What Are the People Like in Your Town?

A man pulled up to a gas station and told the attendant, “I’m thinking about moving here. What are the people like in this town?” The attendant said, “What are the people like in the town you came from?” 

“I can’t stand living in that town,” the driver snapped. “All the people are unfriendly. No one cares about me. I can’t wait to move away from there.”

Attendant replied, “I think you’ll find the people in this town are like that too.”

“That’s what I thought!” he said in disgust as he drove off.

A few minutes later another man pulled into the gas station. “I’m thinking about moving here,” he said. "What are the people like in this town?” The attendant said, “What are the people like in the town you came from?” 

“I love living in that town but I have to relocate due to my job. I’m going to miss everything about that town. They are the friendliest people I’ve ever known.”

Attendant replied, “I think you’ll find the people in this town are like that too.”

The man smiled and said, “That’s what I thought!”

The people in the town you move to will be just like the people in the town you left. Why? Because the way you choose to see the world creates the world you see. Perspective isn’t what you see, but how you see it. Paul prayed that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). Yes, your heart can see. Your eyes and heart work together to form your perspective. We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.

So if you can’t stand the people in your town (or your job), it’s because you choose to look for the worst in everyone. But if you’ll let God enlighten your heart, your eyes will be opened to see the best in your situation and in others. What are the people like in your town? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

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How to Not Be Worried and Bothered

When Jesus and His disciples show up at Martha’s house, she welcomes them in. Jesus goes into the other room and starts teaching, but Martha rushes into the kitchen and starts preparing a meal for the crew. It bothers her that her sister Mary hasn’t lifted one finger to help. Instead, Mary followed Jesus to the other room to listen to Him. 

God in a human body is sitting in her home, revealing truths about how to live stress-free life. Mary is listening and taking notes, but Martha is too busy to listen. It wouldn't surprise me if His sermon was on "How to Not Be Worried and Bothered." 

Martha stomps into the room and interrupts the Bible study. With hands on her hips, she commands Jesus to do something about lazy Mary. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40).

Martha expects to hear Him reply, “Do you guys remember my teachings on serving others? Take a look at my servant, Martha. So humble. So dedicated. Mary, you could learn a few things from her. Now get up and go help her with dinner!”

Instead Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part" (Luke 10:41-42). Martha was stressed-out about “so many things.” She worried about every bad thing that might happen. She was continually bothered by little things, and people on her nerves. As a result, she wasn't enjoying life.

Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the good part.” What did she choose? She chose to hear Jesus speak to her heart. Jesus said, “Learn from me …and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28). Listen to what Jesus tells you and learn from Him. It’s the one thing that’s necessary. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Patience Makes Life Easier

Mike Bechtle says, “People can’t drive you crazy if you don’t give them the keys.” Do you know anyone who drives you crazy? If you do, it means you gave them the keys—and you need patience. A husband told his wife, “You are so impatient. It just drives me crazy when you’re impatient!” So was it the wife or the husband who was the most impatient?

The Greek word for patience is makrothumia and means “self-restraint when provoked.” Did you know that God is patient toward you? (2 Peter 3:9). Have you ever thought that God has to put up with our complaining, our worry, and all the dumb decisions we make? He patiently waits for our hearts to change.

The Lord can develop patience in your life as you yield to the Holy Spirit because it’s a fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (makrothumia)…” (Gal. 5:22). When the Holy Spirit develops patience in your heart, people won’t drive you crazy anymore. You’ll actually feel compassion for them. 

Once you acquire patience, life becomes easier because things no longer bother you. Think about it. How much would you pay to have the ability to go through life and nobody ever upsets you? You would always have peace in your heart, no matter what happens. People would pay thousands of dollars for that kind of attitude. That’s what patience is. And that’s what God is trying to develop in you. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Preparing for the Future

In Matthew 25:1-10, Jesus told a parable about ten young women at a wedding. Jewish weddings usually happened at night, and the guests had to bring their own lamps and oil. Jesus said five of the young women were wise because they brought oil for their lamps, but the other five women were foolish because they didn’t bring oil, which meant they couldn’t light their lamps. 

The foolish five turned to the wise five said, “Give us some of your oil.” They answered, “No, because there won’t be enough for us and you too.” When the five foolish women left to go buy oil, the bridegroom came and they missed the wedding procession and feast. Jesus called them foolish because they didn’t prepare.

Preparation means we do something now to get ready for the future. “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household” (Heb. 11:7). Noah believed what God told him and spent years building the ark. He didn’t wait till the last minute when the clouds grew dark to start construction.

Joseph stored grain for seven years in times of plenty before the famine hit (Gen. 41:48). He didn’t wait until the famine came to start preparing. Ants are considered wise because prepare their food in the summer to get ready for winter and gather provision in the harvest (Prov. 6:9).

