Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Living Life with Jesus: Part 1


Living Life with Jesus: Part 1
Brad Reiches
Jan 31 2007 10:46AM

Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org  to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE.  You may also go to the Apple iTunes  Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE! 


Wednesday, January 31, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

"Living Life with Jesus"
PART 1

I accepted the Lord when I was 5 years old.  My mom had taken me to a Sunday school class for kindergarteners and the teacher asked if I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart and I said, "Yes!"  Typically, I would be very "leary" of such a conversion (Did I really know who Jesus was?  Did I really know what I was doing?  Was I truly old enough to understand, and accept the concept of "repentance?"), nevertheless, as I reflect back on my childhood years, I truly believe that I entered into a relationship with Jesus at that time.

It was during my high school years that I really began to develop an intimacy with God.  By "intimacy" I mean talking and listening to God.  By "talking" I mean prayer, and by "listening" I mean reading His word.  I formally memorized my first Bible verse at age 18.  By the time I was 21 I had 660 verses memorized and as I write today I have access to more than 3000 Bible verses in the rolodex of my mind.

No, I 've never heard the "audible" voice of God, nevertheless, I have learned to identify the voice of His Holy Spirit within me.  As such, I have heard the voice of God countless times.  "And your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:20).  Over the years I have learned to obey that voice and upon confimation from His word...acting on it.

I find "non-believers" to be incredibly presumptuous when they nonchalantly disregard the existence of God.  For, if God does not exist, and my relationship with Jesus is not real, that means I'm either a liar, or I'm crazy!

And I know I'm not a liar...

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Living Life with Jesus: Introduction


Living Life with Jesus: Introduction
Brad Reiches
Jan 30 2007 10:34AM

Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org  to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE.  You may also go to the Apple iTunes  Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE! 


Tuesday, January 30, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

"Living Life with Jesus"
INTRODUCTION

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me."
John 10:27

Our very first date was April 8, 1984.  We went to a Straw Hat pizza parlor and played video games.  We dated for 4 and 1/2 years and got married on September 11, 1988 ( Yes!  Our anniversary date is 9/11).  Karen and I have been married now for more than 18 years. 

She knows me better than anyone, and I think I've grown to understand her pretty well too.  God has used her in my life to bring me closer to Himself than I ever could have been without her.  God has also used me in her life to bring her to a greater understanding of who He is and how He works in our lives.  We have been to one another the source of some of our greatest life experiences.  We have also been to one another, sadly, the source of some of our greatest pain.  "Love...does not take into account a wrong suffered" (1 Corinthians 13:5d).

Among the vast fruit that is the garden of our marriage, there is no doubt that the greatest of fruit is our daughters Alison (11), and Jennifer (10).  The fullness and joy that they bring into our lives has been unspeakable.  Recently, Alison became the second tallest person in our little family...INCREDIBLE!

Question:  Would you think it funny or odd for someone to try and convince me that my wife doesn't exist?  Wouldn't you find it strange for someone to try and convince me that my marriage, along with the myriad fruit from that relationship is not real?

That would be pretty weird, wouldn't ya' think?


Tuesday, January 23, 2007

From Sorrow...to Success!


From Sorrow...to Success!
Brad Reiches
Jan 23 2007 10:58PM

Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org  to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE.  You may also go to the Apple iTunes  Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE! 


Wednesday, January 24, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

 "From Sorrow...To Success!"

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful,
Yet to those who have been trained by it..."
Hebrews 12:11

I was thinking the other day and I had some thoughts I'd like to challenge you to chew on:

We all must learn to live with one of two sorrows:
The sorrow of discipline...or the sorrow of regret.

I believe those are the options.  I believe that the coming year will either be filled with the disciplines that lead to achievement, or  the procrastination that leads to regret.  Strong words...for a harsh reality.

Here's some motivation for those who are determined to make 2007 the best year ever:

"The pain of discipline weighs ounces;
The pain of regret...weighs TONS."
-Jim Rohn

The Parable of the Pearls


The Parable of the Pearls
Brad Reiches
Jan 23 2007 09:42AM

Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org  to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE.  You may also go to the Apple iTunes  Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE! 


Tuesday, January 23, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

 
"The Parable of the Pearls"*

She loved her toy pearls. They made her feel special and grown up.  She wore them everywhere - Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.  The only time she took them off was when she went  swimming or had a bubble bath.  Mom said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. 

Every night when she was ready for bed, her daddy would read her a story.  One night after the story, he asked her, "Honey, do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy," she responded.  "Then give me your pearls," he asked.  "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls.  How 'bout  Princess - the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail.  Remember, Daddy?  "That's okay, honey.  Daddy loves you. Good night."

About a week later, after the story time, her daddy asked again, "Do you love me honey?" "Oh yes Daddy!  I love you and Mommy." "Then would you give me your pearls?" "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. How 'bout my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday?" "That's okay sweetie.  Sleep well my precious one." 

A few nights later when her daddy came in, she was sitting on the bed with her head down and legs crossed.  As he came close, he noticed her chin quivering as a lone tear rolled gently down her cheek.  "What is it, honey?  What's wrong?"  She didn't say a word as she lifted her little hand toward her dad.  And when she opened it, there was her little toy necklace. And with a whisper she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." 

As tears gathered in his own eyes, he reached out to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand reached into his pocket and  pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls that he had been waiting to give her all along.

He who has an ear to hear...let him hear


*adapted from an unknown author.

Monday, January 22, 2007

If It Makes You Happy...


If It Makes You Happy...
Brad Reiches
Jan 22 2007 12:10AM

Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org  to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE.  You may also go to the Apple iTunes  Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE! 


Monday, January 22, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

 
"If It Makes You Happy..."

The chorus of yet another extremely popular song in the United States goes,

"If it makes you happy, it can't be that baaaaaad,
If it makes you happy, then why...are you soooo sad?"

Uhhh, I don't know, maybe it's because,

"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 16:25).

Or maybe it's because,

"You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes" (Deuteronomy 12:8).

Or because,

"They sow the wind, and they reap the WHIRLWIND" (Hosea 8:7).

Or,

"He who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality" ( Colossians 3:25 ).

...Ya' think?