Seeing God’s Creation and the Salvation He offers

      Several years ago while taking walks with my husband and our dog, I decided to start looking for beautiful things to take pictures of in our neighborhood.  I loved the flowers, shrubs and trees that produced such lovely blossoms.  Likewise, I enjoyed seeing Sand Hill Crane families and hawks. Capturing these images and sharing them on Facebook allowed me the privilege of brightening the day for others especially those who may not be able to get out for a walk.  We are confronted with so many negatives in life and often forget to take the time to look around at God’s artistry; so each day I go in search of a new picture to take.  This practice has helped me not only appreciate God’s creation, but it keeps my mind focused on His blessings rather than on things I cannot change.

     There have been many times as I stroll along that I wonder how those outside of Christ cannot see the wonder of His creation which is all around us.  The variety of plants, flowers, animals, insects and other creatures clearly demonstrate the awesome power of God in creation.  No artist can ever produce the rich color combinations that the Lord spoke into being.  We know from Paul’s letter to the Romans, though, why men cannot enjoy the beauty all around:  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).  The problem is that many have chosen to suppress the truth about God even though the world around them points to our Creator. Likewise, they choose to ignore their conscience and the Bible. 

     Not only did God give visible evidence in the creation around us, but He also sent His Son to live before us as a perfect example who came to die for our sins. However, many choose not to see the truth.  They prefer to darkness to light; their sin instead of righteousness and a relationship with God. Jesus clearly declared to us, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). There is no other way to have a relationship with God except through faith in Jesus Christ. 

     As we know, however, there are yet many today who refuse to see the truth. It is much like taking a walk each day with blinders on.  If they do that, they are certain to miss the beauty all around them. Therefore, it is important for each one of us to be the salt and light in this darkened world of ours.  We need to be showing others the beauty of Christ not only by our words but in our actions as well. Look for opportunities to point out how great our God is and what He has done for us. Just as I take pictures on our walk and share them with others on Facebook, let us begin to paint a picture of Christ by sharing our faith with those around us. As we share, we must leave the results up to God.  We may be planting a seed or even watering what another has planted, but the Lord will use us if we are willing to speak the truth in love. Let us together show our world the beauty of not only God’s creation but the beauty of salvation in Christ.  Selah!

ARE YOU READY?

     Several weeks ago, there was a tragic car accident that took the life of a precious lady in our community.  I am certain she had a busy day planned as she set off in her vehicle when the unexpected happened. Our whole community was rocked with the news and grieved with the family at such a loss. Of course, no one knows the day when they will be called from this life, so when we are confronted by such tragedy, we need to stop and take stock of our lives.   

      In Psalm 90, Moses, the author, considers the brevity and sorrow in life in this prayer before the Lord. He asks God that people would be enabled to live a significant life while they are here.  In verse 10, he writes:  “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Then he goes on in verse 12 to tell us what we must do:  “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” To put it another way, Moses is asking God to help us learn how to use the time we are given here on earth so that we can live to glorify God and bless others.

     Over the years, many folks I have talked to expressed the idea that they wasted a lot of time and energy not doing anything fruitful in their life.  They wish they had a “do-over”, but that is not something any of us get to have.  Our lives here on earth are short in comparison to eternity.  When our bodies die here, our soul goes on into eternity and an important question we all must answer is “Where will I spend eternity?” 

   

 Jesus spoke of two destinations: heaven and hell.  Hell was created for Satan and the fallen angels, but men who have walked away from God in rebellion and never repented of their sins or asked forgiveness will join them in this place of torment…not for a day or a month but forever.  In fact, our Lord spoke more about Hell than anyone in the Bible.  He called it  “a place of outer darkness” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12); it is called a fiery furnace (Matt.13: 41-42); and the “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).  Finally, Jesus refers to it as “eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46).  What a contrast between spending an “eternal life” with never-ending pleasure in God’s presence to “eternal punishment” which will be an experience of unending misery and separation from God (John 3:36; 5:24).  Yet there is good news while we still have time here on earth.

     God sent His only Son born of a virgin to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins…something we can not do for ourselves.  Jesus was fully God and fully man in the flesh who obeyed perfectly all that the Law of God demanded. Then, He gave His life on the cross that His life’s blood would atone for our sins once and for all. Even more, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, was seen by His disciples and at least 500 people who witnessed Him and even touched Him in the flesh.  Therefore, He broke the yoke of sin and death for all who believe in Him.   John 3:36 says:  “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”  We are called by God’s Spirit to confess our sins and trust in the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for us.   When we take that action, we become children of God who will inherit eternal life.  

