Encouragement
We had our Wiginton Family Reunion on June 10th at my youngest brother's home.
As usual, it was good, though some members were unable to join us....
and others have gone on to Heaven.
Reunions are good, for families (like individuals) can fall 'out of love'.
We don't mean to do that, but life gets busy and time flies and before we know it....
there is little or no communication.
You have to make it a 'priority' and really work at getting together!
Our neighbors just returned from visiting relatives in several different states......
all the way to Cheyenne, Wyoming!
That didn't just 'happen'.....they had to want it badly enough to PLAN for it.
I had a great Fathers' Day as all of our children called to say 'Happy Fathers Day'....
and 'I love you'.
Three of our 5 gr'children came over (the other 2 live in Houston).
Hugs and kisses are nice, but most of us just need to 'fall in love' all over again.
People take 'refresher courses' in whatever major field they are in,
but we ALL need to be 'refreshed' when it comes to 'falling in love all over again'....
and in the process, to communicate that love...by life and by lip!
1) LET'S FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN WITH JESUS
When Jesus came, He taught the need for love....by His life and His actions.
As a young boy, the Music Dir. at my home church (Friendship Baptist near Altus, Okla.)
would ask for people's favorite hymns and one of my favorites was 'Love Lifted Me'.
'I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry..
From the waters, lifted me....now safe am I.
All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling.
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul's best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves:
He will lift you by His love out of the angry waves.
He's the Master of the sea, billows His will obey:
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today!
Love lifted me, love lifted me.
When nothing else could help...
Love lifted me!
(Words by James Rowe)
Please EXPERIENCE His love....and EXPRESS His love....
by letting Him, His Spirit and His Word be in control.
Men, let's quit using the lame excuses of 'masculinity' or 'not macho' or 'heredity'.....
that keep us from sharing and expressing love!!
We can never express our love too often, nor too much! Please give 'voice' to your love!!
When we were appointed as missionaries to Korea in 1960, the 'charge' to us was:
"How far are you willing to go for the cause of Christ?
It's in terms of an old rugged cross!"
Dottie Rambo sings about Christ and The Cross:
'If that isn't love, the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky....and the sparrows can't fly.
Then Heaven's a 'myth'....there's no feeling like this, if that isn't love.'
Romans 5:8:
'God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners....
Christ died for us.'
Have YOU experienced the love of Jesus?
If not, you can experience it by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.
If you HAVE, share Him for He is too good to keep!
And please remember, you can not 'out-give' God!
Galatians 2:20:
'I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh...
I live by faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me."
The problem comes when we want Christ and want to follow Him....
but we want Him to do all of the dying!
A rebellious son said, "Dad, don't you love me?"
The father replied, "Yes, but I love you too much to leave you the way you are!"
God says this same thing to us!!
2) LET'S FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN WITH OUR FAMILY
Your BLOOD FAMILY must be a top priority.....not last on your list!
Two important questions when I die:
'How much did Travis love Jesus?'......and.....'How much did Travis love his family?'
Having been a pastor for over 50 years, 'balancing time' has been a bit difficult at times,
but I hope that my family will know that THEY were #2 on my list right after Jesus!
At the beginning of each school year, I would tell our children to get their game schedules to me as soon as possible.
Then I would mark those on my calendar so that hopefully, I would not have a conflict when that time came.
One time as we were getting ready to leave on vacation, the phone rang and our children shouted, "Dad, PLEASE don't answer the phone!!!"
They were SO afraid that it might be something that would delay (or even prevent) our leaving!
Indeed, it WAS a call letting me know that one of our church members had been in a car wreck, so our leaving was delayed....but only for a few hours.
Our love for our family HAS TO BE persistant, consistent and Christ-like.
Your CHURCH FAMILY should be a very important part of your life also.
Galatians 6:10:
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all.....
especially unto those who are of the household of Faith."
The local church families were very important to the Apostle Paul.
In Philippians 1:3: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
In Ephesians, each chapter has a different theme of the importance of the church.
Chapter 1: The church is the Body of Christ:
Be good to the body and remember that Christ is the Head'.
Chapter 2: The church is the Temple of Christ:
Worship needs to be a priority in our lives.
Chapter 3: The church is the Family of God:
Next to our own family, we need to love her also.
Chapter 4: The church is the Schoolhouse of Christ:
Where we need to study and learn.
Chapter 5: The church is the Bride of Christ:
Love Her and cherish Her
Chapter 6: The church is the Army of Christ:
Put on the wardrobe and get in the warfare.
3) LET'S FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN WITH OUR COUNTRY
'Happy 230th Birthday America!' on July 4th.
Let's hang the flags often and pray for our elected officials....especially our President AND our military all over the world!
We must be vigilant about the 'bad' (remembering the fall of the Roman Empire)....
for most countries fall from within, not from without.
We must also be victorious about the 'good'....for there is far more GOOD than bad about our country!
I wrote an article for a weekly newspaper one time, entitled 'Are You Worth Dying For?'.
Psalm 33:12:
"Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance."
Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, carried this Prayer in her purse:
"Dear Lord lest I continue my complacent way, help me to remember that somewhere out there today, a man or woman died for me!"
Love for Jesus, family, church and country MUST become personal.
The United States of America is the 'Home of the Free'....
as long as it is the 'Home of the Brave'.
Our citizens' commitments should be as strong as our soldiers' sacrifices!
In many elections, less than 50% of the people vote. Where is the sacrifice??
Please remember 'Freedom isn't Free'.
CONCLUSION:
I have a question: 'If you can fall out of love, can you fall back into love?'
Yes, but it has to be Spiritual. The flesh (and even the mind) are not enough!
I John 4:4:
"Greater is the power in you than the power that is in the world".
John 16:7-14:
Jesus promises you a 'helper' and this is The Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:27:
"Christ in you, the hope."
Romans 8:14:
"As many as are led by the Spirit, they are the Sons of God."
Galatians 5:22-23:
"We can have the fruits of the Spirit".
For further help, you might like to go back to 2 previous website articles:
Dec. 12, 2004: "It's Love or Nothing"
May 28, 2005: "The Things That Last"
So let's ALL fall in love all over again!!!
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Bro. Travis, I feel I have missed some great sermons by never having heard you preach. Your writing reflects your love for God. Thank you for sharing. Thomas
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