Come

Come you who are poor in spirit

Come you who mourn

Shelter beneath His wings

Come you who are heavily laden

Come take up His yoke

His burden is light

Come you who thirst after righteousness

Come you who seek His face

Build upon the Rock

The Spirit and the Bride say Come

Be called a child of God

Enter into His rest

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The Lord is Holy

The Lord God is Almighty.

He reigns over His people.

Even though we falter before Him.

Love Everlasting is He.

Open your mouths in praise.  

Rejoice in your salvation.

Do not look away from the Lord.

Indeed keep your eyes on what is true.

Sing a song of praise from your heart.

Holy holy holy are You Lord.

Over all of creation You reign.

Love without end.

Yours Lord. I am all Yours.

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In All Things Give Thanks

Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Giving thanks for all things.

This year has been a deadly and devastating time for hurricanes. One category 5 hurricane after another. Islands obliterated. Buildings leveled. Communications and power outages that will last for months. The overall damage will take years to recover from, if it ever will be fully restored.

Then there were earthquakes. Hundreds died. Buildings leveled. Lives destroyed.

Some might ask how can they be thankful during times of trials. In the midst of mind numbing, crushing events, how can one possibly thank God? We are not told to give thanks only in good times but in all times. To be content in all circumstances. Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Albert Barnes, a 19th century minister, wrote We are often prone so to magnify our calamities, and to contemplate the woes of the race, that we overlook the occasions for gratitude; and we should, therefore, look upon the “mercies” which we enjoy as well as the miseries which we endure, that our hearts may be right. He who looks only on his trials will soon find his mind soured and complaining; he who endeavors to find how many occasions for gratitude he has, will soon find the burden of his sorrows alleviated, and his mind tranquil and calm.

Have you thanked Him and praised Him in all things, even in the midst of trials?

How Shall I Forgive? - December 8

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

This one is a hard one to write. There was a pastor who made extra money delivering newspapers. One morning as he picked up the ones he was to deliver, he was killed by a hit and run driver. His family came out that same day and publically forgave the unknown person who killed him. An amazing action on their part. I always admired them.

Then I had to do the same.

A few years ago, my gentle brother in law was brutally murdered by his roommate. There are no words that can adequately describe the variety and intensity of emotions we felt.

I was so angry. I wanted to hate. The Lord wouldn’t let me. His quiet still voice reminded me that we are called to forgive as we are forgiven. It is so hard to forgive something like this. We are not given the choice. He says to forgive.

So I did. I forgave and prayed for the salvation of my brother in law’s killer. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 Then I asked the Lord to soften my hard heart. Every day I asked Him to change me, to help me truly forgive.

We are called to forgive. No matter how difficult, we are to forgive. It can be done, through Christ. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Are there people in your life whom you need to forgive? Forgive as you are forgiven.

In the Beginning - September 15

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Today the Cassini-Huygens mission ended. The satellite probe crashed into Saturn as it was supposed to, gathering more data as it plunged into the atmosphere of the gas giant planet. Before its end, it sent back incredible data and photos during its 13 year mission.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Typically we read the first verse in the bible quickly, skimming over it as we read the rest of the first chapter in the bible. Have you taken the time just to ponder that sole verse?

God created the heaven and the earth. What an immense awesome God He is who can create all of this with just a Word. The universe. The individual galaxies. The stars. Way out there beyond what humanity has been able to see until now. He created the planets. He created Saturn.

He created every detail that the Cassini mission observed. Every element in the gas atmosphere. Every fragmentary particle in each ring of Saturn. Every crater on each moon. The water plumes rising on its moon Enceladus that may prove the existence of an ocean. The methane lakes on Titan.

He created all of this. Every single thing He created is a testament to our Lord.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20

Which Foundation?

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Matthew 7:26

I read today about the Millenial Tower in San Francisco. It is sinking and tilting, causing the residents to worry about their safety and the value of their condos. Experts give many explanations for what is happening. What stands out to me is how the skyscrapers around it are built 200 feet down to bedrock whereas the Millenial Tower’s foundations only extend 80 feet into packed sand. There is also concern that in the event of a major earthquake, liquifaction can occur. Liquifaction is the process by which loose sand and silt behave like a liquid in the event of an earthquake.

