I LOVE MY PHONE… So What?

Last week I got a mail on my desk top, with a questioner attached that could help determine a man’s true treasure. I was meditating on the content of the mail when my younger brother walked in. He is a commited Christian; born again and also loves the Lord. I decided to test the mail on him.

As he sat across the table I fired a couple of questions at him.

“Do you love God?”

“Of Course! Why do you ask?”

“Don’t ask questions, just answer me. Now, do you agree that the bible is God’s word?”
“Yes I do!!”

“Do you have a bible and if you do, is your bible a treasure?”
“Yes and Yes.”

“Okay, that’s great now just a few more questions... Do you have a phone?”
He looked at me curiously wondering what I was getting at. “You know I have a phone,” he answered cautiously. “I spent a fortune on it.” For proof he tapped the phone strapped to his belt.

“Which is more important to you – Your bible or your phone?”
“Sister, what kind of a question is that? My bible is certainly more important to me!!”

“Okay. I see your phone attached to your belt. Do you also carry your bible around?”
“No.”

“Do you flip through your phone several times a day?”
“Yeah.”

“… Your bible”
He shook his head.

“If you leave home in the morning and realize you have forgotten your phone what will you do.”

“I’ll go back and get it.”

“Would you do the same if you realize you forgot your bible.”
He squeezed his face … “Probably not.”

“How many times a day do you check your phone for messages?”
“Several times.”

“Do you check your bible for messages regularly?”
“Naaah…”

“When you think of a gift which comes to your mind first – a phone or a bible…?”
He smiled

“What would you use in case of emergency? Your bible or your phone?”
“To be honest, I will use my phone. But then now that you ask, I realize that God’s word can get me out of trouble any day. Any more questions?”

I smiled.
Tough questions but it makes one think - 'What are my priorities?’

Matt 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also….

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

Here is another song with powerful lyrics.

It's -- I can Only Imagine by MercyMe

1)

I can only imagine

What it will be like

When I walk By Your side

I can only imagine

What my eyes will see

When Your face Is before me

I can only imagine

{Chorus}:

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel

Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

2)

I can only imagine

When that day comes

And I find myself

Standing in the Son

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is Forever Forever worship You

I can only imagine

*******

Can You Imagine????

Rev 1:12

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

13

and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

14

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

15

His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

16

He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

17

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

18

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Naomi .. no not Campbell

Naomi was a country woman who found life in her rural hometown increasingly difficult. There was a famine and the economy was bad. Together with her husband and two sons she relocated to greener pastures, far away, in the land of Moab. At first life was beautiful; they settled in a lovely home, got good jobs and their handsome sons soon attracted two lovely women and got married.

Nevertheless Naomi was a Godly woman, and her heart grieved day by day as she witnessed the godlessness and pagan traditions of the Moabites – worship of pagan gods, sacrifice of their virgin daughters, institutionalization of temple prostitution. It was difficult but she managed to remain unstained by continuing to worship and live for the one true God.

But then, without any warning at all, life dealt her a deadly blow. Her husband died. Before she could recover from that; her sons also died one after the other. Her wealth and relative comfort, no longer brought her joy. The strange land she lived in, offered her no comfort and she decided to go back home. At least there she would be among friends and family who would understand her.

Strangely however, her daughters-in-law, Oprah and Ruth decided to go with her. Even though she was touched, she convinced them otherwise. They were at the risk of leaving their people and going to a strange land, the same mistake she made many years ago. Better they stay were they are and remarry. Oprah took counsel from her but Ruth insisted. Her decision was from her heart and nothing would make her change her mind. She sensed that her destiny was tied with that of Ruth. It took some poetry to help her express the depth of what she really felt in her heart. She looked deep into Naomi’s eyes and said

Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to return from following after you:
For where you go, I will go
and where you live I will live:
Your people will be my people,
and your God my God:

Ruth1:16

Wonderful story. But there is one Big Question – What could make a young widow with no children, take a decision to leave her homeland and all she holds dear to accompany an aging mother in law to re-settle in a strange land; to embrace the woman’s people whom she had never seen before and to embrace the woman’s God????

There could be only one answer – Naomi must have been a picture of the one true God. Naomi must have lived a pure life that revealed the goodness, power and glory of God to all those who were close to her.

Remember that song?

God, Let my life be a picture of You
Let my life be a picture of You
Let it be a letter written by your hand
For the world to see and to know
That you are, living in me

And this is a great challenge for Christians of this generation. It is common knowledge that many times we have to introduce ourselves as born again Christians; and even then people wonder if we truly are. Actions speak louder than words. It is sometimes easier to blend with the practises in our environment, families and organisations rather than stand up for what we know is true.

May God help us to become a true light that men would see and give glory to God. May our lives make others desire to live for God alone.

Amen

P.s. I was fascinated with the picture above which i got from the net. I think it depicts the union first between God and Naomi and then also between Naomi and Ruth. I got it from the source below

http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/1285.html