I'm delighted to share the following New Year's Message with you! May it challenge you to unprecedented growth in your Life with Jesus. I'd like to take credit for the entire message, but confess up front that it is paraphrased from an article written by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson many years ago.
"I never make New Year's Resolutions anymore," the man told me, "I never keep them, anyway." I can remember all too many resolutions I've made and let slip away, too. But I believe New Year's resolutions are worth making. Let me tell you why.
First, we all need changes. Some we find very hard to admit to ourselves. I've heard people who say, "I have no regrets about my life. If I had it to do over, I'd do it the same way again." But that attitude is way too blind and self-serving so far as I'm concerned. There is great power in confession--to ourselves, to God, to others. Owning up to our failures is the first, painful step on the road to something better.
Second, when we change calendars is a good time for reassessment. How did last year go? What do I want to do differently this year? This time of year always reminds me of a passage of scripture, better understood by farmers than suburbanites: "Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns" (Jer 4:3). It makes sense. The more land you put into production, the more prosperous you'll be. But some of us are stupid enough to try to sow seeds in land overrun by star thistle without breaking up the soil and taking care to root out the thorns as they come up. Call it laziness. Call it stupidity. What percentage of your life is producing something of value to God? How much "unplowed ground" do you have that ought to be broken up in this coming year and made useful? Reassessment. The brink of a new year is a good time for reassessment.
Third, New Year's is an excellent time for mid-course corrections. Sure, we might fail in what we set out to do, but if we fail to plan, the old saw goes, then we plan to fail. If you're so fearful of failure that you never set up your row of tin cans to shoot at, you're not very likely to hit any at all. Failure is not the end. For the person who determines to learn from it, failure is a friend. One of my heroes in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. Talk about failure! Throughout his life he was opposed, persecuted, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, deserted by trusted co-workers, slandered, and scorned. Sometimes it seemed that projects to which he had devoted years were turning to dust before his eyes. But from one of his stints in prison, we can see an unwillingness to quit. "Forgetting what is behind," he wrote, "and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14, NIV) No wonder he made a mark on his world. He stopped looking back, and looked forward instead. He didn't let the fear of failure keep him from trying again.
Fourth, New Year's is a time to learn to rely more heavily on the grace of God. Now I've met a few self-made men and women and so have you, but so often these people seem proud and driven. There is another way: beginning to trust in God's help. One more secret from the Apostle Paul: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," he said (Phil 4:13, NIV). And God's strength saw him through a lot--through pain, through joy, and through accomplishment.
If this last year, you didn't practice relying on the Lord as much as you should have, there is no time like the present to make a New Year's resolution. In fact, why don't you say a short prayer right now--use these words if you like: "Dear God, I want the new year to be different for me." Now spell out in prayer some of the changes you'd like to see. And close this way: "Lord Jesus, I know that I'm going to need a lot of help for this. So right now I place myself in your hands. Help me to receive Your strength. Amen." Good. Now you've got a much better chance of a Happy New Year."
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
HOLY DAYS
As snow begins to fall and the deep freeze of winter sets in, we again gather with family and friends, singing and dancing around the Christmas tree or lighting the menorah or Kwanzaa candles. All will be well as we let the holiness in us shine forth, celebrating what is Holy in others and in the universe. Ah, what peace and joy. What greater abundance than the love of family and friends celebrating together!
Hmm. Time for a reality check? This serene scenario may play out in a few fortunate families. Let's face it, however, for many of us, the reality of the Christmas season is something entirely different.
For starters, the pace of life has gotten so frantic that the added demands of preparing for the holidays often seem to intensify life's difficulties. As much as we all love our families, being around them for extended periods of time may cause tempers to flare and old wounds to resurface. We may love giving and receiving gifts, but many of us end up buying too many gifts that cost too much. Ugly materialism and debt creep in, despite our best intentions. Children are delighted with some gifts and disappointed with others that didn't meet expectations. Family members complain behind other's backs. One person is left to do most of the cooking and clean-up and is besieged with work. Too much food is made, and, despite our resolutions to the contrary, most of us end up eating too much, feeling bloated, stuffed and guilty afterwards.
For others, the holidays can be the loneliest time of the year.
In short, amidst all the hectic demands of the Season, sometimes we lose touch with what the holidays really mean. The peace and tranquility of the holidays get overshadowed by emotional remnants of the past, over-consumption, and sheer exhaustion. The holidays are anything but Holy Days.
Yet, holidays can be an opportunity to go inside and reconnect with what is important. It can be a time to reflect on the role of Spirit in our life; a time to dwell in the presence of God, Divine Spirit, or the Universal Life Force, however you want to think of that mysterious, sacred force that pervades existence. The holidays are here to remind us that life truly is a miracle of holiness. It is a chance to look inside and to feel the presence of the Holy in our life.
Although life is more pressurized and intense than ever before and at times may feel like more than you can handle, the difficulties and challenges, the pain and suffering--amidst the joy and happiness--are what real life is all about. Holidays will continue to bring us challenging and joyful moments, tons of work, conflicts, and "stuff" to deal with. They are supposed to! We all mess up from time-to-time, forget the Spirit inside, and go off track. Making mistakes is how we learn. Trouble and suffering gives us the opportunity to again seek Spirit. Even bad times can contain grace.
True peace and joy is not about living a neatly sanitized, practically perfect life. It is about being totally authentic in every way. Living life fully--with sorrow and joy, pain and happiness, agony and ecstasy--is what true spiritual practice entails. It is only our limited perception and false expectations that make us think things are imperfect. This is the true core of any spiritual teaching: that we have the potential for living an authentic and full life with the divine spirit infused in us, integrating both suffering and happiness.
So keep the holidays holy, by being fully you, and knowing that the God and the Divine Spirit, your higher Self, the innermost, divine part of your own nature is with you and always available to you
Hmm. Time for a reality check? This serene scenario may play out in a few fortunate families. Let's face it, however, for many of us, the reality of the Christmas season is something entirely different.
For starters, the pace of life has gotten so frantic that the added demands of preparing for the holidays often seem to intensify life's difficulties. As much as we all love our families, being around them for extended periods of time may cause tempers to flare and old wounds to resurface. We may love giving and receiving gifts, but many of us end up buying too many gifts that cost too much. Ugly materialism and debt creep in, despite our best intentions. Children are delighted with some gifts and disappointed with others that didn't meet expectations. Family members complain behind other's backs. One person is left to do most of the cooking and clean-up and is besieged with work. Too much food is made, and, despite our resolutions to the contrary, most of us end up eating too much, feeling bloated, stuffed and guilty afterwards.
For others, the holidays can be the loneliest time of the year.
In short, amidst all the hectic demands of the Season, sometimes we lose touch with what the holidays really mean. The peace and tranquility of the holidays get overshadowed by emotional remnants of the past, over-consumption, and sheer exhaustion. The holidays are anything but Holy Days.
Yet, holidays can be an opportunity to go inside and reconnect with what is important. It can be a time to reflect on the role of Spirit in our life; a time to dwell in the presence of God, Divine Spirit, or the Universal Life Force, however you want to think of that mysterious, sacred force that pervades existence. The holidays are here to remind us that life truly is a miracle of holiness. It is a chance to look inside and to feel the presence of the Holy in our life.
Although life is more pressurized and intense than ever before and at times may feel like more than you can handle, the difficulties and challenges, the pain and suffering--amidst the joy and happiness--are what real life is all about. Holidays will continue to bring us challenging and joyful moments, tons of work, conflicts, and "stuff" to deal with. They are supposed to! We all mess up from time-to-time, forget the Spirit inside, and go off track. Making mistakes is how we learn. Trouble and suffering gives us the opportunity to again seek Spirit. Even bad times can contain grace.
True peace and joy is not about living a neatly sanitized, practically perfect life. It is about being totally authentic in every way. Living life fully--with sorrow and joy, pain and happiness, agony and ecstasy--is what true spiritual practice entails. It is only our limited perception and false expectations that make us think things are imperfect. This is the true core of any spiritual teaching: that we have the potential for living an authentic and full life with the divine spirit infused in us, integrating both suffering and happiness.
So keep the holidays holy, by being fully you, and knowing that the God and the Divine Spirit, your higher Self, the innermost, divine part of your own nature is with you and always available to you
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Where Is Christ In Christmas?
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
The angels' joyful announcement was worthy of a Heavenly King. But how do we celebrate His majesty?
The world’s preparation for Christmas shuts Him out. Jesus, our Lord -- the long-awaited Messiah --simply doesn’t fit today's vision of pluralism. That's why signs and symbols of the celebration bearing His name have been censored from schools and public places from coast to coast.
Never mind that He created the universe and has each future day written in His book. Or that He alone can fulfill our longing for genuine peace and lasting joy. His guidelines offend the world. Unless its masses can re-imagine a god more like themselves [Ps 50:21], they resent His name. His holiness violates their comfort zone, so they hide from Him (like Adam and Eve), deny His existence, or fill their days with shallow distractions and alternatives.
Meanwhile, many of us are too busy planning His party to seek His will or grieve His absence.
The King whose birth we celebrate may be sad, but He’s never surprised. John 2:24 Long ago, He stood in Jerusalem watching a world too blinded by human wants and ambitions to see the Savior in their midst. "If you had known," He said with unspeakable sorrow, "the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:42
The Compromising Church
Today, almost 2000 years later, religious leaders still lead the anti-Christ crusade. Many have accepted the new global consensus on spirituality: all religions are equally good -- except Biblical Christianity. It is too narrow to be tolerated in this new millennium. The envisioned "Culture of Peace" won’t make room for God's "divisive" Biblical values. Faith in His unchanging truths clashes with the global standard for mental health. And at the forefront of this cultural transformation stand countless compromising churches that teach a cross-less and Christ-less distortion of Christianity.
No wonder embarrassed theologians joined the public outcry two years ago when several presidential candidates dared to name Jesus in public.3 To offended "Christian" leaders, evasion and lies would have been more tolerable than Biblical truth and light. But then, such was the religious climate that glorious night when our King came to earth and angelic jubilation pierced the stillness of the skies.
For Jesus was born into a culture ruled by the same spiritual mastermind that prods the masses today. The apostle John, said it well: "The whole world lies under the sway of the evil one." 1 John 5:19
That’s why the religious leaders during His time on earth had little tolerance for His call to purity and separation. "Come unto Me…" meant leaving the acceptable ways of the world, a dangerous notion that threatened the establishment. Unless the long-awaited Messiah would conform to contemporary teachings, He was not welcome in their midst. John summarized the tragedy as well as the triumph:
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:10-13
Human nature doesn’t change with time, nor does the spiritual battle that still rages against Jesus Christ, His Word, and His followers. Churches still conform to the culture, and statistics tell us they do so quite consistently.
For the most part, the world will tolerate stars, angels, Christmas trees, or a sweet little baby sleeping in a manger. But there’s still "no room at the inn" for a King who invites us to walk His lowly path. And if we choose to let Him "be born in us" we must also share His suffering and bear with Him "the offense of the cross" – the world’s hostility toward the separated and crucified life Christ grants to those who love Him. Galatians 5:11
The Counterfeit Christmas
But the main problem with Christmas is not the way we trivialize angels and shepherds. Nor is it the season of the year. I doubt that Jesus cares whether we celebrate His birth in December or closer to the unknown date.
Nor is it the religious alternatives to Christmas. While Kwanza, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice may have replaced Christmas programs in public schools and homes, they alone wouldn’t weaken the Church. Just look at China. Where true believers face the greatest challenges to their faith and families, they demonstrate a growth in faith and perseverance (as well as in numbers) that puts the American church to shame. Luke 6:22
Nor is it the pagan roots of most popular Christmas customs. Few are even aware of the history behind Christmas trees, mistletoes or the ancient midwinter celebration of a mother-goddess with the midwinter babe. While these unholy roots may contribute to the spiritual complacency, the real crisis is more personal.
Our root problem has to do with our view of God and our relationship to Jesus. We have been taught to think of the King of the universe more like a super-Santa than a jealous God who holds us accountable to His Word. We forget that His favors are designed to conform us to His image, not meet all our wants.
He grieves when we, His people, turn worship into self-indulgence -- or pretend to please Him while we serve ourselves. His lowly birth in Bethlehem points to the hardships our Savior was willing to bear for our sake. Without diminishing His glorious stature as eternal King, His humility prompts us to give Him our lives, surrender to His will, endure persecution and fix our hope on eternity.
