Feed the right wolf

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[a] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I read the following story on line.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on in every person. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves'. One is evil -- it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good -- it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grand son thought for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Need I say any more?

Let's start feeding the good wolf, that we might flourish for the Lord and do great things for Him! There's so much work to be done!!

Dear Lord, help us feed the good wolf in our life. Let us not give into temptation of the evil one. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

He has come to rob, kill and destroy.

Alaska Bear

John 10:10 (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Day nine of our Alaska Adventure we did some sightseeing. We enjoyed seeing some amazing wildlife, beautiful sites and some of the residence of Alaska.

Have you ever heard about how the Eskimos kill wolves? You're not gonna believe this one!

First the Eskimo coats the blade of his knife with animal blood and allows it to freeze. He then adds and freezes more layers of blood, several coats, in fact, until the blade is completely covered with frozen blood. Next, he plants his knife in the snow, the blade facing up and goes about his business.

When a wolf finds his way to the luring aroma of fresh blood, he starts licking. Then more and more vigorously, lapping it until the sharp blade of the knife is exposed. However, by this point, so intense is his craving for the scrumptious blood, that the wolf does not notice the sharp sting of the blade on his own tongue, nor does he even realize that his ravenous craving is now being satisfied by his very own blood! By light of dawn, the Eskimo will find him lying dead in the snow.

Sin entices and seduces us in precisely the same way. Satan lures us to the place where he plans to ravage us with some sort of destructive fleshly pleasure -- gossip, rage, sexual sin, etc. Once we give in to it's lustful pleasures, our craving for it increases. When we continue to allow ourselves to indulge, it grips us all the more. And before we know it -- it completely consumes us. Our friendships are damaged. Our marriages are broken. Our testimony, spoiled. Satan has come only to rob, kill and destroy.

Let's begin recognizing our enemy's tactics upon us! There is no more time to give in to his destructive ways! We must strive to walk in holiness and righteousness for the glory of God's Kingdom!

Dear Lord, help us not give in to the lures of sin. Help us be strong and stand against the things that want to tear us down and destroy us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Surrounded by a pack of wolves

Deuteronomy 20:4 (ESV)

For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.

An organization in Montana offered a bounty of five thousand dollars for every wolf captured alive. Two hunters decided to head for the hills and make some money capturing wolves. Day and night, they scoured the mountains and forests searching for their valuable prey. Exhausted after three days of hunting without success, they both fell asleep.

During the night, one of the hunters suddenly woke up to find that the two were surrounded by a pack of fifty wolves, their eyes flaming and teeth bared. At once, he called to his friend, "Hey, wake up! We're gonna be rich!"

Sometimes we feel in over our heads in difficulties. They surround us like that pack of wolves preparing to pounce. But perhaps these difficulties are actually opportunities?? Recently, we've had some interesting trials. But through these tribulations, we see that God is taking each situation, one by one, and turning it for His Glory -- just more opportunities for us to testify of His goodness.

Today, we have the opportunity to learn and grow, and experience the grace and power of God through these trials which surround us. The devil is not as smart or powerful as he appears -- and we have a great and All-Mighty God who has a way of using our enemy's silly tactics for the building up of His Great Kingdom!

Dear Lord, we pray that in the things we come across in our life that we would learn and grow through them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

A wolf in sheep's clothing

Matthew 7:15  (NIV)

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Bubba took his girlfriend to dinner and a show recently in what we refer to as the "Big Apple", good old New York City.

Now, Bubba has been into the city numerous times, he's been in to see plays, skate at Rockefeller Center, have dinner in some of the finer restaurants, take in a ballgame at Yankee or Shea Stadium, etc. So the city is really nothing new to him.

Anyway, they were strolling down Seventh Ave. The other day when they came upon one of those con men running one of those shell games on the street. Bubba stopped for a minute and watched as the con man asked his customer under which cup the nut was.

The customer said he wasn't sure and Bubba proudly blurted out "it's under the middle one".

The con man said "you're right, you win" and he threw twenty dollars down on the table for Bubba . . .

The hook was baited and Bubba fell for it. Before Bubba finally walked away from that con man and his table Bubba had lost a hundred dollars. When he got home after the show and dinner still kicking himself for having fallen prey to the con man.

He thought to himself, I don't know why I fell for it, it all seemed so easy. I found that first nut without a problem and then I couldn't find it anymore."

As he contemplated the night he was reminded of something his Grandpa used to tell him . . . "Even a blind squirrel will find a nut every once in awhile".

After thinking about it Bubba had learned a lesson but it had cost him a hundred dollars in the process.

As I read this account it made me think about how Bubba had been deceived by the con man . . . How things weren't really as they had appeared to poor Bubba during that con game.

That got me to thinking . . . Thinking about all these so-called "prophets" who seem to be crawling out of the woodwork since the incidents on Sept. 11th. These "prophets" who claim they prophesized those events or what lies ahead for us. "Prophets" who have come out bragging about other so called "prophecies" of theirs that have come true.

Think about how these "prophets" are like the blind squirrel who finds a nut once in a while, because every once in a while one of their so-called prophecies appears to have come true from the way they explain it. In the meantime they are leading people astray, pulling them away from the Lord and into Satan's con game.

False prophets and false prophecy . . . Perhaps something for all of us to think about and beware of. Another great reason to read the Bible so we know the truth.

Dear Lord, in this world where there are false prophets give us the wisdom to know what is of You and what isn’t. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.