A Heart Full of Christmas Memories

         Several years ago, we completed a remodeling project in our home. As we started to put things back, both my dear husband and I went through our possessions to dispose of things we no longer use or need.  As we looked through our boxes, we found pictures, news clippings and items given to us from our families.  What a flood of memories for both of us.
     In fact, I can close my eyes and see all the scenes of the snowy Christmases past.  There was the one horse open sleigh ride I had as a small child.  It had been a heavy snow day but my grandfather hitched up a horse to his sleigh and took my cousin and I on a ride of a lifetime.  Then, there were the 5 a.m. Christmas mornings when I tried in vain to wake everyone up because I wanted to see my gifts.  I remember my sister (8 years older than I) opening her bedroom door and throwing shoes at me down the hallway telling me to go back to bed.  All this and more as I think of my childhood home.  It was the same for my husband as he showed me pictures of his childhood.
     Pictures of our children when they were small made us smile as we recalled our many celebrations with them.  Now we have our grandchildren to enjoy watching.  Time grows more precious to us as we grow older, and this brings to my mind a song that has lived in my heart for many years:  "Heirlooms" by Amy Grant.  The words are simple but so meaningful at Christmas:
                                 
Up in the attic,
Down on my knees.
Lifetimes of boxes,
Timeless to me.
Letters and photographs,
Yellowed with years,
Some bringing laughter,
Some bringing tears.
Time never changes,
The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me.
Wisemen and shepherds,
Down on their knees,
Bringing their treasures
To lay at his feet.
Who was this wonder,
Baby yet king?
Living and dying;
He gave life to me.
Time never changes,
The memory, the moment
His love first pierced through me,
Telling all that I came from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious savior
Is more than an heirloom to me.
My precious Jesus
Is more than an heirloom to me.
     I remember singing this song in church during the time my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers so it has always been dear to my heart.  It reflected not only the precious gift of family but the even more priceless gift of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This is the true meaning of Christmas and here is the invitation that God offers to each of us:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  He loved us so much He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins.  All we have to do is repent (turn away) from our sin and believe in Him as our Savior.  We cannot earn salvation.  God gives it as a free gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ.

      This is the real heart of the Christmas celebration.  He came and we will never be the same.  Of all my memories, I will never forget the day that both my husband and I believed in Jesus Christ three months before we married.  It made such a difference in our life.  If you do not know Him, I pray that this Christmas you will make Him your Savior and Lord.  If you already know Him, rejoice knowing that God gave us the best gift we could ever have!  Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  Selah!

     

                               

  Several years ago, we completed a remodeling project in our home. As we started to put things back, both my dear husband and I went through our possessions to dispose of things we no longer use or need. As we looked through our boxes, we found pictures, news clippings and items given to us from our families. What a flood of ld.  It had been a heavy snow day but my grandfather hitched up a horse to his sleigh and took my cousin and I on a ride of a lifetime.  Then, there were the 5 a.m. Christmas mornings when I tried in vain to wake everyone up because I wanted to see my gifts.  I remember my sister (8 years older than I) opening her bedroom door and throwing shoes at me down the hallway telling me to go back to bed.  All this and more as I think of my childhood home.  It was the same for emories, I will never forget the day that both my husband and I believed in Jesus Christ three months before we married.  It made such a difference in our life.  If you do not know Him, I pray that this Christmas you will make Him your Savior and Lord.  If you already know Him, rejoice knowing that God gave us the best gift we could ever have!  Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  Selah!

Have You Been on the Road to Emmaus?

     Most of us have walked through perplexing times in our lives at one point or another.  We wonder what God is doing and often, why?  This was the mindset of two men who were  on their way to village called Emmaus some seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were distraught over the crucifixion of their Lord and did not yet know He had risen from the dead.  We can only imagine how they felt and what they said to one another.

     As they walked along, another man joined their company and began conversing with them.  They did not recognize that it was Jesus.  How easy it was for the Lord to lead them into discussing the events that took place in Jerusalem.  The men explained that two women had gone to the tomb but did not find the body of their Lord.  Two angels told them that He was alive so some of the disciples went to the tomb to see, and found no body.  At this point, Jesus began to explain to Cleopas and the other disciple what the Scriptures said concerning the Christ.  In Luke 24:27, the writer tells us:  "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. "  Then, when they all sat down to a meal together, Jesus broke bread, blessed it and gave it to them.  It was at that moment that they recognized the Lord had risen indeed.  Jesus then disappeared and both men exclaimed (in verse 32): "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?"  Another version of this verse said that Jesus opened their understanding of the Scriptures to them.

     After reading this passage (Luke 24:13-35), I thought how wonderful it is that the Lord opened their hearts and minds by interpreting to them all the Scriptures that pointed to His life, ministry, death and resurrection so that they could comprehend what God had done for them.  What's even better, however, is that we have the Holy Spirit as believers who can lead, teach and guide us into all truth just as Jesus did on the Road to Emmaus.  The key, though, is being in God's Word on a regular basis.  Notice that in the story I just related, Jesus did not disclose Himself to the men right away.  Instead, He took them through the Scripture so they could clearly see the plan of redemption from beginning to end.  

     Dear friends, the Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, but He also gave us the Bible to show us the truth about who He is and who we are.  When we do not take the time to meditate on Scripture, we are starving ourselves spiritually.  Each day when I sit down to study God's Word, I pray that the Lord will open my understanding as He did for those men on the way to Emmaus.  Often we are slow to comprehend as these men were because it takes time to digest the Word.  This is one reason we are told to meditate on it day and night.  

     In addition, the process of praying over what we read in His Word is just as important.  We are, in essence, having a conversation with the Lord just as the men going to Emmaus were doing.  This is how we can come to comprehend the truths God wants us to see in His Word.

     Finally, and most importantly, we need to be in fellowship and sitting under the proclamation of God's Word each week.  If we really want to grow in our understanding and faith, it is imperative for us to fellowship with other believers as we hear the Bible expounded.  God provides a rich banquet each Lord's Day and invites us to come sup with Him.  My prayer for myself and for all of you reading this is that the Lord Jesus Christ would open our understanding of His Word that we may grow in His grace and knowledge for His glory!  Selah

     

So Tell Me Again Why You are Afraid?

     One of my favorite places to sit in the house is by my front window where I can watch the birds at my bird feeder.  We have "Woody" the red bellied woodpecker, a few blue jays, cardinals, black birds, and a cute little bird that tried to get in our window this morning.  He must have seen his reflection and kept coming back for another look.  Of course, we have our complement of squirrels who simply love the bird feeder as well.  I marvel at how beautiful the colors are on these creatures, and think about the Master Artist, our Lord, who created each one of them.  This reminded me of some verses I recently read in Matthew 10:26-31.

     In this section of Scripture, Jesus is encouraging His disciples and reminding them that they will face trials in this life.  They are not to fear though because God is with them.  There is nothing that man can do to snatch them from God's saving hand.  He said to them:  "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."  These are comforting words for all of us who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Isn't it good to know that God values us and knows us intimately?

     So often, we tremble in fear over speaking up and sharing our faith with others.  We worry we may say the wrong thing, be politically incorrect, or offend another person when we speak the truth as found in God's Word.  I am certain that is what the disciples contended with as they proclaimed the good news of salvation to their Jewish brethren.  Really, nothing has changed from that time to this, and the words of reassurance that Jesus shared with them are what we can count on as well.  God is sovereign over all the affairs of men, and He is the only One we need to fear (that is respect and be in awe of).  Man may reject what we say or in the extreme, do bodily harm to us, but God can send the soul to hell which is far worse.

     Instead of living in fear, Jesus told us to look at the sparrows.  While man values these birds at a low price, apart from God not one of these creatures falls to the ground.  Furthermore, the Lord knows the number of hairs we have on our head!  Now that is real involvement in our lives, and Jesus goes on to reassure the disciples (and us) that we are more valuable than many sparrows.  When we consider things from this perspective, we have nothing to fear for our Lord is with us.

     In my MacArthur Study Bible on these verses, it says:  "Jesus was teaching that God providentially controls the timing and circumstances of such insignificant events as the death of a sparrow.  Even the number of hairs on our heads is controlled by His sovereign will.  In other words, divine providence governs even the smallest details and even the most mundane matters."  This is why we do not need to live in fear of man or our circumstances.  God is able to care for His creation far better than we can.  Fear comes from the enemy of our souls.

     With the election coming up, many are in fear of the outcome.  What will happen in our nation?  Others have worries and care for their personal situations.  However, we must remember these words of comfort and truth which Jesus gave to us in His Word.  We are more valuable than a sparrow.  God knows what we need, and He is able to keep us until that time we go to be with Him.  He, alone, is sovereign over all the affairs of men and He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and for our world.  Therefore, rest in this today and repeat the Serenity Prayer when tempted to worry or fear:

    " God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

     Courage to change the things I can; and

     Wisdom to know the difference."

Selah!

Setting Healthy Boundaries

     One of the toughest things that many of us have to face in life is setting healthy boundaries.  We need to know what to say "No" to and what to say "yes" to as well.  This process is not as easy as it sounds either.  During my college years, I wanted to do a little bit of everything until I found myself utterly exhausted.  I ended up taking a short break to recuperate so I could resume my schedule.  However, the problem was not really solved.  I had not learned to pace myself and this carried over into all of my activities.  This not only results in undue stress but also can hurt relationships and keep us from being at our best.

     As believers, we need to take a look at our lives and make certain we are "making the most of our time because the days are evil..."(Ephesians 5:16).  Jesus did this.  He took time for prayer and refreshment by seeking out the Lord's fellowship.  Mark 1:35-39 tells us: " And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, 'Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.' And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons."  Jesus did not succumb to pressure from his disciples to stay in the place where He was until all are

healed in that town.  Instead, He sought the Father to find rest in His presence and direction for the day.  He confidently told the disciples that they were to move on to other communities to tell the "Good News" of God's kingdom.  Our days need to begin with prayer if we ever want to set healthy boundaries in our lives.  Seeking God's direction for the day is the best place to begin.

