The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

This is a very short story about a young man who was hit by a bus and thrown through a store window. He soon became aware of the fact that he was thrown into the future.

A future where communal and interactive games had become so addictive that society was in collapse, people were no longer working, litter was everywhere and buildings were in decay. Humanity was now living in a "counterfeit world" that did not exist except in virtual reality.

To keep prisoners manageable, they were plugged into this "new world of simulation," where nothing was authentic.  Life became a series of false realities that many became addicted too.

The young man was so enamored and addicted, he was judged as insane as he told about his bogus life.  I am a real cowboy, I wear a red bandanna, chaps, a cowboy hat and boots.  I own a red pickup truck as well as a horse and I ride off into the sunset on many nights.

The story ends with him absorbed and content to live his life in a virtual Wild West scenario as a cowboy -- never to re-enter his real life again.  
- source and author unknown

We may not have believed this story when it was written (I believe it was written in the early 1970's), but it is easy to understand now that we live in an artificial era of computer technology.  While I am not knocking progress, I believe we should all be aware of where it could take us.

And, I am not disparaging the computer age or technology, simply because as you can see -- I use it!  I use Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends all around the nation.  I play games, at times maybe a little more than I should and I enjoy writing my blog.

Here is my concern -- if we are not careful we could be setting ourselves up to live in what I believe is "a fool's paradise!"  So connected to a fictitious world that we become deceived and lose sight of everything true and authentic. 

Satan would like nothing more than to steal our daily walk with Jesus only to deceive us with a mutated and warped reality!  His mission is to redirect our attention, to eradicate abundant living and betray us.

Jesus is the true and only giver of life!  He wants us to be full of His joy and love -- sharing it with everyone we meet... with one requirement, it has to be REAL in your life!!

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.  Isaiah 64:8  

We are but the "dust of the earth" until our heavenly father breaths life into us!  God is continually molding us into His workmanship, until we become a vessel that will bring glory to His name!

Just as any potter needs water to make the clay soft and pliable, you will find God's Word is that fresh water of life.  The Word of God is like an invigorating and restorative rain that brings new life to a hard, wearisome clay!!  

The Word of God clearly states how important the "water" is; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:26,27)

So, we must ask ourselves, "Are we moldable?  Are we submissive to the changes in the Word of God?"  Or, are we hard, rigid and obstinate to any changes from the Potter's hands?

Unfortunately, there are times when I can be a "lively clay..." with a tendency to jump or slide off the pottery wheel.  The truth is we must be centered on the spinning wheel or we will be torn apart before the potter is finished. 

To be centered means to be surrendered completely to The Lord.  We can't just give Him a part of ourselves, we must give Him... ALL of US!

It is then, that our Lord can start the pottery wheel to spinning. Lovingly, He will begin to press and mold the clay with His hands! He will reach into the center or the heart of the clay... and at times it may be unpleasant or even painful.

Still, our Lord will continue to constantly shape and sanctify us, molding us into the vessels we are meant to be.  Trust is a must if we are to become vessels that can be used by Him.

When we learn to trust the Potter's hands... accept the pressure that is needed to shape and the fingers that reach down deeply to mold us, we can be assured that He is determined to make us a vessel that will be used by Him to reach the lost!  We can be secure in His hands and prepared to do any work that He has for us.

Are you ready to serve the Lord in whatever He has for you to do??

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.  (Psalm 9:1-2)

A Call For Praise 

The Bible places great importance and often exhorts God's people to praise the Lord.  We are God's people--so it stands to reason that we are called to praise Him.  

The Bible's first song, sung after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, was essentially a song of praise and thanksgiving to God (see Exodus 15:2).  We also find that Moses commanded the Israelites to praise God for his goodness in giving them the promised land ( Deuteronomy 8:10). Deborah's song specifically called the people to praise the Lord (Judges 5:9). And, David's desire to praise God is recorded both in the story of his life (2 Samuel 22:4) and in the Psalms he wrote (Psalm 18:3).

The call for all of us to praise God reverberates throughout the New Testament.  Jesus himself praised his Father in heaven (Matthew 11:25).

Paul expects all the nations to praise God (Romans 15:9-11) and James calls us to praise the Lord (James 5:13) 

When we look at James, we see that he asks, "Is anyone of you happy or in trouble and if so, praise God (James 3:9). When we are happy in the Lord, we must sing songs of praise to Him (Psalms 33:2-3). Never be ashamed to praise the Lord and never disrespect those who praise in a different manner then you. 

Right-living people sound best when they are praising the Lord! When we take God's Word seriously we will be joyful and content.  We will be satisfied and fulfilled in giving Him praise!  And, in the end, we as the saints and the angels will be praising God continually, just as the picture given in Revelation (Revelation 5:11-14).

While praising God is one of the main function of the angels (Psalms 148:2), it is also a privilege for God's people, both children (Matthew 21:16) and adults (Psalms 30:4 & Psalms 135:1-2). Oh, what a beautiful site to see a child praising the Lord God!

Furthermore, God calls all nations to praise Him (Psalms 117:1).  In other words, everything that has breath is called to shout out the praises of God (Psalms 150:6).

And, as if that was not enough, Did you know that God also commands inanimate nature to praise him -- such as the sun, moon and stars (Psalms 148:3,4); lightning, hail, snow and wind (Psalms 148:8); mountains, hills, rivers and seas (Psalms 90:7-8); all kinds of trees ((Psalms 148:9); and all kinds of living creatures ((Psalms 69:34).

If God commands that nature, mountain, hills, rivers and all living creatures are to be praising Him -- how much more should we? Praising the Lord is a privilege and a benefit to our bodies and souls. Are you sick? Praise the Lord!!  Are you depressed? Praise the Lord!!  True praise will bring you the peace and joy you so desire!

My prayer is for ALL God's people to start praising Him.  Praise him in your homes -- praise him in your cars -- and praise him in your church. The church needs a people who will make praise a priority. 

Oh, how glorious the day will be when we all shall praise God together. Young and old, beast and critter, mammal and baboon and yes the nations will all praise God.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, "Every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God." 
(Romans 14:11)