Sunday, December 27, 2009

God's Mercy

I was pondering what an amazing thing was God’s Favor, when my son asked me what the difference was between Mercy and Favor.

I started with the Dictionary Definition:
FAVOR- Overgenerous preferential treatment - a sign of liking - an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual
MERCY- Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm

I thought that the dictionary said it pretty well. Favor is unmerited preferential treatment and Mercy is compassion or forgiveness toward someone who has committed an act against you.

What awesome set of power twins. They work hand-in-hand but they aren’t the same. From the beginning we see God acting in Mercy and Favor when He sent His Son to redeem us. But it doesn’t end there. The Word says that if He would not spare His Son how much more will He give us All Things?

When we speak of God’s Will, His Mercy and His Favor in the same context of “asking, receiving” and the verse I just quoted which includes the words “all things” (Rom 8:32) people withdrawal and act “shy”. People say things like “That’s not what it really means.” or “’All things’ mean spiritual things.” or something similar.

But I encourage you not to hold yourself back by explaining away God’s favor, grace, mercy wrapped up in His blessings. Receive them and run with them.


Favor
2 Corinthians 6:2

Mercy
Mercy Heb 4:16

Monday, December 21, 2009

Principle of the Giver

Principle of the giver
This principle is crucial in achieving a truly successful life, full of accomplishment and meaning. A person may be able to achieve monetary success without it, but long-lasting happiness and fulfillment will never be achieved without accepting this principle and putting it to work.

As with all good principles, this one is simple, practical and easy to put into practice. It should, although, be reviewed every day and the practitioner should compare his or her actions against it's directive.

Too often the average person falls in the common misconseption that to advance in life one has to "take" what they can.this happens with everything they come in contact with. Their vocabulary is full of "I need, I want, I must have" punctuated with "I deserve", and "you owe me". This mentality keeps the person fighting for pocket change while true riches will always alude them.

The principle of the giver runs contrary to the "Taker" and more along the line of the farmer. The farmer looks at a handful of seeds and a parcel of land and sees what it will become. The farmer sows the seed and waters it with the faith that one day it will be harvested. So the giver does what he does with the faith that the actions they are sowing today will return in an abundant harvest.


Provide more return than what is expected.


-- Posted while on the move

Location:Av El Boulevard de Surco,,Peru

Sunday, December 13, 2009

'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

--- A story from my inbox. Please re-post at will.---

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas,

There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands...

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this..'

The father

Opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence....

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.


FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE