First Saturday of Lent 2018

Here is the view from our room in the Hyatt Regency while at the Midwest Music Convention in Chicago in 2016 on a very cold but clear December morning.  A population of 9.5 million people live here. As I view this photo I wonder how many people there have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  As a matter of fact I wonder that quite often as I drive, shop, pump gas, etc. 

I can guess that there are a lot of people suffering from hurt, loss, financial worries, child problems, parent problems, behavior issues, mental health issues, worry, anxiety, stress from work, marriage difficulties, poor choices, circumstances, legal issues and much more.  We walk past hurting people every day. We see them at restaurants, in the store, while we drive...they are everywhere we go. 

The question is; What are we to do? How can I help? How do I share God's Love with others?

  I love the Pauline Epistles.   The book of Romans tells us how we as Christians should live in this world in Chapters 12 and 13.  Here are a few things we should ponder every day as we walk in this world.

• We are to present ourselves to God as a living and Holy sacrifice, acceptable to HIM, which is our service of worship.  Simply put...WE ARE HIS TOOLS IN THIS WORLD! Rom. 12:1
• We are not to be conformed in "any way" to this world...We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may be "living proof" of the good, acceptable and perfect will of God! Rom. 12:2
• We should be humble and thoughtful having sound judgment. Rom 12:3
• We are to exercise our gifts as members of the "Body of Christ", each according to those given by God. Rom. 12:4-8
• We are to LOVE without hypocrisy, abhor evil, and cling with all our strength to what is good. Rom. 12:9
• We are to be devoted to one another in Brotherly LOVE, running the race, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, "devoted to prayer"! We are to contribute to the needs of our brothers and sisters in the faith and practice hospitality to all! Rom. 12;10-13
• We are to bless those who persecute us, bless and not curse!  We are to rejoice with those rejoicing, and weep with those who are weeping. We are to be of like mind, and associate with the lowly.  Be not wise in your own eyes! Never pay back evil for evil. Respect what is right in all of humanity. As much as is humanly possible be at peace with all!  Most of all Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with GOOD!  Rom. 12:14-21

May all of you have a blessed Lenten Season as we look forward with great anticipation to the Celebration of our Savior's Resurrection on April 1st, 2018 Easter Sunday. HE LIVES!

Change...Seems Constant...but is it really?

See these clouds and colors in this photo...in less than 15 minutes this sunset went from amazingly spectacular to a two color dull looking group of everyday clouds.  Change happens quickly sometimes.

I've been thinking...in the USA we've had a lot of changes over the years and most recently change seems to be coming at us very quickly, especially in our government.  When we think about change we must think about some things that remain constant.  My first thought is that God's word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." This is refreshing to remember and take to heart. JESUS was with God in the Beginning, and He is with us everyday, all the time, without ceasing and He Loves us the same each and every day!  He has told us that He will never leave us or forsake us as well.  He will always remain close to us even when we attempt to push Him away and ignore His Word.

We also find in the gospel of John these words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart form Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men....And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

When we read these two sections of the Holy Word, we should realize three things:

1. God and Jesus are one in the same.
2. The Word is Jesus, and Jesus is God.
3. The Word (Jesus) of God has never changed...it is the same yesterday, today and forever!

For those of us who believe Jesus Christ is our Savior this should be fundamental to our faith, and subsequently it should shape our lives in this world.  The Bible is not a "buffet" where we choose what we like and discard the parts we don't like.  If you claim to be a believer but do not accept God's Word as the authority of your life your claim to belief is flawed.  It is not possible for you to straddle the fence or be a lukewarm believer. (Rev. 3:15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.) The Scripture itself speaks about itself and tells us in 1st Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction for training in righteousness.

Remember that the Word is God!  The Word is Jesus...and the The Word is written, inspired and it NEVER CHANGES!

 The Word is consistent in its truth about God!  The Word is consistent in its position and stature in the believers life! "The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart!" Hebrew 4:12.  Sometimes belief in the Word and the practice thereof is difficult, simply because it is inconsistent with our "sinful" nature.  That is okay...but we must allow God to help us through that difficulty based on HIS Word and not our feelings!  God knows what is best for us...He Loves US!  We can relate this to being a parent as we know what is best for our children but sometimes it is difficult for our children to realize that and be obedient even though they know that we LOVE them!

This brief revelation from God's Word should help us fix our attention on HIS WORD and not on ourselves.  It seems that our world has become increasingly self-absorbed.  If it makes me feel sad it must be bad; if I am uncomfortable or my feelings get hurt, then that is bad; if I don't get my way, then that is bad. This is symptomatic of many in our culture who get royally upset over things that are not at all eternally significant.  If our gaze is fixed permanently on HIM and His Word, we will never lack His wisdom, we will never lack His Love, we will never lack His grace, and most importantly we will always testify of His message of Love to others.  Isn't that what we should all be about?

