Quitter's Day

Guess what today is?

Quitter's Day.  I'm not kidding.

Today is the day when most New Year Resolutions get thrown out the window until next year.

The second Friday in the month of January has literally been named 'Quitter's Day.'

I find that sad.

The world waits in anticipation for the great ball in Time's Square to drop so that the promises, goals and new resolutions they've made for themselves can begin...

only to be forgotten two weeks later.

The Christian knows that there is no strength in themselves, but that, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' Philippians 4:13

The Christian also knows that "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' Philippians 3:14

And the Christian remembers that 'a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:' Proverbs 24:16a

The world quits and will wait an entire year to try again-

The Christian will stand up, brush himself off, draw a line in the sand, claim 1 John 1:9 (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness) and start again right where he left off.

Friend, you may be down, but you don't have to be out.  Keep going, don't quit!  There is a race to be run that has already been run by our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will give you the grace, strength and mercies you need each and every day...

    And they are new every morning...

        great is HIS faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

            But that's just me!

"Don't quit.  For if you do, you may miss the answer to your prayers."

Max Lucado

Saviour or Savior?

It was subtle at first, hardly noticeable at all.  At first, I thought it was an oversight, an over-looked typographical error; but then it began to creep in to flyers, bulletins, emails, banners and even missionary letters.  Had anyone else noticed?  Are they bothered by this change as much as I am?  Should I be bothered?

Does removing the u in Saviour change the meaning of our Lord's Name?  Does it remove the Authoritative power of the Son of God?  Time for some Research.

Websters Definition of Saviour:

1-One that saves from danger or destruction, 2- One who brings salvation, specifically, Savior: Jesus, Sense 1.  First known use, 14th Century.

Websters Definition of Savior:

1-One that saves from danger or destruction, 2-One who brings salvation, specifically, Savior: Jesus, Sense 1.  First know use, 14th Century.

According to Webster, Saviour and Savior mean the exact same thing, they are interchangeable.

But then I continued my Research:

"Savior are the new spellings of the word and like many differences in American and British English, these spelling omit the u of the word making it easier to pronounce. These spellings are widely used in North America and were given by Noah Webster."  (I find that interesting, don't you?)

Grammar.com says, "In American English, Savior is the preferred spelling of the noun referring to (1) a person who rescues from danger, or, (2) Jesus.  All other main varieties of English use Saviour.  When Savior or Saviour refers to Jesus, the word is usually capitalized in much the same way Christians tend to capitalize God."  (Very interesting!)

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that man has chosen to change to the spelling of the Son of God to make it easier to pronounce?  I'd also like to add that uppercase and lowercase letters completely change the definition of any given name.

After seeing what Noah Webster had to say, I reached for my Strongs Concordance and looked up Saviour based on Luke 2:11.  "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Saviour-Greek, 4990- A Deliverer, God or Christ, Saviour.

That my friend, is my Saviour.

It's interesting to note that 'savior' could not be found in Strongs Concordance and can only be found in watered down translations of the bible.

Question: If the Authorized KJV of the bible refers to Jesus as Saviour, and God's Word is eternal, who are we to change it?

If the Translators of the 1611 KJV bible kept the original spelling of our Lord after the 14th Century, why would we want to change it?

Savior...

    or Saviour?

        The choice is yours...

            But that's just me.

Note-Some KJV Publishers have chosen to change the spelling of Saviour to Savior.  If you still prefer the original spelling, Saviour, make sure you research the Publisher.

Hangin' In There

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  Isaiah 41:10

A friend of mine was recently asked how she was doing.  Her reply, "Hangin' in there."  She told me later that she should have answered that question differently, but this response has turned into a standard reply, whether it's true or not.

I've used this same response more times than I can count; I'm sure you have too, so I began asking myself how I could respond to this question honestly without having to delve into personal or private matters that I'm not ready to share with others?

Instead of 'hangin' in there,' could I say, 'oh, I'm still hangin' on.?'

But to what?

Or more importantly, to who?

Then I realized that I'm not required to 'hang in or hang on' at all.

In all things, I'm being kept.

1 Peter 1:3-5 says:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

'Kept' means, 'guarded.'  I love that.

Not only am I being kept, but I am being led, and I'm being held.

"Even there shall thy hand lead, me and thy right hand shall hold me." Psalm 149:10

No matter my circumstances, I can rest in the fact that God is in control.  I don't have to hold on to Him, He's holding me, and I'm right where He wants me to be.

   

The next time someone asks me, "How are you doing?"...

    I will answer, "Never better, I'm in the hands of my Lord."...

        But that's just me!

"A broken life in the hands of God is ripe for blessing." Joni Eareckson Tada

"The strong hands of God twisted the crown of thorns into a crown of glory; and in such hands we are safe."  Charles Williams