Green Pastures

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." - Psalm 23:1

That sounds kind of nice. 'Green pastures.' That means it's warm, it's growing season. There is plenty to eat for the shapherd's sheep because, hey, they EAT grass! Plus, it's also more comfortable to lie down on than rocks and gravel. But what does all that mean for those of us who believe in God?

'Green pastures' for us sheep mean words like 'plenty', 'comfort', 'peace', and 'prosperity'. But those words have a different meaning to the Christian than they do to those who belong to the world.

For the non-believer, plenty and prosperity mean we are rich financially, we have a big house and a fancy car. We have so much of these things that we can just waste them without concern.

The unbeliever finds comfort in their lifestyle, no matter what that means, no metter what sins they commit, because it's exactly what THEY want. And it's all about them.

For the Christians however, these words have totally different meanings.

'Prosperity' for the Christian means that we have received God's blessings. We are 'rich' in love. God is all we need.

'Plenty' means that we have enough so that we can share what we have with others.

'Comfort' doesn't mean that we have people waiting on us hand and foot, or that we don't have anything to worry about. Comfort is something that God does for us and something we do for others.

'Peace' is something we receive from God when we are struggling. Peace comes when we 'fully rely on God.' (F-R-O-G)

'Lying down in green pastures' is a metaphor for God supplying our every need. The only question is....

Is Jesus your shepherd?

If Then

One of the few things I remember from my high school algebra class was the transitive property of equality - the "if/then" statement.

"If A = B and B = C then A = C"

It's like this.....

If Mary is my sister, and Tom is my brother, then Mary and Tom must be sister and brother. Something like that anyway.

There is another "if/then statement" statement that I read the other day that is also true and very important. It's in the Bible! Here it is.

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

That's another if/then statement but the "ifs" outnumber the "thens."

1. Humble ourselves
2. Pray
3. Seek God's face
4. Turn from our wicked ways.

IF we do ALL of those things, THEN God will hear us, forgive us and heal our land.

Look at that list. Do you see us doing those things as a nation anytime soon? Me neither.

"We're not going to make it, are we? People, I mean." - young John Conner - Terminator 2: Judgement Day

The thing about the world right now is that we have turned our backs on God. Not all of us, but most have. God can do anything. I'm convinced of that. But will He heal our land if we don't do any of those things?

Good question.

We keep forgetting one important thing about the Bible. It's for the Jews first, THEN the Gentiles. But Israel is just as bad off as WE are.

We as individuals can and must do all four of those things listed in the verse above. We'd best get to it. Our time is running short.

Maybe, if enough of us do these four things, God will hear our prayer. It's worth a shot, don't you think?

The Parable of the Weatherman

Weathermen are notorious for predicting,  and with great confidence I might add, the weather events of the future. The truth is they just make their best guesses based on previous weather events, as modeled by today's computers programs. Even with all that they are never 100% right.

One of our Green Bay weathermen has what he calls 'The Three Degree Guarantee.' He predicts the high temp within 3° 95% of the time. That's nice. But why isn't it 100%? Because he knows he could never make predictions that are always right. He's a human.

God's prophets are pretty good at predicting. That's because they don't predict. They just repeat what God tells them. GOD is 100% right, 100% of the time.

When Jesus said that He would return one day, I believe Him. He is always 100% correct. He also said that we would be able to tell the season of His return. Surely we must be getting close.

Now I have a song stuck in my head. There is a link to it at the bottom. The song is based on the words of 2nd Timothy 1:12

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day." - 2 Timothy 1:12

Do you KNOW who you believe in? God is 100% right in what He says, and in what He does, 100% of the time. He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

And He loves YOU!

I Know Whom I Have Believed - Fountainview Academy 

Bible Basics

As the return of Jesus approaches I have been thinking a lot about those who don't know the Lord. I have also been thinking about those who say they know Him but the fruit they exhibit in their lives tells a different story.

When Jesus reaches down and removes His church there will not be any answer for those who yell out, "Hey wait! What about me!?!"

King David has some advice. David said this to his son before he died. It's good advice. And a little bit scary.

“The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." - 1 Chronicles 28:9

So, today I thought I would offer up some basic truths about God's Word.

The Bible

1. Get it
2. Read it
3. Believe it
4. Understand it
5. Apply it
6. Repeat it

We need to understand that some people will never do any of these things. God understands that. That's why there is a hell.

This frustrates the believer because we have compassion for the lost. Even God wishes 'that none should perish' (2 Peter 3:9).

This will frustrate the believer until we are with the Lord. That's just the way it is. But let me encourage you in this way. Think about the future, when we are all with Jesus.

Everyone there will be rejoicing. We will be singing hymns and praising the Just Judge who brought us there - all because of Jesus. Jesus shed His blood and took our place in death so that we could live, forever,  with Him.

God's offer of eternal life is available to all. All we have to do is believe.