     Knowing the dear lady who died in the accident, I know she is in the presence of the Lord living there in His peace and glory where there are no more tears, death or separation from loved ones.  We grieve her loss here but she is enjoying God’s great rest because she trusted in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Perhaps, you have already made this commitment to Christ.  If so, you can rest in His assurance of your destination. If you have never made this commitment of your life to Christ and received His forgiveness of your sins, then make today your day.  We are not promised tomorrow.  Each day is a gift from God and how we live that day matters for all eternity.  Meditate on these things and look beyond the day to day because our time here is short compared to eternity ahead.  May the Lord bless you as you think on these things.  Selah

P.S.  If you have never read the Bible or want to begin, please start with the Book of John in the New Testament to see who Jesus Christ is and what He said of Himself.  

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

      Most of us have, at one time or another, encountered someone for the first time that left a less than outstanding impression on us. Whenever I was tempted to write such a person off as a potential friend, my parents would remind me that we should “never judge a book by its cover.”  After all, they would tell me, maybe the person was having a bad day. Until we spend time getting to know the person’s heart, we cannot come to any real conclusion concerning their character.  This advice has been a blessing to me throughout my life.  Interestingly enough, I found this to be true even in the Bible.

     As I was doing my Bible reading, I came across a chapter 21 in 2 Kings concerning Manasseh.  He reigned as King of Judah after the death of his father Hezekiah.  According to God’s Word, Hezekiah “...did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.”  However, when he died, his son Manasseh took the throne (chapter 21):  “And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.”  The chapter goes on to recite that Manasseh rebuilt the high places for pagan worship and made altars to Baal and Asherah.  He even built altars inside God’s temple to the host of heaven.  As if this were not enough, he burned his own son as a sacrifice to a pagan god and dealt with the forbidden mediums and necromancers.  God promised that He would judge Judah for such sins.  Now, if I had stopped reading at this point, I would have been left with the opinion that Manasseh was beyond reach. He was unfaithful to God as much as his own father Hezekiah had been obedient to the Lord. The chapter ends with his son Amon taking the throne. However, this was not the end of my reading for the day.

     2 Chronicles 33 repeats some of the story of Manasseh but expounds even more on his life. Indeed, he did evil in the sight of the Lord and reversed much of the good that his father Hezekiah had accomplished. The Bible tells us:  “The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention” (vs.10).  So the Lord brought the army of the King of Assyria to take Manasseh captive to Babylon. This action caught Manasseh’s attention.  He pleaded with God and humbled himself in prayer. God heard his cry and brought him again to his kingdom. Verse 13c says:  “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.”

     Following his encounter with the Living God, Manasseh became a changed man.  He built walls around Jerusalem to protect it.  He fortified the cities of Judah and took away all the foreign gods and idols from the Temple. Not only did he restore the altar of the LORD but he also offered peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings to God.  Furthermore, Manasseh commanded the people to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.  What a turn around for a man who began his reign as a faithless King! The change came when God got his attention and gave him a new heart.  Here is an important picture for all of us.

     We are all like Manasseh going our sinful way in life until God touches us and gives us a new heart.  When He opens our eyes, we can see what we have done.  Then, like Manasseh, we humble ourselves before the LORD and repent of our sins. This great exchange....Christ’s righteousness for our sinfulness is what salvation is all about.  Look at the fruit that came from this transformation!  This is precisely why we cannot “judge a book by its cover”.  God sees the possibilities that we cannot, and He has tasked us to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ so they can be set free like Manasseh.  Rather than writing someone off because the “cover” of their life is tattered and torn, we should look inside with the Holy Spirit’s help and share the Gospel instead.  This will bring glory to God!  Selah! 

A Much Loved Hymn - “Blessed Assurance"

     Among my favorite hymns is one penned by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915) entitled “Blessed Assurance”.  She wrote over 8,000 hymn texts during her lifetime despite the fact that she had lost her sight at the age of six weeks. She actually began writing hymns at the age of six years old and continued through her long life. Despite what some would call a handicap or disability, Fanny Crosby’s life was filled with not only academic success at the New York Academy for the Blind where she was a student and later a teacher of rhetoric and history, but she also found joy in her faith which she so readily expressed in her hymns.

