Patterns

We all have patterns of behavior in our lives. We wake up, shuffle off to the bathroom, then go into the kitchen to grab some coffee perhaps, or some breakfast. That pattern is pretty typical for most people, I think. But what does our "Jesus pattern" look like?

We probably go to church most Sundays. But what else? A Bible study? Prayer time? Anything?

When we get stuck in a rut, or we feel like God is not listening to our prayers, consider these words from the Book of Deuteronomy.

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." - Deuteronomy 6:4-9

How are we doing in our faith when we compare it to what God commands? Not very well, I think.

When I examine my own pattern, I probably read more than most, but I am retired and have the time. I am not in a Bible study, but I study the Bible. I write these stories. But if I look at that list of things that God gave Moses in Deuteronomy, I am not doing enough.

God wants us to be consumed with HIM.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

ALWAYS. WITHOUT CEASING. IN EVERYTHING.

Uh-oh.....

Yet, the Bible also says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2 32).

Lord, I thank you that you consider me worthy to be adopted into your family, because I KNOW that I am totally NOT worthy. Yet your grace extends to someone as flawed as me. There is nothing I could ever do to make myself worthy. Nothing. It's all You, Lord. 100% You. And for that I am eternally grateful. Amen.

Just As I Am - Michael Eldridge

Love Theory

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains." - Matthew 24:6-8

That was Jesus telling us about the end of things and the signs of His coming. It sounds like He just got done watching the nightly news.

I just watched Minnesota Governor Tim Walz say that he was going to call out the national guard to fight against U.S. ICE agents. Here's one quote from a news story.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday the state's National Guard was prepared to deploy if necessary following the fatal shooting of a woman during a federal immigration enforcement operation, saying, "We've never been at war with our federal government."

That was a state governor threatening war against the federal government - a rumor of war? A CIVIL war?

Let's zoom out and look at the globe we live on. Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon have all struck others with acts of war in recent days. China and Taiwan are waiting in the wings.

I have an idea.

Why doesn't everybody just relax and spend a little time reading the Bible. The part where Jesus tells everybody to "love your enemies."

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love 

 neighbor i and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48

I'm with Him.

When God created everything, everything was good. VERY good (Gen 1:31). He breathed life into us (Gen 2:7).

"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." - Genesis 2:7

God loves us (John 3:16). And how do we thank Him? How do we give praise to Him?

We hate. We kill. We lie. We were not created to do this! We need to repent!

And we need a Savior. We need Him right now. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

But there IS something we all can do while we wait. While we occupy these earthly bodies. And that is to love one another, as He first loved us (John 13:34).

Let that be our goal today with everyone we meet. The lady at the cash register, our co-workers, the guy pumping gas next to you, the kid playing games on their phone.

Could simple acts of love really change someone's life? Let's love one and find out!

Great Are You Lord - All Sons & Daughters

Past Tense

News hits harder when you're not expecting it. That's why hearing about my friend's death has left me feeling pretty empty.

Sandy, a former coworker of mine, was not a believer, but seemed to be interested. I visited her and her husband several times after I retired. I spoke to them both about the love of Jesus. However, there is a big difference between 'interest' and 'surrender.'

My friend told me that she had done too many bad things in her life to ever have hope of being forgiven. Oh, my dear Sandy. You did not know the grace and mercy that awaited you! And that's the problem. People don't KNOW about the life-giving power of Jesus. And why not?

We are not doing enough preaching and people are not doing enough believing. We need to be praying more than we do because we can't MAKE people believe. Only God and His Holy Spirit can do that.

My friend Sandy is gone now and I can't change that. But I CAN change my effort to speak to others about Jesus. I can increase the frequency and intensity of my prayers. And who knows, maybe Sandy finally did place her faith in Jesus before she died. I cling to that hope and seek comfort in the One who wishes that NO ONE should perish.

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

But there IS a time limit. Our own mortality.

