The Woman Who Would Not Be Discouraged - Apples of Gold - March 20, 2009 ***Happy Birthday Andrew Apple - 20 Years Old Today!!!*** -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 20, 2009

“The Woman Who Would Not Be Discouraged”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

It was Easter Sunday and she was scheduled to be baptized.

Then she told someone, “I can’t do this.”

“What?” they said.  “Why can’t you be baptized?”

“I just can’t,” she said.  “I feel so unworthy.”

Her voice cracked.

“This is something good people do.”

Do you ever feel that way in church?  Like there are all these good people, these nice church people – and then there is you?

Maybe you look around and see the gifted people, the beautiful people – all of God’s darling children.  And you just aren’t one of them.

It’s discouraging, isn’t it? 

Well let me tell you about a woman in the Bible, an outsider who had many strikes against her, but she would not be discouraged.

The story starts with Jesus, at a time when He withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon with His disciples.  He basically wanted to get out of the public eye.

This was strike one against the woman.  For whatever reason, at this time Jesus didn’t want to be bothered.  That’s why He was there.

Strike two was the fact that she was not a Jew.  Jewish teachers didn’t have much to do with Gentiles.

And strike three was that she was a woman.  She was a Gentile woman trying to get in to see a Jewish teacher who wasn’t taking appointments.

But she would not be discouraged.  She had to get to Jesus, for her daughter’s sake.

So she got loud.  If there was a perimeter around Jesus, she would break through with her voice.

“Lord,” she said, “Son of David, have mercy on me!  My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

And you know what Jesus said?

Nothing.

Not one word.

Oh He heard her alright.  He just didn’t respond.

Have you ever experienced that?  It seems like everyone else hears from God but you.  You pray and you pray – but nothing?  It can lead you to conclude that you just aren’t one of the special ones. 

But this woman would not be discouraged.

She kept crying out, anything to get Jesus’ attention, anything to get Him to use His well-known healing power on her daughter.

I guess she cried out to the disciples, too.  If she couldn’t get a rise out of Jesus, maybe she could get through to them.

Well it must have gotten on their nerves because they finally said to Jesus, “Please, send her away.  She keeps crying out after us.”

And finally Jesus addressed the matter.

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel,” He said.

Another strike against her, right?  I mean, that’s Jesus Himself basically saying, “Gentile, be gone.”

Would that have been the last straw for you?  Would you quit seeking Jesus at that point?

Well not this woman.  This actually encouraged her.  After the initial silence, to even have Jesus speak on the matter was a breakthrough.

She jumped on the opportunity, came to Jesus face to face and knelt down before Him. 

“Lord, help me!” she said.

Did Jesus take her in His arms and make all her problems go away?

No.

It seems like He added to them.  He said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

Wow.  There are so many ways this woman could have been offended and stomped off in a huff.  She could have told everyone how she was hurt by Jesus.  She could have walked away from the Lord and taken a bunch of people with her.

But you know what?  She knew that her answers were in Jesus.  He had what she needed, and she would not be discouraged.

So Jesus said, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  And she replied, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

And finally the fog lifted.  The sky cleared.  I imagine a stern look lifting from Jesus’ face. 

“Woman,” he said, “You have great faith!  Your request is granted.”

And Matthew 15:28 says, “…her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

So are you in that fog today?  Do you feel unworthy, like God has His chosen people and you aren’t one of them.  Does God seem silent and distant?

Well don’t give up!  Don’t stop seeking Him!  Don’t stop trying to press in, to pray through, to get a hold of God.

Learn from the example of this woman today – the woman who would not be discouraged.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

It Takes Training to Distinguish Good from Evil - Apples of Gold - March 19, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 19, 2009

“It Takes Training to Distinguish Good from Evil”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

My daughter plays volleyball. 

Now I’ve played plenty of volleyball, but never with real referees. 

So I watch her games, and sometimes the ref blows the whistle, stops the action, and holds up two fingers.  They do it all the time, and I still don’t get it.

Oh I know what it’s called:  a “double hit.”  But to me a double hit is when a player hits the ball up in the air, then goes ahead and hits it again.

But that almost never happens.  No, this double hit is different, almost imperceptible.  Someone needs to write and tell me why this is even a rule. 

It happens when a player, often a setter, pops the ball upward with two hands.  For all practical purposes, it’s a single hit, a single motion, a single contact with the ball.

But I guess what happens is that the two hands don’t meet the ball at exactly the same split second.  I’m guessing here, because I have seen it called hundreds of times, yet I have never, ever noticed it myself.  To me it is imperceptible.  I don’t even know why it’s a rule, or how it has any impact on the game other than constantly interrupting it.