      In the first verse the words are:  “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

                                  O what a foretaste of glory divine!

                                  Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

                                  Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

                                  This is my story, this is my song,

                                  Praising my Savior, all the day long.”

There is comfort when we have the assurance of our salvation, for, indeed we have been bought with the price of Christ’s blood.  We are heirs with Christ, and in this hymn we see a glimpse of heaven. There is an anticipation of that day when we will be with Him in “perfect submission” and “perfect delight”, and though she was physically blind, she described “visions of rapture now burst on my sight” as she thinks about the beauty of heaven.  This is encouragement for all Christians as we await the return of our Lord.

     There are times when we allow the burdens of this fallen world system overwhelm us. Responsibilities at work and home at times seem insurmountable and we tend to forget that we are citizens of God’s Kingdom that will never end. Revelations 21:4 reminds us that when we come into His Kingdom we shall live in perfect relationship with our King:  “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  Who is not looking forward to that day?

     Certainly, there must have been times when Fanny Crosby felt the weight of her disability, but she didn’t let it stop her from living a full productive life.  Instead she turned to the Lord and expressed her continual praise through the hymns she wrote as we are commanded to do in Philippians 4:4:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I will say rejoice.” Peace of heart and mind come to those who put their faith and focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are hidden in Him, and as His bride, He will one day present us without spot wrinkle or blemish (Ephesians 5:27). This is our future, our Blessed Hope and should dispel all the anxiety that comes with an ever changing culture that denies God’s rule and reign.

     Like Fanny Crosby, let us affirm the words in stanza three when life brings us discouragement or despair:

     “Perfect submission - all is at rest,

      I in my Savior am happy and blest;

      Watching and waiting, looking above,

      Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.”

When we focus on our Lord and seek to tell others about Him, we can be at rest even in this turbulent world.  We have “blessed assurance” that He is coming again and that we belong to Him.  Selah! 

That Dirty, Gritty Feeling

     

     A few days ago, I spent a good deal of time cleaning our tile and wood floors.  We have a good sized home so it takes a while to do the job.  I cannot stand to walk on floors that feel dirty or gritty and having a dog who loves to run in our back yard through the bushes doesn’t help.  He always finds a patch of dirt to go through and then happily brings it into the house.  We have a vacuum, a robo cleaner and a dust mop, but no matter what I try, the Florida sand keeps coming back.  That’s the price we pay for having a dog and living in sand country.

     As I thought about it though, our lives are a lot like that gritty sand on the floor. When we come to Christ in true repentance, He cleans us up and fills us with His Holy Spirit. Then, before we know it, old sinful habits, unkind words, or thoughts we ought to avoid can come creeping back into our lives just like that nasty sand.  We can feel it in our hearts as the Holy Spirit convicts us.  It seems like a never ending cycle, but we must remember that while Jesus Christ has forgiven us of our sins and made us new creations in Him, we still carry with us the old flesh until we go home to be with Him.

     Paul knew all about that struggle. Read all of Romans chapter 7 for a full exposition, but let me highlight verses 15-20:  “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have a desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” Then Paul asks a good question in verse 24b: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He concludes by saying in verse 25a “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” It is only through the blood of Christ that we find forgiveness for those daily sins that still way us down in the body.  One day, we shall see Him and be made perfect as He is but until then, we have a great remedy given to us to get rid of that sin in our soul.

     I John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  That is why, along with Paul, we can thank Jesus Christ for what He has done for us. We do not have to keep that grit in our souls any more than I need to keep it on my floor. Long ago, I learned that a good practice is to stop and take a daily moral inventory as we pray each morning asking God to reveal to us where we have fallen short of His glory. Then, we confess those sins He brings to mind and ask forgiveness for those things which we did that we are not even aware of doing. This clears our heart, and sets us free to begin the day walking by the Spirit.

     God is at work in each of us conforming us to the image of His dear Son. He will finish the work He has begun in us, but we must make certain to keep our hearts clean before Him. We should rejoice along with Paul in saying “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” One day we will leave the flesh behind, but until that day, we have the privilege of coming to God to repent when we stumble. I wish it was that easy in keeping my floors clean, but that is another story! May God help us to quickly turn to Him when we have sinned that we might walk by His Spirit and not in the flesh.  Selah! 

