Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 9 of 59

It was nighttime in Southeast Nebraska. The stars were shining and all was good, except, off in the distance there was a thunderstorm brewing. I was headed to a sales call out in the country. Being young and foolish, I wasn’t too concerned about the storm and proceeded to the call. About an hour and a half later as I was getting ready to head home, it started to rain. The lightning was sharp and the thunder was making loud ka-booms. I got in my little Ford Courrier pickup and headed through the country to get back to the pavement and I thought I knew a shortcut. Yeah-HaHa!! The Rain is now coming down in buckets, the road is solid with lots of gravel on it. No, it wasn’t paved!! Then all of a sudden the gravel stopped and it is pure mud!!! I go probably about a hundred yards into this mud and finally get stopped. Boy, that was a wild ride trying to keep my truck out of the ditch. Now I’m stopped and it appears I’m stuck in the mud, 10:00 o’clock at night and no farm lights to be seen. Now what?? I can’t go forward–who knows how far this road is mud? Soooo I put it in reverse and eased out the clutch to see if it will even move. Wow, it’s actually moving. WHEW!! Now to keep it on the road in this awful slick mud. It is black dark outside and I can’t see where I’m going, so I hold the door open with one hand while I’m driving with the other hand, one foot on the clutch and the other foot on the foot pedal. The truck is spinning mud everywhere, it’s slipping and sliding as I inch my way back to solid road. It took about 30 seconds to get as far as I did in the mud and about an hour, inch by inch, to get out. Finally I’m back on solid ground and headed home, my door, inside the cab, and my leg all covered with mud. I get home about midnight and had never been so happy to see the house.

I tell you this story, because in life we can be doing fine, except we see a storm off yonder brewing up. It hits us and the road we were on turns to muck. We have to gather ourselves and figure out how to get back on solid road. We try to do it ourselves and nothing is working–we are stuck. Oh, hey, God might help, we think to ourselves. So we go to God in prayer and ask for help. Then we go to the scriptures and find passages of instruction. Inch by inch we back ourselves out of the muck to reach that solid ground that we so desire. It took a while, but with Gods help we made it. WHEW!!

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

Some will say, “I’m doing what God wants.” Some will say, “I think I’m doing what God wants.” Some will say, “I’m trying to do what God wants.” Some will say, “It doesn’t matter because God will save me anyway.” Some will say, “I don’t want to!” We use excuses and not reasons, when we do things our way and not God’s way. Maybe you don’t know what God wants. Reading and studying the Bible will fix that. Maybe you’re just lazy and think I’ll start tomorrow.

I believe it comes down to two factors” 1) Disobedience. Many don’t want to be obedient to anything or anyone. They want it their own way and nobody, even God, can change them. 2) Faith. A lack of Faith will come from a lack of knowledge and with that we have a lack of Wisdom and understanding. Studying and prayer are the answers to this.

Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the Elders obtained a good testimony. By Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Matthew chapter 17:13-19 tells a story of a man coming to Jesus and asks for help because his son is epileptic. He had taken him to Jesus’s disciples and they couldn’t cure his son. Jesus rebuked the demon and the child was cured. The disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast the demon out and Jesus answered them saying, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have Faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds there are and Jesus tells us if we just have that much Faith, we can move the mountains out of our lives. A mustard seed, just like our Faith, has to be watered, fertilized, and tended to, in order to grow to an adult plant. We need to study and learn to do what God wants so we can become mature Christians (Our watering, fertilizing, and tended to). There are a lot of good people doing many good things that are not obedient to what God wants done. God says, “Obey my commands and I will prepare for you a place (Heaven).”  Disobedient, and you will have no place with God.

Lastly in Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME , you who practice lawlessness.” That, my friends, is one of the scariest passages in the entire Bible.

The Bible is VERY clear that there are two places: The one God has promised to us for being obedient and the one Satan dwells in for those who don’t want to do what God wants you to do. The choice is yours to make. Make the right one!!

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

The story , in Luke Chapter 15, of the prodigal son has three different characters. Which one are you?

The younger son asked, and received, his inheritance early from his father. After a few days, he gathered his things and left. He had what he wanted–money and no cares. We refer to it as “Wine, Women, and Song.” He was living the “Life.” Eventually he spent all he had, and there came a famine in the country where he was residing, and found himself wanting. He found a job feeding a man’s swine out in the field, yet no one would give him anything. He thought to himself that even his fathers servants had more to eat than they needed, so he decided to go home and apologize to his father. As he was nearing home, the father saw him, ran to meet him, and called for a welcome home party.

The father showed his undying love for his son and welcomed him back with open arms. The kind of love that we wish we all had.

The older son, who stayed home, worked with his father, and did what he was expected to do, got angry when he found out what was going on. He was so angry that he wouldn’t even go inside to join the party. His father came outside and pleaded with him to come inside. Then the older son said, “I’ve stayed home with you and followed your every command and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might party with my friends.” The father told him, You never left my side and what I have you also have.”