Peter didn’t understand such single-minded love. So when Jesus described His coming death, Peter reassured Him, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" He meant well, but he was wrong. Jesus had to correct him –- for our sake as much as for Peter. Turning to His friend and follower, he said something that would hardly fit today’s politically correct consensus process:
"Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. . . .If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:22-24)
Celebrating the King
Peter had set His mind on "the things of men." How can we set our minds on "the things of God" this Christmas?
Two millennia ago, God touched the hearts of three men who would have treasured the truths we have available today. With joy, they received the little information He gave, then set out on a long, risky pilgrimage to worship the newborn King:
"…behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2)
These pilgrims were willing to risk their own lives to make the long, dangerous journey, and the gifts they brought were chosen with care. They gave Him their very best – offerings worthy of the King of heaven and earth. God must have been pleased. He didn’t need their gifts but He saw their loving hearts.
Other gifts have pleased Him less. When Ananias and Sapphira pretended to give their all but secretly withheld some of their wealth, they were struck dead -- a frightening consequence for what seemed to be good intentions. But God chose to show us something about Himself. He longs for whole-hearted devotion, not a pretentious show of piety.
Back in Old Testament days, God’s chosen nation pretended to follow His guidelines. They offered the prescribed sacrifices out of cultural obedience. They had to; people were watching each other. But they cheated their all-knowing God by giving as little as possible – blemished gifts, worth little to man and less than nothing to God. The best they kept for themselves. So God warned them:
"Cursed be the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male …
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished --
For I am a great King,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"And My name is to be feared among the nations."
Malachi 1:14
Then as now, a lukewarm show of obedience to Biblical guidelines is hypocrisy – a pretense of loyalty to the Christ whose name we bear. But the opposite, the genuine devotion God seeks from His followers, was demonstrated by Mary. Listen to her response to the angel’s awesome message – one that called her to endure the shame of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy in a culture where sexual promiscuity called for death:
"The angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!' "But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS….'
"Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God….For with God nothing will be impossible.' "Then Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.'" Luke 1:28-38
God chose Mary, for He knew her heart. He saw that she was willing to to do whatever He asked. Her gift to Him was her faith, love, life and future. Understanding that the Old Testament "bondservant" meant willing surrender of everything to His service, she offered herself as a "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…." Romans 12:1 The next verse describes our part in God’s lifelong process conforming us to the life of Jesus – making us a living testimony of His goodness to the world:
"...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
In other words, the gift God desires from us is our own lives fully dedicated to Him. Only then can He fully use us to fulfill His purpose here on earth. This means a deep lifelong commitment to feed on His Word, follow His way, and demonstrate His life. It is summarized in an old command, taught through Moses and emphasized by Jesus:
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit… walk… lie down, and… rise up." (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
That means all we think, feed our minds, share in our families, and show the world will be to and from our King. His life is our message – and our lives are His message. It’s a big calling, but when we consecrate ourselves to Him and rest in His arms, He will accomplish it.
"My King and my God….
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage." (Psalm 84:3, 5)
God’s path for His own beloved Son led through a lowly stable. His only worshippers were his parents and the poor shepherds who, in the secluded stillness of the night, could hear the angels sing. On our pilgrimage, how can we best worship Jesus today and this Christmas?
Please show and enable us, precious Shepherd and King.
'Twas a humble birthplace, but O how much
God gave to us that day,
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect, holy way.
Alleluia! O how the angels sang.
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light
'Twas the birthday of a King.
..........COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN.................
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
The angels' joyful announcement was worthy of a Heavenly King. But how do we celebrate His majesty?
The world’s preparation for Christmas shuts Him out. Jesus, our Lord -- the long-awaited Messiah --simply doesn’t fit today's vision of pluralism. That's why signs and symbols of the celebration bearing His name have been censored from schools and public places from coast to coast.
Never mind that He created the universe and has each future day written in His book. Or that He alone can fulfill our longing for genuine peace and lasting joy. His guidelines offend the world. Unless its masses can re-imagine a god more like themselves [Ps 50:21], they resent His name. His holiness violates their comfort zone, so they hide from Him (like Adam and Eve), deny His existence, or fill their days with shallow distractions and alternatives.
Meanwhile, many of us are too busy planning His party to seek His will or grieve His absence.
The King whose birth we celebrate may be sad, but He’s never surprised. John 2:24 Long ago, He stood in Jerusalem watching a world too blinded by human wants and ambitions to see the Savior in their midst. "If you had known," He said with unspeakable sorrow, "the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:42
The Compromising Church
Today, almost 2000 years later, religious leaders still lead the anti-Christ crusade. Many have accepted the new global consensus on spirituality: all religions are equally good -- except Biblical Christianity. It is too narrow to be tolerated in this new millennium. The envisioned "Culture of Peace" won’t make room for God's "divisive" Biblical values. Faith in His unchanging truths clashes with the global standard for mental health. And at the forefront of this cultural transformation stand countless compromising churches that teach a cross-less and Christ-less distortion of Christianity.
No wonder embarrassed theologians joined the public outcry two years ago when several presidential candidates dared to name Jesus in public.3 To offended "Christian" leaders, evasion and lies would have been more tolerable than Biblical truth and light. But then, such was the religious climate that glorious night when our King came to earth and angelic jubilation pierced the stillness of the skies.
For Jesus was born into a culture ruled by the same spiritual mastermind that prods the masses today. The apostle John, said it well: "The whole world lies under the sway of the evil one." 1 John 5:19
That’s why the religious leaders during His time on earth had little tolerance for His call to purity and separation. "Come unto Me…" meant leaving the acceptable ways of the world, a dangerous notion that threatened the establishment. Unless the long-awaited Messiah would conform to contemporary teachings, He was not welcome in their midst. John summarized the tragedy as well as the triumph:
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:10-13
Human nature doesn’t change with time, nor does the spiritual battle that still rages against Jesus Christ, His Word, and His followers. Churches still conform to the culture, and statistics tell us they do so quite consistently.
For the most part, the world will tolerate stars, angels, Christmas trees, or a sweet little baby sleeping in a manger. But there’s still "no room at the inn" for a King who invites us to walk His lowly path. And if we choose to let Him "be born in us" we must also share His suffering and bear with Him "the offense of the cross" – the world’s hostility toward the separated and crucified life Christ grants to those who love Him. Galatians 5:11
The Counterfeit Christmas
But the main problem with Christmas is not the way we trivialize angels and shepherds. Nor is it the season of the year. I doubt that Jesus cares whether we celebrate His birth in December or closer to the unknown date.
Nor is it the religious alternatives to Christmas. While Kwanza, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice may have replaced Christmas programs in public schools and homes, they alone wouldn’t weaken the Church. Just look at China. Where true believers face the greatest challenges to their faith and families, they demonstrate a growth in faith and perseverance (as well as in numbers) that puts the American church to shame. Luke 6:22
Nor is it the pagan roots of most popular Christmas customs. Few are even aware of the history behind Christmas trees, mistletoes or the ancient midwinter celebration of a mother-goddess with the midwinter babe. While these unholy roots may contribute to the spiritual complacency, the real crisis is more personal.
Our root problem has to do with our view of God and our relationship to Jesus. We have been taught to think of the King of the universe more like a super-Santa than a jealous God who holds us accountable to His Word. We forget that His favors are designed to conform us to His image, not meet all our wants.
He grieves when we, His people, turn worship into self-indulgence -- or pretend to please Him while we serve ourselves. His lowly birth in Bethlehem points to the hardships our Savior was willing to bear for our sake. Without diminishing His glorious stature as eternal King, His humility prompts us to give Him our lives, surrender to His will, endure persecution and fix our hope on eternity.
Peter didn’t understand such single-minded love. So when Jesus described His coming death, Peter reassured Him, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" He meant well, but he was wrong. Jesus had to correct him –- for our sake as much as for Peter. Turning to His friend and follower, he said something that would hardly fit today’s politically correct consensus process:
"Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. . . .If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:22-24)
Celebrating the King
Peter had set His mind on "the things of men." How can we set our minds on "the things of God" this Christmas?
Two millennia ago, God touched the hearts of three men who would have treasured the truths we have available today. With joy, they received the little information He gave, then set out on a long, risky pilgrimage to worship the newborn King:
"…behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2)
These pilgrims were willing to risk their own lives to make the long, dangerous journey, and the gifts they brought were chosen with care. They gave Him their very best – offerings worthy of the King of heaven and earth. God must have been pleased. He didn’t need their gifts but He saw their loving hearts.
Other gifts have pleased Him less. When Ananias and Sapphira pretended to give their all but secretly withheld some of their wealth, they were struck dead -- a frightening consequence for what seemed to be good intentions. But God chose to show us something about Himself. He longs for whole-hearted devotion, not a pretentious show of piety.
Back in Old Testament days, God’s chosen nation pretended to follow His guidelines. They offered the prescribed sacrifices out of cultural obedience. They had to; people were watching each other. But they cheated their all-knowing God by giving as little as possible – blemished gifts, worth little to man and less than nothing to God. The best they kept for themselves. So God warned them:
"Cursed be the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male …
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished --
For I am a great King,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"And My name is to be feared among the nations."
Malachi 1:14
Then as now, a lukewarm show of obedience to Biblical guidelines is hypocrisy – a pretense of loyalty to the Christ whose name we bear. But the opposite, the genuine devotion God seeks from His followers, was demonstrated by Mary. Listen to her response to the angel’s awesome message – one that called her to endure the shame of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy in a culture where sexual promiscuity called for death:
"The angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!' "But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS….'
"Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God….For with God nothing will be impossible.' "Then Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.'" Luke 1:28-38
God chose Mary, for He knew her heart. He saw that she was willing to to do whatever He asked. Her gift to Him was her faith, love, life and future. Understanding that the Old Testament "bondservant" meant willing surrender of everything to His service, she offered herself as a "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…." Romans 12:1 The next verse describes our part in God’s lifelong process conforming us to the life of Jesus – making us a living testimony of His goodness to the world:
"...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
In other words, the gift God desires from us is our own lives fully dedicated to Him. Only then can He fully use us to fulfill His purpose here on earth. This means a deep lifelong commitment to feed on His Word, follow His way, and demonstrate His life. It is summarized in an old command, taught through Moses and emphasized by Jesus:
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit… walk… lie down, and… rise up." (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
That means all we think, feed our minds, share in our families, and show the world will be to and from our King. His life is our message – and our lives are His message. It’s a big calling, but when we consecrate ourselves to Him and rest in His arms, He will accomplish it.
"My King and my God….
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage." (Psalm 84:3, 5)
God’s path for His own beloved Son led through a lowly stable. His only worshippers were his parents and the poor shepherds who, in the secluded stillness of the night, could hear the angels sing. On our pilgrimage, how can we best worship Jesus today and this Christmas?
Please show and enable us, precious Shepherd and King.
'Twas a humble birthplace, but O how much
God gave to us that day,
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect, holy way.
Alleluia! O how the angels sang.
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light
'Twas the birthday of a King.
..........COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN.................
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
FEARING THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS
Am I imagining things or has the Grinch index gone up a notch this year?
No bell ringers outside of Target. No Christmas songs about baby Jesus in school. Kids are home for "winter break" rather than "Christmas vacation". My favorite coffee shop even asked me if I would like "holiday blend" rather than the usual "Christmas blend."
Christmas seems to highlight the fact that some in our society have a Godaphobia complex. Why all the hysteria and humbug about the true history of Christmas?
As I reflect on this, I have to wonder. What is so threatening about celebrating the arrival of a baby? What could possibly be so intimidating about observing the birth of Christ that the politically correct want to deny historical fact and reshape our nation's heritage?
Why are some so fearful? Even outraged?
Are we anxious that a baby will make us change? I've seen many people embrace Jesus and change for the better. They have become better parents, given up drugs, settled down and become responsible people. To be perfectly honest, I've never met anyone who truly embraced Christ and regretted it. I have, however, seen people embrace 'religion' and later find it distasteful, boring, and restricting. I've also met many people who wish they had accepted the Christmas child sooner than they did.
Do we worry that if we acknowledge Christ we will have to give up something? Many have given up drugs, crime, cheating on their taxes and spouses, prejudice, racism, gossip, porn, and a host of other vices and been the better for it. They have found true peace by welcoming the One born to be the Prince of Peace.