     Secondly, we need to take time to relax in order to deepen relationships.  Jesus also modeled this for us.  Think of the many times when He went to dinner to have fellowship.  He spent time with Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  He went to dinner at Levi the tax collector's home and also had dinner at the home of a Pharisee. There is something about breaking bread together that fosters opportunities to talk, share and decompress from the stresses of every day living.  The added benefit is knowing how to pray for those we commune with as well.  Life is short.  We do not know when we will have the privilege of being with our family and friends. so we need to take advantage of the opportunities we have here and now.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us.

     Above all, we all must learn to say "no" even to good things in our life from time to time.  We cannot do everything, go everywhere and expect to avoid burn out sooner or later.  I recently had the opportunity to get involved in something I would love to do, but I looked at my schedule and time with my family and said "no".  Inside, I wanted to fit that activity in somehow but I have finally learned my limits.  This is something we all need to learn to do if we desire to care for our bodies...the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  We have to put down our cell phones, stop business calls after a certain time of day, say "no" to activities that would turn our already busy calendar into a non-stop marathon, and ask for God's guidance in how we use our time.

     With the holidays fast approaching, we need to stop and begin setting healthy boundaries.  How many of you, like me, have said that we would like life to slow down a bit so we could really enjoy our celebrations?  We can enjoy them if we take time to talk with God about priorities and relationships instead of just checking off all our activities.  We also need time for fellowship and relaxation, but we have to learn to say "NO"  in order to do this.  What we must all learn to seek is balance according to God's plan and purpose for our lives.  The gift of life and time is too precious to waste; therefore, lets learn to be good stewards in this area.  Selah!

Going Through the Storm

      Since moving to Florida 43 years ago, we have lived through seven hurricanes and one small tornado which took out our pole barn.  We had to evacuate an island vacation destination overnight for one storm, and the other six we remained at home hunkered down to ride it out.  Even though we live inland, storms the size of hurricanes can effect a wide swath of territory and when the storm comes over the middle section of the state as it did with at least four of the storms, it can cause a lot of damage.  Days without power (ten days in Florida heat with Irma...five with Ian), trees stripped bare of their leaves, downed lines, missing roof shingles and in some lower areas, flooding, are all part of the storm's fury not to mention winds that can reach over 100 mph.  We don't have storm surge in our area, but we do often have gas shortages as people hurry to fill up gas containers to run generators.  Then, of course, we return to the basics of easy meals on a camp stove to keep us fed until we get our power back.  In our case, we traded northern blizzards for Southern hurricanes; however storms make us look at life very differently whether they are the result of nature or the difficulties we face in walking in this fallen world.

     Storms really can give us a new perspective on life.  As I sat here in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, I really did not care about the world of politics, what college football team was playing or anything else

Our camp stove has been through five storms.

going on in the world just then.  I was just glad that we still had our roof, our house was sound, we were alive and so was our family.  When we go through a storm, our thinking shifts to what really matters most in life.  Ask anyone who survived on Sanibel Island or Ft Myers Beach and they will tell us that they are just happy to be alive.

     This is just one reason why I believe storms come into our life.  They help us refocus on the Lord because He is the only One who can bring us through.  We spent time praying, reading the Word, and having rich discussions.  There was no screen time without internet and no television either which in many ways was refreshing.  Our generator provided the basics in living keeping our food cold, and at night, our fans running so we could sleep.  In some ways, it was much like glorified camping, but it brings us closer to the things that really matter in life.

     Another lesson learned in this storm is the ability we have to serve and help each other.  The help from linemen, first responders and neighbors was truly amazing.  We had over 42,000 linemen ready to help power up Florida following this storm.  They were heroes to those of us living without power.  Offers of help with food, water and debris clean up has been a rich blessing as well.  Neighbors helping neighbors gives a great opportunity to share the love of Christ with others.

     A scripture came to mind that really seemed to summarize it all.  It's found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:  " So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."  This is what storms do in our lives.  They refocus us on what is most important and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Whether it is a physical storm like Hurricane Ian or the pain of loss in losing a loved one, God walks with us through the storm.  In these moments, the small troubles of our daily lives pale in comparison with the things that really matter.  As we draw nearer to God, He draws nearer to us as well.  Storms will come and storms will go but the love of God will never leave us alone.  Selah!

SHORT BUT SWEET

     Sometimes it does not take a lot of words to give us the encouragement we need for the day.  We just

need to know that God loves us and sees where we are in life right now.  This was certainly the case for Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations.  He wept bitterly over the fate of his people who had rebelled against God and were carried to exile in Babylon despite his repeated exhortations to them to repent.  However, in the middle of his lament, he stopped and wrote these words in Lamentations 3:21-26:

                                      "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.

                                        'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul,

                                             'therefore I will hope in Him.'

                                       The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

                                              to the soul who seeks Him.

                                        It is good that one should wait quietly 

                                              for the salvation of the LORD."

     In the midst of his pain, Jeremiah stopped to remember who God is and what He can do.  We need to stop today and do the same thing.  Do not allow the busy schedule, dire circumstances, or even the difficulties in our nation right now keep us from this truth.  God will make a way where there seems to be no way because He is ever faithful, sovereign and totally committed to His own.  Therefore let us wait quietly for His salvation.  This is a short but a sweet reminder for us as believers today!  Selah!