But all the refs seem to know.  And all the coaches seem to go along with it.  And all the fans. 

And the only thing I can figure is that I don’t get it because I don’t really know the game.  I’ve never studied it, so I can’t tell the difference between a legal and an illegal hit, nor can I even tell why it matters.

And now listen to this.  This is exactly the way most people are when it comes to distinguishing good from evil.

Yes, some evil is obvious.  But much evil is subtle, almost imperceptible.  If you don’t have a trained eye – now listen to this – if you don’t have a trained eye, you will think that some evil is not evil at all.  You just won’t get it.  You won’t even see why it matters. 

And then when someone blows the whistle and says something is evil, instead of agreeing, you will just get annoyed with the whistle blower – because you don’t get it.  You don’t see it, and you don’t get it.

Now here’s my question.  Would you like to get it?  Would you like to be able to distinguish good from evil?

Well let me tell you, it doesn’t come naturally.  It’s not by osmosis. 

Listen to what it says in Hebrews chapter five.  It’s talking about God’s word, and it says that mature Christians, by constant use of God’s word, “have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

So how can we tell the difference between good and evil, even when it’s subtle?  It comes by training ourselves with the constant use of the Word.  We study the Word.  We learn the Word.  We memorize the Word.  We apply the Word.  We soak our lives in the Word.

Through our constant use of the Word, we train ourselves to distinguish good from evil.

Let me tell you, in our world today, evil can slip in almost imperceptibly.  The untrained eye won’t even notice. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that.  I don’t want evil slipping in on me or my family.  I want a trained eye that knows the difference.

The Bible talks about the “wiles of the devil” and “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  It talks about “the trickery of men” and “the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” 

Yes, some evil is obvious, but much of it is cunning, deceitful, almost imperceptible.  It can sneak up on us and we won’t perceive it until the damage is done.

But there is something we can do about it, and it’s found in Hebrews chapter 5.

Through the constant use of God’s word, we can train ourselves to distinguish good from evil.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Armstrong, Driscoll, Mangione, Marsalis - Apples of Gold - March 18, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 18, 2009

“Armstrong, Driscoll, Mangione, Marsalis”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

I traced a really cool picture of Terry Metcalf.

He was leaping over a defender, and I traced it – for a grade school art class.

It was terrible.

And it was the death knell for my career as an artist.

I figured if you can’t even trace, why bother?.

I went to an art gallery in Orlando the other day, and I think they were trying to sell some of my old tracings.  Judging by some of their “art,” maybe I could have been an artist after all.

But truthfully, I just don’t think I had the ability to be a great artist.

“Oh, Doug, you just didn’t give it a good shot.”

True.  So my backup reason is I just wasn’t that interested.

I was more interested in music, so I joined the grade school band – and learned to play the trumpet. 

See, if you draw badly, it hardly annoys anyone.  But when you play trumpet badly…

But you know what?  Everyone starts by playing badly. 

Lord have mercy on the family with a trumpet-learning child, but that’s where Louis Armstrong started, and Phil Driscoll, and Chuck Mangione, and Wynton Marsalis.  All of them – terrible – at the beginning.

In grade school we started with a lot of trumpeters, but as the years went by, more and more of them quit.  Eventually I even quit.

Recently I reconnected with one of my old fellow trumpet players on Facebook.  He said he had started playing again, was playing at church, and was part of a little combo.  I told him I really wasn’t interested in playing anymore, and that he was always better than me anyway.

He loved playing trumpet.  He was part of various bands and he practiced a lot.  He knew all the scales, and could play equally as well with music or without.

Now listen to this.  He is what I would call a skilled trumpet player.  He played skillfully.

Me?  I was just a trumpet player.  Yes, I had some ability, but I did not play skillfully, not like him.

What was the difference?

Willingness, for one.  He was willing.  He had the desire.  He wanted to play.

And practice.  He practiced a lot, on his own, when no one was making him.

And learning.  He hung around with musicians and they sharpened their skills together.

And here’s my point.  A lot goes into doing something skillfully.  A lot of time and practice and learning and patience and diligence.

Now look at Psalm 33.  It’s talking about making music to the Lord and it says, “…play skillfully…”

Just two little words, but it will take you a chunk of your life to pull it off.  I bet it took half a decade before I could play the trumpet in a way that didn’t make you want to kill yourself.

And that’s just the bare minimum.  And I don’t think this is just for musicians.

