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Green-Eyed Monsters

May 22, 2018 By admin

Photo: Hemera

Looking back on my childhood, I now realize I was a somewhat mischievous kid. During the summer months especially, “our gang” of neighborhood children would circle around on our bikes playing “doorbell ditch” and throwing water balloons at unsuspecting passerby’s. We regularly monopolized the phone lines “prank calling’ little old ladies. There was something about theses acts that excited me. It must have been the adrenaline rush.

But one day my tricks caused someone a lot of pain. It was 6th grade summer school and a few select students were chosen to play their musical instruments for general assembly. Parents, students and teachers were invited.

I was not among the chosen musicians, so jealousy fueled my impish nature to new heights. As I sat in the darkened auditorium next to my friend Mary who waited to perform on her violin, my hand silently crept toward her instrument case. Finding the knobs that tightened her violin, I began turning them ever so slightly, one at a time loosening the strings in the darkness.

A Devious Act

When Mary rose to her feet to perform she had no ideas what awaited her. Making her way to the stage, she placed the violin under her chin and drew the bow across the strings. The sound that emanated from her instrument was awful! Again and again she tried to play but the only sound she could muster was a grating, screeching noise. Finally, in humiliation, Mary rushed from the stage, tears streaming down her hot cheeks. I’m sure guilt was written all over my face but I lingered in the dark auditorium hoping I would not be fount out. I wasn’t.

Jealousy is not called the green-eyed monster for nothing. For, when it takes a hold of us we often act in ways that are less than human. As adults, we too, are plagued by thoughts of insecurity and inadequacy that lead to jealousy. For every day we meet people who are smarter, more attractive, and richer than us.

Even so, our Creator has made each one of us very special and unique. When we realize God loved us so much that Jesus was sent to die in our place, we begin to recognize how special we really are. Then, we can love and value ourselves more deeply, as well as others, and the green-eyed monster begins to melt away.

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Read more at the source: Green-Eyed Monsters

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Family First.

Homecoming

May 19, 2018 By admin

Photo: Matthias Gelinski

The summer following my 10th birthday, our family made its first and only trek to Disneyland. We lived up north in Stockton, California, and in those days one had to travel Highway 99 to get to L.A. I well remember the all day trip driving with the “big trucks” through every town in California’s central valley that dotted the “99.” The stars were out (you could see them back then) by the time we pulled into Anaheim.

The three of us kids were so excited we could hardly sleep. But the next morning found us bright and early standing by the gate of the amusement park we had waited so long to see.

The day began well enough, that is, until my brother and I threw up our cotton candy on the spinning teacups. Our family had barely recovered from that mishap when the unthinkable happened. My sister disappeared in Frontierland. None of us even saw her slip away. It seemed we just looked around and she was gone.

I’m sure my parents were heart stricken for she was only three years old. Our holiday came to a screeching halt as we reported her lost and then waited moment by agonizing moment for her to be found. My parents were undoubtedly petrified by the possibility she might have fallen in one of the parks lagoons.

The Lost Is Found

Finally, after an hour or two, a policeman wearing a dark blue uniform, appeared with my sister by the hand. I can only imagine the relief and total joy of my parents at that moment. Their lost little girl had been found!

Now that I’m a mother myself, I think I can identify with the range of emotions my parents must have experienced that day, from agonizing heartache and fear to incredible happiness and relief.

Somehow, I sense that God must experience these same emotions on a daily basis millions of times over. For, we are all children of the Creator, each and every one of us. Yet, the Lord loves us individually as if we were an only child.

How it must hurt and grieve the Almighty when we wander away and get lost, for we mean so much to God. How the Lord longs for us to come home. But never forcing us, our God waits patiently, moment by agonizing moment hoping we will return.

This longing and desperation turns to indescribable joy when we finally do decide to turn around. Isn’t it time now to come home?

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Your Treasure

May 14, 2018 By admin

Photo: Brad Harrison

“Beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not of the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

Materialism. It seems that most of us at one point or another are consumed with wanting the newest gadgets, the hippest clothing, or the fanciest car. We may not be able to afford such pricey items… but “wouldn’t it be nice…” is our fantasy.

In Luke 12 Jesus tells of a story and it goes something like this:

There once was a rich man whose crops yielded a rich harvest. He looked at all he had and was impressed. He knew the barn he owned was not big enough to house all this goods.

And so he thought, “I will build for myself bigger barns and then I will have room for all my wealth. I have so much I don’t have to worry about the future. I’ll take it easy, eat, drink and be merry!”

Then God said to the rich man, “You fool! Tonight, your soul is required of you! Then who will possess your riches?”

Jesus concluded the story saying, “So is he that lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Addicted to Stuff

What treasures are you laying up? Are your treasures of this world? Or do you have riches in the kingdom to come? Especially here in North America, the average family is over-run by possessions. Look at the popularity of home organization businesses, products and books! We have so many things we have to really think about where to put them.

Think of all the money folks could save if they didn’t feel the need to have the latest gadgets or the most expensive cars or houses they can’t really afford. We are addicted to materialism and debt.

Jesus said we are worth much more than our possessions. Things cannot make us happy. True happiness comes from God. No one ever lies on their death bed and wishes they had more clothes or bigger TV’s or fancier cars. Instead they think of all the words they never said, or the time they wasted. They simply wish they had more time.

You can’t take earthly riches with you when you die. But if you seek after God and His righteousness – you’ll find riches forever more!

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Bolivia’s President Announces Intent to Repeal Code Limiting Evangelism

January 22, 2018 By admin

Click here for the full article.

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Adventist Review Updates.

New Criminal Code in Bolivia Could Curtail Religious Liberty, Say Advocates

January 15, 2018 By admin

Click here for the full article.

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Adventist Review Updates.

Green-Eyed Monsters

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Homecoming

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Your Treasure

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Bolivia’s President Announces Intent to Repeal Code Limiting Evangelism

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New Criminal Code in Bolivia Could Curtail Religious Liberty, Say Advocates

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