From the Desk of Dr. Luauna - A Thought for The Day
Dear Dr. Luauna Column
Dear Readers,
The year is coming to an end and we have gotten through the hustles and bustles, the demands that pressed on us throughout the whole year. A New Year 2012 is just around the corner. What really counts in our life? Is it fame, success, worldly goals, fortune, how much money we have in the bank, how much money we don’t have in the bank, the economy? I think not. I want to encourage you to take a close look at what you’ve done last year and see what really counted for eternity. In the New Year let’s make a difference for Christ.
I think about the scripture, the story of the beggar and the rich man, both men died,
Luke 16:19-31. The beggar ended up in the bosom of Abraham, the rich man ended up in an unpleasant place, yet the rich man had the ability to look up and see the poor man. The poor man was comforted and in peace while the rich man was broken, hurting and tormented. His riches could not comfort him in that unpleasant place.
Proverbs 11:4, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Shall we not make this next year a year of working towards His righteousness? Of course, not seeking the righteousness of man, but seeking the righteousness of Christ. For when we seek Christ’s righteousness there is great reward.
Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and they are safe.”
Proverbs 15:29, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Can we walk in the unrighteous world’s ways and still hold the righteousness of God in our heart? We must make a decision to let go of the things of this world. Let our hearts and our minds be focused only on an eternal perspective.
Matthew 16:26, “What is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his very own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
This year is ending and we cannot change what has been done but in the New Year we can change, so let us press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 3:14. At the end of each man’s life, there is only one thing that counts, what have we done with the life that God has granted us? You are important, let’s make the difference in the New Year, God bless you! Have a great New Year.
Endure Hardship As a Good Soldier!
In the times we are living in, it seems so many are facing hardships of every kind at every turn. What do you do when trouble comes your way? Sometimes the first instinct is to throw your hands up in the air and quit; I want to encourage you to do just the opposite, endure! Endurance means, “The power to withstand hardship or stress,” with Jesus we have the power to withstand. 2 Timothy 2:3-4, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” The Apostle Paul used the example of a soldier in this scripture because hardship is a fact of Christian life. A stress free life with no hardships is not realistic, instead the Christian is promised Jesus will equip us for victory, He will help us overcome.
The battles of life are very serious, much is at stake, the Lord is using Christians as instruments of light to shine in the darkness. Our key to victory is trusting the Lord to bring us through. As we lean upon Jesus and His promises, on the other side of hardship, we shall be strengthened. 1 Peter 5:9-10, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.”
The meaning of steadfast is, “Fixed or unchanging.” I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Jesus himself, gave some powerful advice to his disciples, which is timely for us today, John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Because Jesus has overcome the world and its problems, He is able to promise peace to those who are in Him.
Jesus brought peace to his disciples when they were in the middle of a storm, Mark 4:39, “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
Rise up Christian soldiers, the Prince of Peace, Jesus is with you!
From the Desk of Dr. Luauna - A Thought for The Day
Trust God, Do Not Fear!
Every time we turn around lately we hear reports on TV, "Thousands of people losing their jobs!" On the news daily we hear doom. Headlines on newspapers report even more defeat throughout each page. What does one do in a time like this, while many people are sinking in fear, hurting inside, and becoming more depressed as the days go by? I want to share with you a true story…!
Once there was a woman who found herself in a terrible bind, her husband had died, and the economy was in such chaos (sound familiar) many people were dying all around her from starvation. Each day passed, yet she knew it was just a matter of time before she would have no food at all. I am sure her mind wondered every second, how she was going to take care of her and her son. Hurting deep inside and filled with fear, she could not believe what was happening around her. Each day she worked hard to make ends meet, but one day the woman finally came to the very last portion of food, she had finally come to the last meal for her and her son. Running out of food because of the drought, no rain amounted to no crops. No food was found anywhere for anyone. This woman did all she could do to make what food she had last as long as she could, yet it finally came to the end.