I believe God has given us all certain abilities and interests.  We have gifts, but they come as raw material. 

And now it is our calling in life to learn to do them skillfully.  That means willingness, and a lot of practice, and lifelong learning. 

My son taught himself to play guitar, and he is constantly practicing and getting better.  He hangs around guitar players and they share licks and ideas.  And now it’s enjoyable to listen to, even a blessing.

So are you a musician?  Than master the craft.  Learn to play skillfully, and do it for the glory of God.

And if you aren’t a musician – whether you are an artist or a teacher or a mechanic or an administrator – whatever you are, learn to do it skillfully.

Yes, it may look rough to start with, but don’t give up.  Everyone starts rough. 

Keep learning and working at it.  Yes, it will take a chunk of your life to do it, but the goal is to live up to these two little words in Psalm 33:3, “…play skillfully…”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000

-vi-

The One I Feed Will Dominate - Apples of Gold - March 17, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 17, 2009

“The One I Feed Will Dominate”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Two hearts beat within my breast,
One is foul, the other blest,
One I love,
One I hate,
The one I feed will dominate.

A man on the radio yesterday said that he was previously hooked on porn.  A caller asked if he still had any problems with it, even a little bit.

None at all, he said. 

How did he overcome it?

By not feeding it, he said.  He said it’s amazing how weak something becomes when you simply stop feeding it.

For him that even included not watching women jog down the road.  It was a simple action of looking elsewhere.  But very effective, he said.

The one I feed will dominate.

Galatians 5:17 says, “…the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other…”

In war, you can’t just send your soldiers out to fight.  In no time at all, they will run out of ammo.  And food.  And everything else.  To win a war, you must be able to maintain your supply lines.

If you sever the supply lines, the army will weaken and will eventually be rendered ineffective.

The one I feed will dominate.

As Christians, there is a war inside of us.  It’s between the sinful nature and the Spirit of God.  One of these two is going to dominate our lives.  And it’s going to be the one with the best maintained supply line.

Now listen closely.  Here is how we feed them.  We feed them by trying to please them.  Either we are trying to please our sinful nature, or we are trying to please the Spirit of God.  And whichever one we please will grow in our lives.  We will either have more and more of the sinful nature, or more and more of the Spirit.

And now listen to the pay off.

Galatians 6:8 says, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

See, we are either feeding the sinful nature or feeding the Spirit.  We are either planting seeds of destruction or seeds of eternal life.

How can you tell the difference?

Okay.  Look for these in your life.  The more of these you find in your life, the more you are feeding the sinful nature, and the more destruction you will reap.  This is according to Galatians 5.

First of all, is there sexual immorality in your life? 

What about drunkenness?

What about hatred?

What about fits of rage?

Is there jealousy or envy?

What about selfish ambition?

What about discord and dissension?

Even idolatry and witchcraft?

Are you feeding any of these in your life?  If so, you are planting seeds of destruction, and you will reap the harvest.

It is time to cut the supply lines. 

The one you feed will dominate.

Now, look for these in your life.  The more of these you find, the more you are sowing to please the Spirit.

First of all, is there love in your life?

What about joy?

What about peace?

Do you have patience?

Are you gentle and kind?

Are you good and faithful?

Do you have self control?

These are evidence of the Spirit at work in your life.  As we grow in Christ, we should have more and more of these, and less and less of the sinful nature.

And it comes down to which one we want to please.  We are either sowing to please the sinful nature, or we are sowing to please the Spirit.

Yes, two hearts beat within my breast,
One is foul, the other blest,
One I love,
One I hate,
The one I feed will dominate.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

One Good Idea Can Change Your Life - Apples of Gold - March 16, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 16, 2009

“One Good Idea Can Change Your Life”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

It was the opening day of the United States Supreme Court.

Abortion rights advocates were loudly protesting and waving their signs.

Meanwhile, a group of pro-life advocates stood silent.

Now you’d think that being silent is a good way to get lost in the crowd.

But it was the visual that was arresting.

They were silent, but they all had wide, red tape over their mouths.  And on the tape was one simple word:  LIFE.

An official from the National Organization for Women came over.  She said, “That’s a very effective strategy.”

So how did they come up with this “very effective strategy?” 

Listen to this.  The Lord gave it to one of them in a dream.

That’s what they said.  One of them had a dream of people standing there silently with red tape over their mouths and the word LIFE written on the tape.

You know what?  You could sit around and brainstorm for days and not come up with a great idea like that.  But in an instant, the Lord can give you the most powerful and effective ideas.