God's Love is constant, God's Grace is constant, God's Word is constant, God's Mercy is constant, God's people reflect God's consistency!

In His Grip...Are YOU?

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven! Matt 6:20

A Year ago I wrote this note in my blog in August of 2015 and never published it.  Today this couple are in their new home...constructed in the same spot.  Read this story...This couple has endured much and God has been faithful to meet their needs. Thank you God for this new home...may it be centered completely around YOUR LOVE!

Thursday evening we had dinner with another couple at an Italian Restaurant right down the street from us.  I had just spent about 5 hours that day working on a fence for another couple with the husband, Brent.  We had a very enjoyable evening together.  Friday evening we were out to dinner with another couple. This time we went to the town to the west and ate at Famous Daves.

Later that evening a storm rolled into our area packing some heavy winds and lightning. As soon as the lightning began to crackle we heard the sirens sounding at our local Fire Department. Little did we know they were being called to our friends home...the couple we had dinner with on Thursday, Brent and Karen because their garage was hit by lightning and started a fire that eventually raged into an inferno.  Fortunately everyone made it out of the home safely including the dog Teddy!

Unfortunately these folks live in the county and there was no hydrant close by so 15 Fire trucks went back and forth trying to extinguish the blaze.  Needless to say the entire home is a loss along with two vehicles and nearly everything inside the home as well.

So why am I telling you this story?  Simply because it caused me to stop and think...how much value do I put in things rather than people?  How would I feel if this had happened to me?  I have lots of what I like to call very special things that have a lot of sentimental value to me and my family.  What would I do if they were all of a sudden gone?  How would I feel?  How would YOU FEEL?

God I thank you for the blessings you have given to me & my family and I pray that my life is evidence of your love!

Experience the Journey

Experience The Journey

   So I've taken off on a journey with several other folks this week to do something for 30 days and see what happens!  Are you ready? 

  We are going to practice putting God first in our lives.  So to many of you this may seem strange, and some of you will say, well I already do that...but do you?  Do you really?  We were told these three things:

1. Once you put God first in your life, you will never be the same again.

2. Putting God first in your life during this day and age will require great self-discipline, self-control and self-surrender.

3. Once your life has changed, you will never again want to go back to your old way of living.

This is the journey I and several others are on.  It's like this photo of a road in Virginia...you can see up ahead a little way...but what is around the corner?  The Journey is around the corner...and the next corner and the corner after that.  

Today is day two of this journey.  The first day our scripture was 2nd Chronicles 7:14.  "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  

I get it...we are supposed to pray with a humble attitude and seek God, and turn from our wicked ways.  Seeking God...is alot like driving up this road...staying the course...quietly and cautiously driving attentively and heading for the destination.  We are told to do that with humility.  Road rage has no place in this journey.

Our scripture today was James 4:16 "But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil." 

Wow...this was a hard one to deal with.  Am I boastful, proud, conceited, or overbearing?  In context the verse is the culmination of our arrogance that we know the way when really what needs to be confirmed is that God knows the way...and we are supposed to seek that path...that road...that journey...that destination.  We really don't know the way so that is why we humble ourselves and get on our knees and pray to Him...that He will be our guide and that He would show us the way.

If you feel you are not on the right journey...then make the decision to join God's journey...the "Brave Christian Journey."  

Are You Ready?

Incomparable Perfection

"That the God of Israel is a being of incomparable perfection. We cannot describe him; but this we know, there is none like him in heaven or in earth."

From Matthew Henry's commentary on 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. Solomon has built the Temple that his father David could not build. Solomon says of God in verse 14; "O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like Thee in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Thy servants who walk before Thee with all their heart."

How BIG is your God?  Solomon's God was enormous!  There was no other god like HIM in all of the universe and that is a very large area.  No god who kept a covenant with and showed vast amounts of LOVE to His followers, who followed him with all their heart.  

I would challenge you to read Solomon's prayer in 2nd Chronicles as he teaches us to be humble servants of a great and mighty God.

Matthew Henry so adequately explains what we can learn from this passage:

      As, 1. That the God of Israel is a being of incomparable perfection. We cannot describe him; but this we know, there is none like him in heaven or in earth, v. 14. All the creatures have their fellow-creatures, but the Creator has not his peer. He is infinitely above all, and over all, God blessed for ever. 2. That he is, and will be, true to every word that he has spoken; and all that serve him in sincerity shall certainly find him both faithful and kind. Those that set God always before them, and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word and better; he will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them, v. 14. 3. That he is a being infinite and immense, whom the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain, and to whose felicity nothing is added by the utmost we can do in his service, v. 18. He is infinitely beyond the bounds of the creation and infinitely above the praises of all intelligent creatures. 4. That he, and he only, knows the hearts of the children of men, v. 30. All men’s thoughts, aims, and affections, are naked and open before him; and, however the imaginations and intents of our hearts may be concealed from men, angels, and devils, they cannot be hidden from God, who knows not only what is in the heart, but the heart itself and all the beatings of it. 5. That there is no such thing as a sinless perfection to be found in this life (v. 36): There is no man who sinneth not; nay, who doeth good and sinneth not; so he writes, agreeable to what he here says, Eccl. 7:20.

