It’s Real… Oh Yes, It’s Real!

Illus: A first grade teacher asked her class to write six things in life they had learned the hard way.

One little girl jotted these six things down. She had learned:

• No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats

• When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair

• You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

• Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts, no matter how cute the underwear is

• The best place to be when you're sad is in Grandma's lap

• Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a Tic-Tac

Illus: There are some things that PARENTS also have learned the hard way, such as:

• Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree

• Wrinkles don't hurt

• Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts

• Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground

• Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside

• Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy

Illus: There are some things that ELDERLY people have learned the hard way, such as:

• Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional

• When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

• You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster

• It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions

• Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician

• Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone

Someone very wisely said that life teaches us many valuable lessons, such as THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE…

• You believe in Santa Claus

• You don't believe in Santa Claus

• You are Santa Claus

• You look like Santa Claus

While we learn many valuable lessons as children, parents, adults and grandparents, there seem to be some lessons that some can never learn.

For example, some people go to church all their life, but they have never discovered that Christianity is a RELATIONSHIP not a RELIGION.

For example, in the spiritual realm there are basically three kinds of people you find in any church.

(1) THERE ARE THE INSINCERE

Some folks are not sincere about much of what they say. For example, some will greet folks by saying, “Good morning, how do you feel?” And then that person begins to explain how they feel and they are thinking, “What did I ask that for?”

We use words frequently, but they are only words. We often teach our children words, but we do not teach them the meaning of those words.

Illus: We raise our children to say "Thank you" when they are given what they want, and often do not let them have anything until they have said it.

It would be easy for a child to assume that the words “Thank You” are only magical words used to get what you want, and never be SINCERE ABOUT BEING THANKFUL!

How is it possible to speak the words without meaning them? Any time we speak words which have meaning, but WE DO NOT MEAN THE WORDS WE SPEAK, they become WORDS OF INSINCERITY.

For example, when we withdraw money from the cash machine, and it says "Have a nice day," does it mean it? We all would agree that the machine does not mean it, because the cash machine cannot be sincere since it isn't capable of being sincere.

A person can say anything if one has learned to talk. From the way they talk, some will make you think they want to live for God and serve Him. BUT THESE ARE ONLY MEANINGLESS WORDS, THEY ARE NOT SINCERE!

God has never been able to help the INSINCERE PERSON. NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Why? Because while they might say they want His help, they are not sincere. They will never discover the REALITY OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE until they get SINCERE WITH GOD.

For example, many claim they want God to help them, but they have asked Him and He will not help. God knows they are not sincere.

Illus: Dr. Odell Belger was counseling with a young lady that keeps getting in trouble. She finally got in trouble with the law, and then she went into a crying mode. She was telling everyone that she wanted to get her life straightened out, that she prays and it does no good.

As Dr. Belger was counseling with her, he knew her well. Everybody was believing that she wanted help but could not get it, but he knew better. He told her point blank, “The reason you can not get any help is because you really do not want any help from God. The only time you want God in your life is when you get in a tight spot.”