Grace for Today and Tomorrow

     Grace is one of those words we hear often in the Christian faith.  It means undeserved favor, mercy or kindness towards another, and we think of this when we think of God.  We are saved by His grace...not because we deserved God’s love and forgiveness but because He chose us before the foundation of the world to be His own through Christ our Lord (Ephesians 1:4). This is a type of love that the world cannot comprehend.

 

   Beyond saving us, God provides grace for us to face each day through its hardships as well as the good times.  However, there are times when we wish we had a little more information about the future or what tomorrow might bring our way.  This can lead us to worry or anxiety.  Even the Apostle Paul was acquainted with this concern when he dealt with his thorn in the flesh.  2 Corinthians 12:8-9 tells us:  “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Oh that we could say this when we fall into trials! So what is Paul’s secret?  He trusted God.

     Building trust in God comes from knowing Him intimately and believing that He is good.  Prayer is one key to developing that relationship.  Obviously, Paul did a lot of praying and crying out to God over his affliction. The result came when the Lord answered him.  His illness would not go away, but he found reassurance in the fact that God’s power would be made perfect in his weakness. Paul could go on knowing that the grace of God would be sufficient for him.

     In addition to prayer, we can drive out our doubts and worries by knowing the Word of God. Do we read it every day?  We should because it reveals to us God’s character and all that we need to know to lead a godly life. Jesus said in John 15:15:  “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jesus knew the Father’s innermost thoughts. Through the pages of the Bible we are given the revelation of God. It gives us our bearings and the Spirit gives us the power to obey. This is how we develop the trust that drives fear away.

     God’s grace is not just for today but for the future just like His provision of manna in the wilderness which He provided for the Children of Israel.  They never went hungry because the Lord provided their food daily.  Their clothes never wore out during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. In the same manner, God’s grace is sufficient for whatever we are called to face, and we know there are hard times as well as times of rejoicing. God will give us the grace just when we need it and not before.  Therefore, we need not worry or fret. Instead start each day with a prayer: “Lord, help me and give me your grace today.”  Then, say thank you and rest in Him! He won’t disappoint!  Selah!

 

Relief is Found in Him

     Our minds hold a treasure trove of information....some very useful and other random information that resembles the junk drawer in our kitchen into which everything seems to go.  Under the random information category, I remember quite clearly some of the old jingles from T.V. shows and commercials.  Why I remember the Alka-Seltzer jingle is beyond me but the character in the commercial told us:  “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz.  Oh what a relief it is!”  Of course, the company wanted us to think of their product when faced with indigestion, and it worked.  Just drop the tablets in a cup of water, drink it down and feel better fast!  This world offers us temporary solutions, but when it comes to long lasting relief, there is only one source that can meet our needs. We find the remedy in God’s Word.  This is why we are encouraged to meditate on it day and night.  While indigestion is a temporary, there are many other things like worry or anxiety that plague our thoughts keeping us from true peace of mind.

     Anxiety is not a sin.  It is an emotion, but left unchecked, it can lead us to sin.  Emotional eating

disorders, alcohol, or drugs are often the quick fixes people resort to when overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.  However, Jesus warned us in Luke 21:34, NIV:  “Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with...the anxieties of life...”  He spoke these words to encourage his disciples to be ready for the Day of His return. We must face the fact that it is hard to function when we are weighed down by worry.  So what are some of the signs that anxiety has us in its grip?  We must ask ourselves some questions:  Do we always see things in a negative light?  Do we assume that something bad is going to happen?  Do we dismiss good news by diluting it with our negative thoughts? Would we rather avoid being around others and instead, just want to stay in bed?  How much do we laugh and enjoy life?  If we can affirm any of these patterns, we may be dealing with anxiety/worry/fear.  Thankfully, God’s Word has the remedy for us to meditate on.

     Paul’s letter to the Philippians tells us (Phil. 4:4-8): “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.” We find four simple take aways in this passage that will keep us in perfect peace. First, rejoice in the Lord. Think on Him and praise His name for all He has done in our life.  Second, we must ask God for help in prayer.  He will hear us when we come in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.  Third, we must leave our requests with Him knowing that His plan for us is good. Finally, we need to fix our minds on whatever is just, true, noble, pure, lovely and of good report. Negative thinking brings us down, but fixing our mind on the Lord will always lift us up.

