Month: June 2011

A Personal Hymn to HIM – Meager Homage

R. Mangold

A short verse penned in a lucid moment of creativity as I pondered how inadequate my praise is in aptly describing the power, majesty, and sheer glory of God Almighty. ~ RDM

If each pedal from each flower blooms,
Each tree bring fruit to bear,
Each bird its anthem ring at once,
Your praise to fill the air.

If fountains of raindrops, and crashing of waves,
The tide retreating from shore,
In harmony break forth in chorus,
God’s Glory to implore.

Were the wind to whisper then muster a gust,
Or the whirlwind bluster with force;
All pale in meager homage,
To rival their Ultimate Source.

Your Glory spans the universe LORD,
Your Power knows no end,
Your Mercy is everlasting,
Your Love greater than any friend.

It’s Your air I breath, Your Life in my limbs,
Each day is a blessing from You,
May each step I take, each thought I think,
Each moment Your Glory shine through.

Try as I may to sum all Your works,
On pages in books to write,
My time on Earth will not be enough,
Writing from dawn until night.

My finite thoughts are inadequate,
My attempts more feeble than most,
To express my heartfelt gratitude,
For each day YOUR Glory grows.


“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

"Sitting"…Don't Stand For it!

R. Mangold

A recent scientific study has deftly concluded sitting can be bad for you. The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences says after 4 hours of sitting, the body starts sending harmful signals telling the body’s genes that regulate the amount of glucose and fat to start shutting down. Doctors from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, wrote, “excessive sitting leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Dangers increase for people who do little exercise as it is.”

Christians, our day calls for action! If we’re sitting around, we’re losing ground! We could easily become “spiritually obese”, gorging ourselves on the blessings of God! David said, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful [Psalm 1:1].” Idly standing or sitting is going to get you in trouble! 

The angel asked the disciples at Jesus’ ascension, “Why are you standing here gazing?” They had a promise in Jerusalem waiting for them. [Acts 1:11]

I know it’s easier to “sit” and wait for things to happen, but Jesus commanded us to GO! Go compel, preach, baptize, and disciple our world!  [Mark 16:15]

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Endangered Species

R. Mangold

There are have been a good number of success stories of saving animals from extinction – The Giant Panda, Bald Eagle, and even the American Alligator. Ironically, many are willing to take up these worthy causes, yet as Christians there is a cause far more worthy, from an eternal standpoint that bears our immediate diligence; the souls of fellow mankind.

Who can forget scenes of people rallying around beached whales, trapped seals, or the oil laden birds from the BP Oil spill in 2010? Amazing efforts to save the animals, save the environment, and ultimately save the planet. But, even Christ taught that heaven and earth will pass away [Matt. 24:35]. We have a duty to evangelize the hurting, the destitute, and the broken. Jesus said he came to seek and to save that which was lost or virtually extinct – His relationship with His people! [Luke 19:10]

Not to take away from our responsibility for the great gifts in God’s Creation, but even Christ placed an even greater value upon YOU, saying, aren’t you worth more than a sparrow? The salvation of our fellow man is of utmost priority to Jesus and He gave His life to provide it for “the world!”

Related Topics

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute.  One Minute Spiritual Sermonettes and Sermon Ideas  for Busy Christians, Pastors, Teachers, and Bible Students!  Visit our ABOUT PAGE  for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you.  Rev. RD Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Tongue (Verbal Bullying)

R. Mangold

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! James 3:5-12

As kids, when bullies called us names, our standard retort was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”  Those words, while meant to volley back against insults, often fell on the deaf ears. According to the School Bullying Council, every day some 160,000 students stay home from school afraid of bullies. With the advent of social networking, there has been an increase in teens committing suicide because of “words” posted on sites like Facebook by “cyber-bullies.” Yes, when taken to heart words can hurt…even kill.

Paul described these “verbal bullies” as “tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not (I Tim. 5:13).” Our words can be as sharp and cutting as any dagger. How tragic would it be, if as Christians we were guilty of bullying fellow Christians? Not physically, but verbally and mentally, isolating them from the body of believers cutting them off from their source of vital spiritual strength. We’re all admonished to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29)…Oh be careful little tongue what you say!


“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Growing Down Before Growing Up

R. Mangold

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12

In ancient times when a palm sprout would first stick its head above the sand, they would take a large rock and place on it. This forced the palm’s roots to grow down before the exposed tree grew up. Consequently, its roots wrapped around rocks before its branches and trunk ascended to the sky. When the winds came it was already gripping the rock and could not be blown out of the sand. Sometimes the palms would bend all the way to the ground and pop back up. Why? Because they are anchored to the rock.

