A New Year, A time for change

A New Year. A Time For Change

We are told in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To every thing there is a season, and a
time to every purpose under the heaven." In other words, things change,
sometimes when they need to, sometimes not, sometimes to our liking,
sometimes not.

Somewhere in the late 90's I began to write and sent out my Messages From
The Heart Articles. I began sharing them with friends, who shared them with
other friends who passed them on to others. Request came to me via email to
add them to my list of folks who would receive my writings. It has never
been a big mailing list, only a couple thousand people, but I like to think
(from the feed back I receive) that it has blessed some who have read my
thoughts. So for somewhere around 15 years I have been sitting in front of
my keyboard and letting God lead me in my writing of around 1,000 articles.

About a year ago I ask any who would like to continue receiving my writings
to sign up for my blog post as I was considering stopping my email posting.
A total of 14 people signed up. Once again I have struggled with the ongoing
expense and time required to maintain my mailing list and have determined to
stop sending out Messages From The Heart via email. I will continue to write
and post my thoughts on my blog. (By the way, when you subscribe it still
comes to your email address, it just doesn't cost me anything.)

So thank each of you who have written to encourage me through the years, you
have been a blessing to me with your kind words. I intend for this to be my
last Messages From The heart mailing. You can subscribe to my blog by
signing into: http://messages-from.blogspot.com and there is a link on the
page to sign up. It's free, just like now, just in a different format.

May God Bless each of you in the coming year with all good things which come
from Him.

Russ Lawson

God spoke to me

The Lord Spoke to Me

At one time the word of God was found in human vessels, inspired men, the apostles and prophets of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:1; 4:6-7; Ephesians 3:1-5). The Holy Spirit revealed to them God's thoughts and God's words (1 Corinthians 2:9-13). The holy apostles and prophets worked mighty signs, wonders, and miracles to confirm the divine message they brought (Mark 16:17-20; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4).

But these same apostles and prophets wrote down these inspired - God-breathed - words in books (Ephesians 3:1-5). These books were gathered together in one, the New Testament, which, along with the Old Testament compose the Scriptures, the writings from God commonly called the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Peter 3:14-16). Now the word of God is found in an inspired book, the Bible, which is completely sufficient to supply all our spiritual needs (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

When someone claims, "God spoke to me," he is claiming the gift of prophecy. But that gift has ceased, and all divine truth for men has been revealed, confirmed, and recorded in the Scriptures. If you're having a hard time making a difficult decision, look for guidance from the Scriptures and pray for wisdom to do what's best (James 1:5). But don't confuse your opinions or feelings for divine revelation. Divine truth doesn't come from a human mind; it's found in an inspired book. Your feelings are just your feelings, and all they prove is that you feel that way.

This reminds me of a true story Robert F. Turner used to tell. A woman came to him asking him to perform her wedding ceremony. Upon discussion he found she was unscripturally divorced. He said he couldn't perform the ceremony. She left but later returned and announced, "Brother Turner, God spoke to me and said it's OK, you can perform my wedding ceremony." Unfazed, he inquired, "Well, did He write it down for you?" "No," she replied. "Well," Brother Turner announced, "God spoke to me too. But He wrote it down for me." And He read to her Matthew 19:9. If God didn't write it down for you, He didn't speak to you.

- by Keith Sharp

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Doctor Ephraim McDowell

A Painful Operation

In 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell’s examination of a patient revealed that she had an abdominal tumor which would soon kill her.  Though abdominal surgery was unheard of in those days, the woman finally persuaded the doctor to operate.

            The surgery lasted for twenty-six minutes and the twenty-two pound tumor was successfully removed.  Since there were no anesthetics back then, the pain involved was almost unbearable.  Why, then, would this woman so forcefully insist that the doctor inflict such agony on her?  Quite simply, because she preferred the pain to its alternative - death.

            One of the most painful examinations that any sincere seeker of truth must experience is the self examination which God requires of all men (II Cor. 13:5). 

            Our goal should be to examine our life with the same objectivity that God uses in evaluating our character.  Since He knows about us (Heb. 4:13), and since His “gauge” is the only accurate one, we should relish any proper correction in our life that is necessary.  If the exam reveals a flaw in my character, and if I want to avoid spiritual death, I will gladly accept the correction.  If I want to die, I can simply ignore the warnings or refuse to take the examination.  It’s that simple.    

– by Rick Duggin