                                   

Releasing Things to God in Prayer

      I love the old hymns of the faith because they remind me of certain truths such as leaving everything to God in prayer.  One such hymn that came to mind today is "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  The first verse goes like this:  "What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!  What a privilege to carry / Everything to God in prayer!  Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,  All because we do not carry/ Everything to God in prayer!"  These lyrics were written by Joseph Scriven in 1855.  The rest of the verses carry on this theme of turning over our concerns to the Lord.  We need this reminder because it is so easy to try to shoulder the burdens of life on our own.  The truth is....we can't.

     Perhaps this is why I love the story of Hannah in I Samuel chapter 1.  She was a woman with a big burden on her heart.  She wanted to have children, but she had not be able to conceive.  Elkannah, her husband, had a second wife Peninnah who was able to produce sons and daughters for her husband.  Being barren, at that time, was considered a curse for a woman.

     Being a devout man, Elkanah took his two wives and children to Shiloh to worship the Lord.   On the day of sacrifice, he gave portions to this sons, daughters and his second wife Peninnah to eat, but to Hannah, he gave a double portion because of his love for her.  She refused to eat because of her sorrow at being unable to produce children.  To make matters worse, Peninnah would taunt her about being childless.  It was painful enough to be in this situation, but to be reminded of it on a regular basis was more than Hannah could take.

     Elkanah saw Hannah weeping and refusing to eat.  He tried to comfort her, but to no avail.  After the family had finished the meal, Hannah went to the Temple of the Lord to cry out to Him.  While she prayed and wept, she made a vow to God that if He would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the LORD.  The priest, Eli, watched her lips moving but no sound came from her mouth.  He thought she was perhaps an immoral woman who was drunk.  He approached her with a rebuke, but she explained that she was pouring out her very heart to God and had no strong drink.  With this explanation, Eli pronounced a blessing on her and she departed.  Verse 18b sums up what happened after she left the temple:  ..."Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."  What a testimony to the power of prayer when we really let go of our concerns and place them in God's hands!

     So often, we face things in this life that we cannot change by any direct action on our part.  Perhaps it is a family problem, loss of employment or financial difficulties.  Whatever the situation, God wants us to do exactly what Hannah did...He wants us to turn to Him.  I love Hannah's reply to Eli the priest when he accused her of drinking too much in verse 15:  "But Hannah answered, 'No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit.  I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.  Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."  She was honest not only with Eli but with the LORD.  She had literally reached out to God for help and trusted Him with this circumstance.  We must do the same.

     Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice on the cross, opened the door for us to commune directly with God.  Therefore, we need to avail ourselves of this great privilege as believers.  We may not be able to change things going on around us, but God can.  He is our source fo comfort and power.  Whatever burdens we carry today can be laid at His feet.  Therefore, like Hannah, we can wipe away our tears and go about with a happy countenance knowing that God can more than handle our concerns.  Selah!

     

What's In a Name?

     There was a time when I did not like my name.  As a child, it just didn't seem catchy enough to me and I often asked my mother why she gave me the name "Barbara".  The only option for nicknames were "Babs", "Barb" or "Barbie".   Plus, the name "Barbara" just sounded so formal.  Thankfully, I grew out of that stage and pretty much went by "Barb" in high school and college and later on, used my full name.  Isn't it funny how we tie certain things to a name?  We either like a name or dislike it based at times on our experience with someone who carried it.  When it comes to our Savior, though, He makes clear exactly who He is in the Gospel of John, and the Pharisees along with some of the Jews sought to kill Him because of what He declared.

     In Exodus 3:14, God told Moses what to tell the people of Israel when they asked who had sent him to them:  "I AM WHO I AM".  "I AM", therefore became the sacred name of God known to His people.  John's Gospel recounts seven statements made by our Lord where He uses this sacred name for God in describing who He is and why He has come.

     His first statement comes in John 6:35 where He tells us "I Am the bread of life"....this is just after the feeding of the 5,000 which supports this claim.  The miracle is meant to make us aware that Christ is our provision.  We will never hunger nor thirst again when we belong to Him.  This is not meant in the physical realm but in the completeness of our soul and our eternal destination.  Likewise, when we take communion, we feed upon the representation of His body and blood given for us which further confirms this description of our Lord.

     Jesus tells us in John 8:12; 9:5 "I AM the light of the world..."  This pronouncement comes when He heals a blind man.  Restoring sight to someone who has never been able to see is like opening a whole new world to him.  As Christians, we know this to be true when we become believers.  Before our belief in Christ, we are spiritually blind.  We stumble through life walking in darkness.  However, when the Holy Spirit regenerates us, we are able to see clearly who we are and who Christ is to us.  He opens our eyes to understanding the truth.  He is, indeed the "light on our path and the lamp to our feet."

     John 10:7,9 tells us that Jesus proclaims Himself to be "the gate" and "the door" to the sheepfold.  Of course, the Jewish people understood that there was only one gate where the sheep would enter to be safe, and the proclamation of Jesus meant that He is the only way to have a relationship with God.  There is no other.  Faith in Christ, repentance of our sins and trusting in His finished work on the cross is the only means of salvation.  This leads to His next description.