The point of this story, as Jesus told it is this, our Father, God, will show us the love that the father showed and forgive us as the father forgave his son. All we have to do is say, “I have sinned and I need to repent.” I’m thankful that I have a forgiving, loving, and merciful Father.

So…..the question is this–Are you the mess up that the younger son was, the angry son that didn’t understand, or the father with happiness, love, and forgiveness for his son?

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

Parents taken for granted. Kids think they will be around forever, then, one day they are gone. I hear people say, “I wish I would have…………”

Kids are taken for granted. Parents think they will always be OK. Then something goes wrong and the parents ask, “Where did we go wrong?”

Jobs are taken for granted. We think we can’t be replaced and everything is going to be OK forever. Then we come to work and find something has happened and we no longer have a job.

Everyday things are taken for granted.We turn the hot water on and expect it to be hot. Then one day it isn’t. When we touch the on button for the remote we expect the TV to come on. Then one day it doesn’t. We turn the light switch on and expect the room to light up.Then one day it doesn’t. We go to the car and put the key in the ignition and expect the car to start. Then one day it doesn’t.

We take marriage for granted. We think we’ll always get along and there will be no problems.Then one day there are problems.

We take our health for granted. We think we are invincible and nothing can go wrong. Then one day we have to see the Doctor and there are problems.

We take God for granted. Life is going along smooth. The road becomes bumpy and it’s full of curves. Then we find ourselves off course and in the “Ditch.”

Most of the things I have listed, we can fix by ourselves. Except when life derails. Then we  talk to God and ask for His help. He gives the help and we go on like nothing happened until the next time we need His help. I wonder what has happened in between “happenings.” Do we still talk to God? Do we thank Him for all the good we have? Or do we take Him for granted that He will always be there for help. This reminds me of the story about the Israelites when they came out of Egyptian captivity and were in the middle of the desert. Things would be going along just fine and they would forget about God. Suddenly things would go sideways and then they would bow down and ask God for help. This type of behavior cycles over and over.

Don’t get yourself in a position where you take God for granted.

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

When I was still in the work force, I heard, a lot, “It’s not my job.” Maybe it isn’t, but helping out with something never hurt anyone. If you are being paid an hourly rate or a monthly salary, does it really matter what you do to earn your money? For instance: If you’re working fast food and your “job” is to cook, when things are slow, does that mean you can’t help with the cleaning? Doesn’t it all pay the same? So why not help others when you have the time? Society has somehow set definitions on duties of the husband and wife in the marriage. So let me ask this: Does that mean if the wife is a homemaker and doesn’t work outside the home, the husband doesn’t have to help her? Or visa-versus. I think not!! Maybe that is a cause of tension and makes for a troubled marriage. I know of several married couples that have set their own rules and get along just fine. Each helping out when and where they can. My wife works in an Insurance office where there are different teams. When her producers need help, she helps them. Not saying, “But that’s not my job” but pitching in and doing whatever it takes to create a cohesion that keeps the team clicking on all cylinders and running smoothly. There are five players, for each team, on the court at one time in basketball. Each have their own responsibility, but not afraid or unwilling to help out where needed. That, my friends, is team play.

In the church, Ephesians chapter four, we are told that God has given each of different talents to use. I submit to you, that one of those God given talents is to learn. The more we grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, the more talents we accrue. Some will sit back and say, “That’s not my job-I don’t have the talent to do that.” The most common I hear is, “I can’t teach.” REALLY?? The way you conduct yourself and the way you walk with Christ is teaching others about what being a Christian is all about. I had a person once tell me, when you say NO to doing something in the Church, you actually are saying NO to God. Think about that for a moment!! Many, as they get older, will basically sit back and do nothing, saying, “been there, done that, and I’m not doing it any more.” Did the Apostle Paul ever quit? What an example he is/was.

“It’s Not My Job!!” YES it is, if you want to be a team player.

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

There are two major categories of disappointment:

Has a Person Disappointed You?

When we place our expectations on people, we are usually disappointed. Has a close friend turned away from you? Has someone betrayed you? If you have set your hopes on your children being all you want them to be, you could be headed for a huge letdown. Did you marry, thinking your husband would meet all your needs? I have to tell you something: No man can meet all of a woman’s needs, and no woman can meet all of a man’s needs. God made us with a vacant space in our innermost being that only He can fill. So He will always let us experience disappointment with people so that we are driven to find fulfillment in Him.

Are You Disappointed in Your Circumstances?

If our joy depends on circumstances, we are in trouble, because circumstances are always changing. There are too many variables for them to remain the same. Did you expect a promotion, and someone less qualified got the job instead? Has illness interrupted and permanently altered the plans you had for your family? Has a divorce you never wanted radically changed your circumstances?