So why all the Christophobia at Christmas?
In a society that supposedly values tolerance and diversity we find that the Christ of Christmas is not always tolerated. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but it kind of seems like a double standard.
If some regard the Christmas story as a mere myth, then why all the objection? The power of their protest actually lends creditability to the fact that Jesus did come and the world has been the better for it ever since. The calendars we use are daily reminders that time stopped and started all over again with the coming of Christ. The very fact we call this a "holiday", i.e., "holy day" tells us that something holy has happened. Why would people even use the name of Jesus to swear if there wasn't something to Him?
Things really haven't changed that much in 2000 years. When the baby Jesus first arrived King Herod was so disturbed he wanted to kill him. He wasn't sure as to the baby's whereabouts so he had all baby boys murdered in Bethlehem and its vicinity. Better to kill all the babies than to let the world think that one of these kids was special. Like today, we can't acknowledge the uniqueness of Christ so therefore nobody should sing about Him. It's a mentality motivated by fear not fact. Unfortunately, the spirit of Herod still lives in government while the songs and spirit of Jesus' birth have been hushed.
When your personal identity is threatened, it's easier to silence a miracle than to embrace it.
The message to Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds regarding the miracle of the Christ child is the same message the world needs to hear today "Fear not!" You've got nothing to lose!
(This above was "borrowed" from www.grantsgraceland.org. I thought it was great, and wanted to share with you!)
No bell ringers outside of Target. No Christmas songs about baby Jesus in school. Kids are home for "winter break" rather than "Christmas vacation". My favorite coffee shop even asked me if I would like "holiday blend" rather than the usual "Christmas blend."
Christmas seems to highlight the fact that some in our society have a Godaphobia complex. Why all the hysteria and humbug about the true history of Christmas?
As I reflect on this, I have to wonder. What is so threatening about celebrating the arrival of a baby? What could possibly be so intimidating about observing the birth of Christ that the politically correct want to deny historical fact and reshape our nation's heritage?
Why are some so fearful? Even outraged?
Are we anxious that a baby will make us change? I've seen many people embrace Jesus and change for the better. They have become better parents, given up drugs, settled down and become responsible people. To be perfectly honest, I've never met anyone who truly embraced Christ and regretted it. I have, however, seen people embrace 'religion' and later find it distasteful, boring, and restricting. I've also met many people who wish they had accepted the Christmas child sooner than they did.
Do we worry that if we acknowledge Christ we will have to give up something? Many have given up drugs, crime, cheating on their taxes and spouses, prejudice, racism, gossip, porn, and a host of other vices and been the better for it. They have found true peace by welcoming the One born to be the Prince of Peace.
So why all the Christophobia at Christmas?
In a society that supposedly values tolerance and diversity we find that the Christ of Christmas is not always tolerated. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but it kind of seems like a double standard.
If some regard the Christmas story as a mere myth, then why all the objection? The power of their protest actually lends creditability to the fact that Jesus did come and the world has been the better for it ever since. The calendars we use are daily reminders that time stopped and started all over again with the coming of Christ. The very fact we call this a "holiday", i.e., "holy day" tells us that something holy has happened. Why would people even use the name of Jesus to swear if there wasn't something to Him?
Things really haven't changed that much in 2000 years. When the baby Jesus first arrived King Herod was so disturbed he wanted to kill him. He wasn't sure as to the baby's whereabouts so he had all baby boys murdered in Bethlehem and its vicinity. Better to kill all the babies than to let the world think that one of these kids was special. Like today, we can't acknowledge the uniqueness of Christ so therefore nobody should sing about Him. It's a mentality motivated by fear not fact. Unfortunately, the spirit of Herod still lives in government while the songs and spirit of Jesus' birth have been hushed.
When your personal identity is threatened, it's easier to silence a miracle than to embrace it.
The message to Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds regarding the miracle of the Christ child is the same message the world needs to hear today "Fear not!" You've got nothing to lose!
(This above was "borrowed" from www.grantsgraceland.org. I thought it was great, and wanted to share with you!)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK
From the pen of one of my favorite Christian Apologists,Anton Bosch.
(www.antonbosch.com)
"“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5).
Modern Christianity, with its emphasis on believers aggressively asserting themselves, has no room for meekness. They wrongly argue that “the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12), means that we have to aggressively assert ourselves and our claim to the Kingdom. To them meekness is synonymous with weakness. In these virulent and forceful forms of dominionist theology being meek is equal to being a failure in the Kingdom.
Yet, the teaching of all of Scripture is not that we must be assertive, but that we should be meek. The first mention of this word is in Numbers 12:3 where it speaks of Moses, the greatest leader of all time: “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” Jesus was spoken of as “meek , and sitting upon an ass” (Matthew 21:5). It is therefore incumbent upon us to not only understand what meekness is but to learn meekness from Jesus who said: “I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your soul” (Matthew 11:29).
Meekness is not limpwristedness, weakness or passivity. Meekness is strength under God’s control. Jesus exhibited this perfectly. Who was stronger than He? He could have called legions of angels to defend Himself and to deliver Him from those who so cruelly mocked and crucified Him. He could have destroyed His enemies with one single word. But He surrendered Himself fully to the Father’s will and did not for one moment assert Himself or His rights.
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7). Pilate marveled that He did not say a single word in His own defense and that He was silent in the face of so many lies and false accusations (Matthew 27:14).
The secret to Jesus’ restraint lay in the fact that He knew that the real power did not lie in the hands of Caesar or of the soldiers but in the hands of the Almighty. We catch a glimpse of this truth when Jesus said: “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Jesus had fully surrendered His will to that of the Father and He knew that Pilate was simply a tool in His Father’s hand to fulfill His Glorious will. “[Jesus] who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1Peter 2:23).
Here lies one of the secrets to true meekness. Meekness becomes a reality, rather than a theory, when we finally realize that God is working out His sovereign will in our lives and that every situation and every person, we come across is simply a tool in the hands of the Father. It is therefore futile to fight with the tool as though it is something we need to overcome. We need to see the hand behind the tool and surrender to Him and His dealings in our lives.
Saul was a real fighter. He fought for the rights of his people and to defend his faith. He was so zealous that he was willing to travel huge distances and even to kill in order to achieve his goals. In the process he was fighting with, and kicking against, the very goads that God was using to guide him to a meeting with the Resurrected Christ. At that meeting Jesus said to him: “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14). The goads or pricks were sometimes attached to the front of the cart to teach the oxen not to kick against the cart and to bring them to a point of submission where they would willingly do the will of the master.
Only oxen that had not learnt submission and meekness kick against the goads, the others have learnt that they are wasting their time and willingly submit to the will of the master. In the same way, Christians who are constantly agitated and fighting have not learnt meekness and are fighting against the very things that God is using to guide and to train them.
In countries where oxen are still used to pull carts or plows, young, untamed oxen are often yoked together with older, more mature and calmer animals so that the wild one can be calmed by the tame one. In the same way Jesus invites us to take His yoke on us, that we may learn meekness from Him: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
One of the ways we learn meekness is by taking His yoke upon us and by walking with Him. In so doing we learn meekness from Him. But when we go at things on our own and constantly have to fight circumstances and situations, we become more aggravated and less meek, rather than meeker. Thus the value of the whole painful exercise is lost as it becomes counter-productive in our lives.
Once Paul had learnt these lessons, he became a very different kind of man. He was no longer doing things in his own strength, but realized that God had to do them (through Paul), He also learnt to be content in every circumstance, whether good or bad and he became totally submitted to the will of God.
Jonah was also called by God but he was exactly the opposite of Paul. (Paul came from Tarsus while Jonah fled to Tarsus). Paul learnt meekness and totally surrendered to the will of God, even to death. But God had to fight Jonah for every inch of obedience. Jonah never learnt that he could not possibly win the battle against the Almighty and felt that he could by his own stubbornness and assertiveness make God conform to his own selfish will. Jonah was never content and never found peace, even though he was a legitimate prophet of God.
So the question is: Are you more like Jonah, or more like Paul? Have you learnt surrender to the will of God, or does God have to arm-wrestle you every time He wants you to do something? The sad reality is that it is not the Lord who suffers because of our stubbornness – it is us who continue to feel the pain of the goads and the frustration of fighting the very things that should be drawing us to the center of His will.
The meek man has stopped fighting and has discovered the joy and peace of surrender to God’s perfect will.
(www.antonbosch.com)
"“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5).
Modern Christianity, with its emphasis on believers aggressively asserting themselves, has no room for meekness. They wrongly argue that “the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12), means that we have to aggressively assert ourselves and our claim to the Kingdom. To them meekness is synonymous with weakness. In these virulent and forceful forms of dominionist theology being meek is equal to being a failure in the Kingdom.
Yet, the teaching of all of Scripture is not that we must be assertive, but that we should be meek. The first mention of this word is in Numbers 12:3 where it speaks of Moses, the greatest leader of all time: “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” Jesus was spoken of as “meek , and sitting upon an ass” (Matthew 21:5). It is therefore incumbent upon us to not only understand what meekness is but to learn meekness from Jesus who said: “I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your soul” (Matthew 11:29).
Meekness is not limpwristedness, weakness or passivity. Meekness is strength under God’s control. Jesus exhibited this perfectly. Who was stronger than He? He could have called legions of angels to defend Himself and to deliver Him from those who so cruelly mocked and crucified Him. He could have destroyed His enemies with one single word. But He surrendered Himself fully to the Father’s will and did not for one moment assert Himself or His rights.
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7). Pilate marveled that He did not say a single word in His own defense and that He was silent in the face of so many lies and false accusations (Matthew 27:14).
The secret to Jesus’ restraint lay in the fact that He knew that the real power did not lie in the hands of Caesar or of the soldiers but in the hands of the Almighty. We catch a glimpse of this truth when Jesus said: “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Jesus had fully surrendered His will to that of the Father and He knew that Pilate was simply a tool in His Father’s hand to fulfill His Glorious will. “[Jesus] who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1Peter 2:23).
Here lies one of the secrets to true meekness. Meekness becomes a reality, rather than a theory, when we finally realize that God is working out His sovereign will in our lives and that every situation and every person, we come across is simply a tool in the hands of the Father. It is therefore futile to fight with the tool as though it is something we need to overcome. We need to see the hand behind the tool and surrender to Him and His dealings in our lives.
Saul was a real fighter. He fought for the rights of his people and to defend his faith. He was so zealous that he was willing to travel huge distances and even to kill in order to achieve his goals. In the process he was fighting with, and kicking against, the very goads that God was using to guide him to a meeting with the Resurrected Christ. At that meeting Jesus said to him: “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14). The goads or pricks were sometimes attached to the front of the cart to teach the oxen not to kick against the cart and to bring them to a point of submission where they would willingly do the will of the master.
Only oxen that had not learnt submission and meekness kick against the goads, the others have learnt that they are wasting their time and willingly submit to the will of the master. In the same way, Christians who are constantly agitated and fighting have not learnt meekness and are fighting against the very things that God is using to guide and to train them.
In countries where oxen are still used to pull carts or plows, young, untamed oxen are often yoked together with older, more mature and calmer animals so that the wild one can be calmed by the tame one. In the same way Jesus invites us to take His yoke on us, that we may learn meekness from Him: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
One of the ways we learn meekness is by taking His yoke upon us and by walking with Him. In so doing we learn meekness from Him. But when we go at things on our own and constantly have to fight circumstances and situations, we become more aggravated and less meek, rather than meeker. Thus the value of the whole painful exercise is lost as it becomes counter-productive in our lives.
Once Paul had learnt these lessons, he became a very different kind of man. He was no longer doing things in his own strength, but realized that God had to do them (through Paul), He also learnt to be content in every circumstance, whether good or bad and he became totally submitted to the will of God.
Jonah was also called by God but he was exactly the opposite of Paul. (Paul came from Tarsus while Jonah fled to Tarsus). Paul learnt meekness and totally surrendered to the will of God, even to death. But God had to fight Jonah for every inch of obedience. Jonah never learnt that he could not possibly win the battle against the Almighty and felt that he could by his own stubbornness and assertiveness make God conform to his own selfish will. Jonah was never content and never found peace, even though he was a legitimate prophet of God.