     In a passage from the same chapter (John 10:11, 14), Jesus says:  "I AM the Good Shepherd".... indicating his love and protection for all who believe.  Each time I read this, I am reminded of Psalm 23 which begins with the words:  "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."  This is such a blessing to reflect on the fact that here Jesus is telling us of His constant love and care.  All we have to do is remember how David (the shepherd boy and King) protected his herds from bears and lions.  He defended them with all his might and so will our Lord.

     Following this proclamation, Jesus tells us in John 11:25:  "I AM the resurrection and the life..."  This statement is made just before the Lord raises Lazarus from the grave.  What power in His words when we consider this miracle of restored physical life and yet, we see Jesus, our Savior, being raised from the dead as well.  He promises that if we believe in Him even though our body dies we shall live with Him eternally in heaven.  This promise and proclamation should bring hope to all believers more than any other.

     However, Jesus is not done revealing Himself to us because in John 14:6, He tells us:  "I AM the way, and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Once again, He makes clear to us and the world that He is the Creator of life, He has the truth and He is the only way to a relationship with the Father.  There is no mistaking His statement.  While other religions may claim they offer a way to heaven, Christ makes it clear that He is the only way.

     Finally, in John 15:1, Jesus says:  "I AM the true vine..."  and we are the branches when we belong to Him.  The Father prunes the dead branches away but when we are connected to Christ, we will produce good fruit.  Jesus is our sustainer of life and we need to be attached to Him so we can thrive, grow and learn.  What a blessing to know that He provides for us all we need for life and godliness when we are attached to Him!

     Throughout the book of John, Jesus makes it clear that He is God incarnate.  He is fully human and fully divine and our minds have a hard time comprehending this; yet, we know it is true.  For this reason, the Pharisees and some of the Jews tried to find a way to kill Him.  Even when they succeeded in putting Him to death, He arose as He said He would completing the work for our salvation.  What this means to us is that we can trust in His name and wait with expectancy for His return.  His new covenant made in His blood for us is a sealed promise by God that when we put our faith in Christ alone, we have the promise of everlasting life in His presence.  Think on this and read these verses with new eyes that you may be encouraged today!  Selah!

Compromising the Truth

      I ran across a meme the other day on Facebook.  I don't know who created it but it said so much that I wanted to share it with others.  The central truth found in this meme is something we all need to seriously think about in this age in which we live.  

     He did not compromise truth or soften it in any way, but proclaimed the life changing way to salvation.  When God regenerates a heart, He replaces the stony, hard, sin-filled heart with a new one of flesh that desires to live for Him.  In other words, once we come to faith in Christ, our lives should reflect a new worldview as revealed in God's Word.

     In confronting sin, one of the best examples is the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:3-11).  The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to test what Jesus would say concerning this woman.  According to the Law, she should have been stoned to death for her sin.  However, Jesus turned to them and said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (vs.7b).  At this, they began to walk away for they knew they were also sinners.  Jesus lifted her up, saved her life and gave her the "Good News":  "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" (vs 11b).  This wasn't just a physical rescue.  Our Savior did not leave her where she was at nor did He in any way excuse her sin.  He lovingly told her to go and sin no more. An encounter with Christ brings about change in our lifestyle, our friends, our actions, our thoughts....or it should.  However, if we try to compromise with the world and excuse sin (as laid out clearly in the Bible), we are not being faithful to the truth of God's Word and His call to make disciples of all nations.

      A verse I never understood until now is found in Matthew 10:34:  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."  He goes on to say that it will bring division even in a family when a person becomes a follower of Christ.  John MacArthur in his study notes on this verse says:  "Though the ultimate end of the Gospel is peace with God, the immediate result is frequently conflict.  Conversion to Christ can result in strained family relationships, persecution, and even martyrdom" (MacArthur Study Bible ESV pg 1377).  Why is that?  Because we are aligning ourselves with the truth found in Jesus Christ and in His Word.  Christian beliefs stand in opposition to this world system and call for a life far different than one which revolves around "me" and what I want.  Christ came to give us a new life through His sacrifice on the cross where our sins have been imputed to Him.  We are to be a new creation according to 2 Corinthians 5:17:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!"  We are not to live only for ourselves any more but for Him to bring glory and honor to His name.

     Dear ones, the world wants us to compromise our faith so we can fit in better with our culture.  There are some who have followed this siren's call in order to keep the peace.  However, God calls us to live in holiness according to His standards as found in the Word of God which is our foundation.  Just as Jesus did not leave the woman to live in adultery by blessing her and sending her back to live in sin, so we must share the truth of Christ's love with others so their lives will be delivered from sin as well.  It can be costly, painful or hard at the time, but the results of our faithfulness is to one day hear our Father say:  "Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:23).  Selah!

Don't Be Deceived

     Magic shows are fun to watch, but we know from the start that there is some sleight of hand or movement undetected by the audience that makes it seem real.  Perhaps we enjoy being fooled.  However, when it comes to our walk with Christ, we are warned to be on our guard.  There are false teachers, philosophies, and "empty deceit" just waiting to snatch any listening ear....even Christian ears.

