You Make A Difference

 

The principal decided to honor all of the high school seniors by telling them the difference they had made. Each student was called to the front of the assembly, one at a time, and told how he or she had made a difference to the school and the senior class. Then they were each presented with a blue ribbon, pinned, and prominently displayed on their clothing, imprinted with gold letters which read, “Who I Am Makes A Difference.”

As a class project, an annual tradition, the seniors decided to see what kind of impact this same recognition would have on the community. Each student retained three ribbons with the instruction to repeat the same ceremony of acknowledgement that they had received with someone who had impacted their life. They were to report back in three weeks on who was honored and what the results were. The following is one such report.

One young man went to a junior executive in a nearby company to honor him for helping him with career planning. He pinned the ribbon on his shirt, explaining the class project, then gave him the other two ribbons to pass on. He was also instructed to report back to the student the results of his encounter of recognition.

The junior executive went to see his boss, who had been kind of a grouch lately. He told his boss that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed overly surprised by the gesture but allowed the junior executive to pin the blue ribbon on his suit coat, above his heart. After explaining the class project, he then gave his boss the remaining ribbon saying, “Take this and pass it on by honoring someone else.”

That night the boss sat his fourteen-year-old son down and said, “The most incredible thing happened to me today. A junior executive visited me and told me he admired me for being a creative genius. He presented me with this ribbon that reads, “Who I Am Makes A Difference.” He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find someone else to honor. I started thinking of who I wanted to honor, and I thought of you. I want to honor you! My hectic days too often keep us separated. I sometimes scream at you for your poor grades and your messy room. But tonight, I just want to let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You’re a great kid and I love you.” The startled boy began to sob. He couldn’t stop crying. His whole body shook. Through his tears he said, “Dad, I’ve been sitting in my room writing a letter to you and mom explaining why I killed myself. And I asked you to forgive me. I just didn’t think that you cared at all.” The father pinned the ribbon on his son’s shirt then went to his son’s bedroom to read the heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain.

The next day the boss went back to work a changed man, no longer a grouch, but constantly let his employees know that they make a difference. The junior executive helped more students with career planning, including the boss’s son, and never forgot to let them know that they can make a difference in other people’s lives. The senior class learned a valuable lesson, “Who you are DOES make a difference.”

[Hebrews 3:12-13] It’s not easy: to apologize; to begin over; to admit error; to keep trying; to take advise; to be unselfish; to be charitable; to face a sneer; to avoid mistakes; to keep out of a rut; to endure success; to profit by mistakes; to forgive and forget; to think and then act; to make the best of little; to subdue an unruly temper; to recognize the silver lining; to shoulder the deserved blame – but it always pays off in the long run! So, don’t think you’re the “only one” getting pushed around by life. Honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for He “Makes A Difference” to everyone who believes in His Word.

Thanksgiving

 

Why Only One Day for Thanksgiving? Charles Dickens said that we are somewhat mixed up here in America. He told an audience that instead of having one Thanksgiving Day each year we should have 364. “Use that one day just for complaining and griping,” he said. “Use the other 364 days to thank God each day for the many blessings He has showered upon you.”

Paul told the young preacher Timothy concerning the eating of food, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). That certainly includes the Thanksgiving meal we all partake of. But it seems that in this day and age there is something fundamentally wrong with the contemporary American approach to Thanksgiving. We use the occasion of Thanksgiving to inventory our blessings and then carve the traditional turkey. When one gets right down to it, there is something pretty empty and shallow with the attitude of “I appreciate what God has done for me; therefore, I will indulge myself with a big meal!” Now, don’t get me wrong- I probably will do my share of overeating on Thanksgiving Day – but I can’t help but wonder if we are, in reality, practicing in “Thanksfeeling” instead of genuine Thanksgiving. Real gratitude should give! What should Thanksgiving really mean?

Thanksgiving means – Giving to God. * Paul stated to the Corinthians that remembering what Jesus gave for our sakes should make us want to give generously and cheerfully to God in return (2 Corinthians 9:10-15). The point is that thanksgiving to God should be rendered with our hearts, with our talents, and yes, even with our earnings.

Thanksgiving means – Giving to Those Who Have Given to Us. * We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who raised us. Certainly, we should honor them (Ephesians 6:2-3). Unfortunately, in our fast-paced society, many children seem unable (or unwilling) to give their parents the time they should, and this is true no matter how old you or your parents are. Are we truly thankful for our parents? Then let’s demonstrate our gratitude by giving them the most valuable gift of all – ourselves. And not only our parents, but truly give back to any and all who have selflessly touched our lives and given graciously to us.

Thanksgiving means – Giving to Those Who Are in Need. * Real gratitude shares. Those who have been richly blessed by God must, in return, be a blessing to others. It’s too easy for us to look at world hunger, hardship, and the needs of so many others, excusing ourselves by saying, “Well, I can’t help everyone!” True, you can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone (Galatians 6:10). It is not enough to count our blessings; we must also share them with others. We have so much for which to be grateful. But genuine thankfulness, genuine thanksgiving, not only feels, but it also acts! Does your thanksgiving really give from the abundance given to you?

[Psalm 107] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. The apostle Paul was a thankful man. He was thankful to Jesus for putting him into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12), for the faith of his fellow Christians (Colossians 1:3-4), for those who risked themselves for his ministry (Romans 16:3-4), for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:57), and indeed for all things (Ephesians 5:20). What sort of “thanksgiving list” would you put together? Perhaps it would include your family, your home, your local congregation of the Lord’s church, and your job, in addition to the spiritual blessings Paul mentions. Whatever the case may be, the important thing is to remember to be thankful, because ultimately, God is the source of all blessings (James 1:17). Thank you, God; Thank You!