It’s been said that one good idea can change your life. 

Have you heard about the professional bowler with a new bowling technique?

Now bowling is a pretty simple concept.  You probably thought there were no new ideas possible with bowling, but here you go. 

He bowls with two hands.

Now this isn’t your little sister’s two-handed bowling.  25-year-old Jason Belmonte of Australia uses both hands to spin the ball like crazy as he heaves it down the lane.  With twice the usual RPM’s, the ball sends pins flying for their life.

He started bowling with two hands when he was a kid.  He was a good enough bowler that his dad decided to take him for some special coaching.  And what did the special coaches tell him?  “Quit bowling with two hands.”

Well he didn’t, and now he is leading a movement of two-handed bowlers that is catching on.   

I bring that up just to point out that there are always new ideas.  There are new ways of doing things.

We went from chisels to quill pens to ball point pens to typewriters to word processors.  We went from cell phones you can talk on to cell phones you can use to text and take pictures and videos and surf the net and on and on.

And there are thousands of great new ideas just waiting to be thought of.

Now I believe that God has instilled into all people His creative abilities.  I believe that’s part of being created in His image.

But as Christians I think we have an advantage in the race for ideas.  Like the idea for the red LIFE tape, I really believe that God will divinely give His people ideas. 

In Daniel chapter 5, King Belshazzar of Babylon called on Daniel to solve a problem for him.  And listen to what he said about Daniel.  “I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.”

What he was talking about was the Spirit of the one true living God.  Yes, it was God’s Spirit that gave Daniel his great insight. 

Well as Christians, we all have God’s Holy Spirit inside of us.  And I think He will lead us to wonderful, creative ideas.

Do you want to know how to do something better?  Ask the Lord.

Of course we can come up with ideas on our own, but here’s the thing.  We don’t know what’s best – and here is how I define best. 

In John 15:16 Jesus said, “…I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”

So this is what I want.  Yes, I want great new ideas, but not just any ideas.  I want ideas that, when put into practice, will bear much fruit – fruit that will last.

And those ideas come from the Spirit of God within us.  He alone knows which ideas will produce the best eternal fruit possible.

Yes, one good idea can change your life.  It can even change the world.

But don’t just sit around and try to dream one up.  Instead, draw near to God and let His Spirit stir up ideas within you.

Then you will come up with good ideas, and they will be the kind that bears much fruit – fruit that will last.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

The Plain of Ono - Apples of Gold - March 12, 2009 -vi-

This one is probably better heard than read.

 

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 12, 2009

“The Plain of Ono”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

(begin music)

I wiped the dirt off my hand, then wiped the sweat from my brow.

I squinted in the blazing sun, and turned north, toward the Plain of Ono.

“Come again,” I said.

“It’s an invitation, sir.  They want to meet you in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”

It was no invitation.  It was a plot.

“How should I respond, sir?”

“Respond?  Yes.  Tell them this:  I am carrying on a great work and cannot come.  Why should the work stop so I can meet with you?”

Four times they sent the same message, and four times I sent the same answer:  No.

The fifth time the invitation came with a threat.  “We plan to tell the king that you are planning a revolt.  Come, let us meet together.”

So that’s their plan.  Turn the king against me. 

“How should I respond, sir?”

“Tell them:  Nothing even close to a revolt is happening.  It’s all in your head.”

Yes, the great work would continue.  They were trying to weaken us with fear.  Weaken me with fear.

I bowed my head in the sun, turned my palms toward heaven and said, “Now strengthen my hands.”

Another day I went to the house of Shemaiah.  He said, “Men are coming by night to kill you.  Let us hide in the temple.”

I squinted straight into his eyes.  He looked away.

“Should a man like me run away?” I said.  “I will not.” 

He was a hireling.

I walked out into the dusty, vacant street.  “O my God, remember those who are trying to intimidate me.”

Well, we were not intimidated.  We did not shrink back with fear.  And the great work was finished - in 52 days. 

In just 52 days we rebuilt the great wall of Jerusalem.

“A great work, Nehemiah!”

“Yes, my friend.  A great work – done with the help of our God.”

I walked among my countrymen.  Their world was changing right before their eyes.

“Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.”

I squinted in the blazing sun and turned toward the north.

“Thank You.  For the courage.  For the strength. And for keeping me out of the plain of Ono.”