2nd Corinthians 1:3-4–God will comfort us in our afflictions.

Romans 8:31-39–No matter how bad things seem, nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Hebrews 13:5-6–God will not forsake you.

Philippians 4:4-7–Have no anxiety about anything, PRAY.

James 1:12–Blessed is the man who endures trials.

God has an open communication line, through prayer, that we can talk to Him. He will never give up on us or forsake us. He will be there in time of need. Talk to Him, let Him speak through his word, you’ll be amazed how quick your life will turn around!! You have cried the tears, gathered yourself, and got your life fixed. All is well!!

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

The Apostle Paul was an amazing man. In his early years, he persecuted Christians. Then on his way to Damascus his life took a 180% turn. He went from persecuting Christians to teaching and preaching Christianity. While working in God’s Kingdom, he was left for dead, shipwrecked, imprisoned, afflicted, and persecuted. At the end of his life (66-67 A.D.) he wrote 2nd Timothy. Timothy was one of the workers that helped Paul and was a close friend of Paul’s. The instruction that Paul gives Timothy had a lot of insight and applies to us as Christians today.

In the 3rd Chapter of 2nd Timothy, Paul tells Timothy what was coming in the last days. It is truly astonishing how accurate he was for today’s world.

Paul starts this Chapter off by saying, “Know this that in the last days perilous times will come.” He leaves no doubt about what was to come. In verse 2, Paul lays out exactly what he was talking about. 1) Men will be Lovers of themselves, 2) Men will be lovers of money, 3) Men will be boasters,  4) Men will be proud, 5) Men will be blasphemers, 6) Men will be disobedient to parents (And God the Father), 7) Men will be unthankful, 8) Men will be unholy, 9) Men will be unloving, 10) Men will be unforgiving, 11) Men will be slanderers, 12) Men will be without self-control, 13) Men will be brutal, 14) Men will be despisers of good, 15) Men will be traitors, 16) Men will be headstrong, 17 Men will be haughty, 18) Men will be lovers of pleasure, rather that lovers of God, 19) Men will have a form of godliness, but denying it’s power. Then Paul gives the instruction to: “Turn away from such people!” In verse 7 he says, “Men will always be learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of truth.” These men will resist the truth; Men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.

Verse 10, Paul tells us how not to get entrapped in foolish ways. He tells us to, “Carefully follow my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and perseverance.”

Verses 12,13, and 14 states that Christians who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. We must, as Christians, continue in the things we have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom we learned them.

Written 1950 years ago, this is the world today. Don’t get caught up in it!!

Have a good day all. SMILE God loves YOU!!

I wish it was that easy, don’t you? How many times have you said “I’m sorry” and got no response? Completely disregarded. Blown off. No response. No action. No reaction. You think to yourself, what just happened? It takes a big person to know they are wrong and an even bigger person to say “I was wrong and I’m sorry.” It has come to me that it is almost surprising to hear, “You’re forgiven.” We are all imperfect and make mistakes. We hurt feelings of others, sometimes, without even knowing. There are times we hurt someone on purpose-“To get even.” Scriptures tell us that God says, “Revenge is Mine.” So why do we take it upon ourselves? It has also come to me that it is surprising to hear, “I’m sorry.” It seems people think to themselves–yeah right! Maybe they don’t believe the person saying “I’m sorry.” The scriptures tell us, “If you can’t forgive, how do you expect your Father to forgive?”

I’ve had a couple instances recently where I’ve told someone “I’m sorry” and got no response. I don’t understand why. It hurts me to know or find out later my actions have hurt someone. I was raised to care about others and their feelings. I’ve been told I’m too sensitive. Really?? I wonder what that means. Are YOU not sensitive when you’ve been wronged or you have wronged someone else? Maybe it’s the society we live in today. Maybe it’s the all for me and I don’t care about you, that’s going on in the world today. One, I apologized for offending them and they told me they weren’t offended. However, a few moments later they turned their back on me and wouldn’t even say goodbye. I sent an e-mail later on and apologized again and got no response. What more can I do? Wash my hands of the situation and move on is all I can see to do. I know some or all of you have been in these types of situations before and it is heartbreaking and extremely frustrating . I don’t have an answer. I wish I did. I wanted to share this, so those of you in similar situations know you are not alone. This happens more regularly than one thinks.

The greatest command God gave us is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. God also says, “If you don’t love your brother, how can you love Me?”

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose. (James 1:19-20)

Don’t give in to worry or anger;
it only leads to trouble.
(Psalm 37:8)

People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble. (Proverbs 29:22)

Keep your temper under control; it is foolish to harbor a grudge. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. (Colossians 3:8)

If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. (Ephesians 4:26)

People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm. (Proverbs 14:17)

But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell. (Matthew 5:22)

Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. (Ephesians 4:31)

But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels. As the Lord’s servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. (2 Timothy 2:23-25)