Satisfied With Jesus

Scripture

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.

~Philippians 3:8-9, NLT

Quote

Those who pursue Christ daily find fulfillment that transcends anything the world has to offer.

~Charles Stanley

Recently I helped a young couple get settled in an old dilapidated mobile home. Most women I know would have a fit if they were told this would be their home but this woman was thrilled. The things she has suffered has tempered her attitude and given her the gift of contentment. You cannot say this about many people. We keep striving for more and we never seem to be satisfied with what we have. The world is like salt water. Edgar Harrell was the last surviving man on board the USS Indianapolis. He spoke at DBC on a Sunday night some 15 or 20 years ago. He and many others floated in the ocean for four days. Many of the sailors got so thirsty they drank the salt water but salt water does not satisfy, it only makes you more thirsty and delusional. Those that drank the salt water did not survive. The world offers salt water: it will not satisfy, the more you drink the more you will thirst and you will be unable to cop with reality. It is natural for young people to want things. I lived in pastoriums for twenty years and I wanted desperately to own my own home.  That dream came true in the early 90’s but I soon realized, there are advantages to not owning a home. I had all the upkeep, the insurance, the property tax that goes with owning a home, plus the mortgage payment. Building your dream house is like going to Krogers when you are hungry: if you aren’t careful, you will overdo it. I am here to tell you that a big house will not satisfy you; it’s just salt water.

I agree with Charles Stanley, God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and it is they who will be satisfied {Matt. 5:6}. Those who pursue material wealth will never be satisfied; they will always want more but those who pursue Christ will find satisfaction. Paul understood this spiritual truth: he said, “Everything else is worthless when compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ.” Get to know Jesus. Spend time with Him daily. He knows you much better than you know yourself and He loves you unconditionally.

Extra

PTL for the much needed rain. I could mulch leaves today if I had the time. We may have had a little but not much and we got a good rain. Keep praying for our cancer warriors. My sister Holly had a bad day yesterday. I did not hear from Lincoln. I hope no news is good news. If you are a part of the GRACE POINT family, I have to confess that I got in a bit of a hurry. We will not ordain Josh on December 11: we have to license him first and that also takes the vote of the church. So there has been a change in plans. LORD willing, we license him on December 11. He will bring the morning message on that day and the church is to affirm his gifts. We have moved the ordination to 2023.

Edgar Harrell and the USS Indianapolis

Harrell was Marine stationed aboard the USS Indianapolis in 1945, guarding components of the atomic bomb it was carrying. In one of the most notorious stories of the war, the ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank, leaving its crew fighting for their lives in shark-infested waters. Of the crew of 1195 men, Harrell was one of only 316 to survive. He later returned to the U.S. and owned and operated the Pella Window Company in Rock Island, Illinois, for 35 years until his retirement in 1985. Along with his son, David Harrell, he wrote the book “Out of the Depths,” relating his experience in the USS Indianapolis disaster. In 2018, Harrell and the other remaining survivors of the USS Indianapolis were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. His death leaves only five survivors of the disaster still living. Edgar was promoted in 2021 at the age of 96. I am going to guess that he was in his early 80’s when he came to West Hartselle and Danville. Jack Redfern, pastor of West Hartselle and a Marine himself, made it all happen. Once a Marine, always a Marine.

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