Did you notice that my words about Sandy were written in the past tense? Was, seemed, visited, spoke, etc. If my friend is a child of God (present tense) I wouldn't be mourning. I would be celebrating.

Jesus spoke about this.

"Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. ³⁸Now He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” - Luke 20:37-38

"Is," not 'was."

May my boldness increase, Lord. May my words speak the truth in love to those who need to hear. May the world come to know your life-changing power, and may your love rain down on those who thirst. Only in the shelter of your wings can they find peace and eternal life in your presence. Lord, we thank you and praise you for this gift you have given us. May we use it for your glory and not ours. For you Lord are the life giver and sustainer. Have mercy on my friend's soul, Lord. It is in your precious name I pray. Amen.

Ancient of Days - CityAlight

What I Deserve

This story begins with a Linkin Park song, then proceeds through various images of relationships with friends, and ultimately ends up at the feet of Jesus. Are you ready for today's journey? Better buckle up.

First, the song. Give it a listen, at least until you hear the title for this story.

The New Divide - Linkin Park

It's rather obvious that the singer has suffered a broken relationship or two in his life. Especially in the second verse....

There was nothing in sight

But memories left abandoned

There was nowhere to hide

The ashes fell like snow

And the ground caved in

Between where we were standing

And your voice was all I heard

That I get what I deserve

We've all had broken relationships in our lives. Some were our fault, some were the other person's fault. And some, well, they never had a chance to begin with. The same can be said for our relationship with The Church.

Maybe we've been burned in a relationship with a church, so we left. Or perhaps it was because the church changed and we could no longer keep our relationship going, even though we might have wanted to.

There should be no discord within the church. We ARE instructed to 'love one another.' However, the earthly church is comprised of sin-filled humans. Our sin is also why our relationship with God has failed. We simply can't help ourselves.

Jesus told us of "the new divide" we will be experiencing if we don't know Jesus, and He doesn't know us.

"Between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." - Luke 16:26

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned we've been on the outs with God. Destined for the bad side of that great divide. We will never be allowed to cross it. Ever. Our only hope is Jesus. He is "the bridge" we must choose to walk BEFORE we die.

Remember, "we get what we deserve."

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." - Ephesians 2:3-5

Praise be to God The Father, and God the Son, by whom and through whom we are saved!

"It is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:5

Weakness

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Just another verse from the Apostle Paul? Or is it the beginning of understanding?

Two social media posts from friends this week testify that the opening verse of this story rings true.

The first post was from my friend Kortney. She shared a video to mark the sixth month anniversary of her heart and double-lung transplant. She nearly died six months ago but was given the gift of life.

The second was from another friend, coincidentally named Paul, who suddenly fell ill three months ago. He too almost died, yet somehow he lived. Why? Why were these two people given life rather than death? Let's go back and read some more from the Apostle Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth.

"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 9-10

How can we become strong when we are weak?

In our weakest moments - when we are sick, or in desperate need - that's when our prayers have the most strength. It is in OUR weakness that we become strong. Not through our own strength, but through God's.

In our daily prayers, how do we become weak? By humbling ourselves first. By getting our hearts in the right position, one of humility and surrender, FIRST. THEN we pray.

"See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious." - Lamentations 1:20

"Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. ²³They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

“²⁴The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” - Lamentations 3:22-24

Both of my friends praised God and gave Him thanks, because of they recognized their own weakness. May we do the same when WE are weak. When we seek Him with all of our hearts.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Chris Rice

Crumbs

"Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²²A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment." - Matthew 15:21-28

There are several directions one could go whilst studying this story. First, note that the lady was not Jewish. She was from Canaan. 

And note that Jesus said, " I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Interesting. What about us Gentiles?

We need to keep in mind that Jesus was Jewish and so were the disciples and ALL of the Israelites. As Paul writes:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." - Romans 1:16

I am a Gentile. Therefore I am one of the dogs eating the crumbs that fall from my master's table.

The world just watched the Pope's funeral. He was "a dog" just like I am a dog.