(music out)

Taken from Nehemiah chapter 6

 

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Take Hold of That for Which Christ Took Hold of You - Apples of Gold - March 11, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 11, 2009

“Take Hold of That for Which Christ Took Hold of You”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Paul said, “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Now when Paul says that Christ Jesus “took hold” of him, that was an understatement.

Do you recall when Jesus took hold of Paul?  He was on the road to Damascus when a brilliant light shone from heaven and Jesus Himself spoke to him.

Now the question “Why?”  Why did Jesus take hold of Paul?

In Acts 9:15 the Lord said, “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

And there’s more.  In Acts 22 Paul was told, “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth.  You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.”

I’m talking about the Apostle Paul’s specific assignment from God.

And there’s more.  Acts 26 records more of what Jesus told Paul that day on the road to Damascus.  “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you.”

Now I want you to soak up the awesomeness of all that.  God told Paul that he would see Jesus and hear words from His mouth.  Jesus said He would show Paul things, and then Paul would pass them along to the rest of us.

That is why Jesus took hold of Paul.

Paul knew that, very clearly.  And that became the focus of his life.  And that’s why he said, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

And now I have a huge question for you.  Why did Jesus take hold of you?

This is important because if you know that, then you know what to focus on.  You can point your life in that direction and press on with all your might.

“How can I know that?” you ask.  “How can I know specifically why Jesus took hold of me?”

Well, for Paul it was easy.  At the point of his conversion, Jesus told him precisely why He was taking hold of him.

And that leads us to this question.  Is that something Jesus did just for Paul, or is it something He does for all of us?

Well I certainly think Paul was unique.  His calling was outstanding.

But the Bible talks about many callings and giftings.  These things are divvied up by Jesus to His people, the church, the body of Christ – us!

And ever since then there are thousands if not millions of testimonies of people whose life was taken hold of by Jesus, and then they discovered why.

I’m currently reading the complete memoirs of Charles Finney.  He talks plainly about his conversion, how Christ took hold of his life.

And then he began preaching.  He knew he was supposed to preach.  He was called to preach. 

His training was as a lawyer, not a preacher.  But when Christ took hold of him he just knew that he was to be a preacher and that’s what he did for the rest of his life.

Now listen.  He didn’t keep dabbling in the law.  He was still offered cases, but he turned them down.  That was not his calling.  That was not why Jesus took hold of him. 

Instead, he pressed on, reaching out to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him.

I look at it like this.  You are a big bundle of potential.  It includes your calling and your gifts.  This is God’s purpose for your life.  And when Christ takes hold of you, it is so you can fulfill this potential.  From that point on, it is your duty to press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of you.

Now some people are saying, “Doug, I have no clue what that is.  I’m nothing special.  I don’t know why Christ took hold of me.  I would press on, but I don’t know what to press on towards.”

First of all, I would recommend you link up with someone more spiritually mature, someone who can mentor you through this process.  They can help you discover God’s purpose for your life.

Second, let me say this.  For many people, including the Apostle Paul and Charles Finney, they knew their purpose from the time of their conversion.  So think back.  Go back to the time when Christ took hold of you.  Could it be that the Lord spoke to you at that time?  Look for the seeds of your calling at the time of your conversion.

And most of all, I recommend that you get alone with God and draw near to Him.  I thoroughly believe He will speak to you as you open yourself up to Him.  Dedicate yourself to prayer and to the Word of God. 

I don’t think God will hide this from you.  You need to get on with your life.  You need to focus your energies.  You need to press on in one direction with all your might.

So if you don’t know already, it’s time to find out.

It’s time to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

What Do You Think When You Hear the Word Repent? - Apples of Gold - March 10, 2009 ***Happy Birthday Ashlyn - 22 today!!!*** -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 10, 2009

“What Do You Think When You Hear the Word Repent?”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

When I hear the word “repent,” I picture an angry man shouting in a rage.

I picture Jonah, stomping through the streets of Nineveh, actually hoping they don’t repent.

It’s hellfire and brimstone.  It’s condemnation, a bullwhip slashing your back with fear and guilt.

Repent is a message spoken by religious zealots, and no normal person gives any real thought to their ranting.

That’s the stereotype.

But that’s not what I get from Jesus.

In Luke 5:32 Jesus said that He came to call sinners to repentance.

Now what was the setting when He said that?  Was He standing in the public square, shouting at people to repent, and scaring off more people than He attracted?

Actually, He was at a banquet held in His honor.  Levi the tax collector hosted the party, and he invited a bunch of his friends.

They were all at this banquet, and some Pharisees asked, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Now did you get that picture of repentance?  He compared it to medicine.