     While the world scurries around looking for instant relief from the stress of living (the Alka-Seltzer fix), we as believers have the promise of God’s abiding peace in our lives despite our circumstances. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us:  “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.”  The key is having our minds renewed daily by washing them in the Word of God. As we clean out the junk drawer of our thinking and replace it with God’s thoughts, our lives will find relief in ways that fizzy tablets cannot!  Selah! 

Don’t let the World Steal Your First Love

     One area that most of us have to deal with is being overly busy.  Our schedules become jam-packed with activities: job, children’s activities (soccer, baseball, clubs, school, doctor visits, parties etc.), our own appointments not to mention civic clubs and church.  Even retirees find that their schedules can become overloaded with many obligations to the point of exhaustion.  While many of these activities are good, we must remember to protect our “first love” along the path which God has laid out for us.

     In Revelations 2:1-7, Jesus speaks to the Ephesian Church. They have worked hard (vs. 2a):  “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance....” This church was on the right track but in verse 4 the Lord says:  “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”  The zeal with which these believers had pursued the Lord had somehow waned.  This is nothing new in the lives of individuals or the life of the church.  It is easy to become so involved in the things of this world that our “first love” for Christ is dimmed by all the activity of daily living.  So how does this happen?

     First, we often forget to take the necessary time to read our Bible and pray. Having a daily quiet time is the key to setting priorities for the day, asking God’s guidance, meditating on His Word and finding strength as we journey on through life.  When this is neglected, it can show up in our relationship not only towards God but also in our relationships with our fellow man.  My mother used to say: “The day is less likely to unravel if it is hemmed in prayer.”  She was right!  On those days when I neglect my quiet time, it seems that I am less prepared to face the inevitable problems that arise.  Taking time to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) before hitting the front door has proven to have far better results.

     Secondly, we can become so caught up with the cares in this world that we lose our balance. Being involved in organizations, doing fund raising or working on a job promotion can become so time consuming that we neglect fellowship with other believers.  We need to come together to worship God.  There is something so rich and meaningful in sitting together as we hear the Word of God proclaimed and join in singing praise to our Lord.  Certainly, we can watch T.V. services or even watch our own service online, but we lose out on shaking hands, smiles, and hugs.  We miss being able to share prayer requests in person and encouraging one another.  Lets face it, we live in difficult times, and being united in the Body of Christ is our best source of renewal for the weary soul.

     In his book “The Christian Warfare”, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says:  “Worldliness is the state in which our thinking is governed by the mind and the outlook of the world” (pg.363). As believers, we must daily put on the mind of Christ for we are citizens of heaven.  Our walk here on earth is temporary, and this is something that can be easy to forget. Just look again at the Ephesian Church.  They worked hard, they persevered through hard times and they opposed false teachers.  Yet, they lost their first love of Christ.  This can happen ever so slowly that we do not notice. When we depend more on our good deeds and works and less on Christ, we, too, are beginning to lose our first love.

     Each day, we must remind ourselves that Jesus came not only to save us from the bondage of sin but also from this evil world as well.  Galatians 1:4 tells us:  “...who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Our world in thought and outlook is under the dominion of the devil; therefore, we need to be certain that we strive to have the mind of Christ each day.  This comes with fellowship, prayer and Bible study.  To neglect these key principles is to invite the world to consume our time, our mind and diminish our first love of Christ.  Let us remember that we “have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). We are merely pilgrims passing through this life.  May we live as light and salt in a world badly in need of our Savior. Hold fast to our “first love” so we may bring glory to God.  Selah! 

Being Renewed in the Spirit of the Mind

     Everyone needs refreshment and renewal in their lives whether traveling somewhere or just spending time with others, yet it is crucial in the spiritual realm as well. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us: “...to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  This description in Scripture reminds me of my office desk at home which is cluttered beyond belief.  It needs attention in the same way our lives do which become cluttered with deceitful desires. We need a renewed mind, so how do we proceed?

     First, we need to open the Bible.  He knows what we need...a washing in the Word. Psalm 119:28 so beautifully tells us: “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.” When life has seemed to empty us of all emotion, we find the river of life on the pages of God’s Word. At a time when Jeremiah felt down and needed comfort, he cried out to God:  “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”  Consuming the Word, living in His Word and acting upon it leads us to the second way to refresh the spirit of our minds.