Unnamed, But Not Unnoticed

 

In an Army Hospital ward there were several WWII veterans reminiscing about their many bouts with near-death and death. One vet stated, “I owe my life to a medic who treated me under heavy fire. Later that day he himself was killed in battle. I do not know his name, but I shall never forget him.” Many heroes throughout history remain anonymous, but their deeds were always remembered by someone.

Just outside Washington, D.C., across the sparkling blue waters of the Potomac River, lies Arlington National Cemetery. Since 1864 some 45,000 plus courageous individuals have been laid to rest beneath the soil of the gently sloping hill of that impressive field. Among the honored dead is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This tomb has become a national shrine and is Arlington’s outstanding memorial. Thousands stand quietly and reverently at its graveside annually. The inscription on the tomb reads: “Here, known but to God, lies an Unknown Soldier.” That particular tomb has come to represent all the men and women of our armed services who’ve bravely fought and died defending our nation’s freedom. It’s not only a memorial for every Major General, but for every “Grunt” and Unknown Soldier who have sacrificed everything protecting life, liberty, and happiness.

[Mark 9:38-41] Did you know that there are thousands of unnamed people in the Bible? Many of them could be call “God's anonymous children.” Too often we fix our attention exclusively on the greater characters of the Bible, yet the vast host of the inconspicuous and unnamed has been preserved by the pen of inspiration as being worthy of our meditation. The unknown saints – unknown, that is, to human fame - must not be passed by. While full consideration must be given to those God called into the limelight, we dare not ignore others who remain in the shadow of obscurity or in anonymity. The writer of Hebrews depicts a great company of noble believers. “…Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:35b-40). We are not told anything else about them, and they are simply referred to as “others” (Hebrews 11:37). Yet we can be certain that God knows who they were and that someday he will honor them for their faith and loyalty to the Savior.

Do you feel insignificant and almost worthless because you have not received public recognition, or your name has never appeared in a publication, or has never been shown in lights on a marquee? Don't be discouraged! If you love the Lord, and you're doing your best for Him, you can be sure that He takes special notice of your faithful service. One day you will be rewarded, and He will acknowledge you personally. Though you may be “unnamed” here on earth, you will not go “unnoticed” in heaven. A poet once wrote: “The world may not thank you or noticed your walk, Yes, few here may care when you die; But Jesus will mark all your labor of love, and give you His praise by and by,” author unknown. Thus, from these just ordinary everyday people who did what they could to defend the God given rights of mankind and the cause of Christ, we learn from them that it is enough to serve simply as an unknown soldier and servant – known only to Him (Matthew 18:1-4): “…unless you change and become like little children …whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” God knows you.

Are You Getting Used To Sin?

 

Are You Getting Used To SinWhen David Livingston began his trek across Africa in 1852, he carried 73 books which together weighed 180 pounds. After he had gone 300 miles, he had to throw away some of the books because it was not feasible to carry so much through the rough jungle. He continued to throw books away as he went further into the jungle. Eventually his library had shrunk to just one book – the Bible. This he did not throw away.

USMC Cpl. Bob Banner got separated from his platoon during Desert Storm. He wandered in the desert for 48 hours hiding from the enemy, evading Iraqi scouts, and hiding under the sand in evasive maneuvers. He was found by allied forces who happened to have news reporters with them. He was recounting his story to the reporters who noticed he was gulping down water. A reporter commented, “You sure are thirsty!” Cpl. Banner replied, “You know what? I was so busy running, I forgot I was thirsty.”

In his work, “Memoirs from the House of the Dead,” Fyodor Dostoevsky remarked that, “Man is a creature who can get used to anything.” This is a startling and bone-chilling assessment. The truth of the statement is backed up and proven by human history. Consider, for example, the atrocities committed against mankind during WWII in the Nazi concentration camps. The senseless murder and torture of millions of men, women and children is well documented. Victor Franki, a holocaust survivor, and author of the book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” recalls the way in which his peers became desensitized to the brutality around them. New arrivals to the camp were confused in their unwanted situation and always held out hope of being reunited with their loved ones. Also in the initial stages, they would recoil in horror and dismay when they saw fellow prisoners beaten and tortured. They simply couldn’t stand seeing a campmate being abused. It hurt their hearts and minds! They couldn’t watch! They wanted to run and hide! But soon the horror would turn to humdrum. The amazement would turn to apathy. The prisoners would reach a point where they had seen so much pain, sorrow, and suffering that they were no longer affected by it. They lost all emotion. Their hearts were no longer affected no matter how brutal the scene. What a pitiful situation. Men and women had seen so much violence and bloodshed that they no longer cared. They got used to it.

[Jeremiah 6:15] Certainly there is an important lesson here for us. We must be alert. We must be guarding our hearts and minds. It may just be the case that, like Israel before us, we are getting used to sin. Just because we are bombarded with worldliness and sin day and night does not give us the excuse to become apathetic toward such things. God still expects us to talk, dress, act, and think differently than the world. If we’re not careful, righteous living could become a heavy load as we live in this world, and we’ll begin to shed some of our morals in exchange for personal pleasures and start looking at sin as a simple “change of the times.” As we look around us today, we see mankind throwing away every thought of God as being judgmental and too restrictive toward the pleasures of life. Folks are becoming so wrapped up in doing so many “things” they have forgotten to thirst after God, even though it may be good things they are doing. Jesus caution his disciples that they could become so busy running that the “cares, riches, and pleasures of life” might be allowed to choke out the word” (Matthew 13:18-23). The Bible is from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and it is being discarded so quickly by the leaders of this world in the hope that people will “get used to the new world order” without God and looking to government as godvernment. The wrath of God is coming soon to a country near you.