Instead of an angry preacher inflicting pain, he pictured a doctor bringing healing to the sick.

Sunday night I spent several hours in the emergency room at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital – sitting with a friend who was in pain. 

It’s quite a thing to sit and watch the humanity flow through an emergency room.  They’re from all walks of life:  rich and poor, professors and drop outs, beautiful and not so much.

The emergency room is an equalizer.  Everyone is humbled.  They are in pain and they need help.  Everyone wants a doctor to make them better.

This is the way Jesus sees the world – like an emergency room full of hurting patients. 

He has the medicine, and you know what it says on the bottle?

Repent.

The sick need a doctor, He said, and that’s why He came to call sinners to repentance.

Imagine if you were on a medical missionary team.  You go to a remote village where many are sick, and all they need is a shot to make them better.  But the people don’t want to get the shot.  They’re suspicious.  There are rumors. 

What would you do to urge people to get the shot? 

Well you probably wouldn’t explode in a rage.  That would just confirm their suspicions.

No, you would more likely urge them, plead with them, “Please, get the shot.  It’s the cure.  You’ve got to trust me.”

And that, I think, is how we should deliver the message of repentance, just as a doctor would offer healing medicine.

And notice that Jesus didn’t just open up a clinic and invite them in.  He took His medicine out to the people.  Yes, He called them to repent, but He offered it like medicine to the sick. 

Romans 2:4 says that God’s kindness leads us to repentance.

How do you handle someone who needs to repent?  With kindness.

Second Timothy 2:25 says to “gently instruct” them.

Second Peter 3:9 talks about being patient with people, because it says God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

And when someone does repent, it is not met with indifference.  In Luke 15 Jesus raved about the rejoicing that takes place in heaven when even one sinner repents.

So forget about any negative stereotypes the word repent conjures up. 

We are called to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins throughout the world – not as a curse but as a blessing – like a powerful medicine.

Acts 3:19 says, “Repent…and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”

So don’t back off from this powerful little word.  It’s not an unkind word, but rather a healing word.

Remember, Jesus compared Himself to a doctor coming to the sick. 

And this is the wonderful medicine He prescribed for everyone:  repentance.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Forget About It Is Exactly What I'm Not Going To Do - Apples of Gold - March 4, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 4, 2009

“Forget About It Is Exactly What I’m Not Going To Do”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

A woman who owns an abortion clinic near Miami was arrested yesterday.

No, she was not arrested for all those abortions.

Her problems began when the abortion doctor had a “bleeder.”  He reportedly had to go take care of a patient who wouldn’t stop bleeding. 

That meant he wasn’t at this clinic to finish another patient’s abortion.

So the patient, a teenage girl, was sitting in a room at the clinic.  And now listen to the name of the clinic.  It’s called the “GYN Diagnostic Center.”

So she was sitting there, and the doctor wasn’t showing up to take care of her, to finish off her abortion procedure.

It’s just a procedure, you know.  Just a routine medical procedure.  It’s like having your appendix removed.  The doctor removes it, and it ends up in a red biohazard trash bag.

So the girl was sitting there, waiting for the esteemed Dr. Pierre Jean-Jacques Renelique.  Well she started to cramp, and suddenly she gave birth to a little baby girl, about 10 inches long. 

Okay, now they suddenly had a huge problem, and everyone knew it.  One report said there was pandemonium at the clinic.  The “women’s health” clinic.

When there is pandemonium, that’s when you find out who the real leaders are. 

And the real leader in this situation was the clinic owner, a woman in her 40’s.  She swept in and took charge. 

She grabbed some scissors and cut the baby’s umbilical cord. 

And now what do you think happened?  What would normally happen, in a normal clinic, with normal health care professionals? 

They would kick into emergency mode, clean that baby up, get her on oxygen, whatever it took to make sure her little life out in the big world got off to a good start. 

But this was not a normal clinic.  This was an abortion clinic.  They are not in the business of saving life. 

So they did what they normally do.  They did what they do every day.  They took the byproduct of the medical procedure and threw it into a red biohazard trash bag.

But they didn’t do it fast enough.  The teenage mother reported that she watched in horror as her baby girl gasped for breath for five minutes.   

Then they finally did their thing with the biohazard bag.

Later someone anonymously called the police who investigated and brought the whole thing to light.  They found the body and had a proper funeral.

No, no one was charged for the child’s death.  Dr. Renelique lost his license for falsifying medical records, among other things.  And the clinic owner was arrested yesterday on suspicion of tampering with evidence and practicing healthcare without a license.