 

   This point is driven home as I watched "The Truth Project" for the sixth time on a Wednesday evening.  Del Tackett, the tour guide, in this wonderful teaching series pointed out that even Christians are capable of being deceived by the ideas promoted in our world.  He pointed to the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians (2:6-8):  "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."  Unfortunately, the Church at Colossae as well as in Galatia had been dealing with false teachings that pulled them away from the truth of the Apostle's instruction.  They lost sight of true doctrine.  This should not surprise us because from the beginning of the church until now there have been many strange teachings, philosophies, and ideas that have crept into the body of believers.  Instead of believers influencing the world, we are more often influenced by them and accept as truth something which God has not condoned. 

     Sources of disinformation abound today now that we have electronic devices which can connect us instantly to ideas, theories and philosophies which may have no basis in truth.  Even in Paul's day, word could travel quickly in a village simply by passing a story on.  Today, however, we have instant messages that travel the globe in a click of a button.  Instant information, though, does not equal godly wisdom.  According to Paul, we need to be careful to walk in Christ daily...that is...His Word of truth.  His teachings (doctrine) should be close to our heart so that we are not deceived when someone introduces a "new understanding" on an issue to the church.  If we are rooted and established in our faith following the Apostle's teaching, we will not be easily led astray.  

     Paul echoes his teaching of being prepared in his second letter to the Corinthians 10:3-5:  "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...."  We are in a battle....a war of ideas in our present world.  Our fight is against arguments, opinions and ideas which try to distort God and His Word.  As Ephesians 6:12 tells us:  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  This verse is more relevant today than ever.  We live in a time of spiritual confusion and darkness.  This is why we need to be prepared by putting on the full of armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18) and make certain that we take every thought captive to Christ.

     Knowing that it is possible for us to be deceived as we walk in this world should encourage us all to be students of the Word....both Old and New Testaments.  God's Word does not change nor can we pick and choose what we want to obey.  His truth sets us free and creates in us a new heart and mind in Christ.  Therefore we must make certain we are  "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith".  Don't let the enemy steal your joy or deceive you with worldly philosophies and ideas.  This world is passing away but God's Word will stand forever.  While magic can be fun to watch, we all need to live in the real world founded on the rock of Christ and the Bible.  With the Lord, there are no tricks but abundant life.  Selah!

The Joy of Obedience

     Growing up on a farm presented me with many opportunities for lots of outdoor activities.  Most of them were fun, harmless and good physical exercise (eg. riding my bicycle, playing in the sprinkler) but there were other activities that often led to disastrous results.  My mother warned me countless times not to run full speed without keeping track of where I was going.  Personally, I thought she was being a spoil sport, but one day, I fell against our stone steps outside which left a gash near my left eyebrow.  This called for a set of stitches which certainly "spoiled my sport"!!!!  However, I did not learn my lesson as I once again assaulted my left eye with another gash by running full speed to the stairway and tripped.  Once again, I was headed for stitches near my left eye.  By this time, most of you would think I had learned my lesson, but no,  ever the daredevil, I decided to jump on a roll away bed mattress.  The frame was metal and my mother called out to me that I should not be doing that because I could fall.  Unfortunately, no sooner had she said that, I took a tumble and hit the metal frame next to my left eye once more creating a gash.  This time, we had to fetch the doctor off of the golf course to come and put stitches in the area.  To this day, I have three scars near my left eye as a reminder that I didn't listen to my mother.  Oh the pain I could have avoided had I only regarded her instruction.  The same is true for Christians in our walk with the Lord. 

     Too often, people think that the commandments of the Lord and His instruction in the Bible are antiquated, out of touch with the way people really live today or are burdensome.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God's Word is the very foundation of our faith and a manual for how we should live before Him.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."  Luke 21:33 tells us the same thing.  What God has established as His moral standards in both the Old Testament and New Testament remain as the foundation for the Christian church and individual believers. Again Jesus stated clearly:  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;  I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).  Indeed, Jesus kept all the Law perfectly during His walk among us and then, offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to cover our sins.  Through Him, our sins are forgiven, we are set right with God, but we are called to, then,  live a holy life even as God is holy.  We do not have the option of doing away with "the Ten Commandments" or God's moral standards of conduct. These are given for our protection, our welfare and for God's glory in our dark culture.  When we choose to live in obedience to God, we have a joy that no one can steal from our hearts.

     King David in Psalm 19 declares the goodness of God's laws and standards.  Verses 7-11:  "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;  the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Obviously, David saw the value of following in the Lord's path.  In obedience, he found joy, but likewise, when he sinned with Bathsheba, he tasted the painful consequences that followed.

     While some in our current culture want to play fast and loose with God's precepts and moral commands, we need to remember the admonition given by the Lord in the book of Revelations that we are not to add or take away from the Word (Rev. 22:18-19).  This caution goes along with several others that warn us not to add or take away from God's Word:  Deut. 4:2; 12:32;  and Prov. 30:5-6.  Our Lord loved us so much that He gave us a foundation for living in the Bible.  Then, to further demonstrate His love, He gave us His Son to seal a new covenant with us in His blood.  Therefore, we must respond by living to His glory.