So the question is: Are you more like Jonah, or more like Paul? Have you learnt surrender to the will of God, or does God have to arm-wrestle you every time He wants you to do something? The sad reality is that it is not the Lord who suffers because of our stubbornness – it is us who continue to feel the pain of the goads and the frustration of fighting the very things that should be drawing us to the center of His will.
The meek man has stopped fighting and has discovered the joy and peace of surrender to God’s perfect will.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
LORD, WE ARE GRATEFUL
Lord, we are grateful for all You've given;
shelter and clothing, good food and health.
All these are gifts we rarely do treasure.
We are most wealthy, thanks to Yourself.
Lord, we are grateful for those who love us;
those we call family, those who are friends.
Loved, we can face the pressures life sends us.
Through those we cherish, Your love descends.
Lord, we are grateful for Your creation;
trees in fall splendor, dark stormy skies.
Nature reminds us of Your strong power.
Majestic beauty dazzles ours eyes.
Lord, we are grateful for Your rich mercy,
fresh as the morning, new every day.
Sin is forgiven. Guilt has been buried.
Gone is the debt we never could pay.
Lord, we are grateful that we can worship,
often and freely here in this place.
Harvest our praises, hear our thanksgiving
as we reflect on Your awesome grace.
Copyright 2003 by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
* * * * * * * *
THANKSGIVING DAY by Henry Alford, 1810-1871
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of Harvest - come!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of Harvest-home!
What is earth but God's own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield?
Wheat and tares therein are sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown;
Ripening with a wondrous power,
Till the final Harvest-hour;
Grant, O Lord of life, that we
Holy grain and pure may be.
Come, then, Lord of Mercy, come,
Bid us sing the Harvest-home!
Let thy saints be gathered in!
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
All upon the golden floor
Praising thee forevermore;
Come, with thousand angels, come;
Bid us sing thy Harvest-home.
shelter and clothing, good food and health.
All these are gifts we rarely do treasure.
We are most wealthy, thanks to Yourself.
Lord, we are grateful for those who love us;
those we call family, those who are friends.
Loved, we can face the pressures life sends us.
Through those we cherish, Your love descends.
Lord, we are grateful for Your creation;
trees in fall splendor, dark stormy skies.
Nature reminds us of Your strong power.
Majestic beauty dazzles ours eyes.
Lord, we are grateful for Your rich mercy,
fresh as the morning, new every day.
Sin is forgiven. Guilt has been buried.
Gone is the debt we never could pay.
Lord, we are grateful that we can worship,
often and freely here in this place.
Harvest our praises, hear our thanksgiving
as we reflect on Your awesome grace.
Copyright 2003 by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
* * * * * * * *
THANKSGIVING DAY by Henry Alford, 1810-1871
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of Harvest - come!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of Harvest-home!
What is earth but God's own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield?
Wheat and tares therein are sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown;
Ripening with a wondrous power,
Till the final Harvest-hour;
Grant, O Lord of life, that we
Holy grain and pure may be.
Come, then, Lord of Mercy, come,
Bid us sing the Harvest-home!
Let thy saints be gathered in!
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
All upon the golden floor
Praising thee forevermore;
Come, with thousand angels, come;
Bid us sing thy Harvest-home.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
WHAT THANKSGIVING SHOULD BE
Fighting historical vandalism
"How wonderful it is, how pleasant when brothers live together in harmony!
Psalm 133:1 NLT"
Psalm 133:1 NLT"
" In an article in Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine, Douglas Phillips describes how he took his family to Plymouth, Massachusetts, a few years ago and was shocked at what he found. Atop Cole's Hill, the burial ground for Pilgrims who died that first hard winter, Phillips was startled to see a city truck pull up and men pile out carrying shovels. They told Phillips the city was placing a new monument.
"Most revolutions are staged at night," Phillips wrote, so he wasn't surprised the next day to find stone markers all over Plymouth designating Thanksgiving as a day of mourning—a day to recall how the Pilgrims murdered and stole from their Indian neighbors. That afternoon, demonstrators—mostly white college kids—celebrated their victory by defacing the traditional monuments. Plymouth had transformed a tale of religious freedom into a story of genocide.
The historical reality is totally different. While it's true that later settlers abused the Native Americans, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians lived together in peace for 50 years. They signed covenants, bought and sold property, and fought against mutual enemies.
The modern obsession with group identity and victimhood encourages us to see those assigned to other groups as our enemies. When we interact with them, we ought to recall the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Indians and model not hostility and hatred but brotherly love. As the psalmist notes, a willingness to get along with others makes for a pleasant and peaceful life.
[adapted from How Now Shall We Live? Devotional by Charles Colson (Tyndale) pp 631-32]
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
SEEKING WHAT IS REALLY THERE
How do things look for you today?
"Life under Louis XIV was not easy for the French Huguenots. They loved to sing psalms, but the king made an edict that forbade the singing of the Psalms almost everywhere. So the Huguenots went out to the fields and forests and continued their singing. Psalm 125 was a favorite of theirs, maybe because it said that the wicked would not rule the godly. Or maybe it was because the Huguenots could see something that Louis XIV couldn't see.
Remember the story of Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 6:8-23)? The servant couldn't understand why Elisha wasn't bothered about the hordes of enemy soldiers surrounding them. It looked like disaster, but Elisha could see horses and chariots of fire surrounding the enemy soldiers.
The same has been true for many other saints, including Paul and Silas, who sang at midnight in the Philippian jail, and Shadrach, Meshech, and Adednego, who calmly entered the fiery furnace.
When John Woolman, a Quaker missionary to American Indians, was faced with danger, he wrote, "I found my soul filled with comfort as I meditated on the love of God."
John Paton, missionary to South Sea Island natives, was surrounded by men seeking to assassinate him, but he wrote, "I never left without hearing, 'Lo, I am with you always.'"
How does it look for you today? Hopeless? Then take another look.
The wicked will not rule the godly, for then the godly might be forced to do wrong.
(Psalm 125:3 NLT)
(Psalm 125:3 NLT)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN
The people have spoken. Confidentially, it will not be the first time the majority have made the wrong decision...Remember, they overwhelmingly crucified our Lord Jesus Christ. THAT was God's Perfect Will....a plan for the salvation of all who call upon the Name of Lord. A majority have elected Barack Obama; I cannot help but believe this is God's Permissive Will. Can these beloved United States of America be truly united in hope and purpose? Only God knows, and as always, He's allowing us to "do our thing" before He pronounces judgment.
I voted for McCain/Palin...not because they were white Americans...but because they come a lot closer to adhering to the Holy Bible in their platform. I cannot fathom how any committed Christian could vote for a team that supports murder of children in the womb and the marriage of gay/lesbian couples.
Alexis de Touqueville hit the nail squarely on the head when he wrote:"America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
And Theodore Roosevelt stated firmly my belief: “We can have no "50-50" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.”
My new president was elected as an African-American. If he can drop the "African" and state that he is simply an American, there is HOPE. However, if the racist overtones of this election are not denounced, America is doomed to destruction from within.I shall do all within my power to prevent that occurrence. That "all within my power" consists of placing my faith and trust, not in President Obama, but in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
May God bless America!
I voted for McCain/Palin...not because they were white Americans...but because they come a lot closer to adhering to the Holy Bible in their platform. I cannot fathom how any committed Christian could vote for a team that supports murder of children in the womb and the marriage of gay/lesbian couples.
Alexis de Touqueville hit the nail squarely on the head when he wrote:"America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
And Theodore Roosevelt stated firmly my belief: “We can have no "50-50" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.”
My new president was elected as an African-American. If he can drop the "African" and state that he is simply an American, there is HOPE. However, if the racist overtones of this election are not denounced, America is doomed to destruction from within.I shall do all within my power to prevent that occurrence. That "all within my power" consists of placing my faith and trust, not in President Obama, but in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
May God bless America!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
How can it be blessed to be poor in spirit? Surely poverty and blessing are opposites? That is how the unbeliever and the carnal believer thinks because their concept of being blessed is associated with possessing things or with worldly forms of pleasure and happiness. Even some, who think they are spiritual, find it hard to make the connection between spiritual poverty and blessedness.
This verse does not deal with material poverty, but rather, spiritual poverty. And this is not a statement about God loving poor people but rather that those who are spiritually poor are blessed. But how can spiritual poverty be blessed – surely we are blessed when we are spiritually rich?
The answer to this dilemma lies in the truth that we cannot hold onto what the world offers, or what we have in the flesh, and to what the Lord offers at the same time. If you want the world’s happiness and blessings then you cannot have God’s happiness and blessedness. We have to choose what we want. Do we want temporal happiness or eternal happiness? Do we want the riches of this world or the eternal treasures that are stored up in heaven? Do we want the happiness that God alone can give or the fleeting emotional highs that we get from some kind of sensory pleasure and that soon comes crashing down again?
Only those who are spiritually poor are willing to look to the Lord for blessing while those who think they have it all worked out have no need for the blessedness God offers because they think they can manufacture their own blessings and happiness. The truth is that it is impossible to manufacture or achieve blessedness or happiness apart from the Lord. All blessings flow from Him and from Him alone, and man cannot be happy until he finds himself in the perfect will of God and until God fills that void within man that God alone can fill.
But there is a problem with this verse. It should really say: “blessed are those who recognize that they are poor in spirit”. You see, all of mankind is spiritually bankrupt – no one has anything to boast of and every human being is in desperate need of God’s help and blessings. But very few recognize their poverty and that’s the problem. Many Christians do not recognize their bankruptcy before God and think that they can still achieve blessedness on their own merits or through their own effort.
The church of Laodicea was one such church. They said “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” but Jesus said: “[you] do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). These statements were made about both their financial and spiritual status. The church in Smyrna, on the other hand, recognized their poverty and Jesus declared “but you are rich” (Revelation 2:9).
Those who recognize their spiritual poverty sufficiently to approach the throne of grace for help are the ones upon whom the Lord pours His grace and blessing. James says “you do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). And Jesus said “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). It’s as simple as that. As long as we feel we do not have a need, we do not ask and when we don’t ask, we don’t receive. But when we recognize our desperate need of the Lord, and we begin to ask, seek and knock then He is able to pour all His goodness, grace, peace and joy into our lives.
I have never understood why so few of us are able to recognize our need and why we all seem to feel we can go it on our own until the Lord sends some calamity our way before we cry out for help. I suppose the answer lies in our overestimation of our ability at controlling our own destiny and our ignorance of our own weakness. I once heard about a blind girl who was convinced that she was not blind but that the world was always dark! It’s amazing how the problem always lies outside of ourselves!
Paul discovered this truth when the truth dawned on him that the Lord’s “strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Corinthians 12:10). Thus the spiritually poor are blessed because they have discovered that the Lord’s strength is far more powerful than their own frailty and that it is much more blessed to have Him work through them, than their own puny efforts.
The second reason the poor in spirit are blessed is because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. The Kingdom does not belong to the proud, self-sufficient and arrogant. Such are not part of, and will not enter, the Kingdom as the only way into the Kingdom is by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Those who do not recognize their poverty do not put their faith in Christ as their faith is in themselves and their own abilities. Only the spiritually poor and needy have any use for the wonderful grace of God and find the need to call upon Him.
The Lord does not hear the prayer of the self-sufficient even if they should call upon the Lord. “on this one will I look, on him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). The Kingdom does not belong to the righteous, religious, self-made, and self-sufficient – it only belongs to the poor in spirit.
Thirdly the poor in spirit are blessed because God walks with such “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). What a wonderful privilege to dwell with God in His high and holy place. Once again the special seats in His presence are not reserved for the mighty, noble and wise but for the poor in spirit. What wonderful grace!
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1Corinthians 1:26-29).
[Anton Busch Ministries (formerly Plumbline Ministries)]
Monday, October 27, 2008
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Starfish
The old man awoke just before sunrise, as he often did, to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As he moved through the morning dawn, he focused on a faint, far away motion. He saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin. As he approached, he realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea.
He asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back into the sea." As the youth explained, the old man surveyed the vast expanse of beach, stretching in both directions beyond eyesight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation.
The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear and the old man countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."
The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to the man, he said, "I made a difference to that one."