Knowing this was the end she went outside to collect sticks to make her last fire to cook her last meal for her and her son. She must have seen others die, death was all around. How she must have felt inside knowing this would be their last meal together, the son whom she loved so dearly. While she was gathering sticks, I wondered to myself, what was this woman feeling inside? Was she crying, her eyes blurred with tears trying to see the sticks, or had she cried so much already she could not cry anymore? Or was she thinking about her husband who had died, just maybe if he was still alive she would not be in this situation. Whatever her thoughts were, she knew this was her last meal, then in only a matter of time her and her son would die. Gathering the last sticks for the fire, and heavy in thought, she heard the voice of a man calling her name.
Her thoughts of death were interrupted, as she slowly stood up and looked around to see where this voice came from which had called her name. She turned and had eye contact with this man just standing there, a strong man his eyes seemed to look and see right through her. Then he asked her for a glass of water, "This man is thirsty," she thought. This woman didn't think twice, she just turned around and headed for a jar, to get this man who was thirsty a drink of water. She must have walked just a few steps when she heard him again yell out, "Please give me a morsel of bread in your hand."
Stopping in her tracks, "A morsel of bread", she thought? She turned around slowly, with a heavy heart; she must have thought, "This man is not from this area. Doesn't he know what's happening?…Who has food?" Her eyes caught his eyes, and again they were piercing. She did not want him to think she was not kind or generous. As she looked into those eyes they seemed as if they were looking right through hers. She finds herself defending herself, as she says, "As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a hand full of flour in a bin, and a little bit of oil in a jar."
As the woman kept eye contact with this man, she held out her hands, "See…", she made sure he knew, "I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go and prepare a cake for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." I am sure this woman's eyes told the story of the deep fear she had inside her heart. Amazing, this man stood still, not even flinching as he was reading every line and expression on the woman's face.
His eyes locked to hers as he told her, "DO NOT FEAR," those powerful words, "DO NOT FEAR." I am sure she was puzzled at this man's statement! When all of a sudden he told her, "Go do as you have said make the cake, but first bring me a small cake from it first." Did this man hear what I said…?
Strange how God works…! In the middle of lack, and drought, He asks us to do something beyond our own understanding! Give..! Give seems like a foolish thing right now, when we do not have, and what we do have seems like only enough to get through.
In this woman's case it was give when she had NOTHING more to give. Seemed crazy for this man to ask for a little of what she had left first! God seems to move in ways we may not understand, just like this woman. I am sure she may have just stood still making sure the man's words, were truly what she thought he said. Then the man went on to tell her, "For thus says the Lord God of Israel; the bin of flour or the jar of oil will not be used up, until the Lord sends rain." Those words sunk in, "Wow," she did not need to hear anymore. She turned around and started for the cook stove. Reaching for the last bit of flour, and the last few drops of oil, she worked hard mixing it and making sure it was mixed just right. Placing the dough into the oven and waiting for the bread to be done. The aroma of fresh cooked cake filled the house smelling so good I am sure.
I wondered what this woman thought as the cake was cooking. The words of this man echoed in her mind, "Shall not be used up." Done, out of the oven came the cake, her son I am sure hungry, came smiling from ear to ear as the fumes of the fresh baked cake filled the house. He came into the house smelling that wonderful aroma, the cake and reaching for just a bite, the mother reached out her hand and motioned for the boy to STOP. Wait…! Remembering every word the man said, "Make me a cake first…!" I am sure she motioned to the son, "Do not touch one drop of that cake, you must wait." "Come," as she placed a small piece of cake in her hand, motioning for her son to follow her outside lest he is tempted to eat first…!
What faith…! Just one word from the man, who gave a word from God, her and her son would be taken care of and would eat. Even though one of the hardest droughts ever was upon them….!
We can learn, a powerful lesson from this woman in I Kings 17:1-16. God will take care of those who will hear, obey, give and trust in Him, even in a time of trouble! Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and He shall direct your paths…!" There are many paths, during this time, will you trust GOD like this woman? Watch what God will do for you!
I love you, and trust you will be encouraged, may you let go, and let GOD Almighty who is so in LOVE with you! Remember you are important to your Heavenly Father.
Copyright © 2009 Dr. Luauna Stines
Food For Thought
I would not change my blessed estate, For all the earth holds good or great
And while my faith can keep it’s hold, I envy not the sinner’s gold.
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