To me that’s about like Al Capone being arrested for tax evasion.

This is just another case that illustrates our insane notions about abortion. 

We let the abortion industry go about its business, ending thousands of pregnancies every day.  After all, it’s legal.

It’s legal, but by golly you better keep it under wraps.  Keep it behind those closed doors.

Have you ever seen those nice medical documentaries where they show things like open heart surgery?  Here is one you will never see – a nice documentary on an abortion procedure.

Why not?  Why don’t they run their little cameras up there and capture all the details from various abortions?  Then turn it all into a nice little documentary.

It’ll never happen.  People would see little hands and feet and faces.  They would see that thing moving on its own.  They would see it react to being poked.  The American people just wouldn’t have the stomach for it.

Just like this teenage mother at a Miami abortion clinic.  She approved of having an abortion.  “Just let me close my eyes, do your thing, and thank you – I’m not pregnant anymore.  I dodged the bullet.”

But then she saw it.  She saw what that thing was inside of her.  She saw little hands and little feet.  And when it came out what did it want?  It wanted life!  It wanted to live.  It struggled and gasped for breath.

And no one saved it.  No one called 9-1-1.  No one applied any medical training or knowledge.  No one even applied their own nurturing human instincts.  They only applied the teaching of a pro-abortion nation, and that is, “It’s not really a child.  It’s just a byproduct of a medical procedure.  Just throw it into a biohazard bag and forget about it.”

And forget about it is exactly what I’m not going to do.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

Today’s story in the Miami Herald:  http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/931447.html

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Conspiracy Trial for the Murder of the President - Apples of Gold - March 3, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 3, 2009

“Conspiracy Trial for the Murder of the President”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

So have you taken advantage of Google Books yet?

Google has scanned tons of books and put them on the internet.

Now let me just give you an idea of what that means.

I can be sitting there waiting for someone, and instead of twiddling my thumbs I can access the internet through my cell phone and actually read a book found only in the Harvard University Library.  It might be a book so old and fragile that no one is allowed to read it.  But now we can all read it anywhere thanks to Google.

That’s where I came across this book, and it has a really long title, so here goes:  “The Conspiracy Trial for the Murder of the President and the Attempt to Overthrow the Government by the Assassination of its Principal Officers.”

Now if you like courtroom dramas, this book is for you.  It’s basically a blow by blow, word for word account of the trial after President Lincoln’s assassination.  It was published right after the trial, and it’s hundreds of pages long.

At one point in the trial the prosecution put Lieutenant Alexander Lovett on the stand.  He was asked if he sought for the assassins at the Wilmer’s residence. 

Now listen to this response given by Lieutenant Lovett:

“Yes sir, I went to Mr. Wilmer’s and searched his house – a thing I did not like to do.  I was satisfied before I searched it that there was nothing there because I knew the man by reputation.”

Sometimes when I’m reading I just stop and let things sink in.

Here it is again.  He said, “I was satisfied before I searched it that there was nothing there because I knew the man by reputation.”

You know what?  I want to have a strong reputation like that.  I want to have such a good reputation that even if someone accused me of doing wrong, everyone would just look at them like, “I don’t think so.”

I like what it says in First Peter 2:12, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Yesterday I had a lunch appointment with two other men. 

I walked into the restaurant and told the hostess, “I’m meeting a couple of guys.”

She sat me down and I began waiting.

Little did I know that moments later they walked in, told the hostess they were meeting someone, and were promptly seated on the complete opposite side of the restaurant. 

After waiting a while, one of them finally got up and came looking for me.  And sure enough, there I was, just as he suspected.

And I like what he said.  He said he figured I was there somewhere because he just knew that I would not stand them up.

I took that as a high compliment.

Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches…”

You know the best way to have a good name?  Be a good person.

See, anyone can fake it for a while.  You can build up a good reputation – for a while. 

But that reputation will eventually fall apart if it’s not built on a true foundation. 

That’s one thing I love about being a Christian and following the Lord.  As we do that with all of our heart, a natural byproduct is a good reputation. 

People know you will be honest and true.  They know you will be loving and caring and helpful.  They know you will keep your word.  They know you will go the extra mile.

This is the reputation all Christians should have. 

Unfortunately, some are like Jesus described in Revelation 3:1.  To some He said, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

Now that is something I don’t want.  I don’t want to have a good reputation on the outside, but not have the real stuff on the inside. 

Jesus said to them, “I know your deeds.”

And that’s what it comes down to.  It’s not just a good PR campaign.  It’s not acting a part. 

