“LET NO DEBT REMAIN OUTSTANDING, EXCEPT THE CONTINUING DEBT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR HE WHO LOVES HIS FELLOWMAN HAS FULFILLED THE LAW.”

Romans 13:8

“Debt is in  fact the single greatest destroyer of financial well-being.” –

Frank and Muriel Newman

I read that today in the local paper, The Northland Age, Tuesday, May, 18, 2010!

I read also the tips Frank and Muriel Newman are giving on how to live without debt.

The “Magic Travellers Network New Zealand” encourages travellers to “make every New Zealand day count.”

And not only that, they are also encouraging the traveller , the tourist, to “seize the day, every day.”

“Daily Departures out of Auckland and Christchurch all year round, only with magic.”

I am reading that in a brochure  I picked up today.

To “make every New Zealand  day count.” To “seize the day, every day.” I like those encouragements.

But I want to encourage myself and you also to “make every day count”……… for the Lord Jesus Christ. “Seize the day, every day,” ………to tell others what the Lord has done for you.

What does the apostle Paul say in Second Corinthians 6:2?

“For he says,

‘In the time of my favor

I heard you,

and in the day of salvation

I helped you.’

I tell you,

NOW is the time of God’s favor,

NOW is the day of salvation.”

“That’s just the  trouble with me. I give myself very good advice , but I seldom follow it. (Alice in Wonderland)”

You find this “home-truth” in the Issue 1 2010 of the magazine called  “Grapevine.”

What a joy for me to see that.

It expresses wonderfully a thought that has been on my mind for along time, a thought that comes back again and again.

I give myself very good advice but seldom follow it!

The Lord Jesus Christ says, “…. everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man…”

But the Lord says also, “… everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man…”

Matthew 7:24-27

I think we have a choice to be foolish or wise!!

The longish postcard advertises the Far North Regional Museum in Kaitaia. Under the picture of the Museum you can read: “DISCOVER OUR TREASURES.” Under that the different Exhibits are listed:

“Unique maori artifact displays including 12th Century maori carving.”

“View displays of moa.”

“French explorer, de Surville’s anchor from ‘St. Jean Baptiste’ 1769.”

And now we are coming to the real treasures:

“The Kaitaia Mission and it’s pioneers.”

Thank the Lord for them and for our Lord.

Listen now what the Bible says in Colossians 2:2,3:

“…., in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the  treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Discover the treasures of the BIBLE, the Word of the Living God.

There is a good devotional book written by Billy Graham called : “Unto the Hills.” It is really “A Devotional Treasury ” as it says on the front cover.

I picked it up very cheap second-hand.

We are picking up our best books second-hand. It happened even today, eight very good books for five Dollars – really very good books.

People don’t read good Christian books any more.

No wonder that the church is at is is! No more said!

“Please use these messages as often as you can.”

The Far North District Council has written nine key messages  down for us very neatly on a postcard-size paper, laminated, and at the very bottom of the beautiful card it says:

“PLEASE USE THESE MESSAGES AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.”

I like messages and here are two messages of the Far North District Council:

“We are putting the customer first.”

“We are making things easier, getting it right, and doing what we say we will do.”

The Far North District Council is encouraging us to use the Council’s nine Key messages as soften as we can.

Ask me for the other seven messages and I will give them to you.

But I want to encourage you, to use the message of the Bible as often as you can.

What does the message of the Bible say?

Is not the key message of the Bible:

” 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.” – John 3:16

The Bible, the Word of the  Living God, shows us the Way of SALVATION: John 3:3; John 3:16; Romans 10:9.

I say: “Please use the message of the Bible as often as you can!”

Matthew 28:19,20!

“Frequently He “carries” them by giving them a very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands, and believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the world.”

C.H. Spurgeon