the Lord is powerful and that He is to be given reverence.
We sometimes forget that. We forget that God is not just a good ol' buddy who we can pal around with and be flippant with. He is a God that is to be shown respect and reverence.
January is an excellent month to take account and to think of the events over the last year and how God has left prints in the sand of time to indicate His presence in your circumstances.
The Israelites were constantly using stones to be a testimony of a special event in their lives. Maybe that isn't such a bad idea.
Maybe it is time to start picking up some stones… no, not to toss at anyone but to remember what God has done for you.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Collect some stones and clean them off. Next write on them with permanent marker something that God did in your life over the past year. Finally, arrange them in a flower bed or some other area of your yard where you will see them regularly.
Further Reading
Joshua 4: Crossing of the Jordan River
Your Testimony
1 Peter 2:4 - 12
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A Nickel's Worth - 1/30/2008 4:36:30 PM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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A Nickel's Worth
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Communities Manager
But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:31-34
I admit I enjoy teaching my children things. I especially enjoy it when it means I can mess with their minds (I know, I'm evil, but you show me a parent who hasn't experimented by giving their baby something really sour just to enjoy their screwed up little faces and I'll show you a parent that hasn't take full advantage of the joys of parenting).
One joy is messing with their poor uneducated minds by offering the child the choice between a nice shiny nickel and a dirty cruddy dime. Ninety-nine percent of the time the child will take the nickel. You can stand there and argue with the child in your attempts to convince them that the dime is worth more but they'll still choose the nickel.
The dime is clearly worth more but it just can't beat the appeal of the nickel. Aren't we the same way? We scramble and squirm to get the treasures of this earth. At the same time we squander our opportunities to accumulate true wealth in heaven.
A missed opportunity to share what Jesus has done for you… a squandered treasure.
Giving a cup of coffee to a homeless person to warm his heart… a moneybag in heaven.
If our hearts are right with the Lord and if we are attentive to His leading we will not miss these opportunities for His kingdom. With the Lord's leading we will be able to see beyond our present circumstance to view these hidden treasures.
I'm reminded of the story in 1 Samuel 16 when Samuel was choosing a new king for Israel.
He was directed to go to the home of Jesse to anoint a new king..
When Samuel saw Jesse's first son he immediately concluded that this fine specimen of Israeli goodness had to be the one. He was shiny and clean and all consecrated for the sacrifice. But God had other plans. He said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
God has his eye on someone else. Someone Jesse or Samuel had not even considered. David. He had to be brought out of the fields stinking of the sheep and the sweat of his brow. I imagine, being the youngest, that David was not content to just sit around while tending the flock. I imagine he was throwing stones, practicing his slingshot, and fighting imaginary lions and bears… just as any normal boy would.
It was this young man who came before Samuel… a young man sweating and stinking from the efforts of fighting his imaginary adversaries when God said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
The grimy, dirty, dime… the true treasure of heaven.
Where are you investing your treasure?
Intersecting Faith & Life: Make a donation of dirty coins to your local homeless shelter or church mission fund. Start by collecting all the dirtiest coins you have in the house. Then go to your neighbor's house and ask them to also make a donation of dirty coins for you to add to your donation.
Further Reading
Proverbs 27:24
Matthew 13:22
The Riches of Christ
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When God Whispered - 2/1/2008 4:19:54 PM
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Fritzpw_Admin
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When God Whispered
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Manager of Communities
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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