We Will Sell No WIne Before It's Time

05/08/08 http://www.praise2worship.com/news.htm
I laugh as I remember that commercial from the 60"s. Why?.. Because that company never created nor sold a good bottle of wine back then. Those that didn't know, would buy it and go "Wow" so this is what good is". In life we are told so many things and we accept them at face value from a world and people with their own agendas. As a result we are misled and broken with many phobia's, insecurities, lack of self confidences and a host of other problems. If only we would look at the Word and see what the father has to say about each of us. How much He loves, has a plan and has faith in us, how much He was willing to give us to succeed, how much He was willing to sacrifice, and how we should base our beliefs in ourselves upon what He says instead of what the world says. I guess some of the world has been blessed with incredible parents who loved and nurtured and disciplined and mentored and lifted them up into adulthood with incredible foundations. "I'm still looking for that family" :) Parents can only do their best and we all have our downfalls and weaknesses in raising children. It's always been that way. A crazy balancing act.
Think about this. Do you think Adam and Eve felt a little guilty after their one son murdered their other son? Do you think they spent days and nights in guilt wondering what they did wrong with Cain, to have him develop and turn so evil. Hey, they couldn't blame it on their parents.... Only God, and there is no record of that. They also had to suffer having their son banished from them and sent to "Nod". Well there are no "perfects" in "man". Perfect in creation? Yes God was, but in our execution of it, "no way". The church must do a better job of transparency and humility to each other and the world. The only good thing in it all is Jesus. Not saying his name, or in hanging his pictures, but in living his life and having His word dwell and bring forth its fruit.. Therefore giving Him total credit for any victory in our lives so as not to make the world think that "we" are better than the lost or the next saved from a different flow.. When in reality they can see "we are all the same". Struggling to find a way to make a difference, to be somebody, to have and display a purpose. A fellow minister and family counselor said to me the other day that there was a study as of late, that polled 1,000 believers and 1,000 non-believers. All the statistic's came out the same on both sides. Same percentage of Abortion's, Addiction's, Phobia's, Abuses, Divorces. Well, what does that say? We need daily transformation today as much as the first day we called upon the Lord. Daily renewing of the mind, Daily confessions of our faith, Daily confessions of the promises and daily expressions of unconditional love wrapped in prayer.

What makes the world consider a life of faith in Christ?
Our looks, Our wealth, Our successes, Our respect ? ... or...could it be
Our word, Our humility and Our ability to act and do things to each other that are "not normal", "un-natural", in fact "supernatural" to those without love, hope and faith. It's these "UN-natural" acts that allow the Holy Spirit to speak to mens hearts and cut through to the very bone and marrow.

In many ways I see and read today about remarkable Muslims, Buddhists and Hindu's that reflect these attributes more than many in the modern church, and that includes me at times as well. That should humble me to the cross for transformation before I speak to them about love, sin and a Savior, for which they display some of that fruit already. Lord help me be more like you. More love, More power, More of you in my life....