God doesn’t always tell us what will occur in the future or when it will happen. It’s wise to save ahead for unforeseen expenses, and it’s extremely wise to make peace with God before the coming judgment. Have you wisely prepared for the future? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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What Does Only-Begotten Son Mean?

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Many people don’t understand what the term “Only-Begotten Son” means. They think God had only one Son in heaven and sent Him to earth. WRONG.

The Greek word for “only begotten” is monogenes and means “uniquely born” or “one-of-a-kind birth.” The conception and birth of Jesus was unique—nothing like it had ever happened before and will never happen again in the future. He was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the Holy Spirit and is the only one born with two natures—divine and human. Jesus was all God and all man.

1. Jesus existed as “the Word” in eternity past. 

Jesus always existed as God in eternity past. Micah 5:2 says His days are from eternity. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word (this was His name before “Jesus”) and the Word was with God (the Father), and the Word was God.”  Jesus pre-existed as God and left His throne in heaven to come to earth and become man.

2. When Jesus left heaven to take on a human body, “the Word” became “the Son.”

Cults teach that a father is older than a son, so Jesus must have come into existence at a point in time.  The Bible does not teach this. Jesus has always existed as God in eternity past, and the term “Son” refers to His humanity which began at His Incarnation. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The angel Gabriel told Mary, “You will conceive in you womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest.” (Luke 1:31-32)

Dr. Walter Martin, author of The Kingdom of the Cults, writes:

"There is no such thing as 'the eternal Son of God.' Before Jesus took upon Himself a human form, He already existed with the Father. Hebrews 1:5-6 says that when He brings the first-begotten into the world, He says, 'I will be a Father to Him, and He will be a Son to Me. This is a reference to the Incarnation. It is a change of relationship when the Word takes on flesh—the Word becomes the Son.”

The terms "Father" and "Son" describe the first two Persons of the Trinity, God and Jesus, after Christ came to earth. This proves that the terms “begotten” and “sonship” refer to His humanity and not His divinity. As God, He had no beginning, was not begotten, and was not a Son. As man, He was begotten in the flesh and became the Son. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY “The Pre-Existence of Jesus”

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The Angels Appeared to the Shepherds, Not the Pharisees

The shepherds were near Bethlehem, watching over their sheep at night. Some people think they were raising sheep that would be sacrificed in the temple. Perhaps they sat around the campfire, discussing the Scriptures concerning the Messiah being the ultimate sacrificial Lamb who would die for the sins of the world.

Suddenly an angel appeared to announce the most significant event to ever happen on earth—the birth of a baby who was God in the flesh. You’d think the angels would appear to the religious leaders in Israel. Instead, God chose shepherds to be the first to receive the good news because He knew the Pharisees and Sadducees would be the ones who would oppose Him.

Suppose you’re alone in your house when an angel instantly appeared in your living room. You would be terrified! When the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were “greatly afraid” (Luke 2:9). The angel told them to not be afraid because he was bringing great news of joy. “Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…You will find the baby wrapped in cloths, and laying in a manger” (Luke 2:8-14).

The Lord sent only one angel to make the announcement. After they calmed down, He sent a multitude of angels to confirm the message. Imagine what that must have looked like as the sky was lit up with thousands of angels praising God! This was an unmistakable sign to them that this newborn was the Savior of the world.

Although the angel didn’t give the shepherds specific instructions as to where to find the baby, God made sure they found the Christ child. And if you are willing to search for Christ, He will make sure that you’ll find Him as well.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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NEW BIBLE STUDY “Comparing the Parables of the Talents and Minas”  

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An Unusual Answer to Prayer

While crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner years ago, Bible teacher F. B. Meyer was asked to give a speech to the passengers about how God answers prayer. An agnostic who listened to Meyer’s message said, “I don’t believe a word of it.” 

Later that same day, the agnostic went to hear Meyer speak to another group of passengers. Before he went to the meeting, he put a couple of oranges in his pocket. On his way, he passed an elderly woman who was asleep in her deck chair. Her arms were outstretched with her hands open, so as a joke he put an orange in each hand.

After the meeting, he saw the elderly woman eating the fruit. “You seem to be enjoying those oranges,” he remarked with a smirk on his face. “Yes, my Father is very good to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been sick for days, so I prayed that God would somehow send me an orange. I fell asleep when I was praying. When I awoke, I found not only one, but two oranges in my hands!”

The agnostic was stunned because he had just heard Meyer talk about how the Lord answers prayer, and God chose him to provide the oranges she had requested. Because of this, he put his trust in Christ. (Our Daily Bread, April 5, 2000).

Philippians 4:19 says, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Just let Him decide how He will do it. He just might surprise you. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY “The Five Purposes of Prayer”

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