A Genius in Love
Teach
us how short our lives really are that we may be wise. (Psalm 90:12)
Lord, thank You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
For more sermons from the ULC Seminary, go to Chapel.
I've heard tell of human-genius that is;
Genius . . . . that power which dazzles human eyes, is oft but perseverance in disguise.
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine
percent perspiration." If people knew how hard one has to work to gain
mastery it wouldn't seem wonderful at all. Genius is the very eye of intellect and the wing of thought: it is always in advance of its time, and is the pioneer for the generation which it proceeds. Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. I believe genius is the ability to go on when ordinary men say the battle is lost. Genius has been described as "an infinite capacity for taking pains," which is not very far from the truth.
All
the genius I have lies just in this: When I have a subject in hand, I
study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all
its bearings; My mind becomes pervaded/impregnated/saturated/ filled
with it. Then the effort and progress which I make, the people are
pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is really the fruit of labor and
thought. True genius is simply eternal patience.
Listen. Persistence will keep you moving forward, yet you need passion to feed your persistence.
You must put your whole heart into your vision. Never forget that
physical sight is the ability to see things as
they are. Vision is the capacity to see things as they could be, and
that takes faith. Please remember when we have vision, we are governed
by the faith God has put in our hearts.
Please
listen: Whether words are spoken or written, they are full of creative
power. When you speak words expressing what you see in your vision, your
words become creative power to help bring that vision to
fruition. The faith of vision is crucial because the way you see things
determines how you think and act and, therefore, whether or not your
vision will become a reality. Listen. You can undermine your vision
through negative thoughts and words.
God
has a plan for each of our lives, yet He brings those plans to pass in a
gradual way. There is no hurried way to get to God's vision. Oh, say
can you see! The process of vision develops our character and produces
responsibility in us.
Sometimes,
we think that just because we are going through difficult times, God
has stopped working to fulfill our purposes. Yet God is working on us,
preparing us for our purposes through the process. Life's hardships are
part of God's perfect plan for us and our visions. Listen. Whatever you
have been chosen to do in life . . . . . Live by faith as you move through the process of vision.
Teach us how short our lives really are that we may be wise. (Psalm 90:12)
In
a life marked by doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and school
appointments, there is one appointment that none of us will miss, the
appointment with death. Not very many like to talk about it, but "Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God" (Hebrews 9:27). Oh, how we'd like to change that verse. Just a word or two would suffice. "Nearly everyone must die . . . . " or "Everyone but me must die . . . ." or "Everyone who forgets to eat right or take vitamins must die . . . ." But those are not God's words. In His plan everyone must die, even those who eat
right and take their vitamins.
Exercise
may buy us a few more heartbeats. Medicine may grant us a few more
breaths. But in the end, there is an end. And that's why God/Jesus did
it. Did what? You say.
He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. (Philippians 2:7)
This is why He did it: Just thoughts here...
Holiday
travel. It isn't easy as it used to be. Then why do we do it? Why cram
the trunks and endure the
airports? Or pack into the cars or suvs or motor- homes or
motor-coaches. You know the answer. We love to be with the ones we love.
The four-year-old running up the sidewalk into the arms of grandpa.
A cup of coffee with a parent before the rest of the house awakes.
The
moment when, for a moment, everyone is quiet as we hold hands around
the table and thank God for family and friends and pumpkin pie.
We love to be with the ones we love.
May I remind you? So does God.
He
loves to be with the ones He loves too. How else can we explain what He
did? Between Him and us, there was a distance---a great span. And He
couldn't bear it. He couldn't stand it. So He did something about it.
Jesus, gave up His place with God and made Himself
nothing.
You be blessed now, you hear!
His Name's Jesus Ministries &
I. C. Music Corporation
May you be
blessed,
Ric