How often does God do that? He places things on us we don’t understand to make us grow down before we grow up.

Tenney


Excerpt from T.F. Tenney’s Book entitled, “The Lord Said…Or Was that Me?” (Chapter Nine, Page 78, Paragraph 3)

Reverend Tenney and his wife Thetus make their home in Tioga, Louisiana. They travel nationally and internationally, ministering the message of God’s love and power of deliverance to thousands.  Check for other items by this author/group

 

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Lilly

R. Mangold

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:28 – 30 (NKJV)

“Indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.” After a thorough investigation of her own, the Queen of Sheba was left in a state of bewilderment over the sheer enormity of Solomon’s Kingdom, wealth, and wisdom. First Kings Chapter 10 attempts to inventory Solomon’s earthly treasure, but even that could not adequately capture “Solomon’s glory.”  Even more baffling is Jesus said, “Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like” one of the lilies of the field! Yes, the beauty of ONE lily exceeded that of Solomon in “all his glory.”

We’re easily impressed with the immense wealth of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, but in “all their glory” they pale when compared to ONE that is arrayed by God’s beauty. If you’re a child of God, don’t you dare stoop to compare yourself to the fleeting fortune and fame of this world. We are sons and daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD!

You may be struggling now, but Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – Widow's Mites

R. Mangold

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21: 1 – 4

Who can truly say what he or she has is exclusively theirs? James reminds us, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights… (James 1:16-17)

If what we’ve been given comes from God anyway, why be so stingy? Why do we clench our hands so tightly and hoard the blessings God has so generously provided?

Several reasons… 

  • We’re selfish
  • We don’t trust God
  • We mistake prosperity with God’s approval
  • We see blessings as scarce when God is truly the source
  • We love the BLESSINGS more than the BLESS-ER

God doesn’t need your dough! All things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Your giving isn’t as important to God as it is to YOU. Understand this; few things in life disrupt the flow of God’s blessings like arrogance, pride, and selfishness. It’s absurd to think we can supplant God’s provision with our own chicanery, cunning and contrivance.

The poor widow’s giving amounted to more than the wealthy, because God can do more with your humility and generosity than you can with your affluence and influence!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – A Child

R. Mangold

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13 – 16)

One of the most profound of all “Big Lessons in Small Packages” has to be this portion of Jesus’ teaching. The “adults” were quick to shoo away the children assuming they would be more of a nuisance to Jesus. There were only a few times Jesus was this “displeased.” One such episode resulted in Jesus quite literally “turning the tables” on “religious” professionals of His day. The impact of Jesus’ words regarding children had virtually the same effect.

By no means was Jesus saying become childish, in fact, Paul said to put away childish things (I Cor. 13:11). Rather Jesus was teaching us to strip away the pretense we display as adults; afraid to convey any sign of tenderness, love, and humility. As adults, we’re constantly on guard, always in control, have all the answers, and put on a strong front. Tragically, we keep a tally of those who’ve wronged us, harboring grudges, we lash out in anger, we distrust, we retaliate, we remain bitter. But as children, we were quick to love, quick to forget, and quick to move on. These qualities and childlike nature give us a glimpse into the beautiful Kingdom God is preparing for His “children!”

“Serminute Series” – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Cloud

R. Mangold

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (I Kings 18:44)

Prior to this passage, Elijah decreed, “There is a sound of abundance of rain.” A spiritual precedent ensues. What you hear, God’s Word, will precede what you see…the miracle! The “sound” meant that rain was on its way. After 7 failed attempts at seeing the incoming precipitation, Elijah’s servant finally came back with news of a “little cloud.” It wasn’t rain, but it contained the rain.

This “little” cloud represented faith to a prophet who knew the 3-year-long drought was about to end. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The cloud contained the substance, or evidence of the unseen rain. That’s why as Christians, we walk by faith, not by sight.

Sight says, “That’s just a cloud.”

Faith says, “That’s no ordinary cloud, that cloud contains the tangible substance and evidence we’re hoping for…rain!”

Don’t underestimate the worth of a “little” cloud, it could be saturated with a deluge of promised life-giving rain! If God plants His Word in you, no matter how long your drought, don’t stop looking for rain. For those who love God, His Word is enough. If God has spoken it, listen for and anticipate the showers of abundant rain!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold