Notes and Texts for 10-21-2007

When I was a child, the Halloween season was always the kick-off of the Holiday season in general.And now, as an adult, shopping after the holidays are over, when the price tags change, makes me wonder...

1. who changed the price tag?
2. what is the true value of things?
3. why are we willing to pay a larger price for something that’s deemed of a far lesser value in such a short span of time after the holidays are over?
4. Items whose value shifted with time included things like ‘Tickle Me Elmo,’ ‘Cabbage Patch Dolls,’ Halloween candy and costumes, seasonal items – Valentine’s Day candy, Easter candy and goodies, Black Thursday sale items…etc.
   

• People prioritize things differently
  
• People are willing to wage personal warfare over things that others might deem silly sometimes
  

1. But is this just, and fair?
2. Does it please God?
3. What does God value?
4. What does God think about, for example, holding grudges?
5. What things does God prioritize?
   

• He owns the cattle on a thousand Hills
• He wants us to abide by Micah 6:8
• He wants us to have faith in Him
• He wants us to get along with our brothers and sisters, and
• He wants us to be known by our love for one another.
  

God does not want us to hold grudges, or have ought against anyone…and this is why the Lord’s Prayer says, ‘as we forgive those who trespass against us.’

Mark 11:22-26

22…Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 4Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-35

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Matthew 13:31-52

31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

1 Corinthians 2:7-8

7…we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world for our glory. 8Wisdom which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.

Two poems that reflect these thoughts:

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

"Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,

"Who'll start bidding for me?

A dollar, a dollar - now who"ll make it two?

Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,

Going for three". . . but no!

From the room far back a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening up the strings,

He played a melody,pure and sweet,

As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"

And he held it up with the bow;"

A thousand dollars - and who'll make it two?

Two thousand - and who'll make it three?

Three thousand once, three thousand twice

And going - and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

"We do not quite understand.

What changed its worth?" The man replied:

"The touch of the masters hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.

Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,

A game and he travels on,

He's going once, and going twice

He's going - and almost gone!

But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,

Never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought

By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

WHOSE HANDS?

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands

was once worth about $33 million.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.

A baseball in Mark Mcquire's hands

was once worth $19 million.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.

A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands

was once a Wimbledon Championship.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.

A rod in Moses' hands parted the mighty sea.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy.

A sling shot in David's hand was a mighty weapon.

It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is fish sandwiches.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread

in the hands of Jesus Christ fed thousands.

It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in the wrists of Jesus Christ's hands

produced salvation for the entire world.

It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now, it depends whose hands it's in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because –

He wants you to cast your cares upon Him. Because He cares for you.

We need to be careful about what we prioritize...