     Calling out to the Lord in prayer and making time for Him each day helps us wipe away the cobwebs of the world that gather. We are surrounded by

 deep unrest in our nation. Meditating on that only causes greater anxiety. In our home, we try NOT to watch much T.V. or the news. Instead we try to do things that will edify, and one of them is to pray. At those times when I do not know what to pray, I open the Psalms and pray through them.  There is a lot of healing in this exercise. I love how Jeremiah calls to mind God’s goodness in Lamentations 3:21-23: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Praying that Scripture helps to bring hope and renewal.  See how the Word and prayer are meant to work together?

     Finally, if we desire to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, we need fellowship. Whether it is in person, on the phone or through a letter, we all need outside contact. I enjoy praying with others over the phone when I get the chance. Of course, being together in church or a small group is also a blessing. We know that “iron sharpens iron” so as health permits and we are able to gather, the Lord will encourage us all the more as we see the day of His return drawing near.   So,  let us endeavor to put on the new self and be renewed in the spirit of our mind. This will please God and bring glory to His name!  Selah!

     

Showing Love in the Little Things

     As February will soon be here, we often think of Valentine’s Day.  Gift giving, candy, flowers as well as cards are exchanged between those who want to demonstrate their love for a spouse or significant other.  However, as believers, we are to demonstrate God’s love every day to both those near and dear to us as well as to those who “despitefully use us.”

     Jesus gave us a number of important instructions when it comes to loving one another.  John 13:34-35

says, “A new commandment I give you; Love one another as I have loved you, so you also must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”  So our primary duty in the Body of Christ is to demonstrate love to one another just as our Lord did for us. This is not always an easy task because we are not perfect as our Savior was, and lets be honest...it is not always easy to love others. Even in a family, it can be difficult at times . This is where we need the Holy Spirit’s help to love sacrificially giving of our time, our talents and friendship to one another.  Considering the price our Savior paid to redeem us is it too much to ask that we put aside some time to love on other members of the Body?  What does this look like in practice?  We can encourage one another, visit the sick, comfort the bereaved, send a card or make a phone call. This shows others that we care about them. It isn’t so much in the “big” things we do...it is often in the little things we do that shows our care.

     Recently, I was having a “bad” day.  Nothing seemed to go right and I hated just about everything I was trying to do.  Ever have one of those “Satan inspired poor me” days?  Well, I was wallowing in my own self-made misery when I got a text message from our son.  It was so encouraging, and along with it, he sent a picture of our youngest grandson.  He could never have known how much I needed that simple message.  Sometimes, that is all it takes to demonstrate the love of Christ at just the moment a person needs it most. It isn’t complicated or costly to do it either. It was a small token of love that changed my outlook.

     Our Lord also told us something a little more difficult to do when it comes to showing love. Luke 6:32-36 tells us:  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Without the help of the Holy Spirit, this is a hard thing to do for any of us, but it demonstrates the love of Christ to our fellow man like nothing else can. The world does not live or love like this, but in Christ, we can and must.  

     Jesus summarizes how very important it is in the life of a believer to demonstrate His love to others.  In John 14:15, I love the way “The Message” says it:  “If you love Me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.  I will talk to the Father, and He’ll provide you another Friend (the Holy Spirit) so that you will always have someone with you.”  As we demonstrate our love for each other in the Body of Christ and outside of it, we are obeying the commandments of the Lord. And as the Lord said, He did send another Helper to live and abide in us to help us with this task.  We have only to ask in prayer for His assistance. To my way of thinking, the month of February is much more than flowers, candy and cards.  It is a month to remember how we are to love others with the agape love of Christ. Let us bring glory to His name by living and showing forth His love.  Selah!

In Good Hands

      Whenever we contemplate surgery, we want to be certain we have the very best doctor for the job.  We have all seen those silly commercials where a patient asks the nurse about how good his doctor is.  She replies that he is “Okay”.  Then when the doctor comes in the room he asks the patient if he is scared to which the patient says he is.  The doctor says he is too but they will figure it out.  The commercial ends with “Just okay, is not okay.”  We all get the point.  We want the best person for the job.

     Planning to have knee replacement I wanted a doctor who was experienced and had great results.  I found such a

physician and went ahead with surgery. Replacing a knee is no small task and recuperation is not quick and pain free.  However, the results allowed me to have a better quality of life in the end.  In the meantime, I worked with my therapist doing exercises that made me wince thinking ahead of the times I would be able to walk without pain. I had to keep that goal firmly fixed in my mind so I didn't give up.