We see all the cardinals in their ornate red robes, looking so "religious," and I think about the tax collectors and prostitutes in Jesus' day. And the thief on the cross. All they had was their faith.

"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹²On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." - Matthew 9:10-12

All "religion" is man-made. So are the means by which a new pope is selected. Think back to the book of Acts. They simply met in each other's homes. Jesus was their head. Compare that visual with what happens at St. Peter's Basilica when a pope dies.

Would Jesus have wanted that? Or would He have preferred something more like his donner at Matthew's house? Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus were the only ones that attended our Lord's funeral. Hmm.

Was the Canaanite woman the beginning of hope for the Gentiles? Or was this God's plan from the beginning? I for one am grateful to eat the crumbs that have fallen from my Master's table. So incredibly grateful.

Born Blind

How does someone born blind know what sight is really like, having never seen? How does someone born deaf know what it is like to actually hear? They have never experienced it. We can describe it to them, but they will never truly know what ANY of these things are like until they become a reality in their own lives.

"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ²And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

⁶Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud ⁷and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing." - John 9:17

Nowhere in this story does it say that the man ASKED for his sight. Only that Jesus gave the man his sight. Interesting. That's because Jesus was demonstrating his healing power for OTHERS to "see."

"that the works of God might be displayed in him."

We are ALL born blind in a spiritual sense. Some people receive their spiritual sight at an early age. For others it takes decades. And sadly, there are many who will be blind their entire lives - never having encountered the risen Christ.

When we repent of our sins and come to a saving faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters us. As the Bible says, "we become changed" and "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have we had our eyes opened by Jesus? The things we do and they way we live our lives are witnesses to God changing us. It is for His glory and through His grace that He has done this. Rejoice!

"One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” - the man born blind (John 9:25).

Ups and Downs

"So, how are you doing today?" 🙂

"Well . . ." 🙄

It all depends on the day, right? Life has its ups and downs. We all have our good days and bad. So what can we do to minimize the down days and maximize the ups?

First of all, everyone has bad days. EVERYONE. So accept that fact and then do this: Prepare yourself. How?

Remind yourself. Remind yourself of who you are. And WHOSE you are.

My wife and I were stuck at home on Sunday due to a rather nasty ice storm. So, I decided to listen to a sermon by one of my favorite pastors - Voddie Baucham. There's a link at the end of this story.

What Voddie said was that we often forget just WHO God is. When we remind ourselves of who He is, or more likely, when GOD reminds us who He is, our problems tend to fade away.

When we are feeling good and life is wonderful, we tend to forget the things that God has done for us. Sacrificed His Only Son, forgiven our sins, promised us eternal life with Him in heaven. No more pain, no more death, no more tears. We must remind ourselves of these tnings.

"Remember who is God, what has He done, and what has He promised."

Here's another thing to remember from Voddie: "Christianity is not a test you take and pass. It's your life! It's your breath!"

If we would only remember these things we wouldn't have a problem with ups and downs. Our emotional and spiritual cycles would level out and we can live in the grace that God has extended to us.

Thanks be to God!

This Is Why We Need To Be Reminded - Voddie Baucham

Grace

We had the fam over on Christmas Eve for a light lunch and gift opening. There were eight of us in attendance so thankfully we have two bathrooms.

A few days before our big event, I happened to be down in the basement when I "felt the urge" and hustled into the lower-level bathroom. There, just sitting in the sink, all by himself, was a big ol' spider. So, naturally, I turned on the sink faucet and washed him down the drain.

My wife would never have done that. For example, we get beetles in our house every once in a while, during the winter. My wife lovingly picks them up, carries them to the front door, and puts them outside. Yes, they probably freeze to death, but she doesn't kill them.

God is even more graceful with us humans. We are sinful by nature, deserving of death. Yet God extends US grace and gives US the means to escape His coming wrath.

On Christmas Eve day, with all of our guests in the house, I went down to use the bathroom again. There, sitting calmly in the sink, was my friend, Mr. Spider. I was about to wash him down the drain again, but then I stopped and thought for a moment.