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 'ELECTION 2008'
COUNTRY FIRST - McCAIN/PALIN
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Unless the Lord builds the house
"Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
Psalm 127:1 NLT
Psalm 127:1 NLT
"Benjamin Franklin is best known for his inventions (lightning rod) and his aphorisms ("early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"). But he was also a key figure when the thirteen colonies were giving birth to a new nation.At the age of 81, Franklin was the oldest representative at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Weeks after the convention began, representatives were still haggling about the relative voting power of large states and small states. Then Franklin stood up and said,
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered.…Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men.…We have been assured, sir, that 'except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it,' and without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."The verse from Psalm 127 had its effect. A compromise was soon worked out, and a Constitution ratified by the states the following year.
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered.…Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men.…We have been assured, sir, that 'except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it,' and without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."The verse from Psalm 127 had its effect. A compromise was soon worked out, and a Constitution ratified by the states the following year.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Sincere....or Looking For A Quick Fix?
After giving instructions to completely destroy a town, including its people and livestock, should the people of Israel be enticed to turn to the worship of foreign gods, Moses tells the people: Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors.
The Lord your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him.
(Deuteronomy 13:12-18 NLT)
The above verses make it clear that God's mercy is extended to those whose hearts are sincere. The Israelites were headed for a land that, much like our society today, was infested with materialism, the craving of creature comforts and "the good life." God is not interested in sharing His mercy with those who simply need a quick fix for the problems their sinful lifestyles have created. Such people have no intention of accepting God's mercy as a new lease on life; they are simply looking for a way to save themselves from deserved consequences.
God wants to show us abundant mercy, but He is looking for those who will gratefuly accept it and allow it to change the way they live. Do you want God's mercy as a quick fix or as a permanent new way of life?
The Lord your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him.
(Deuteronomy 13:12-18 NLT)
The above verses make it clear that God's mercy is extended to those whose hearts are sincere. The Israelites were headed for a land that, much like our society today, was infested with materialism, the craving of creature comforts and "the good life." God is not interested in sharing His mercy with those who simply need a quick fix for the problems their sinful lifestyles have created. Such people have no intention of accepting God's mercy as a new lease on life; they are simply looking for a way to save themselves from deserved consequences.
God wants to show us abundant mercy, but He is looking for those who will gratefuly accept it and allow it to change the way they live. Do you want God's mercy as a quick fix or as a permanent new way of life?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
IT'S A CULTURAL THING..........
A friend emailed me the following link yesterday: http://jezebel.com/5054144/wanda-sykes-campaigns-for-cabinet-position-on-last-nights-leno
I cut and pasted, watched and once again realized just how much about "race" this election campaign is!
She's entitled to her opinion....even when she wants to make an ass of herself (and her race) to do it! That's what I'm fighting for....the individual's right to freedom (That's America!)
I wonder........$700 million to keep the banks open. Hmmmmm....seems like just a drop in the bucket when you consider all the welfare payments to women and their children who are being supported by the taxpayers because "Daddy" is too immoral (and lazy) to bear the consequences of his inability to keep his pants zipped!
Even more of a disgrace when you think of the thousands of childless couples who desperately want children and would welcome the opportunity to give these "love" children a home. This would enable those "single" Moms to go to work and turn their lives around. Unfortunately, most of them would rather lie down and spread their legs than go to work!
Granted, some single Moms need help because of circumstances beyond their control (death of spouse, serious injury of spouse, or divorce); these we should help by providing childcare, housing and food.
But I suppose there are some.....present and future...... retirees who will gladly forfeit money they paid into Social Security in order that the "entitlements" which so many think are their RIGHT may continue to be handed out!
Jesus said, "the poor you will always have with you." But, in America, there is absolutely NO REASON why any person cannot find a job in order to have a roof over their head and food in their belly. The Constitution does not....and should not....guaratee EQUAL RIGHTS to every citizen. It does....and should continue to....provide EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. The difference comes from ethnicity and culture.....I for one want to continue to maintain the American culture, regardless of ethnic background.
We've lost our way in America.....and until the TRUE COMPASS is back in place (where the Founding Fathers placed Him), we will continue our downward spiral into the muck and mire of captivity.
Should the biased media's prognostications become reality, America will be taken into captivity by those who are part and parcel of the plan to force One World Government upon us! The indoctrination to such a World Government began with the New Age Movement in the Schools in the 1970s; it has accelerated greatly in recent years. Insidiously, it has crept into mainline churches also, and God's Word is being compromised daily from the pulpits.
The media and the education gurus have been attempting to brainwash America and indoctrinate her children for years. They have zeroed in and pinned their hopes on Barack Hussein Obame as the "Savior of the World". (See http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77957 ). See also Obams's plans for beginning to train children from birth to be citizens of the world.
I am reminded of a poem, To Althea, From Prison, by Richard Lovelace (required reading in 11th grade history class in my high school era).
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone, that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.
From out of the past, the theme of the poem remains....No one can "imprison" or enslave the human mind. A human being remains free to think and dream-as well as to hold fast to controversial opinions-even though his body has limited mobility. Obviously, this theme can apply not only to a prisoner in a cell but also to anyone limited by circumstances and conditions, such as a blindness, paralysis, geographical isolation, economic deprivation, and so on.
Don't just HOPE for change......VOTE for change.
McCAIN-PALIN '08
I cut and pasted, watched and once again realized just how much about "race" this election campaign is!
She's entitled to her opinion....even when she wants to make an ass of herself (and her race) to do it! That's what I'm fighting for....the individual's right to freedom (That's America!)
I wonder........$700 million to keep the banks open. Hmmmmm....seems like just a drop in the bucket when you consider all the welfare payments to women and their children who are being supported by the taxpayers because "Daddy" is too immoral (and lazy) to bear the consequences of his inability to keep his pants zipped!
Even more of a disgrace when you think of the thousands of childless couples who desperately want children and would welcome the opportunity to give these "love" children a home. This would enable those "single" Moms to go to work and turn their lives around. Unfortunately, most of them would rather lie down and spread their legs than go to work!
Granted, some single Moms need help because of circumstances beyond their control (death of spouse, serious injury of spouse, or divorce); these we should help by providing childcare, housing and food.
But I suppose there are some.....present and future...... retirees who will gladly forfeit money they paid into Social Security in order that the "entitlements" which so many think are their RIGHT may continue to be handed out!
Jesus said, "the poor you will always have with you." But, in America, there is absolutely NO REASON why any person cannot find a job in order to have a roof over their head and food in their belly. The Constitution does not....and should not....guaratee EQUAL RIGHTS to every citizen. It does....and should continue to....provide EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. The difference comes from ethnicity and culture.....I for one want to continue to maintain the American culture, regardless of ethnic background.
We've lost our way in America.....and until the TRUE COMPASS is back in place (where the Founding Fathers placed Him), we will continue our downward spiral into the muck and mire of captivity.
Should the biased media's prognostications become reality, America will be taken into captivity by those who are part and parcel of the plan to force One World Government upon us! The indoctrination to such a World Government began with the New Age Movement in the Schools in the 1970s; it has accelerated greatly in recent years. Insidiously, it has crept into mainline churches also, and God's Word is being compromised daily from the pulpits.
The media and the education gurus have been attempting to brainwash America and indoctrinate her children for years. They have zeroed in and pinned their hopes on Barack Hussein Obame as the "Savior of the World". (See http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77957 ). See also Obams's plans for beginning to train children from birth to be citizens of the world.
I am reminded of a poem, To Althea, From Prison, by Richard Lovelace (required reading in 11th grade history class in my high school era).
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone, that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.
From out of the past, the theme of the poem remains....No one can "imprison" or enslave the human mind. A human being remains free to think and dream-as well as to hold fast to controversial opinions-even though his body has limited mobility. Obviously, this theme can apply not only to a prisoner in a cell but also to anyone limited by circumstances and conditions, such as a blindness, paralysis, geographical isolation, economic deprivation, and so on.
Don't just HOPE for change......VOTE for change.
McCAIN-PALIN '08
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
When I read Barack Obama’s quote from his book, Audacity of Hope that “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction”, I was more than a little disturbed that a man seeking the presidency of the United States of American would make such a statement revealing that he would not support his own country in every situation.
During the primaries, Barack Obama was filmed with other Americans during the playing of the National Anthem. Others were standing at attention, with their hands over their hearts, facing the flag of our nation; Obama was pictured with his back to the flag, his hands clasped below his waist, in a slouched position.
An email I received gives Obama’s “explanation” of his refusal to no longer wear the flag pin, or observe the flag code when the flag is displayed.
I hope you find this action as significant as I do:
“On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:48:04 -0400, 'LTG Bill Ginn' USAF ret. forwarded the following:
“Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, during rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides," Obama said. "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the
American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should
be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this could possibly be our next president!! “
This doesn’t exactly evoke confidence that our possible future leader would stand with the nation he is elected to represent! If he refuses to “take sides” when the situation demands it, he is, in essence, “throwing this nation to the wolves”!
PRAY, CHRISTIANS, PRAY….. !
During the primaries, Barack Obama was filmed with other Americans during the playing of the National Anthem. Others were standing at attention, with their hands over their hearts, facing the flag of our nation; Obama was pictured with his back to the flag, his hands clasped below his waist, in a slouched position.
An email I received gives Obama’s “explanation” of his refusal to no longer wear the flag pin, or observe the flag code when the flag is displayed.
I hope you find this action as significant as I do:
“On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:48:04 -0400, 'LTG Bill Ginn' USAF ret. forwarded the following:
“Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, during rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides," Obama said. "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the
American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should
be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this could possibly be our next president!! “
This doesn’t exactly evoke confidence that our possible future leader would stand with the nation he is elected to represent! If he refuses to “take sides” when the situation demands it, he is, in essence, “throwing this nation to the wolves”!
PRAY, CHRISTIANS, PRAY….. !
Monday, September 29, 2008
TRUSTING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God."
(Romans 8:28)
We are living in perilous times! It is a time in which the status of professing Christians is going to be proven! Many profess with their mouths that they are Christians; however, not very many that I know well are actually "followers of Christ" (which is what the designation of "Christian" means).
Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost For His Highest" message for December 18 says it well:
"It is only the loyal soul who believes that God engineers circumstances. We take such liberties with our circumstances, we do not believe God engineers them, although we say we do; we treat the things that happen as if they were engineered by men.
"To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, and that is to our Lord. Suddenly God breaks up a particular set of circumstances, and the realization comes that we have been disloyal to Him by not recognizing that He had organized them. We never saw what He was after, and that particular thing will never be repeated all the days of our life. The test of loyalty always comes just there. If we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two seconds when He chooses.....
"We will be loyal to work, to service, to anything, but do not ask us to be loyal to Jesus Christ.... Our Lord is dethroned more emphatically by Christian workers than by the world. God is made a machine for blessing men, and Jesus Christ is made a Worker among workers.
"The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us—‘I reckon on you for extreme service, with no complaining on your part and no explanation on Mine.’ God wants to use us as He used His own Son.
ARE WE TRULY TRUSTING IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY? ARE WE REALLY AVAILABLE TO SERVE HIM EVEN AS HE USED HIS OWN SON....UNTIL DEATH? ARE WE WILLING TO SEEK THE TRUTH, AND EXPOSE THAT WHICH IS NOT?
I don't know about you....I only know that I have no choice other than to be what He has called me to be....so easy in times of affluence and prosperity and peace, but most definitely not "politically correct" in the days we are now living in.
I believe the Word of God when it says:
"God, who made the world and everything in it... is Lord of heaven and
earth.... He gives to all life, breath, and all things. ... [I]in Him
we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:23-26, 28
"Therefore ... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:1-2
EITHER WE BELIEVE GOD IS GOD....OR WE DON'T! WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. THERE'S NO PICKING AND CHOOSING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!
I CHOOSE TO TRUST THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD BECAUSE I BELIEVE
GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS!
GOD CAN DO WHAT HE SAYS HE CAN DO!
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST!
GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN ME!
(Romans 8:28)
We are living in perilous times! It is a time in which the status of professing Christians is going to be proven! Many profess with their mouths that they are Christians; however, not very many that I know well are actually "followers of Christ" (which is what the designation of "Christian" means).
Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost For His Highest" message for December 18 says it well:
"It is only the loyal soul who believes that God engineers circumstances. We take such liberties with our circumstances, we do not believe God engineers them, although we say we do; we treat the things that happen as if they were engineered by men.
"To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, and that is to our Lord. Suddenly God breaks up a particular set of circumstances, and the realization comes that we have been disloyal to Him by not recognizing that He had organized them. We never saw what He was after, and that particular thing will never be repeated all the days of our life. The test of loyalty always comes just there. If we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two seconds when He chooses.....