     In much the same way, when we come to Christ, we have just had major surgery...a heart transplant. God takes our heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh that can know Him and love as He loves. This is a surgery that only the “Great Physician” can do as recorded in Ezekiel 11:19:  “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.  I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,”.... Through the blood of Christ, God changes our hearts.  When we repent, He gives us a whole new way of living life..a fresh start. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. However, now comes the hard part.

     We have just been through major surgery at the hands of our loving God. We have a new heart, but we now need to learn to live a new way with a new mindset.  At times, this new life will challenge us and we may wince just as I do during my rehab.  Being born with a sin nature means it will take time to throw off the old habits that want to keep us bound to our past.  Praise God, He gives us the blessed Holy Spirit to live and dwell within us as our teacher and guide.  The more we pray, seek God in His Word and fellowship with other believers, the quicker we will grow strong in Christ.  This is our goal, our high calling in Him and we must not lose sight of it.

     Paul reminds us that the runner runs to win.  He trains and perseveres so he might win a perishable crown, but we are running for one that is imperishable. Just as with my rehab, if I did the exercises, I had a better outcome from surgery.  It is not fun to do or pain free, but neither is the Christian life.  Oh there are the great, glorious times but there are also the moments of hardship when we think we should just quit. The devil is all too happy to remind us of our shortcomings too.  Yet, we are more than conquerors in Christ, and we must remember this encouragement as we prepare to meet our Savior face to face one day. Our temporary trials are nothing compared to the weight of glory that awaits those who press on daily.  Let us remember that God who gave us a new heart will help us every step of the way because we are in the best hands!  Selah! 

When God is For You

Edinburgh Royal Castle

     When I was a little girl, my Grandfather Engel would read to me from the Bible as I sat on his lap. I didn’t understand all the words, but I remember that the Bible was his most important read of the day.  He loved Psalm 27:1:  “The Lord is my light and salvation - whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” These words sustained him for many years.  My mother told me that he had a heart condition that doctors could not treat in those days, so he truly lived by faith in God’s goodness each day.  There are so many other verses like this one that provide comfort to believers and it is good to remind ourselves daily that God is for us not against us.

     Yesterday as I was looking at my social media feed, someone posted Isaiah 54:17:  “…no weapon that
is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”  What beautiful words of comfort to God’s people!  This promise for God’s people offers peace to us in the middle of a world that has seemingly gone crazy.  When Jesus said to His disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27), it was an affirmation that believers in Christ can take to heart.  Later in John 16:33, He says:  “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take courage; I have overcome the world.”  In these verses, we have the promise of peace not a promise of no trouble, suffering or heartache.  However, through the difficulties, His peace will be there deep in our souls.

     When I think about a great example of someone who really believed God was with them, I cannot fail to mention Corrie Ten Boom who knew the severe trial of a concentration camp.  She and her sister who were imprisoned for hiding Jews in their clock shop during WWII experienced horrible conditions but found the opportunity to share the Gospel with other prisoners.  Corrie’s sister died in the camp, but God miraculously had Corrie released by clerical error.  Through it all, she found her strength in the Lord and a peace which helped her through the pain and suffering.  God used Corrie as she traveled the world telling others about Christ.  God was for her, in her and with her.

     In his letter to the Romans in chapter 8, Paul points out how God is, indeed, for us.  Verse 1 says:  “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  These glorious words assure us that our faith in Christ has freed us from condemnation for our sins.  This world system may condemn us, but we are free from that before God.  As we continue to read this chapter, Paul points out that Christ suffered and died then rose from the dead for us and our sins.  We are now children of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided “we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him” (vs.17b).  He continues in verse 31 by saying:  “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Once again, we have another assurance that God loves us.  After all, He gave His Son that we might be saved.  As he draws the chapter to a close, Paul once again reminds us that nothing shall ever separate us from the love of God in verses 38-39.  He calls us more than conquerors.  This is a chapter of Scripture we should remind ourselves of often.  

     God is for us, with us and lives by the power of the Holy Spirit in believers.  In whatever situation we find ourselves today, we need to rejoice in this wonderful news.  We are never alone and nothing can ever separate us from His love and care.  The world system may want to chew us up and spit us out for not walking in their path, but we have the Creator of the Universe as our steady companion, friend and Father.  He has given us all we need for life and godliness.  Live in that knowledge today!  Selah!

