To error is human....

Old "sayings" are worth memorizing, pondering and passing on to others. They often contain the wisdom of the ages.

"To error is human, to forgive is Divine."

Think about this. We can't go through life without making errors. But if we just slow down a bit we can often make our errors in the right direction. Let me explain.

I can make the error of doubting that God will make good on His promises or on the other hand, I can be presumptious, presuming that God will do something He never promised He would do. Both are errors and since "to error is human, I would rather make an error on the side of presumption, expecting God to do more than He promised rather than doubt Him.

Another addage: "It's better to error on the side of caution." When the "red flags" begin to wave, slow down. I have learned, all too often by bitter experience, that when I see a "red flag" (an inner prompting to be careful) I proceed at my own risk and to my own detriment.

Knowing God

What were we made for?
To know God.
What aim should we set ourselves in life?
To know God.
What is the eternal life that Jesus gives?
Knowledge of God.
What is the best thing in life?
Knowledge of God.
What in a man gives God most pleasure?
Knowledge of Himself.

from Knowing God by J.I.Packer

Trivial Pursuit

Remember the game "Trivial Pursuit". You advance around the game board according to your ability to answer questions about general knowledge and pop culture.

I've been thinking about the subject (not the game) for a couple of weeks. Might have started by listening to Leonard Ravenhill on YouTube, esp. the one on "Eternity written on you eyeballs".

When we stand before our creator and enter into eternity, only then will we really understand how much of our life we wasted on "trivial pursuits" (not the game).

Only one life, will soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.

The Way Less Travelled

Jesus said that the "many" are doomed and the "few" find life. Read it in Matthew's Gospel Chapter 7 verses 13 and 14. What did He mean? Do we really take it to heart?

Alchemy is an ancient practice focused on the attempt to change base metals into gold. "Mental alchemy" would then be the practice of changing a concept into something totally different from the original.

Modern thought has pretty much transformed this message of Jesus to the exact opposite. The many are ok. Don't you dare think that you're "better" than anyone else. You hippocritical, pharisaical, self-rightious, narrow minded, nit picking, straight laced, old fashioned Bible thumper.

Regrardless of what the "many" say it still remains that at the end of the broad road is destruction and at the end of the narrow road is life.

Revisiting Jabez

About 10 years ago a lot of Christians were talking about "The Prayer of Jabez". Sermons were preached, classes were taught, books were written, and this little prayer tucked away in 1 Chronicles 4:10 became very personal to many sincere souls. It's been quite awhile since I've thought about it. Maybe it's time to revisit the prayer of Jabez and make it our very own.

"Now Jabez called to the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!"" I Chron. 4:10 NASB

Knowing the Will of God

"God makes His will known:(1) through His Word-- as we stop and study it. (2) through circumstances--as we look within and sense what He is saying, and (3) through the counsel of others--as we listen carefully." Charles R. Swindoll

Counsel which violates the principles of Scripture is simply poor counsel. And ignorance of God's Word leaves a person vulnerable to his own sense of what is right and wrong. Therefore, it is essential to know and understand what God has already revealed in His Word about His will for our lives, and pattern our decisions after Scriptural principles.

Selective Hearing

"You can not listen to just half of what the Holy Spirit has to say. It's a package deal. If you aren't willing to listen to everything He has to say, you won't hear anything He has to say. If you tune out His convicting voice, you won't hear His comforting voice or guiding voice either." from the book "Primal,a Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity", by Mark Batterson.