"We will be loyal to work, to service, to anything, but do not ask us to be loyal to Jesus Christ.... Our Lord is dethroned more emphatically by Christian workers than by the world. God is made a machine for blessing men, and Jesus Christ is made a Worker among workers.
"The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us—‘I reckon on you for extreme service, with no complaining on your part and no explanation on Mine.’ God wants to use us as He used His own Son.
ARE WE TRULY TRUSTING IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY? ARE WE REALLY AVAILABLE TO SERVE HIM EVEN AS HE USED HIS OWN SON....UNTIL DEATH? ARE WE WILLING TO SEEK THE TRUTH, AND EXPOSE THAT WHICH IS NOT?
I don't know about you....I only know that I have no choice other than to be what He has called me to be....so easy in times of affluence and prosperity and peace, but most definitely not "politically correct" in the days we are now living in.
I believe the Word of God when it says:
"God, who made the world and everything in it... is Lord of heaven and
earth.... He gives to all life, breath, and all things. ... [I]in Him
we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:23-26, 28
"Therefore ... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:1-2
EITHER WE BELIEVE GOD IS GOD....OR WE DON'T! WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. THERE'S NO PICKING AND CHOOSING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!
I CHOOSE TO TRUST THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD BECAUSE I BELIEVE
GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS!
GOD CAN DO WHAT HE SAYS HE CAN DO!
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST!
GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN ME!
Friday, September 19, 2008
CONTAGIOUS JOY
"I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me,
freeing me from all my fears. Those who look
to Him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and
He heard me. He set me free from all my fears.
For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear
Him, and He rescues them." (Psalm 34:4-7 NLT)
Do you enjoy watching the televised Olympic games? If you do, you know the joy the winners of an Olympic event experience is contagious. That's one reason millions of people watch the Olympics so religiously. It's not simply to see the drama of the event and the excellence and form of the athletes. It's also to share in the contagious joy of the winners. In Psalm 34 David describes the same type of joy radiating from believers. All those who look to God for help will experience a joy so intense that other people can see it in their faces. David says the reason for that joy is that God has heard and answered our prayers. Our shame has been taken away. We have been set free from all our fears because the angel of the Lord encamps around us. He guards his people. Pray today that the angel of the Lord will set up camp around you and your relationships. Commit your fears and worries to God, and ask him to guard you. He can set you free from your fears and grant you radiant joy as you look to him for help.
freeing me from all my fears. Those who look
to Him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and
He heard me. He set me free from all my fears.
For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear
Him, and He rescues them." (Psalm 34:4-7 NLT)
Do you enjoy watching the televised Olympic games? If you do, you know the joy the winners of an Olympic event experience is contagious. That's one reason millions of people watch the Olympics so religiously. It's not simply to see the drama of the event and the excellence and form of the athletes. It's also to share in the contagious joy of the winners. In Psalm 34 David describes the same type of joy radiating from believers. All those who look to God for help will experience a joy so intense that other people can see it in their faces. David says the reason for that joy is that God has heard and answered our prayers. Our shame has been taken away. We have been set free from all our fears because the angel of the Lord encamps around us. He guards his people. Pray today that the angel of the Lord will set up camp around you and your relationships. Commit your fears and worries to God, and ask him to guard you. He can set you free from your fears and grant you radiant joy as you look to him for help.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Are You Filled With Joy?
I have told you this so that you will
be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
(John 15:11 NLT)
In many ways, we live in bleak times. Millions feel disillusioned with life while millions more feel uncertain about the future—especially young people. Many of you in Generation X have been victims of a great social experiment in which parents who never grew up cast aside time-honored moral values and, in the phrase of the 1960s, did their own thing.
Nevertheless, there is someone to believe in, something to grasp, and someone to trust. You need to go to the next letter of the alphabet, to Y—as in "Why do I exist. Why was I created? And what am I living for?"
According to Jesus, you were created for joy. "These things I have spoken to you," Jesus said, "that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
The things Jesus spoke of were His teachings about bearing fruit. We were created to bear fruit for God, which essentially means to become like Jesus: His mind becomes our mind, His purpose becomes our purpose. And there's only one way to produce such luscious fruit, according to Jesus: "Abide in Me" (John 15:4). This is the secret of spiritual growth and the key to overflowing joy. Are you bearing spiritual fruit?
[Adapted from "Breakfast with Jesus" by Greg Laurie (Tyndale House)]
be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
(John 15:11 NLT)
In many ways, we live in bleak times. Millions feel disillusioned with life while millions more feel uncertain about the future—especially young people. Many of you in Generation X have been victims of a great social experiment in which parents who never grew up cast aside time-honored moral values and, in the phrase of the 1960s, did their own thing.
Nevertheless, there is someone to believe in, something to grasp, and someone to trust. You need to go to the next letter of the alphabet, to Y—as in "Why do I exist. Why was I created? And what am I living for?"
According to Jesus, you were created for joy. "These things I have spoken to you," Jesus said, "that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
The things Jesus spoke of were His teachings about bearing fruit. We were created to bear fruit for God, which essentially means to become like Jesus: His mind becomes our mind, His purpose becomes our purpose. And there's only one way to produce such luscious fruit, according to Jesus: "Abide in Me" (John 15:4). This is the secret of spiritual growth and the key to overflowing joy. Are you bearing spiritual fruit?
[Adapted from "Breakfast with Jesus" by Greg Laurie (Tyndale House)]
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Is The Mind of Christ Living In You?
May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day.
By His love and power controlling all I do and say.
May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour.
So that all may see I triumph only through His pow'r.
May the peace of God my Father rule my life in ev'rything.
That I may be calm to comfort, sick and sorrowing.
Kate B. Wilkinson (1859-1928)
Many Christians have made the commitment to be more like Jesus—but where do you start? The apostle Paul told the Philippian believers, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5, KJV). And that's just where the hymn "May the Mind of Christ My Savior" begins. But does the mind of Christ become part of us? Kate Wilkinson directs us to Colossians 3:16 for the answer: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." In the third stanza Wilkinson returns to Philippians for this promise: "And the peace of God…will guard your hearts and your minds" (Philippians 4:7). And so the song builds.
Christian growth is not instantaneous but gradual. It flows naturally from obeying God's Word. Thomas a Kempis, who wrote the Christian classic The Imitation of Christ, said, "One thing that draws back many from spiritual progress is the fear of the difficulty of the labor of the combat." Don't give up what you have started.
By His love and power controlling all I do and say.
May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour.
So that all may see I triumph only through His pow'r.
May the peace of God my Father rule my life in ev'rything.
That I may be calm to comfort, sick and sorrowing.
Kate B. Wilkinson (1859-1928)
Many Christians have made the commitment to be more like Jesus—but where do you start? The apostle Paul told the Philippian believers, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5, KJV). And that's just where the hymn "May the Mind of Christ My Savior" begins. But does the mind of Christ become part of us? Kate Wilkinson directs us to Colossians 3:16 for the answer: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." In the third stanza Wilkinson returns to Philippians for this promise: "And the peace of God…will guard your hearts and your minds" (Philippians 4:7). And so the song builds.
Christian growth is not instantaneous but gradual. It flows naturally from obeying God's Word. Thomas a Kempis, who wrote the Christian classic The Imitation of Christ, said, "One thing that draws back many from spiritual progress is the fear of the difficulty of the labor of the combat." Don't give up what you have started.
Friday, September 5, 2008
DO WE TRULY FORGIVE?
Through the years I have been presented with many opportunities to forgive. Sometimes the situation was so severe that it took me some time to forgive and start the process of healing for myself, and eventually for others. I learned that a Christian needs to forgive other people even if they have not repented of their sins. That can be really hard if we let it be. But if we give our burdens over to the Lord, He will carry them and that frees us up to treat other people with love, compassion, and be in the right frame of mind and heart to set them up for reconciliation with Jesus Christ. That does not mean we tolerate their sin. We simply forgive them for what they have done to us, whether perceived or real, and move on to looking for ways to redeem them. We can then present to them the “truth in love” even when we have to rebuke them.
When I found myself having difficulty in “letting go” of an offense (either real or perceived), I asked myself “What would Jesus do?” And, of course, the answer became crystal clear…immediately!
He drew a circle that shut me out –
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win;
We drew a circle that took him in!
(Edwin Markham)
ONE + GOD = A MAJORITY
When I found myself having difficulty in “letting go” of an offense (either real or perceived), I asked myself “What would Jesus do?” And, of course, the answer became crystal clear…immediately!
He drew a circle that shut me out –
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win;
We drew a circle that took him in!
(Edwin Markham)
ONE + GOD = A MAJORITY
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
This is Election Year 2008....and it seems the most prominent word in all the campaigns, presidential and otherwise, is "CHANGE". It will take drastic change to bring our beloved America back to her founational roots. And that change cannot be man-made!! Only a return to the God of our Founding Fathers can precipitate the change that is needed.
Consider the following:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was
founded on the rock.
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not
do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the
sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
[Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)]
Have you ever heard them, the winds of change? Rustling through your spirit like a freight train, or throwing you off guard like a hard knock, they are felt not only in our bodies but also in our minds and spirits.
Sometimes the wind has a very warming effect upon us. Have you ever walked against the wind on a summer’s eve? It is both exhilarating and warms a person up quickly. Fall brings breezes that remove leaves from the trees assisting them for a time of dormancy. Fall winds are pleasurable and paint a colorful picture.
Then there are winds that have a chilling effect. We find ourselves buttoning up coats and putting on hats, but still the winter’s wind brings with it a biting feeling and a numbness that is almost painful. It is a blessing when the signs of spring emerge and gentle breezes begin to blow. The spring winds are so fresh and invigorating. The warming sun is bright, but the winds of the changing season make the temperatures just right.
Winds at the perfect time, and at the perfect velocity, make nature even more beautiful to behold. These winds are "winds of change" that usher out one season allowing nature to prepare for the next. They happen regularly, and often they go unnoticed as we scurry around with our busy lives.
There is yet another kind of wind. Whether it comes from the north, south, east, or west, there is a sudden change of conditions. The winds become perilous and perhaps even life threatening. These are the winds that make up the tropical storms, hurricanes, tornados, and typhoons. They are powerful forces to be reckoned with, and many times we have little warning to prepare for them. At other times, we simply do not heed the warning signs.
Sudden changes are often stormy times in our lives. The lid gets blown off our box of dreams, our marriage collapses, our friendships are blown away, our ministries swirl out of control, or our jobs go right out the window. Perhaps illness threatens our lives, or situations try to pull apart our families. These are just a few of the effects of "the winds of change."
I have felt the "winds of change" recently. We will all be exposed to them at some time along life’s journey. We may not have the time to protect ourselves as we feel we should, but if we will take a lesson from the wise man in Matthew 7:24-25, we will perhaps suffer anguish and pain—but our lives in Jesus will remain intact. You see the wise man built his house from the foundation upon The Rock. Though the winds came, he remained because his foundation was well built.
What are you building on today? Are you constructing your life upon dreams, talents, other’s promises, friendships, children, your health, your church, or your spouse? Each of these things has a place in our lives, but they cannot be the foundation for our life or we will be totally blown away by the "winds of change." The word "change" means "a new challenge" and if we are to grow into the image of Christ, it will be through the avenue of change.
Every time you survive the ferocious winds of change, you need to go and measure yourself. You will find that you have grown a little bit taller in the things of God. You will look a little bit more like Jesus. The winds of change are not something that we look forward to, but they are priceless though painful times in the life of the believer.
Maybe today is a good day to check your foundation. Some of you may find that a bit of repair work is needed. Others may have to build on higher ground. Do what you can now—because when the "winds of change" begin to blow, you will find yourself holding on for dear life. If you are holding on to The Master, He will take you to a place of safety and eventually will speak to the winds with His mighty voice saying, "Peace be still."
The "winds of change" may come and go, but if you build wisely on the firm foundation of Jesus you will remain!
Consider the following:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was
founded on the rock.
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not
do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the
sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
[Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)]
Have you ever heard them, the winds of change? Rustling through your spirit like a freight train, or throwing you off guard like a hard knock, they are felt not only in our bodies but also in our minds and spirits.
Sometimes the wind has a very warming effect upon us. Have you ever walked against the wind on a summer’s eve? It is both exhilarating and warms a person up quickly. Fall brings breezes that remove leaves from the trees assisting them for a time of dormancy. Fall winds are pleasurable and paint a colorful picture.