     If I had listened to my mother's instructions, I would not have three scars around my left eye.  She did her best to warn me.  In the same way, we are given God's Word that we might experience joy in obedience and the privilege of glorifying Him in this world.  May we never take the Bible for granted or allow the culture, false teachers, or others to dilute the Word of truth that is given to bring us salvation and eternal life.  Search His Word, examine your life and live in obedience to God that you may have the abundant life He promised to all who believe.  Selah!

P.S.  A great book to study in regards to the Ten Commandments is Alistair Begg's "The Pathway to Freedom".  It is well worth your time to read this.  

How We Live Says a Lot About Who We Are

     In concluding a recent Bible study with a friend, a verse came to my attention that really stood out.  It comes from Hebrews 4:13:  "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."  What a wake-up call this verse should be for us!  If God sees all my actions, knows all my thoughts and desires, then, how I live my life is of the utmost importance.  This requires some self-evaluation on our part since we are often the only Bible some people will ever see or hear.

     One of the first areas that comes to mind is our speech.  Do we build up others and encourage or do we spend time gossiping and tearing down?  Jesus said:  "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person" (Matthew 15:11).  This is where we have to do a "mouth check" on a daily basis.  Do we take the Lord's name in vain, do we curse or use vulgar language?  If we do, what does this say about our walk with Christ?  We have a new heart, a new worldview when we become a believer. The old has passed away....or rather, it is supposed to pass away.  This is a part of our sanctification process.  I know that in my own life I am challenged in this area when I am driving.  I talk a good deal about others who are going too slow, cutting me off or going faster than they should on the road.  However, God has called me out on this because I am not a perfect driver either.  James puts it bluntly in his epistle:  "...but no human being can tame the tongue, It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be so" (James 5:8-10).  Since we cannot tame the tongue in our own strength, this is where we need the help of God's Holy Spirit.  Even when we stub our toe or hit our hand with a hammer, we need to watch what we say in response.  Not only are those around us listening, but more importantly, God hears us.  My daily prayer is:  "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight always, LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

     Another area that we need to examine is our thought life and our desires.  While we may not act out a murder or commit adultery overtly,  how we think about another person makes all the difference.   Do we wish someone would die so we can have our inheritance earlier?  Have we desired another man's wife or husband?  Even though, these are just thoughts and have not been acted upon, they are still sinful.  Jesus makes this clear in the Sermon on the Mount:  "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' (or Raca in Aramaic) will be liable to the hell of fire" (Matthew 5:22).  He goes on to talk about adultery as well:  "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).  This is one reason the Bible tells us to be renewed by the transforming of our minds.  When we become a Christian, we are a new creation.  As we read the Bible, pray and fellowship with other believers, our words, our thoughts and our actions should all be different than when we are walking in this world.  It certainly doesn't happen overnight.  However, if it doesn't happen at all, then, we need to take a step back and evaluate whether we are a Christian.

     Certainly, on this earth, we will never reach perfection and there will be missteps, but our lives should be producing fruit if we belong to Christ.  The distinction is clearly made in the letter to the Galatians 5:19-22:  "Now the works of the flesh are evident; sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law."  Then Paul concludes this by saying in verse 25:  "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."  Indeed, this is what Christ has called us to do.

     People watch us every day and how we live before them speaks louder than words. Perhaps, this is a new thought for you as it has been for me.  I am reminded of the children's song "Be Careful Little Eyes What You See".  It goes on to mention ears, tongue, hands, feet, heart and mind.  Why should we be careful?  "For the Father up above is looking down in love...."  He is our audience of One who sees us and knows all our thoughts.  Let us live so we can be a light and salt to others here...not a hindrance.  This will glorify our Father in heaven.  Selah!

God's Timing is Perfect

      Two years ago, we planned to take a Caribbean cruise with our daughter and her family.  This would be the first big trip for three of our grandchildren out of the country and they were excited.  Unfortunately, the Pandemic hit and our plans were put on hold when the cruise ship industry closed down due to safety concerns.  No one knew what to expect, but happily, we received credit for another cruise in the future.  Finally, this past month, we got to enjoy a lovely week with our family.  The weather was beautiful and we were treated so kindly.  Truthfully, it was worth the wait.

     How often do we get busy making plans like this and then it falls through?  I would venture too say that this happens to most of us at least at some point in life.  The question always comes as to why things had to be put on hold.  Of course, in this situation, we were happy to wait since no one knew what to expect.  However, there are other occasions where we grumble and complain because it seemed that there was no good reason for our plans to be interrupted.  Yet, there may be more of a reason behind our interruptions in life than we know.  I am reminded of the story of Balaam and his donkey.