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

Pruning

This is one of our cherry trees. It grows pretty good. Too good. Fruit trees can spend so much energy on leaf production and growth that they fail to produce blossoms and fruit.

People who have productive fruit trees have spent time pruning and shaping their trees for maximum production. Hmm.

We humans are a lot like fruit trees. We spend so much time focused on ourselves that we forget just why it is that God placed us here.

And do you know what He does? He prunes us.

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." - John 15:2

So, how does God prune us? Lots of ways. Just do something against God's will and you'll find out. Everybody gets pruned differently and it's always just what we need to make us grow and become productive.

The Old Testament is full of stories about God pruning Israel. God called His people "stiff-necked." They kept straying from Him and worshipping other gods.

Are our necks also stiff? Will God prune us, and shape us into who He wants us to be?

Yes.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Unless we conform to God's will and trust in Him, we are just asking to be pruned. And we should welcome it.

Overcoming Darkness

We've all been there. We've all experienced the dark moments that life has in store for us. So what do we do when we need hope and light in our dark and gloomy world?

Today we will take short journey. A journey into darkness. Are you ready?

Picture in your mind the darkest place you've ever been in. A room with no windows, a cave, a basement, or your soul perhaps.

Totally dark.

But then you see something. Perhaps it's a shadow. Or, could it be.... a light?

Where did the light come from, if indeed it IS a light.

You begin walking towards it. It's faint, but it is definitely there. As you approach it you can finally see it for what it is. It's a mirror.

The light that you were seeing was you!

Did you know that you glow in the dark? You're beautiful! You are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14).

You have so much going for you, if you'd only realize it.

God created you. He created you for a purpose. A reason. He made you who you are for the purpose of loving others.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22: 37-39

The quickest way out of any darkness you might find yourself in is love. Loving others actually makes you feel loved. Why? Because you are not thinking about yourself.

And what if there is some out there in their own version of darkness. Wouldn't they appreciate a little light coming into their lives? A little hope? 

"Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

It's a Monday today. Be a Friday kind of person to someone today. Love.

My Shepherd

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1

What does a shepherd do anyway? Besides lead a bunch of sheep around. Here's a list of verbs and synonyms from Merriam-Webster's dictionary.

Coach, Counsel, Lead, Guide, Mentor, Tutor, Teach.

Does Jesus do all of those things in YOUR life? If we don't have Jesus leading us and teaching us all that's left for us to follow is 'the world.'

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

If Jesus is our shepherd, the opening verse says that we shall not want. Is that true? Oh, yes.

When Jesus is our Lord and Savior, our 'want list' diminishes greatly. Our want list also changes from selfish things to godly things.

We no longer seek power and glory for ourselves. Instead we want to serve God, to worship Him, and serve Him and others. Not for OUR glory, but for HIS.

A shepherd’s primary responsibility is the safety and welfare of the flock.

Is Jesus YOUR shepherd? I hope so. Here is a short, five-chapter book you can read to find out:

1st John

Hug Warning!

Today I am writing to warn you about the duration of any hugs I might be giving out in the near future. There's a reason for their lengthiness. It is today's story.

This past Friday, a mother and her two daughters were ambushed by a Palestinian gunman in Israel. The two daughters, Maia (20) and Rina (15) were killed immediately. Their mother, Lucy (45) died three days later. The father remains, to look after their remaining four children. Prayers for him and his family.

I've had several opportunities to give out hugs this past week. I consider myself blessed to be able to do so. The father and husband in the story above can only remember what it's like to hug those who are now gone.

How many people have you hugged in the past week? For me the answer is 10. But that's abnormally high due to Easter. The norm is about 3-4.

My wife, daughter, and granddaughter just left for an all-day shopping trip in the city. Before they left, hugs were given. Then my granddaughter said this to my wife, "I squeezed his neck! Ha ha!"

(sigh)

Again, please?

Conspiracy!

It doesn't matter what side of the political/religious fence you're on. One side will always disagree with those on the other side. That's just the way it is.

But what happens when one side tries to eliminate the other to advance their own agenda? They want so badly to protect their beliefs and power that they will actually conspire against you.

It sounds like a story right off the evening news doesn't it? And you could easily take it that way. But this story is about Jesus vs. the Pharisees.

After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, something that most would consider amazing, the Pharisees did this:

"Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, had seen what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” - John 11:45-48

I just looked this up, you know, just to make sure.....

"An agreement between two or more people to commit an act prohibited by law."

That is the Merriam-Webster dictionary's definition of 'conspiracy.'

Just as the religious leaders conspired against Jesus, many of our political leaders of today conspire against those they consider to be their rivals.

This happens at all levels of government, from the presidency right down to the local school board.

It's against the law! Yet people still do it. Why?