Then there are winds that have a chilling effect. We find ourselves buttoning up coats and putting on hats, but still the winter’s wind brings with it a biting feeling and a numbness that is almost painful. It is a blessing when the signs of spring emerge and gentle breezes begin to blow. The spring winds are so fresh and invigorating. The warming sun is bright, but the winds of the changing season make the temperatures just right.
Winds at the perfect time, and at the perfect velocity, make nature even more beautiful to behold. These winds are "winds of change" that usher out one season allowing nature to prepare for the next. They happen regularly, and often they go unnoticed as we scurry around with our busy lives.
There is yet another kind of wind. Whether it comes from the north, south, east, or west, there is a sudden change of conditions. The winds become perilous and perhaps even life threatening. These are the winds that make up the tropical storms, hurricanes, tornados, and typhoons. They are powerful forces to be reckoned with, and many times we have little warning to prepare for them. At other times, we simply do not heed the warning signs.
Sudden changes are often stormy times in our lives. The lid gets blown off our box of dreams, our marriage collapses, our friendships are blown away, our ministries swirl out of control, or our jobs go right out the window. Perhaps illness threatens our lives, or situations try to pull apart our families. These are just a few of the effects of "the winds of change."
I have felt the "winds of change" recently. We will all be exposed to them at some time along life’s journey. We may not have the time to protect ourselves as we feel we should, but if we will take a lesson from the wise man in Matthew 7:24-25, we will perhaps suffer anguish and pain—but our lives in Jesus will remain intact. You see the wise man built his house from the foundation upon The Rock. Though the winds came, he remained because his foundation was well built.
What are you building on today? Are you constructing your life upon dreams, talents, other’s promises, friendships, children, your health, your church, or your spouse? Each of these things has a place in our lives, but they cannot be the foundation for our life or we will be totally blown away by the "winds of change." The word "change" means "a new challenge" and if we are to grow into the image of Christ, it will be through the avenue of change.
Every time you survive the ferocious winds of change, you need to go and measure yourself. You will find that you have grown a little bit taller in the things of God. You will look a little bit more like Jesus. The winds of change are not something that we look forward to, but they are priceless though painful times in the life of the believer.
Maybe today is a good day to check your foundation. Some of you may find that a bit of repair work is needed. Others may have to build on higher ground. Do what you can now—because when the "winds of change" begin to blow, you will find yourself holding on for dear life. If you are holding on to The Master, He will take you to a place of safety and eventually will speak to the winds with His mighty voice saying, "Peace be still."
The "winds of change" may come and go, but if you build wisely on the firm foundation of Jesus you will remain!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?
"Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are
my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.
(Jeremiah 15:16 NLT)
"i will write down these things as a testimony of what the Lord
will do. I will entrust it to my disciples, who will pass it down
to future generations.
(Isaiah 8:16 NLT)
"For I have stayed in God's paths; I have followed his ways and
not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands but
have treasured his word in my heart.
(Job 23:11-12 NLT)
Our bodies originated in the soil of Eden. It should not surprise us that they are sustained by food that grows from the soil. Every source of food ultimately finds its nourishment in the soil, and that nourishment sustains our bodies.
Likewise, our souls were created by the breath of God in Eden; it should not surprise us that the Word of God, which is inspired, or "God breathed," sustains our souls. If we plan to eat food each day to keep our body alive, shouldn't we also plan to feast on God's Word each day to sustain our soul?
my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.
(Jeremiah 15:16 NLT)
"i will write down these things as a testimony of what the Lord
will do. I will entrust it to my disciples, who will pass it down
to future generations.
(Isaiah 8:16 NLT)
"For I have stayed in God's paths; I have followed his ways and
not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands but
have treasured his word in my heart.
(Job 23:11-12 NLT)
Our bodies originated in the soil of Eden. It should not surprise us that they are sustained by food that grows from the soil. Every source of food ultimately finds its nourishment in the soil, and that nourishment sustains our bodies.
Likewise, our souls were created by the breath of God in Eden; it should not surprise us that the Word of God, which is inspired, or "God breathed," sustains our souls. If we plan to eat food each day to keep our body alive, shouldn't we also plan to feast on God's Word each day to sustain our soul?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
HOW WELL DO WE UNDERSTAND GOD'S WORD?
"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people!" Hebrews 8:10 NLT
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God." 2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT
How remarkable that the God of the universe would actually want to communicate with us! We are creatures of a material, physical world to which we relate through our five senses. God is a spiritual being. We in our physical state cannot see Him, hear Him, or touch Him, so how can He communicate with us? Through the Bible.
Over several centures, God inspired a select number of people to write down what He felt we needed to know about Him and How he expects us to live. These writings have been collected into this book, called the Holy Bible. In a miraculous way, the Bible speaks to each of us. Its truths apply across generations, across cultures, across all life experience.
When it comes to reading the Bible, most of us read just enough to get by. Read God's Word daily so you can thoroughly understand all God wants you to know.
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God." 2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT
How remarkable that the God of the universe would actually want to communicate with us! We are creatures of a material, physical world to which we relate through our five senses. God is a spiritual being. We in our physical state cannot see Him, hear Him, or touch Him, so how can He communicate with us? Through the Bible.
Over several centures, God inspired a select number of people to write down what He felt we needed to know about Him and How he expects us to live. These writings have been collected into this book, called the Holy Bible. In a miraculous way, the Bible speaks to each of us. Its truths apply across generations, across cultures, across all life experience.
When it comes to reading the Bible, most of us read just enough to get by. Read God's Word daily so you can thoroughly understand all God wants you to know.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
GOD'S PURPOSE
There are many discernment ministry websites available in Cyberland. One of my favorites is that of Anton Bosch. From a recent post, I share the following:
"What does the Bible reveal about God’s ultimate purpose in his dealings with mankind? What is the theme that runs from Genesis through Revelation and that transcends both testaments?
Some may say it is Jesus Christ. That is true – the whole of Scripture reveals Him. He appears on every page and Jesus Himself said that the Scriptures speak of Him. (John 5:39). But what is God trying to achieve through Jesus? What is that ultimate purpose?
Many say that God’s ultimate purpose is to save man and that the Bible is the account of God’s great plan of salvation. Some even refer to it all as “redemptive history” – the account of God working out His plan of salvation for man. This view is very popular, but is it true?
Personally, I have a problem with that idea. Yes, we read about God’s attempts to save man, in spite of himself, from the very first pages. But what has His dealings with Israel to do with that purpose? If His purpose is to save man, then why did He not go straight to the nations, rather than spend two thousand years dealing with Israel first? And what did the two thousand years between Adam and Abraham have to do with that purpose?
The problem is that if God’s ultimate and highest purpose is to save man, then God is man-centered and not God-centered. This makes man an idol to God and that surely cannot be. Yes, we like to think that it all revolves around us and that everything that God does is about us, our salvation and our ultimate happiness. But that kind of thinking takes us straight back to the garden where Satan tempted Eve to think about things from her perspective, rather than God’s.
Others will say that the church – the bride of Christ – is God’s highest purpose. For them everything revolves around the church and the church is the ultimate end of all of God’s dealings with mankind. But that is also not true since it once-again makes us, the members of the church, the focal point and makes Old Testament saints inferior since they are not part of the church.
Unfortunately, modern Christianity has become so man-centered so that the Lord and His purposes hardly figure in any of our thinking. It has all become about us and what God can and does for us. We have forgotten that the highest of all beings is God Himself. He is greater than you and me and He is greater than the church. God himself said that we should not have any other gods before or next to Him (Exodus 20:3). To many their salvation, the church or themselves have become things they worship and that has become the end of all things.
But God is the end and center of all things. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).
Read the entire article at
http://www.antonbosch.org
FOR OF HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS, TO WHOM BE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN!
"What does the Bible reveal about God’s ultimate purpose in his dealings with mankind? What is the theme that runs from Genesis through Revelation and that transcends both testaments?
Some may say it is Jesus Christ. That is true – the whole of Scripture reveals Him. He appears on every page and Jesus Himself said that the Scriptures speak of Him. (John 5:39). But what is God trying to achieve through Jesus? What is that ultimate purpose?
Many say that God’s ultimate purpose is to save man and that the Bible is the account of God’s great plan of salvation. Some even refer to it all as “redemptive history” – the account of God working out His plan of salvation for man. This view is very popular, but is it true?
Personally, I have a problem with that idea. Yes, we read about God’s attempts to save man, in spite of himself, from the very first pages. But what has His dealings with Israel to do with that purpose? If His purpose is to save man, then why did He not go straight to the nations, rather than spend two thousand years dealing with Israel first? And what did the two thousand years between Adam and Abraham have to do with that purpose?
The problem is that if God’s ultimate and highest purpose is to save man, then God is man-centered and not God-centered. This makes man an idol to God and that surely cannot be. Yes, we like to think that it all revolves around us and that everything that God does is about us, our salvation and our ultimate happiness. But that kind of thinking takes us straight back to the garden where Satan tempted Eve to think about things from her perspective, rather than God’s.
Others will say that the church – the bride of Christ – is God’s highest purpose. For them everything revolves around the church and the church is the ultimate end of all of God’s dealings with mankind. But that is also not true since it once-again makes us, the members of the church, the focal point and makes Old Testament saints inferior since they are not part of the church.
Unfortunately, modern Christianity has become so man-centered so that the Lord and His purposes hardly figure in any of our thinking. It has all become about us and what God can and does for us. We have forgotten that the highest of all beings is God Himself. He is greater than you and me and He is greater than the church. God himself said that we should not have any other gods before or next to Him (Exodus 20:3). To many their salvation, the church or themselves have become things they worship and that has become the end of all things.
But God is the end and center of all things. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).
Read the entire article at
http://www.antonbosch.org
FOR OF HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS, TO WHOM BE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
HOW DOES GOD LEAD?
"My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." (John 10:27-28 NLT)
As our Good Shepherd, Jesus promises that we can hear and know His voice. This does not, however, have to be some mysterious, mystical process. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that God speaks to you quite often. I would venture to say He has spoken to you lately and may be speaking to you right now in some way.
God speaks to us through His Word. God will never lead us contrary to His written Word. It is our litmus test, our bedrock, our absolute.
God speaks to us through circumstances. Those circumstances can include failure. Jonah certainly heard God through his mistake. God may even speak to us through tragedy or hardship. C. S. Lewis wrote that, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world."
God speaks to us through His peace. When we live in God's will, we enjoy His peace. Do you need God to make a crucial call in your life? Then listen for His peace.
And once we have heard God's voice, what should we do? We must follow. Jesus calls, we respond. He whispers, we move. We follow-and then we keep on listening.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
GOD REVEALED
God revealed himself mightily to the prophet Elijah, sending fire to burn the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. But later, as Elijah moped on the mountain, the Lord taught him an important lesson. There was a wind, an earthquake, and a fire—but the Lord was not in any of these. Then came a still, small voice. That was how God chose to speak to His prophet. The same is true today. We long for fire from heaven to silence the skeptics once and for all, but God doesn't usually work that way. Long ago He revealed Himself as a helpless baby sleeping in a dirty feed trough, and today He speaks quietly to ordinary people like you and me—if only we are still enough to listen.
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, 'Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went back to bed. And the Lord came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Yes, your servant is listening."
1 Samuel 3:8-10 NLT
1 Samuel 3:8-10 NLT
That is the sentiment expressed by Emily May Grimes in the words of the hymn, "Speak, Lord, in the Stillness."
Speak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on Thee;
hushed my heart to listen in expectancy.
Speak, O blessed Master, in this quiet hour,
let me see Thy face, Lord, feel Thy touch of power.
Friday, August 8, 2008
IT IS TIME
I was very dismayed when, recently, a family member of mine said to me with great resignation that Obama will take the presidency. These words came from someone who in the past has been a great prayer warrior. What is happening was my question? Why are we Christians settling and not issuing a battle cry and falling to our knees and taking our country back? We allow ourselves to be stripped of the right to pray at school functions and in school, we have the 10 commandments removed from government places and are told we cannot pray in school; all the while providing public prayer places for Muslims. What in the world is going on and why are we being apathetic? Why aren't we praying? Our God is a mighty God who is waiting patiently for us to raise our voices to heaven to stop the tide of the anti-Christ actions in our world today.
'Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.'
Now we find we have a charismatic candidate for president who does not respect our flag and refuses to wear one on his lapel except when it becomes politically expedient and whose own wife and pastor that he loves, profess to have strong anti-white feelings, and we sit back and say 'it is a given, we can do nothing.' There has never been a time in 2000 years that we can do nothing, never a time that we must sit back and allow the evil in men's and women's hearts to take over our world. We should be very afraid because our apathy is leading us to perdition.
It is time for all Christian Americans to raise the battle cry and take our nation back. Maybe McCain on his own cannot defeat Obama, but our God can and He will if we take to our knees in prayer and raise a mighty cry to the heavens to 'Save us O Lord.' We have the power to change the course of this election and to keep a man as suspect as Barak Obama from leading our country to who knows where with his message of 'change' - a change which I fear will be away from our Christian ideals and away from Christ, and further away from one nation under God, to one nation under Allah. We pray not!!
God parted the Red Sea, Jesus raised himself from the dead, and we can bring our country back to its Christian roots and stop the move to the rise of Muslims in our country. We can stop our country from being 'under Allah', but we must begin to pray, to pray as if our country and our lives depended on it, because they do. We can stop all these atrocities against God's commands that have taken root in our country. We can do it through something as simple as sincere
prayer, a call to God to deliver us, to forgive us our sins of apathy and to protect us from the evil that is upon us.
Okay, prayer warriors, here is your challenge, start those prayer chains. Get the spiritual power working on our behalf and stop Barak Obama the proper way, by calling on our God to save us from the deception that charismatic preaching is using to lead us on the wrong path. Stop those who would take God out of our country and our government. Raise up good men to lead us and protect us.
George Bush is being buffeted because he has fought a holy war against the evils that attack us and we should not be surprised, because a prophet is not honored in his own country. But we should not rest on our laurels and allow ourselves to be taken further off the path of Christianity, and to have God removed from our presence in our schools, courts, government and businesses. Invite God into the fray. Ask that His power rest upon us and give us the victory. Ask him to raise up a mighty army to defend us and to protect our country as he did in days of old. Let us be victorious beginning NOW. The battle is His but we must call on Him without ceasing, and unite our voices and hearts in prayer and fasting.
It is time for all Christian Americans to raise the battle cry and take our nation back. Maybe McCain on his own cannot defeat Obama, but our God can and He will if we take to our knees in prayer and raise a mighty cry to the heavens to 'Save us O Lord.' We have the power to change the course of this election and to keep a man as suspect as Barak Obama from leading our country to who knows where with his message of 'change' - a change which I fear will be away from our Christian ideals and away from Christ, and further away from one nation under God, to one nation under Allah. We pray not!!
God parted the Red Sea, Jesus raised himself from the dead, and we can bring our country back to its Christian roots and stop the move to the rise of Muslims in our country. We can stop our country from being 'under Allah', but we must begin to pray, to pray as if our country and our lives depended on it, because they do. We can stop all these atrocities against God's commands that have taken root in our country. We can do it through something as simple as sincere
prayer, a call to God to deliver us, to forgive us our sins of apathy and to protect us from the evil that is upon us.
Okay, prayer warriors, here is your challenge, start those prayer chains. Get the spiritual power working on our behalf and stop Barak Obama the proper way, by calling on our God to save us from the deception that charismatic preaching is using to lead us on the wrong path. Stop those who would take God out of our country and our government. Raise up good men to lead us and protect us.
George Bush is being buffeted because he has fought a holy war against the evils that attack us and we should not be surprised, because a prophet is not honored in his own country. But we should not rest on our laurels and allow ourselves to be taken further off the path of Christianity, and to have God removed from our presence in our schools, courts, government and businesses. Invite God into the fray. Ask that His power rest upon us and give us the victory. Ask him to raise up a mighty army to defend us and to protect our country as he did in days of old. Let us be victorious beginning NOW. The battle is His but we must call on Him without ceasing, and unite our voices and hearts in prayer and fasting.
'Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.'
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
2008 - YEAR OF CHANGE?
When minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual politically-correct generalities, but what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling our country to repentance and righteousness.
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, the Central Christian Church had logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of the prayer from India, Africa, and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired the prayer on "The Rest of the Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired!!
THE PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe on those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn children and called it a choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
What awesome insight !!!! With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called a Christian nation that fears the Lord!
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, the Central Christian Church had logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of the prayer from India, Africa, and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired the prayer on "The Rest of the Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired!!
THE PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe on those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn children and called it a choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
What awesome insight !!!! With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called a Christian nation that fears the Lord!
Really.....it's up to us! Elections are coming up. GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES.....MAKE YOUR OPINIONS KNOWN.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
What's In Store For Today's Christian?
As we look around at the rate of spiritual and moral decay of our nation, we should take courage in knowing that we, as Christian Believers, are in the same place as the early Israelites when they were wandering in the wilderness. We are walking entirely by faith, depending totally on our Lord God to guide us through this barren land.
Wouldn't you like to know now what is in store for you a year from now? God leads us a day a time, a step at a time. No need to worry about distant events. The Welsh hymn writer, William Williams, compared the Christian life to the Israelite's trek through the wilderness. We may not know the route by which God is leading us, but we humbly count on His guidance. As a college student, Williams prepared for a career in medicine. But one Sunday morning he heard a man preaching in a Welsh churchyard. Williams responded in faith, and his life was radically changed. For forty-three years he preached and sang throughout Wales. "He sang Wales into piety," said one writer. He was the poet laureate of the Welsh revival. Soon, all of Wales was singing their way to the coal mines and soccer matches. And their favorite hymn was this marching song by one of their own: "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah.…Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee."
The Lord will guide you continually,
Wouldn't you like to know now what is in store for you a year from now? God leads us a day a time, a step at a time. No need to worry about distant events. The Welsh hymn writer, William Williams, compared the Christian life to the Israelite's trek through the wilderness. We may not know the route by which God is leading us, but we humbly count on His guidance. As a college student, Williams prepared for a career in medicine. But one Sunday morning he heard a man preaching in a Welsh churchyard. Williams responded in faith, and his life was radically changed. For forty-three years he preached and sang throughout Wales. "He sang Wales into piety," said one writer. He was the poet laureate of the Welsh revival. Soon, all of Wales was singing their way to the coal mines and soccer matches. And their favorite hymn was this marching song by one of their own: "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah.…Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee."
The Lord will guide you continually,
watering your life when you are dry
and keeping you healthy, too.
Isaiah 58:11 NLT
Isaiah 58:11 NLT
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.
William Williams
William Williams
Friday, August 1, 2008
“TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE….”
Most of us are familiar with the above quote taken from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but how many of us know this verse: “And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou can not then be false to any man.” Unless we can be true to ourselves first, we cannot be true to others.
To thine own self be true…..how profound. How many of us have a hard time being true to ourselves? Those of us that gave our life to another at the cost of losing who we are in the process will have a hard time being true to ourselves. Allowing someone else to define who we are, we lose our ability to discover and grow inwardly. We no longer are able to discern a truth from a lie. For many of us, we have accepted lies for so long, that finding out what is true takes time and divine guidance.
Truth….truth is a word that brings out such negative reactions to many of us. You see truth is really an action word. You cannot accept truth without change. Accepting truth about ourselves is difficult, especially to those of us who have been abused, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. But truth does set one free if we will allow it to; it is a crucial part of healing. It gives us the freedom to be who we are. We are able to come to terms with our weakness (without condemnation) and appreciate our strength. Truth gives strength; it naturally builds healthy boundaries. Truth is open; it is honest even at the risk of being vulnerable again. Truth is light and brings forth life. When we walk in truth, we walk in light and when we walk in light we live a healthy life.
Truth is also love. The greatest act of love towards another is living a life that is truthful. For those of us who find it difficult to love ourselves, we will find it will come more easily when we walk in truth about who we are. If we walk in truth, we walk in perfect love, and if we walk in perfect love, then we do not walk in fear because perfect love casts out fear. Because we have been honest with ourselves, we are able to love ourselves with all of our imperfections, knowing that we are in “process” and therefore need not have others' approval. This is freedom indeed.The second part of this verse is a natural occurrence if we hold true to the first part of the verse. So, when in doubt as to our motives of not being truthful with someone….look inside, are we being less than truthful to ourselves?
GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH….
To thine own self be true…..how profound. How many of us have a hard time being true to ourselves? Those of us that gave our life to another at the cost of losing who we are in the process will have a hard time being true to ourselves. Allowing someone else to define who we are, we lose our ability to discover and grow inwardly. We no longer are able to discern a truth from a lie. For many of us, we have accepted lies for so long, that finding out what is true takes time and divine guidance.
Truth….truth is a word that brings out such negative reactions to many of us. You see truth is really an action word. You cannot accept truth without change. Accepting truth about ourselves is difficult, especially to those of us who have been abused, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. But truth does set one free if we will allow it to; it is a crucial part of healing. It gives us the freedom to be who we are. We are able to come to terms with our weakness (without condemnation) and appreciate our strength. Truth gives strength; it naturally builds healthy boundaries. Truth is open; it is honest even at the risk of being vulnerable again. Truth is light and brings forth life. When we walk in truth, we walk in light and when we walk in light we live a healthy life.
Truth is also love. The greatest act of love towards another is living a life that is truthful. For those of us who find it difficult to love ourselves, we will find it will come more easily when we walk in truth about who we are. If we walk in truth, we walk in perfect love, and if we walk in perfect love, then we do not walk in fear because perfect love casts out fear. Because we have been honest with ourselves, we are able to love ourselves with all of our imperfections, knowing that we are in “process” and therefore need not have others' approval. This is freedom indeed.The second part of this verse is a natural occurrence if we hold true to the first part of the verse. So, when in doubt as to our motives of not being truthful with someone….look inside, are we being less than truthful to ourselves?
GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH….
AND IF WE KNOW HIM,
AND HIS SPIRIT DWELLS IN US,
WE HAVE ALL TRUTH!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
How Do I Know Which Way To Go?
Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord;
point out the right road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Psalm 25:4-5 NLT
Psalm 25:4-5 NLT
Pay attention and grow wise,
for I am giving you good guidance.
Don't turn away from my teaching.
Proverbs 4:1-2 NLT
Proverbs 4:1-2 NLT
I will teach you wisdom's ways
and lead you in straight paths.
If you live a life guided by wisdom,
you won't limp or stumble as you run.
Proverbs 4:11-12 NLT
Proverbs 4:11-12 NLT
Sometimes we're faced with several options, and we don't know which way to go. In Psalm 25, David asked God for guidance. Perhaps he remembered when, as a shepherd boy, he had to show the right path to his sheep who were wandering away. Just as he knew which path would lead to safety for his sheep, God knew the path that would lead to everlasting life. Just as those sheep that looked to him for direction were in the least danger, so David knew he needed to look to God for direction. Today, God still leads us by his truth—his written Word and his Spirit, which helps us to understand it. Are you not sure which path to take? Pray as David did and read what God has already said in his written Word. He will show the right road to follow.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Not Growing Old
They say that I'm growing old,
I've heard them tell it times untold
In language plain and bold;
But I'm not growing old !
This frail shell in which I dwell
Is growing old, I know full well...
But I'm not the shell!
What if my hair is turning gray ?
Gray hair's honorable, they say.
What if my eyesight's growing dim ?
I can see to follow Him !
Who sacrificed His love for me
Upon the Cross of Calvary.
What should I care if Time's old plough
Has left its furrow on my brow ?
Another house---not made with hand---
Awaits me in the Glory Land!
What though I falter in my walk ?
What though my tongue refuse to talk ?
I still can tread the narrow way.
I still can watch, and praise and pray !
My hearing may not be as keen
As in the past it may have been.
Still I can hear my Savior say
In whispers soft, "This is the way".
The outward man (do what I can
To lengthen out this life's short span)
shall perish and return to dust,
As everything in nature must.
The Inward-Man, the Scriptures say,
Is growing stronger every day !
Then how can I be growing old,
When safe within my Savior's fold ?
`Ere long my soul shall fly away,
And leave this tenement of clay.
This robe of flesh I'll drop…and RISE
To seize the Everlasting Prize !
I'll meet you on the streets of gold
And prove that I'm not growing old !
(Author unknown.)
"But though our outward man perish,yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
2 Corinthians 4: 16...
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