Make it Your Ambition to Be Small

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.   
1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

Lucifer or Satan became enamored with his beauty when heaven was his home.  He attributed his gifting and calling to himself.  He no longer gave glory to the One who rightfully deserved it.  Then he was corrupted and fell to the earth.  We can fall into the same sin that Satan embraced – pride.  It is insidious.  It is evil. 

When God leads us to a season of success in any area, we must be cautious.  If we are not careful, we will attribute our ability to stand in victory to our own doing.  This is very dangerous.  Remember pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). 

Let's take inventory of our lives and ask the Lord to show us any areas of our hearts where pride may have a foothold.  Let's humble ourselves before the Lord.  When we do, we will be secure in our hearts as we depend upon Jesus.  When we humble ourselves, we put ourselves in the place where our Lord will lift us up in His timing and in His way.  When He does, let's remember to give Him all the glory.

When we remain humble before the Lord, His grace abounds in our lives.  Isn't that what we desire?  The Bible says that God gives grace to the humble but He opposes the proud (1 Peter 5:5).  The Scripture also  says we should clothe ourselves with humility.  So let's put on this attribute.  It is highly attractive to God our Father.  Jesus Himself is meek and lowly of heart.  We should make it our ambition to be small in our own estimation and give the glory to the Lord.  If we do, we will find that God's grace surrounds us like a strong summer breeze.

One of His Sheep

I am one of His sheep

On my own, I am not much to brag about

But Jesus is my Shepherd

I am intimately acquainted with Him

I know His voice

I know its tone, its rhythm

The voice of a stranger is foreign to me

Like a cap that does not fit a jar

Like a square peg in a round hole

I will not entertain it

I cling to my Shepherd

He is welcome in my heart

Like a key that unlocks treasures

Like a hand in a well-fitting glove

He leads me to green pastures

I do not want

In Him I am safe and secure and satisfied

I am one of His sheep

50th Birthday Celebration

This past Sunday (May 22) we celebrated my 50^th birthday.  There were about 100 or so people in attendance, and we had a great time.  I am so thankful for the many people that helped to make it a success – especially my wife Lou.  Instead of gifts we asked that individuals give to the Alzheimer’s Association.  My wife and I are on the committee this year for the St Charles Alzheimer’s walk to end the disease. This organization does much in the area of research to find a cure for the disease.

  

If you would like to give, you can make a check payable to the “Alzheimer’s Association”.  You can send it to 120 Ridge Ave, Suite 13, Bloomingdale, IL 60108.  This address is for our caregiving business called Ardent Care Health Group, Inc.  We will make sure that the checks are sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.  Many of you know that my Father-in-law suffered from this devastating disease.  We started our agency in memory of him.

In the party, I sang a song that I wrote.  It speaks of God’s faithfulness to me over the years.  I know I have much to be thankful for.  God specializes in turning our sour experiences into something sweet.  He works all things together for our good, for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

Here are the words to the song:

© Copyright 2016 by Tom Toya

Magnificent to Me

There is none brighter.  You shine in the darkness.

Shined your light upon my soul.

I am forgiven.  For you have saved me.

Took this battered heart and made it whole.

The day you saved my soul. 

Chorus

Jesus, You are so magnificent to me.  (Repeat)

As I look into my memories.  It's plain to see.

You have only wanted good for me.

As I look into my memories.  It's plain to me.

You have always   loved me.  You love me.  To Chorus.

Over the mountains, down through the valleys,

Over the years You've been here.

And when I've failed You, You drew much closer.

You wiped away my every tear.  To Chorus

Victory Over Fear (Satan Flees)

During my senior year of high school, I was riddled with many fears. Finding the right college, choosing the best career path, launching out on my own in life; these were the challenges that rocked my boat and caused me to stay up late at night. I tried to combat my fears, but my attempts resembled attacking a gorilla with a twig. My powerlessness against the foe of fear was first rooted in the fact that I didn't have a relationship with the Lord. Later when I accepted Christ as my Sin Bearer and Savior, I began to sense God's love for me. This helped to ease my fears.