God has no equal, He is above all and over all, He is true to every word He has ever spoken and all that serve Him in sincerity shall find Him both faithful and kind, that those who set God before them...keeping Him first in everything shall find Him good and He will show mercy to them.

Thanks be to God for servants like Solomon who teach us about God's greatness.  May we keep God at the center of all we think, believe, act and do, each and every moment of our existence here on this planet.

What shall we do?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2

    What is important about your opinion?  Or for that matter the opinion of others?  In the grand scheme of things I believe each of us know that our opinions are much like our noses...they don't have any value to others...we all have opinions...and they are all like noses...not very useful to others.
   I think you get it if you see that our opinions don't really matter to any one else.  But do they?  Yes they do...they matter to God.  You see God wants us to worship Him in everything that we do, think, and say.  He says in the verse above to give our entire bodies over to the distinct pleasure of Himself, the spiritual act of worship.  How can a worshipping believer listen to the the world?  How can a worshipping believer listen to his/her own opinion? How can a worshipping believer be focused on anything but God?

  Why should we do this...have this mind set...lead this type of existence?  It is simply because He wants us to be conformed to Him and not to this world.  He wants us to look like Him...not this world.  He wants us to know His good, pleasing, and perfect will...not the will of this world.  He wants all of us...100% of our physical and spiritual selves...to be totally focused on Him...not anything else in this world.  He wants our minds to be transformed and renewed daily by feeding on His Word!  Why? Why? Why?

  To know His will...His good, pleasing and perfect Will!  So how do you do this?

  Paul writes to the Thessalonians...chapter 5 verses 16-18: "Rejoice always; Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

   Very simple...so in order to be in God's will and to know God's will, and to experience God's will for us we need to be totally transfixed on Him...24/7.  Pray without ceasing...in other words, "Pray constantly"!

   May you be blessed by God, because you have been transformed and are living a transformed life!

Everyone has FAITH!

Faith (Merriam-Webster dictionary) means - having a strong belief in someone or something!

So with that being said:

You - Have FAITH if you believe you will wake up tomorrow morning.

You - Have FAITH if you believe that when you flip the light switch the lights go on or off.

You - Have FAITH if you believe your car will start when you turn the key.

You - Have FAITH when you fly on an airplane:
 - faith if you believe the pilots know what they are doing.
 - faith if you believe that the mechanics have made sure that
the thousands of important parts that make up that aircraft will work just the way they are supposed to work.

You - Have FAITH if you believe that when you go out to eat that the food will be good and nourishing to your body.

You - Have FAITH if you believe that when you go to the grocery store to buy your food that all the thousands of people in all the factories that produced your food did it correctly and that it will not harm you and that it will sustain your family.

You - Have FAITH if you believe that when you travel in your vehicle that it will get you to your destination and that all the roads and bridges will remain intact as you travel.

You - Have FAITH if you believe that when you sit in a seat or a chair that it will support you.

You - Have FAITH if you believe that when you go to the hospital, doctor or dentist or any type of medical worker that they will be capable of diagnosing your problem correctly.

We all spend most of our day practicing some sort of FAITH even when we are not intentionally thinking about it.

Perhaps the most important FAITH question is this:

Do you have FAITH and believe that when you pass from this earthly existence that you will truly be in a better place called Heaven?

If you have never fully answered that question then it is time you considered the reality of your eminent death and the reality of your final destination for eternity.  It is as real as all the other things that you believe and have FAITH in, but it has far more critical ramifications.

Eternity is FOREVER!  So it goes without saying that it is a long time!  As Zig Ziglar said " You're going to be dead alot longer than your are going to be alive!"

If you say, Well I don't believe in Heaven or Hell.  Then you are essentially placing an eternal bet with your own soul, with a 50% chance of being incorrect.

How many of us would like to hear those odds when the doctor talks about surgery.  50% means that 1 out of every 2 people who have this surgery don't survive.  Is Eternity really worth the gamble? REALLY?

Jesus Christ is the answer to your eternal destiny. Check Him out.  Many of us spend more time deciding what we want to eat than deciding where we will spend FOREVER!

Read the Bible. Pray. Grow in the knowledge of God. Worship with His people.  You have the choice...check it out.

Choose today - where you will be spending ETERNITY!