The Evidence is In

          

               Having grown up in a family with a well-known criminal attorney for my grandfather, I was exposed to all things concerning the law from the time I was little.  My father would usually go and visit my grandparents every evening and I always begged to go along.  I would sit and listen to their discussions concerning various cases that were in the news and the evidence that had been gathered.  Whenever eyewitness testimony was mentioned, my grandfather would say "Case closed unless they can prove the witness to be less than reliable."  Without eyewitness testimony, many cases were on shaky grounds in those days unless there was enough other evidence present to bring a conviction.  However, when both eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence were present, it made the case a more solid one.

     With this in mind, I always find myself surprised when I hear people talk about their faith being built

upon that "inner" feeling they have that God is speaking to them.  Perhaps they have been highly motivated by a great message or by the antiphonal music of a choir and instrumental group.  Certainly, there is nothing wrong with being moved in our hearts, but our faith can rest on far more than a "feeling".  We have eyewitnesses who testified to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Because of this, we can say, "Case closed."  Feelings come and go, but the Word of God stands forever!

     Two of the disciples, John and Peter, were eyewitnesses to what happened in the life of Christ and they wrote clearly about their experiences.  Peter said in his letter:  "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).  Likewise, the Apostle John wrote these words:  "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life, and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us" (1 John 1:1-2).  Both of these men walked, talked and lived with Jesus for three years.  They witnessed His crucifixion, His death and His resurrection.  Then, they boldly proclaimed His name after He ascended to the Father.  In fact, they ended up paying great penalties for what they preached.  Peter was crucified upside down as he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as His Lord.  John was boiled in oil though he survived and was banished to the Isle of Patmos where he later wrote the book of Revelation.

     Matthew was also a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and recorded in detail the events of our Lord's life.  While Luke was not an original disciple, he spoke with many of those who were eyewitnesses to the life of the Lord.  He records in great detail the many events that occurred. As a physician, he would have been very driven to write things accurately and he states in the opening of his Gospel:  "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught"(Luke 1:1-4).   From this we know that Luke had first hand eyewitness accounts on which to base his writing.

     Jesus also appeared to His original disciples (with the exception of Judas who had taken his own life), Mary Magdalene, Salome, Mary the mother of James, Cleopus (Luke 24:13-34) and to over 500 during the 40 days following the resurrection.  Though Paul was not an eyewitness, we know that he had a dramatic encounter with the living Christ that turned him from persecuting Christians to believing in Him.  He also was brought to the disciples in Jerusalem by Barnabus and affirmed as a brother in the Lord  (Acts 9:26-30).  As a contemporary of the Apostle Peter, Paul wrote, preached and taught alongside these disciples.  His testimony of Christ was demonstrated by his life and death at the hands of Rome.

     I have only scratched the surface in pointing out the eyewitness testimony to the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it should be evident that we have radical legal evidence to stand on for our faith.  Most of the Gospel accounts were written either before 70 A.D. or within the first 100 years following the death and resurrection of the Lord.  This type of historical documentation lends even more credibility to the events that transpired.   In addition, many (if not most) of the original disciples were put to death for their faith.  These trembling, fearful fisherman who hid after the crucifixion became bold preachers.  They paid dearly for their stand.  Why would you do this if it was not true?  I do not think anyone would offer up his body to be crucified, beaten and beheaded for the sake of a false religion.  These were the eyewitnesses to the life of Christ who sealed their testimony in their own blood.

     Feelings are not a reliable source on which to base our beliefs.  Christianity is logical, reasonable and has stood the test of time.  In fact, more evidence to the veracity of what the Bible teaches is being turned up every day by archeologists.  Who is surprised?  God's Word is inspired, infallible, and the very foundation of our faith.  We could take it to court and find no better testimony offered there.

     After recounting the events surrounding the resurrection, John makes this powerful statement in his Gospel:  "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name"  (John 20:30-31).  This is why the Bible stands as a book filled with eyewitness accounts to the greatest events in history.  It is His-story!  Believe in the Lord, not as a result of feelings, great music, or a motivating message.  Believe in Him because of the testimony preserved for us in the written Word of God which guides us into all truth.  Selah!