The condo owners had faith when they first bought them that their homes would be safe and increase in value. Now they worry about their safety. Now their condos value is plummeting. They are worried, uncertain of what course to take. How can they recoup the millions of dollars each spent to purchase the condo? How can they be safe in their own homes? Can the tower be fixed? Can they sleep soundly?

Matthew 7

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

How is our individual faith? Is our faith growing? On what foundation is our faith built? Are we grounded in the bedrock of Christ or is our faith built on sand? Do we live a Christlike life, as doers of the word? Or are our lives built on sand, without Christ, subject to whichever way the wind blows, unable to withstand the storms and temptations of this world?

Build your faith on the rock of Christ.

James 1

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed

Good luck? - March 17

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Good luck!

We hear this all the time. Some even say this frequently. I’ve been wondering for some time now. Should a Christian wish someone “good luck”?  We say God is in control. Since He is in control, since we believe that, why would we need to wish good luck on someone? Shouldn’t we instead wish Gods blessings on someone, or wish them well? Do we even need luck?

This is something Ive felt convicted about for awhile now. It may seem like a trivial thing, but in wishing someone luck for a moment it seems as if we forget whom we are to cast our cares onto, whom we are to trust for all of our needs.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.1Peter 5:6-7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Going to market?

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:12-13

Jesus was offended, and rightly so, that the Temple of God, a place that contained the Holy of Holies, was turned into a marketplace. A house of prayer, a place to grow in the Lord, turned into a common marketplace.

I heard about a church that canceled its services in order to hold a business meeting to tell its congregation that the church is a product and the congregation is the customer.

I hear a lot about the seeker sensitive church, one which tries to get folks in, by toning down the hard parts of the gospel message.

The house of worship, the church building, is being turned into a modern day marketplace. Where attendance is tallied and numbers mean more than quality of the service and teaching. A place where sermons are spiced up and worship has gimmicks to bring in more people. Church is entertaining. The music makes us feel good. The sermon talks about the purpose driven life.

Where is God in all of this? In the name of growth, have our churches faltered and turned into the marketplaces of the temple in the time of our Lord Jesus? If Jesus were in your church, would He see a house of prayer, a temple of worship? Or would He see a place where the focus is marketing the church to people?

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22: 35-40 Jesus tells us to love the Lord first, with our heart, soul, and mind. Is your church God focused or people focused?

For the love of our Lord

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31

Unbelievers often ask me how I would feel if I died and woke up to find that God isn’t real. They suppose that I would feel like my life was somehow deprived for living according to His will. As if I grudgingly gave up a sinful lifestyle, denying myself any sort of pleasure in order to follow Him.

Living His way isn’t torturous. We do not feel like we are missing anything by living according to His standards. If our devotion to Him was done unwillingly, if we begrudged Him a changed life, then we would be merely hypocrites. How could we be said to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength if we did not willingly follow His ways? Just as He laid down His life for us out of His love for us, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 so we should laid down our lives for Him, out of love for Him. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37-38

Holy Holy Holy is our Lord

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, Revelation 4:8-9

In Christian social media, I often see folks using lower case letters for the name of Jesus and God. Some folks get upset when they see others calling God “god”. Others get upset when folks demand His name be capitalized. Is this really an issue to get upset over?

The Jews revere His name so much, that they write G-d, since there are no vowels in the name YHWH in the bible. For fear of using His name irreverently, they call Him HaShem “The Name”.

So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Ezekiel 39:7

Do we diminish who He is when we neglect to capitalize His name? Do we have too casual a view towards our Lord that we can’t even capitalize His name? Have Christians today in the US, and elsewhere, lost their reverence for the Holy Lord? Does that affect our faith? Do we forget that He is holy?

Questions to ponder.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

Our Commitment?

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37

Ive been seeing a lot of people lately who dont want to give up things or people in their lives who lead them away from the Lord. A Christian who has a rabidly antichristian boyfriend and finds their faith being shaken. Someone who loves their fiance and is living with them, but wont stop that sin to follow the relationship with Christ.

Jesus told us what the greatest commandment is.

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:36-38

We say He needs to be first in our lives, but is He? Are we allowing someone or something to take precedence? Do we encourage new believers enough to put aside the things or lifestyle or even the people who come between them and the Lord? Is our own heart and focus on the Lord first?