"Leave him alone," I said to myself. "He's been through enough this week."

My wife is a great teacher. Her example of grace saved a spider's life on Christmas Eve. God has given us ALL a way to escape "the swirling waters of death." By placing our faith in Jesus Christ, His One and Only Son. It is the free gift of salvation.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:1-5

The Art of Forgiveness

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:32

There it is. Be KIND to one another. Forgive each other. Two commands we seem to struggle with. Why.

Just to make sure, let's check with Jesus to see what HE has to say about it.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15

Uh-oh.

Just to be clear, if we don't forgive others, we're going to hell. You, me, everybody who does not forgive others.

Here's the real question: HOW do we forgive someone who has wronged us? Do we talk to them about it? That often does not end well. The secret to forgiveness is not from one person to another. It's to God through prayer.

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

Give these situations to God in prayer. Relinquish control of these hurtful situations to Him and let go.

If we continue to hold onto grudges and we keep remembering how so-and-so wronged us, it is not going to go well for us.

Remember, God knows our hearts. He can tell when we have truly forgiven someone.

Let go, and let God.

"Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge that they themselves must pass." - Confucius

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." - Martin Luther King Jr.

God forgives like no other.

The Heart of The Matter - Don Henley

I Apologize - Sidewalk Prophets

The Prison of The Mind

Have you ever watched the news and heard someone say something that seemed SO contrary to the truth? Where does that come from? How can they still be on the air? Well, there's a reason for that.

Why do people act like they do? They can be so hurtful sometimes. It's almost like they are not themselves or are manipulated in some way. Yessss.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world . . . 

That's us. Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus. We used to be "one of them," living amongst them, as Paul says later.

"and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient."

That's Satan, the Evil One. 

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 

So, why are we different? Why can we recognize the lies? And why do we still love the very people who hurt us and lie to us? It's almost like we are different somehow.

Yesss.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions."

So, God did this? We were "dead," but now we are "alive?" Why would He do that? What makes us so special?

Good question. Yey, here we are. Saved.

"It is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:1-5

When someone yelled out that "Jesus is Lord" at a Kamala Harris rally a few weeks ago, she told them that they were at the wrong rally - implying that Christians belong at a Trump rally. Think about that for a moment. Was she right?

We who believe have been saved from God's wrath (the just punishment for our sins). Remember, we used to be among those who are disobedient. Be we were called out of our disobedience. Why?

Well, it's not to do nothing. We have been saved, not to just sit on the sidelines and watch "the game" unfold. Suit up, Christian! Reach out to those who persecute you. Love and pray for those who chastise you and abuse you. That's who WE were.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Trump's campaign has made a fatal mistake in their "Make America Great Again" campaign, IMO. No one man can make that happen. Rather, their slogan should have been a prayer. Only God can change hearts. Only He can make the blind see. We need to be on our knees, not sitting in the bleachers.

"The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." - John F Kennedy.

God's Grace

Here's the typical question from many unbelievers: How can a loving God send people to hell? Or, If there is a loving God, why does He allow pain and suffering to exist?

I have written about this before but the answer bears repeating. So many potential believers get hung up on this one thing - blaming God for everything that goes wrong in their lives. It's not His fault, it's ours.

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity. There is none who does good.

God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." - Psalm 14:2-3

In God's just world, the punishment for sin and disobedience is death. But God . . .

God provided a way out of our death sentence. His name is Jesus. It is through our belief in Him, and our submission to Him, that we are saved. Through HIS extendingly amazing grace to us, and our acceptance of it, Jesus becomes our Lord.

Then comes the challenge. We must act like He is our Lord. But let's get back to those two questions in the opening paragraph.

How can a loving God send us to hell? God is a just judge. There is a penalty for our sin and God will hand it out. WE are the ones who chose sin over obedience. WE chose to disobey.

How can God allow pain and suffering? Why doesn't He cure cancer and let us live forever?