In the long run, our reputation will only be as good as our deeds.    

So what is your reputation today?  Is it like Lieutenant Lovett said of Mr. Wilmer?  Is it such that, even if someone accused you of doing wrong, everyone else would say, “No way.  I know that man.  He has a sterling reputation.”

Well the good news is, no matter what our reputation is right now, we can improve it.

And Jesus gave us the place the start.

Our deeds.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000

-vi-

Who Am I? - Apples of Gold - March 2, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 2, 2009

“Who Am I?”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Ted Williams was a baseball star for the Boston Red Sox.

He was also edgy.  For example, for all those years since he was a rookie, he never tipped his cap to the crowd.  You know, when a ballplayer does something great and the crowd goes crazy, it’s nice to recognize the crowd by tipping your cap to them.

So it came down to Ted Williams’ last at bat.  He was retiring.  His illustrious career was over.  It was his last at bat ever, and guess what?  He hit a home run.

Well the crowd went crazy, and Williams, even in this sentimental moment, just walked into the dugout – without tipping his cap.

Bob Costas asked him about it years later.  Williams said that, as he ran the bases for that final home run, he actually thought about tipping his cap.  But then he thought, “No, that just isn’t who I am.”

Isn’t that interesting?  He was running the bases, and it ran through his head to tip his cap, but he decided not to based on his self talk which said, “That just isn’t who I am.”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Self talk”?

It’s basically your internal communication, and when we talk about “self talk” we are usually talking about that little voice inside you that tells you who you are.

Many motivational speakers try to get you to control your self talk by telling yourself things like “I am a winner,” and “I am successful.”

It’s interesting how this self talk extends into so many areas of our life.

The other day I was killing time at Kohl’s while waiting for my daughter’s practice to end.  I stumbled across some amazing clearance prices on some nice shoes, so I started sending out picture messages on my cell phone to people who might need some new shoes.  I said, “I’ll buy these for you, if you will wear them.”

I sent a picture of a pair of, I don’t know, I call them “skater shoes,” to a friend of my son.  His response?  Well, a few years ago he might have worn them, but not now.  Why not?  “Because that’s not really me.”

I wonder how many of our clothing choices are made based upon that little voice in our head that says, “That’s not who I am.”

On the highway yesterday I passed a biker.  He had just a certain Harley with just a certain helmet.  He had leather boots and chaps and a black biker jacket.  He really had a look – a look that most people would not have.  They would tell themselves, “That’s not me,” while this guy told himself, “That is exactly me.”

I remember watching “The Fonz” on TV when I was a kid.  He could never say he was wrong.  He could only say, “I was wr…wr…wrrr…”

There was just a little voice in his head that said, “That’s not who I am.  I’m not the kind of person who says they are wrong.”

I think it’s important for us to recognize that we do have that little voice inside, constantly telling us who we are. 

Michael Jordan’s voice said, “I’m the one who makes the winning basket.”  Others say, “I crack under pressure.  I always crack under pressure.”

So what does your voice say?  What kind of self talk is going on in your head?

I remember when I took a discipleship class years ago.  We memorized Second Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Memorizing that verse helped change my self talk.  Who am I?  I am a “new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

See, as Christians, our self talk needs to come from God and His Word. 

Here are some things, straight out of the Bible, that the little voice in our head needs to be telling us.

I am loved by God.  (First John 3:1)
I am chosen.  (First Peter 2:10)
I am a child of God (through faith in Christ Jesus).  (Galatians 3:26)
I am a new creation (the old has gone, the new has come.)  (Second Corinthians 5:17)
I am an heir of God and co-heir with Christ.  (Romans 8:17)
I am a part of the body of Christ.  (First Corinthians 12:27)
I am a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in me.  (First Corinthians 6:19)
I am a disciple of Jesus.  (John 13:35)
I am a branch.  He is the vine.  (John 15:5)
I am God’s property.  (First Peter 2:9)
I am a servant of the Lord Jesus.  (Colossians 3:24)
I am a friend of Jesus (as I do what He commands).  (John 15:14)
I am the aroma of Christ.  (Second Corinthians 8:37)
I am God’s workmanship.  (Ephesians 2:10)
I am created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  (Ephesians 2:10)
I am the salt of the earth.  (Matthew 5:13)
I am the light of the world.  (Matthew 5:14)
I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me.  (Romans 8:37)

Yes, we all have self talk going on in our head.

It’s time we take control of it.

And what should it say?

It should tell us everyday that we are exactly who God says we are.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
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If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
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