If you looking for really cool "Christian cartoons" then you must pop around to:
Below is a sample cartoon - I have obtained permission from the cartoonist - Michael Waters to use it.
If you want to see more then pop around to the web site where you can also subscribe to receive new cartoons via email.
Thank you to Michael (The cartoonist) for allowing me permission to use your cartoons on my blog and thanks to Meldy for the email you sent which lead me to see the cartoons.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25
1 Samuel 16:7
"Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Now this verse has been on my mind the whole day and I been thinking on this and what I have discovered and seen is that most people can relate to the statement I going to make right now which is:
"Most times people only associate with people that give a good outward appearance" - people tend to think that if everything looks good on the outside and a person portrays a good appearance then we tend to think the person must be ok - he/she may be beautiful/handsome and who may always dress well etc, etc. Guess what ? God has shown and told us He does not look at the outward appearance. Outward appearance means nothing.
So how does it affect us ?
An outward appearance no matter how good,smart or beautiful or handsome a person comes across - means NOTHING if the person has no good heart. Now you asking yourself ok so then what is a good heart ? Now we have 2 questions - (a) what is a good heart ? and (b) how does it affect us ? well here is my attempt to answer both questions:
Firstly I believe that a good heart can only be developed in knowing Jesus personally and to also know what He has done for us because once we know Jesus and learn to live according to Christian principles we slowly get to know what true love means and because God is love as we grow in that love we also start feeling the holy spirit fill our hearts and then our hearts become filled more and more with the fruits of the spirit which is as follows:
Love is the focus of the entire ethical appeal: "serve one another in love" , love is the expression of faith, Love is demonstrated in a tangible way in the sacrificial love of Christ and the service of Christians. All the other moral qualities in life flow from love.
Joy is the result of healthy relationships. When relationships fall apart because of broken commitments, there is a loss of joy.
Peace.
Patience is the opposite of "fits of rage" or short temper.
Kindness and goodness are joined with patience.
Faithfulness is the quality of keeping commitments in relationships.
Only the Spirit can produce the quality of loyalty no matter the cost.
Gentleness is the opposite of "selfish ambition." Gentleness is an expression of humility, considering the needs and hurts of others before one's personal goals.
Self-control is the opposite of self-indulgence. people with self control do not use other people to gratify their own appetites. They have the strength to say no to themselves, to the desires of their possible sinful nature.
Galatians 5:22-26 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other".
The more we strive for the fruits of the spirit the more we develop a good heart that is pleasing to God and to others.
Secondly it affects us as it will also determine who is deemed as a good person and when we start looking at people in the same way as what God does it opens new doors and new friendships that are beyond what we can imagine.
When you start making friendships which are not based on outward appearances you will be amazed at the strong bonds that form and who knows if you looking for True Love - You might just even find it.
I had to post this email I received and must say it is quite awesome and this is very interesting!
Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger?
There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.....
Thumb represents your Parents
Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings
Middle finger represents your-Self
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
& the Last (Little) finger represents your children
Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back
Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to tip
(As shown in the figure below):
Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later
Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings)...., they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.
Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children)...., they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day. Finally, join your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse).
You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT....., because Husband & Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!!
Now this is something I been doing a lot of thinking off mainly because I have had my fair share of what we call "LIFE STORMS" and each one of us has experienced many different storms - it could be a loss of someone close to us, divorce, unemployment, debt, loss of home, depression, anxiety, weariness, worry, guilt and there are many more that one could mention but what I am curious about is how do we deal with our storms in life ?
We have heard the phrase " after every storm there is a rainbow" which I can agree with and I am sure there are many readers who do agree and some will disagree.
What I been curious about is how people deal with there "LIFE STORMS" - what do they do, how do they react and what happens when the storm has no rainbow ?
This is not an easy topic at all but with a bit of research this is what I have found that seems to come out with most people who have or are experiencing a storm:
Many people tend to try and resolve there problem or burdens by themselves - we like to be in charge as it is in our human nature - some try to get closer to God in bad times and that features with most people in times of trouble or need but when asked was God called upon during the good times most reason such words as "well things were going good and it was something I just forgot about" - so if we only reach out in bad times will that storm then end ?
I not sure as God does not just want our attention in a time of need - He wants us to believe and call upon Him at all times. We cant just go to God in bad times. (I must add that some people who do not know God, I do believe they can get a storm in life for the purpose of the grace of God as it enables Him to draw that person to Him which otherwise might never had happened).
Does God plot storms for us ? I not sure but in certain cases I could say yes as sometimes we need a lesson in order to get to God and to form a relationship with Him but not all the time.
A friend said to me once "its weird but I did not have so much problems in my life until I became a Christian" - have you heard that before ? many have and many have wondered why.
Many Christians have stated they know someone who does not believe and yet it seems as if they go through life without any problems. So why do we get such storms in our life ? how do we handle it ? how do we go forward ? how do we accept the circumstances ?
The Bible never says that life will be easy - that we must accept and we must also realise that this is all just temporary - we will loose our earthly life and we will have a time for everlasting joy and we will all rejoice in the everlasting life that awaits us in Heaven.
Most importantly we cant go through trials trying to fix it on our own - we have to at times admit we need help and we do have a shepherd who is there for us at all times - His name is Jesus and he will never forsake you.
MAX LUCADO has a great book titled "TRAVELLING LIGHT" and he refers to our burdens as "THE LUGGAGE OF LIFE"
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ AND HE SHOWS US WHERE TO TURN TO HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE - HE REFERS US TO AN OLD FRIEND WHICH IS PSALM 23
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside still waters
He restores my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
For You are with me
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup runs over
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever
This psalm will help you to release the burdens of life
I have another 3 key words that I believe one has to remember as well and they are:
PATIENCE, FAITH and HOPE
They are all key factors but I do think the one we need to work hard at is PATIENCE and to realise God will sort things in His time and when the timing is right for us. PATIENCE is not always easy.
A PROMISE FROM GOD
Hebrews 13:6 - The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid.
For everyone out there experiencing a storm my wish is that you keep your FAITH, have PATIENCE and never loose HOPE and may God show you your rainbow after the storm and remember to
PRAY CONSISTENTLY - NEVER STOP PRAYING
My prayer for you
Dear God almighty, creator of heaven and earth I know that You are there at all times and I pray that you will provide those in need including myself with the help and the patience to endure the hard times we might be going through at present - I pray dear Lord Jesus that you will uphold me and my friends and everyone out there in there time of need. We place our burdens in front of you Lord as we know we cant solve it on our own - Only You Lord can help us and You know what our needs are at this time and I pray that you will guide us continuously as we reach out to You our God for help - Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven - this I pray in Jesus name AMEN.