We ALL will live forever. It's just a matter of location. Sickness and death entered the world when WE sinned in the Garden of Eden.

So the real question we should be asking becomes this: How can a loving God sacrifice His one and only Son for a bunch of sinners like us? Good question.

But He did. It's called grace - God's grace. Isn't God worthy of our praise rather than our disobedience and sin? That's another good question that we ALL must answer.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” - Isaiah 55:6-13

Go Out With Joy - Maranatha Singers

Grace and Mercy

Most of us have had pets in our lives at one time or another. We feed them, we clean up after them, and, in return, they give us unconditional love. Plus a few laughs along the way.

We have had a cat in our house for the past 18 years - a rescued barn cat, living the good life. But that life came to an end this past week. It was hard to watch. Still, through all of his medical struggles, our cat provided something beautiful to watch - my wife, caring for her dear friend, the cat.

The cat's last days made me appreciate my wife even more than I already did. Cleaning up his messes, taking him to the vet, feeding him special food laced with medication.

"That's going to be me one day," I thought to myself. Thankfully I have a loving and compassionate wife.

Watching my wife care for our cat made me think of God and HIS grace and mercy. Even though we are all sinners and deserving of death, God provided a way for us to live forever with Him - the sacrifice His Son offered on the cross - once for all.

In the Old Testament days sacrifices were set up by God (Exodus, Leviticus). They were not meant to pay for our sins, but as a reminder OF our sins.

"It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." - Hebrews 10:4

“Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” - though they were offered in accordance with the law." - Hebrews 10:8

"We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:10

God did not require sacrifice for sins as a penalty or payment, but rather as a reminder OF our sinful nature. Jesus was the sacrifice, once for all.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." - Acts 16:31

The Bible doesn't say much about our pets going to heaven when they die, but God created them. He saved them from the flood, though not all of them were saved.

It's the same with us humans. We too were created by God. And we too were saved from the flood, but not all of us will be saved. One thing we all must remember:

In order to be saved from the coming wrath, we have to get on "the ark." And the ark's name is Jesus.

Your Worth

Why are you so sad and downcast? Don't you know that the Lord loves you? Don't you know that He cares about you?

"You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you." - Isaiah 43:4

God is speaking to Israel in that verse but He is also speaking to you and me. His children. Those who have chosen to follow his Son, Jesus.

What would God do for you? Well, He gave up His one and only Son so that you might live. Would you do something like that for someone you didn't love?

There have been many times in my life when I have felt unworthy of God's grace. All I needed to do to snap out of it was to focus on God. Read some reminders in His Word, or talk to God in prayer. Spend time with a friend that He has blessed you with.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

Our problem is that we keep forgetting how much God loves us and just how filled with His grace and mercy our lives really are.

We should be praying, praising, trusting, and depending on God more than ever in these last days. For He is our only hope.

Princess Leia once said, "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."

Ha! Leia was a fool. God is God, not only near, but also "far, far away." He is God not only in this present age but also in times past and future.

"In all your ways submit to him and He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:6

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:17-21

A Thousand Pieces

Life is good. We can be living out our lives without a single care, when all of a sudden life gets turned upside down. It explodes into a thousand different scattered pieces. The illness of a loved one, the loss of a job, a car accident, or a divorce. What do we do then? We feel so helpless.

The default answer is always to pray. But then comes the waiting. And sometimes the wait can be long. What then?

If you are hurting, reach out. If someone is adrift at sea, won't they wave frantically at a passing ship? Wave!

And for those on board that ship, keep your eyes open! We never know when God might place someone in our paths who might need prayer or just someone to talk to.

The other day I met someone like that. He is going through a divorce and has two kids. He works third shift and struggles to find hope. BUT . . . he goes to a church filled with loving people. "You should talk to so-and-so. I think you would both benefit."

God is love, right? His greatest commandment is to love. How do we express that love? Compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness, sacrifice. Help them put their puzzle back together.

First, sort all the pieces and put them in some kind sort of order. Assemble the border and then do the work.

