The Prodigal Son

Once there was a very wealthy man who had two sons. The younger son came to his father and demanded his share of the inheritance. The father gladly split the assets and gave the younger son his share.
A few weeks later, the younger son packed his bags and journeyed to a very distant land. He spent his money lavishly on friends and wild parties. Within a very short time, he had squandered every penny of his inheritance. His new friends abandoned him and he was alone in a foreign land.
At the same time, a great famine spread throughout the land. There was no work and very little food. The younger son became desperate and took a job feeding pigs – the most humiliating job he could possibly get. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the scraps that he fed them.
After many days, he finally came to his senses.
“How many of my father’s servants have more than enough to eat while I am starving? I will return to my father and ask him to forgive me and make me one of his servants,” said the younger son.
So the young son headed home.
While still a distance from the farm, the father saw his younger son approaching. The father sprinted across the field and threw his arms around his son and kissed him.
“Father I have sinned. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Please make me one of your servants,” said the younger son.
But the father would have none of that. He told the servants that had followed him to bring a robe to put around him, a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. He then instructed them to prepare a feast to celebrate his son’s return.
“My son was dead, but now he is alive! He was lost, but now he is found!” announced the father.
The servants prepared a massive celebration with food, music and dancing. Out in the fields the older brother heard the noise.
The older brother grabbed a servant and asked,
“What is happening?”
“Your father is celebrating the return of your brother,” said the servant.
The older brother was very angry and refused to attend the party. His father came out to the field to talk to him.
“Please come and join the celebration,” said the father.
“All these years I have served you and I have never even thrown a party,” said the older son. “But this son of yours who has wasted his inheritance in a far away land is treated as an honored guest!”
The father put his arm around his older son and said, “You are always with me and all that I have is yours. But we must celebrate. Your brother was dead, but now he lives! He was lost, but now he is home!”

Some Things To Think About
The Prodigal Son is one of the best parables in the Bible illustrating God’s love for sinners. The father represents God and his great compassion for sinners who repent. The younger son represents any and all people who have drifted away from God’s love and protection. The older son represents anyone who might let pride or resentment stand in their way of rejoicing with God and His angels on the return of someone lost. Don’t ever look down on sinners or new Christians. Remember that we were all sinners at one time. And besides, wouldn’t you prefer to celebrate than to sulk outside?
The older son did everything right. In fact, he was very proud that he was the one who stayed behind and obeyed his father. But he let that pride blind him to all the benefits of being his father’s son. All that his father had was his. All he had to do was ask. He could have had a celebration every night! His brother returned and received all the blessings a son could ever desire. The older son could have experienced the very same thing, but he really didn’t know all that his father would do for him. Make sure you know all your rights as a child of God. You don’t want to miss anything that God has provided for you!
Just like the older brother didn’t realize all that was his, the younger brother didn’t understand what he was leaving. Instead of staying with his father and enjoying all the benefits of being his father’s son, he wanted something else. He thought there would be an even more exciting life for him away from his father. But all he found was suffering and want. Always remember that God has the very best planned for you. It is up to you to ask and receive all the blessings that are yours as a child of God.

THANK YOU

Two simple, one-syllable words; what power, joy, comfort, and assurance they convey and what pride, ingratitude, and selfishness their absence reveals.
Our "thank you" primarily is to the Lord for all things! Paul uses some form of the word thirty-seven times in his epistles. Our Lord is the first cause of every blessing - He is the source of all grace and mercy. "In everything we give thanks."
However, I am troubled that the words are so seldom used among men in the home, in the church, on the street, through the mail, over the phone and to one another in general. Not that any believer's labor of love or work of faith is done for either praise or reward, but what a disappointment to give, serve, and labor for the comfort 'and well-being of others only to have that effort ignored or unappreciated to the extent that it is never mentioned. And what a loss of confidence and admiration to be ignored and taken for granted by those whom we have held in such high esteem that we have shared our homes, our possessions, our food and our time with them.
"Thank you" may be a simple phrase, time-worn, and common; but when it is not present, it reveals a weakness of character, pride of heart, and an absence of the grace of God in the heart.
Thank you for thinking of me, praying for me, and letting me be your friend - I need friends! Thank you for your care, your consideration, and your kind words - I need encouragement Thank you for your smile, your warm greeting and your welcome ear - I need someone to talk to! I just want you to know that you are appreciated and I thank you!