"There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." - 2 Timothy 3:1-4

We are living in those 'last days' that Peter was telling Timothy about. We are watching biblical prophecy being fulfilled right before our vety eyes! And yet we simply continue on with our lives as if nothing is happening.

Oh. Our apathy was prophesied too. Just so you know.

Pray.

In Between

I wonder, for these few days in between the crucifixion and the resurrection, what the disciples must have been feeling. They had walked with Jesus for three years, sworn they would never deny who Jesus was. Yet there they were. No Jesus. Questioning their beliefs about who He was. Who THEY were. Sad, alone, confused, and scared.

They believed that Jesus was the Son of God. They saw Him perform numerous miracles, yet still I don't think they fully believe in Him.

When Jesus was arrested they all deserted Him, denying they even knew Him. Yet something was about to happen that would change their lives forever. It would change the entire world.

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance." - John 20:1

Things were about to change.

"Mary."

"Raboni?!?"

Mary was the first person to encounter the risen Christ. And what did she do then? What was the very first thing that Mary did after seeing Jesus, risen from the dead?

She ran. She ran to tell others. Mary was the first evangelist, spreading news of the risen Messiah.

Did we do that when Jesus 'became real' in OUR lives? Did we run to tell someone else about Him?

We who believe have been given an incredibly precious gift. The right to be called children of God.

"Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1

Doesn't that make you want to run and tell....somebody?

Well.....run!!

In Between - I Am They

Thief

The thief on the cross has got to be one of most interesting character studies in the Gospels, besides Jesus of course. What happened to change this man's mind, from cursing Jesus to defending him? Find out in today's story.

Matthew and Mark's accounts of Jesus's crucifixion are pretty much the same. Luke's record of the event however is much more detailed.

According to Luke, Jesus actually gave a mini-sermon on His walk up the hill to the women of Jerusalem (v27-31).

"Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” - Luke 23:28-31

The two thieves, who were to me crucified next to Jesus, actually accompanied Jesus on His walk to Calvary (v32). They heard everything Jesus said to the women.

And, as they crucified Jesus, the thieves also heard Jesus say this: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34

All these things, and most probably that last sentence, caused the one thief to change his mind about Jesus.

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” - Luke 23:

39-43

It wasn't a miracle that Jesus performed, or anything else He did. It was what Jesus said.

He spoke to the women, He prayed for those who were killing Him, AS they were killing Him!

What do WE say and do to convince others that God is real? Do we heap judgements on sinners, or do we pray for them? When WE are under stress, how do WE react?

This world we are living in is turning its back on God. Our disobedience gets worse every day. Let us pray for eyes to be opened and for hearts to be changed. Remember, they know not what they do. 

Myrrh

We all remember the three wisemen who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus, the newborn King. Obviously, those things were considered valuable. But do you know what myrrh was used for? 

Myrrh is a gum-resin extracted from a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora. Myrrh resin has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Myrrh mixed with posca or wine was widely used in many ancient cultures to produce pleasurable feelings and as an analgesic.

Hmm. That last sentence.... an analgesic. That's a painkiller. Keep that in mind as you read this:

"They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it." - Mark 12:22-23

They offered Jesus a painkiller, but He wouldn't take it. Why not? Surely, crucifixion must be painful.

Remember back when Jesus was being arrested? Peter pulled out his sword and was willing to fight. Jesus said this:

"Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” - John 18:12

Jesus didn't want a painkiller because He wanted to obey the full will of God. He actually wanted to receive the full penalty for our sins, in obedience to the Father.

Would you or I have taken the wine mixed with myrrh to ease the pain? Most likely. But Jesus, even in His death, wanted to be obedient to the max.

The Love Test

Here's a fun little game you can play at home. It's called The Love Test and, if you win it, you will either be incredibly loved....or dead. Probably both.

Step 1: Make up a list of everyone you love (hopefully, this will take a while). Your spouce, your family, your friends, etc.

Step 2: Take your list and put a check mark next to each person you would be willing to die for. Who would you sacrifice your life for in order to save them?

Step 3: Make a list of all of the people you don't like. All your enemies. Hopefully this shouldn't take very long.

Step 4: Of all of the people on your enemies list, would you be willing to die to save any of them? Put a check mark next to those enemies you'd give up your life for.

How did you do? Jesus took a test like this long before you and I were born. He knows the name of everyone who has ever lived AND who is yet to be born. He chose to die for everyone. On your list. On everybody's list!

Extra credit: Read the following verses and think about them this morning.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." - John 15:13

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." - Matthew 5:43-44

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:7-8

If we think we care about someone enough to die for them, good. That's wonderful. But there is no beating God in any test of love. He loves us too much.

But God IS just. And "the wages of sin is death." Jesus died for everyone but we have a choice to make. Will we choose life or death?

The last question in The Love Test is this: Are we ourselves on any of those lists we just made? At some point we must be willing to 'die to self' in order to fully come to life.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 10:39