     In Numbers 22:21-39, the story is related in detail.  Balaam, a pagan prophet, was approached by King Balak to go and curse the nation of Israel for he feared them.  He offered his money if he would go and do this, but Balaam said that he could only say what God told him to say.  He initially declined the King's offer, but eventually, he was told he could go with them.  The lure of the money that was offered made him want to go along.  As he journeyed to meet the king, his donkey acted very strangely.  At first, the donkey took him into a field whereupon Balaam beat him back on the road.  Once again, as they were proceeding between two narrow walls, the donkey pushed Balaam's foot into a stone wall and refused to go on.  Again, Balaam beat the donkey wondering why he was so disobedient.  They went on a little further where there was a narrow place with no room to turn, and suddenly, the donkey lay down under Balaam.  This was too much for the man.  He beat his donkey with his staff.  Then, the donkey's mouth was opened by God and he said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" (Numbers 22:28b).  Instead of shock and dismay at his talking donkey, Balaam told him that if he had a sword, he would have killed him.  The donkey reminded this man of how faithful he had been, and after that response, God opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel standing in his way.  It was then that the angel told him that he came to oppose him because of his reckless path.  He further told him that if the donkey hadn't stopped those three times, the angel would certainly have killed Balaam.  What a wake up call!  Balaam admitted his sin in going and in beating his animal who had saved his life.  The angel told him he could continue his journey but could only say what God told him to say about the Children of Israel.

     When we look at this story, we see a man who was unaware of God's angel who went before him.  He had no idea why his donkey behaved as it did, and in utter irritation, beat the poor animal until God opened his eyes.  While this story is not a perfect parallel with our interrupted plans, it serves to remind us that there are often unseen things behind why our plans are stopped in mid course.  We don't have a full picture as God does of what lies ahead.  I have often thought to myself, "How many traffic accidents has God kept me from by delaying my travel?  Or what if I had gone ahead with a certain purchase which might have been a big mistake?"  This side of heaven, we may not know why things turn out as they do, but we can rest assured that God is sovereign and has our best interests at heart.  Personally, I have come to a place now where I try to step back and acknowledge that there must be a reason for things to go as they have, and I can have peace knowing that God is in control.

     All of us can rest in His timing because Jesus came into the world at just the right moment to bring salvation to those who are called by His name.  We also know on the basis of His Word that He will come again for His own as He promised.  Looking at our world situation and the difficulties everyone has faced during the Pandemic it is easy to be discouraged, but this is the time we need to encourage one another and all the more as we see the day drawing near for Him to come again (Hebrews 10:25).

     God's timing for our cruise was not our timing, but we were very blessed when we had the opportunity to go.  We must all remember "A man's heart plans his course but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).  Balaam had to learn this from his donkey, but we have God's Word to help us to wait on His timing.  Therefore let us rejoice in waiting upon the Lord!  Selah!

     

There is Only One Constant in our Lives

     Those of us who live in Florida jokingly say, "If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes and it will change."  This is often true as it can rain for twenty minutes and be sunny the rest of the day.  I am, however, not complaining as we do not have to deal with snow and ice.

 While many things, like weather, change frequently, there is one constant in life that we can depend on and that is God.

     Malachi 3:6 tells us:  "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O Children of Jacob, are not consumed."  Throughout Scripture, God reminds us that He does not change when it comes to His character, His Word and His commandments.  Hebrews 13:8 declares, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever."  This means we can count on the LORD.  Furthermore, this is why the Apostle James wrote this about God:  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."  What good news this is for those of us who walk through this fallen world where one minute culture says we must do this and the next minute it is completely changed.  I don't know about you, but walking on shifting sand each day wears me out!  Thank goodness for the rock that is higher than we are!

     Another word for God's total stability of character is immutability.  Unlike people whose mood swings can sometimes knock us off balance, God remains the same.  We can depend upon His steadfast love and promises.  One place we see this most clearly is in the Bible.  Throughout the pages of His Word, God demonstrates His holiness, righteousness, and sovereignty.  He is faithful to execute perfect justice but shows His people grace through the giving of His Son as a sacrifice for our sin.  Has any other leader ever done that in this world?  Can we find such reassurance in the newspaper we read each day?  The more time we spend in the Bible, the more we see His character and love for us.  Speaking for myself, every time I read the Word, I find something new that I did not realize before.  His Word is quick and powerful and living!

     Because the Lord cannot change, we can rest assured that what He says He will do.  Numbers 23:19 says:  "God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind.  Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken,  and will He not fulfill it?"  Unlike friends or others who have let us down with a last minute change of mind, God is dependable.  I find this so comforting in the middle of our upside down world at this time.

     In my humble opinion, one of the biggest mistakes we can make is getting caught up in the ever changing controversies of this world  so much that we forget we have an anchor that will hold us firmly no matter what happens.  We allow circumstances, issues, and the ever changing cultural norms to blow us around like a piece of paper caught in the wind.  This can surely result in despair for us.  Leaders tell us to follow the science, and yet, the science keeps changing when it comes to the Pandemic.  However, the answers to our dilemmas and problems will not be found in the world system.  Man doesn't have all the answers, but God does.  Our citizenship as believers is in heaven and not in this world.  We are to be in the world but not of it.  God and His Word hold all we need for life and godliness.  More importantly,  when we begin to trust in the Lord's immutability, we will find peace as we travel through rough seas of life.

     We must all remind each other that the answers are not found in the box (this world system).  They are found in Jesus Christ....the giver of every good and perfect gift.  He is the one constant for our lives that will never change.  Selah!