Blessed Are The Punctual
Webster defines punctual as = carefully observant of an appointed time; carefully observant of the nice points of behaviour and ceremony.
Being punctual might very well fall under the categories of : virtue, strength of mind, diligence, devotion, honor, respect, uprightness, consideration, zeal, exampleship, initiative, watchfulness, readiness, interest, enthusiasm, as well as a host of other good ingredients that make our living sacrifices to have a sweet savor before the Lord. The better we make our service rendered unto the Lord, the richer God’s blessings are in return. AND being punctual is something that costs nothing, and EVERYBODY CAN DO IT!!!!
None is so observant of our service rendered as God is. God takes everything into account, from the widow’s mite, to a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple. Just as God takes note of every effort of honor on our part for His name’s sake, He also sees and responds to every sleight, such as was the case with Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
Punctuality seems to have nothing to do with the clock, or the starting times of the services. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it be morning or evening, slow time or fast time, as none of these variations figure into whether one is punctual or not.
According to Webster’s dictionary, punctuality has everything to do with a person’s own observance of an appointed time. Thus, punctuality is a matter of choice, more so than anything else. It is a matter of personal priority and application of self. It is the exercise of judgment and doing the math. It is the matter of making personal adjustments, through using good foresight. It is personal management and decisive thinking. It is the matter of forming a good habit, instead of allowing an inferior one. It is putting forth good business, rather than lagging behind.
Right consideration and good understanding will conclude that nothing is more deserving of good punctuality than the business of our Lord and Saviour.
“Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” 1 Chronicles 29:5 GOD WILL BLESS US for honoring His work by being punctual. Do you value God’s blessings? Is it in your heart to please the Lord in what you do? What if God started showing up late when we needed Him? MAY GOD HELP US TO SEE PUNCTUALITY AS BEING A PART OF OUR CALLING TO PRESENT OURSELVES A LIVING SACRIFICE UNTO HIM!
SHARING
Too Blessed And Too Anointed
–Bob Ford
I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad or to cry.
I refuse to be downhearted,
And here’s the reason why:
I have a God who is almighty,
Who is sovereign and supreme.
I have a God who loves me,
And I am on His team.
He is all-wise and powerful;
Jesus is His name.
Though everything else is changeable,
My God remains the same.
I refuse to be defeated.
My eyes are on my God.
He has always been here with me,
As through this life I’ve trod.
I am looking past my circumstances
To Heaven’s throne above.
My prayers have reached the heart of God.
I am resting in His love.
I give thanks to Him for everything.
My eyes are on His face.
The battle is His; the victory is mine;
He will help me win the race.
I repeat, “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”
The Story Of The Star-Spangled Banner
–From The Legal Alert
The United States was engaged in a second war with England from June 1812 to the spring of 1815. The war was creatively called the War of 1812. Many naval battles were fought, and by 1814 the British were attempting to split this country in half. Washington D.C., was captured and burned. This was the time when President James Madison’s wife, Dolly Madison, became famous for courageously staying behind in the capitol as the British were approaching until she was assured that vital state documents and, most notably, the famous portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, had been removed to safety and were saved from destruction.
After taking Washington D.C., the British marched toward Baltimore where a mere handful of 1,000 patriots were manning the cannons at Fort McHenry, whose guns controlled the harbor. If Baltimore was to be captured, the British would have to take Fort McHenry first. The attack began on the morning of September 13, 1814, as nineteen British ships began pounding the fort with rockets and mortar shells, and continued their bombardment for the next twenty-five hours.
Surprisingly, on board one of the British ships was a young American lawyer named Francis Scott Key, who had been sent to negotiate for the release of Dr. William Beanes, an American prisoner of the British. Even though the British captain agreed to the release, the two Americans were required to stay aboard until the attack on Baltimore was over.
The bombardment continued during the entire night of September 13th, as the two Americans heard the bombs bursting, saw the red glare of rockets, and waited to see what the outcome would be. They knew the Americans were resisting. But toward morning, the bombardment ceased and a dreadful silence fell. The men knew that either Fort McHenry had surrendered and the British flag now flew above it, or the bombardment had failed and the American flag would still be flying.
The lawyer and the doctor waited eagerly together for the dawn. On the morning of September 14th, Key and Beanes were overjoyed to see that the American flag was still flying over Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key wrote a four stanza poem telling the events of the night, which was published in newspapers and swept the nation. It was later put to music, and in 1931, Congress declared it the official anthem of the United States.
Now that you know the story, here are the words. You probably already know the first stanza, but have you ever heard the last?
Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation,
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto – In God is our trust.
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
What God Hath Promised!
God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing kindness,
Undying love.
—Annie Johnson Flint
SHARINGHow To Be Busy Without Going Crazy!
—From Pulpit Helps
Almost everybody agrees that one must be busy to be healthy and happy. But many Christians become frustrated and frantic because they are too busy. I don’t know how many times people have said to me, “I have so much to do I don’t know where to begin. The pressure is driving me crazy!” The answer is sometimes found in cutting back on responsibilities, but this isn’t always possible. Nor is it always necessary. Many people would accomplish more, with less strain, if they would make some mental and spiritual adjustments.
1. Take time for God–Take time for private devotions. If it means getting up 15 minutes earlier in the morning, do it. As a Christian, you belong to the Lord, and so does your day. So commit yourself and your time to Him.
2. Determine your priorities–Sit down and take a look at what you have to do. Ask yourself, “What should come first?” You’ll be more efficient than you ever imagined.
3. Plan and trust–Set up a schedule for tackling work duties and consciously trust God’s provision. It will be wise to look well ahead, to set up a timetable, and to work systematically. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s demands. Concentrate upon what you must do today, and leave the future in God’s hands. As you trust Him and as He enables you to fulfill today’s responsibilities, you will gain assurance that He will also be with you tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. A combination of planning and trust will produce amazing results.
4. Do little things immediately–Get right at those small details that need attention–like making an appointment with the doctor, sending someone a card, or dropping clothes off at the cleaners. If you don’t, you’ll find an uneasiness lurking just above your subconscious, and this will tend to sap your energy. I know this from personal experience. When you get the little things behind you, you’ll work better and more efficiently.
The trouble with most of us is not that we have too much to do, but that we aren’t going about our duties the right way. Once we put God first, establish a good set of priorities, plan and trust, and quit procrastinating, we’ll begin to get more done. And we won’t drive ourselves or our loved ones crazy in the process!
SHARING