Love takes many shapes and comes in many forms. Our job is to apply it, liberally. Assembling a puzzle always goes faster with more than just one person. Ask the question.

"Need some help?"

"How are you doing today?"

"How may I pray for you?"

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

5%

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." - Matthew 5:13

After Jesus gave His Beatitudes speech on the Mount of Olives He told His followers what you just read. "You are the salt of the earth."

Why did Jesus call them salt? And why is the name of this story "5%"? Well . . . 

Salt. Back in Jesus' day salt was used as a preservative, to cleanse newborn babies (a disinfectant), and for fertilizer. Fertilizer? 

Yes! Where did the Jewish people get their salt? From the Dead Sea. Dead Sea salt is Potassium Chloride, not Sodium Chloride like our table salt. Potassium Chloride,  also known as Potash, is a fertilizer. It helps things grow.

Salt changes the things it comes into contact with simply by being what it is. Is that what we do? Do we change people simply by being who we are in their presence? Let's go read what Luke had to say about salt.

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away." - Luke 14:34-35

How much salt do we need then? When a community contains just 5% active Christians, it begins to change for the better. Judging by today's headlines we need lots of salt!

But the thing about salt is that it needs to come into contact with the dirt, with what it is intended to cleanse. How is THAT done? By being out in the community. By reaching out to the hurting, the sick, and the poor. We can help those around us grow in their faith simply by being with them. It's called fellowship.

Salt in our kitchen is useless while it's just sitting in the salt shaker. Only when we put it on a steak, or on some french fries, does it serve its purpose.

If we are to be salt in this world, where should WE be? At home in our living rooms watching TV? Or being poured out into the lives of those around us?

We are purveyors of the Gospel. If I sit at home simply reading my Bible, am I truly fulfilling my purpose as "the salt of the earth?"

The White Stones

We've all done stupid things in our lives. Sometimes we get caught. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we can pay a very high price for our stupidity. And sometimes, well, sometimes those stupid things can haunt us for the rest of our lives.

In the privacy of your own thoughts, I would like you to think about the stupidest thing you have even done. Something you would like erased from your past. Got it? Good. Let's proceed then.

Most of the stories I write are about faith in God, Jesus, or something I see happening in the world that makes me think of God or Jesus. Today's story is about you.

You and I are not all that different. We've both done things that we regret. We both wonder what our lives would have been like if we hadn't done what we did. Oh.... to erase it and start all over again! Or simply have it blotted out and forgotten.

Today you will read a short little story that hardly anyone talks about. It's an amazing story of forgiveness and grace. But it won't make any sense without the hidden meaning that will follow.

The first story is found in the Bible. It is just one verse long. Jesus is talking to one of His churches - the one in Pergamum. But it's really addressed to all of the churches, and to all of us individually as well.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." - Revelation 2:17

And now for the backstory.

Back in Jesus' day the Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Whenever someone committed a crime they had to go to court and convince a panel of judges of their innocence.

If a judge felt that you were guilty they would place a black stone in a jar and pass the jar on the the next judge. An innocent vote was given with a white stone. After all the judges had voted, the jar would be emptied and counted.

If the majority of stones were white you were judged as being innocent. If not, you were found guilty and sentenced accordingly. Now, read the last sentence of that verse again.

We will be tried by Jesus for our sins and He just told us in verse 17 that He is going to find you innocent. In fact, the Bible tells us elsewhere that our sins will be forgotten and separated from us "as far as the east is from the west."

How does that make you feel? The absolute worst thing you ever did will be forgotten. EVERY sin you have EVER committed will be totally forgotten and forgiven!

Jesus has done that already. He has already served your sentence. Jesus was found guilty of all of our sins, He has already been punished for them. OUR sins!

All He requires in return is our faith in Him. Our obedience.

WHY? WHY did He do this?

Because He loves us!