Let Us Be Kind

No personal trait of Jesus Christ is more obvious in the Gospels than his kindness. I am especially impressed with Jesus' kindness to people who did not usually receive kindness -- little children, women, the poor, the sick, the physically or mentally impaired. Jesus was also kind to sinners -- people with a history of failures and flops. Because Jesus reveals God to us, this also shows us the heart of our God (John 1:18). God is kind to undeserving sinners, which includes all of us. His kindness prompts our repentance (Rom. 2:4). The gospel itself is called "the kindness of God" (Titus 3:4). Because God is kind to us, we must be kind to each other (Eph. 4:32).
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and a mark of a spiritual person (Gal. 5:22). It makes us useful to God and fruitful for him (2 Pet. 1:7-8). Those who truly serve God are kind to others -- Paul cites kindness as a mark of his apostleship (2 Cor. 6:6). You may hold me accountable as an elder (presbyter) and spiritual shepherd (pastor-teacher) to be kind -- and the same is true of all your other spiritual leaders. We are not worldly "bosses" or CEO's. Remind us of that if we forget it. You may rightly expect all your ministers to be kind. Kindly point it out (to them) if they are not. We all are sinners who sometimes slip -- but by the transforming power of God's Spirit, we can all become better than we now are. In short, let us all be kind to one other, tenderhearted, forgiving each another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us all and has shown us his kindness. God expects no less.

Who is Jesus?

According to John 1:14, Jesus became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Why is His humanity so important? In Hebrews 4:15, Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are. As such, Jesus can sympathize with our weakness as humans. What can we learn from the way Jesus handled temptation? According to 1 John 3:5, Jesus came to earth in human form so that He could die a physical death and take away our sins. How would we all be affected, if we had no potential for escape from our sins? Jesus is the key to membership in God’s family. When He stooped to our level by becoming a man, He made it possible for us to relate to Him and for God to relate to us through Him.
Who is Jesus? He Was 100% God

Who is Jesus, and how was it possible that Christ’s human body held the whole deity and glory of God?
According to John 1:1-3, Jesus existed from the beginning. From the beginning, Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Here, the Bible establishes the inseparable nature of Jesus and the God of the Universe. The following verses provide further evidence that Jesus is 100% God:

Highlights of Christ's Time on Earth & the verses: ·

Miracles: Luke 7:22 ·

Eyewitnesses to His perfect life: Matthew 16:13-17 ·

Fulfillment of Prophecy: Matthew 13:14, Luke 24:44 ·

Jesus' own identification/claim: John 10:30-38, Matthew 16:13- 17, Mark 14:61-64 ·

Claims of Christ's followers: Hebrews 1:8, Colossians 1:16, John 12:40 (quoting Isaiah 6:1-10) ·

Resurrection: Luke 24:39, Mark 8:31, Acts 17:32

Jesus is the key to membership in God’s family. When He established His deity by rising from the grave, He made it possible for us to have forgiveness from sin and a renewed relationship with God.
Who is Jesus? He is the Way to Heaven

Who is Jesus, and why is He the only path to salvation?
In John 14:6, Jesus declares: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Why is it important to know that NO other religious leaders throughout history have ever made these claims? According to Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” How does this contrast with other world religions which are based on “works” versus faith in Jesus and the resurrection? If we can’t build a relationship with God by doing good deeds or repeating rituals, what must we do? Acts 4:12 is clear, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”