The second thing that gave me power over fear was learning God's word concerning victory over my timidity. One of the Scriptures I discovered is found in 2 Timothy 1:7. It reads: “For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind.” This scripture reveals that fear is a spirit. It's definitely not from God, so it is an evil spirit. It also shows us that the opposite of fear is God's power, love and soundness of mind.

I also learned that - just like Jesus, when confronted with temptation - I could quote the word of God to Satan every time I felt afraid. I found great victory in this, and in the knowledge of God's great love for me. The Bible says that perfect love (that's God's love) casts away fear.

Since, I met Jesus and learned these truths, my life has never been the same. Now when I face new challenges and I'm tempted to fear, I remember that the God of love is with me and I quote God's word in the devil's ear. Thank God that when I do that, Satan flees.

Commanded Blessing

You command the blessing

Over all we are

Over all we possess

As we place our faith upon You,

Look to you like a son to his father

May your blessings pursue and overtake us

For we are blessed to be a blessing

Jehovah Jireh, You are more than enough

Because of Christ’s sacrifice

We are no longer under a curse

Blessings flow to us like a cataract

Gushing down the mountain side

The Good Work Has Begun

Being confident of this , that he that who has begun a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV

We are each a work in progress. All of us, who name the name of Christ from the heart, have embarked on a journey. God has begun a good work in us. At salvation, we have been given a new nature. We are new creations in Christ. Inside our spirits dwell the Holy Spirit and within us can be found the fruits of the spirit. Spiritual attributes such as love, joy, and peace are growing within us and affecting our lives as we yield to the Holy Spirit. We also have been given spiritual gifts. Some of us love to serve. Some are adept at spreading the good news. While others find their joy in showing hospitality. Some of the other gifts that the Spirit gives are prophecy, gifts of healing, and administration.

Our Lord wants us to grow in grace. He that has begun the work in us will bring it to conclusion. He is helping us to shoot closer and closer to the bullseye. Our Father extends his grace to us and enables us to grow. When we fall, he picks us back up. He is so patient with us. Let's cooperate with him in the growing of our faith. Let's allow God to use his fruit and his gifts within us to bring him glory. He will help us to hit the mark of maturity. We can be confident of this. Step by step we are getting closer, and although we will not reach perfection this side of heaven, when we do arrive at heaven's shores we will be entirely complete in him. Nothing will be lacking.

The scripture also says that we are complete in Christ right now (Colossians 2:10). This is referring to our standing in Him. This speaks of the work that Christ has done inside our hearts. We have, however, not arrived. Though we may be complete in our standing with Christ, that truth has not completely affected the living out of our faith. God is causing us to better reflect him day by day. He is helping to bring what's in us to the surface. He is changing us from glory to glory.

Jesus is committed to our maturity. He is in it for the long haul. He will be faithful to us even when we are not faithful. Let's entrust our lives to his care and commit to growing in grace.

1 John 3:2 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” These are comforting words. We shall be like him on that day.

If you are struggling in your walk with Jesus, take heart he will help you if you reach out to him. You can also find help from a brother or a sister in the Lord. God is committed to enable you to win. Surrender to him and he will cause you to triumph.

With a Withered Hand

His twisted hand caught the Savior’s eye

Did Christ ridicule in reply?

He had the man stand before the group

But on the Sabbath day what was He to do?

The Pharisees held to the letter of the law

To heal on the Sabbath to them would be wrong

Jesus, with compassion, asked the man to

Stretch forth his hand

All became well at His command

Perfection overcame imperfection

Wholeness overruled disease’s insurrection

The Pharisees were outraged

At the freedom of Jesus’ faith

How could He heal on our holy day

They conspired to kill the Christ

Death verses Life

On this day when Jesus healed the man

With a withered hand