When Jesus gives you your pure white stone, with a new name written on it . . . known only to you, how will you feel? How will you feel as you look at the white stone in your hads with your new name written on it? Knowing you have been made clean and new by the One standing right in front of you?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

Road Trip - Part 3

"But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Last time we got off "the road" and took a look at just how much God loves us. Maybe just one more reminder....

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life." - John 3:16

The first few verses of our Romans Road road trip have been a pretty dismal. Basically, no one is good, and we're all going to hell. But today that changes. We finally receive some GOOD news!

First of all Romans 6:23 says that we get a gift! A FREE gift!! And what a gift it is - eternal life! To be honest, we ALL will live forever, it's just a matter of location, right? Heaven or hell.

For those of us who have chosen Jesus, heaven will be our destination. For those who don't believe in God or don't want to partake of God's free gift, well, those people will get to live forever too - in a lake of fire.

As believers, God's gift of eternal life sounds good until we remember that we have family members and friends who will basically choose to go to hell because of their refusal to believe in Jesus. That hurts us deeply. Why? Because we love them.

There's that word again. Love.

Jesus died so that ALL might live. "The WHOLE world" John 3:16 says. He died for all of us! In our place. How incredibly humbling for us, that God Himself would die for us. We are not worthy. Yet God, in His divine grace, sacrificed His own life so that we could be with Him forever.

But not all of us choose to believe that. And that makes us sad. Why? Again, it's because we love them.

Next time we will learn just what is meant by 'believing' in Jesus. As James says? "Even the demons believe."

[Come back on Wednesday for the final leg of our journey along the Romans Road to Salvation.]

To Your Tents!

When things got bad in Old Testament times, what did the Israelites do? They went camping!🙂

Don't believe me?

"When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home." - 1 Kings 12:16

And there you have it!

Of course, it wasn't a happy time when the Israelites went 'to their tents.' Things were usually pretty bad. Basically, they had no where else to turn. Every man for himself! Deperate times call for desperate measures, right? And desperate times are headed our way today. Check that, they are already here.

So, what do we do about it? How do we handle the increasing birth pangs of these last days? Three words - go to church.

You will not find a more loving, compassionate, and empathetic group than at a gathering of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

And why is there so much love and understanding in a church? Each believer has in them the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised.

 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." - John 14:15-17

What a wonderful reminder!

The church doesn't love like the world loves. At least they shouldn't. They love unconditionally and without thought of self. And that is something the world simply cannot understand.

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

The Gutter

Here's a fun little challenge for you today. Take a close look at this picture and tell me what you see.

Garbage dumpsters, parking meters, a moving vehicle, pigeons on the sidewalk, palm trees, a couple walking, a pawn shop.... anything else?

Well, there's a "16th Street" sign, a McDonald's across the street, and... a church sign. Do you see it? Upper left. "San Juan 14;6 Pentecostal." San Juan is St. John. And here's the verse:

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

Good verse. And this is a good place for a church. 

Regardless, welcome to "the gutter." This is where many of us live these days. How do you like what we've done with the place? The picture was taken in San Francisco.

Now, tell me the things you DON'T see. Besides Nancy Pelosi, that is.

I don't see any cars parked in front of the parking meters. I don't see anyone cleaning up the trash. And other than the couple walking through the mess, I don't see any other humans at all. Besides the walking couple, and the person taking the picture, there is no one.

Welcome to the future. And the future is now.

If you saw someone lying in the gutter on a street like this where you live, would you stop to help them? Or would you walk right by? Be honest.

Our apathy as a society is why we still have homeless people sleeping in the gutters of every major city in America. We don't stop to help.

We send news crews to take pictures and we say 'somebody should do something' but no one ever does. We are the reason Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you." (Matthew 26:11)

The one thing missing from the picture above that really stands out is the church....the body of Christ. Yes, there is a sign, and a building, but there is no one out on the street....in the actual gutter....doing anything.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." - Luke 10:30-35

Jesus is returning soon. Where do you think we'd find HIM? With the sick, the poor, the homeless, the hurting.

Where then should WE be?