Once you’ve said, “I do” to Jesus Christ, then you will never have another worry or care in the world, right? Wrong. One would assume the presence of God’s Son would shield us from any further struggles, but that was never a promise God made. What He did promise was He would be ‘with’ us during our trials but not that we would be trail-less.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I accepted Jesus at the age of 7 years old. My grandfather, who was my pastor, baptized me by immersion to represent the decision I had made at the Billy Graham Crusade. The act of my Pop-Pop placing me under water was to represent that I am now buried with Christ, and then raised to a resurrected life. This ordinance was to show others I believed in Christ with all of my heart. Baptism did not save me…it was done to show others I accepted Jesus.
I enjoyed my new life as I became more active in church choir, missionary activities, and Bible study. I loved going to church. Not only did my entire family go there, too, but the whole church became my family. Was so easy to take this perfect lifestyle for granted and trust that God would always protect us as we served Him wholeheartedly.
But, on February 3, 1968 my ideal world stood still after one phone call. A nurse called to encourage us to get to the hospital as soon as possible. My grandmother stopped breathing while recovering from a simple removal of her gall bladder the day before. She died instantly with no success of being revived. We were devastated and from that day on my family fell apart. My perfect world was terribly shaken. I made the decision, at the age of 13,to stop going to church for awhile. Just way too many memories of Granny. Besides…why would God allow this to happen?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
Have you been tested?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Is Transformation Necessary
For the past 13 weeks we have examined what would be necessary for a spiritual transformation. To tenderize a heart takes action for often we build a fortress around our heart to protect us from pain.
I learned this lesson as a 7 year old playing in my backyard. I knew there had to be someone greater than my daddy to make the grass and trees. Daddy only mowed and trimmed.
At church I heard about a man named Jesus who would take away my sins so I could live with God forever and ever. I thought about what it would mean to give my heart away to Jesus and give Him permission to live in it. I, also, wondered how a great big man would get into my little girl heart. It required childlike faith to believe in something I could not see but could feel.
I tapped my mother on the arm and said, “I have to go down.” She whispered, “Are you sure?” With blonde curls and big brown eyes I starred at her with great conviction and replied, “Yes.” No doubt God was speaking to my heart. My mother stood up, grabbed my hand, walked down the long row of steps, and on to the baseball field at a Billy Graham Crusade.
Perhaps I didn’t understand everything I was doing but three things I did know; 1) I knew I did some things wrong and was a sinner, 2) I needed someone who could forgive me and love me in spite of my imperfections, 3) I wanted to start over and have Him forever in my life and that someone was Jesus—the One whose sacrifice paid the price for all time.
…He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15
Have you gone to Jesus with childlike faith today? Go to Abba (Daddy) and place every care you have in His lap. He’s waiting for you with open arms.
Next week we will start the third series called “Will It Be Easy or Painful”.
I learned this lesson as a 7 year old playing in my backyard. I knew there had to be someone greater than my daddy to make the grass and trees. Daddy only mowed and trimmed.
At church I heard about a man named Jesus who would take away my sins so I could live with God forever and ever. I thought about what it would mean to give my heart away to Jesus and give Him permission to live in it. I, also, wondered how a great big man would get into my little girl heart. It required childlike faith to believe in something I could not see but could feel.
I tapped my mother on the arm and said, “I have to go down.” She whispered, “Are you sure?” With blonde curls and big brown eyes I starred at her with great conviction and replied, “Yes.” No doubt God was speaking to my heart. My mother stood up, grabbed my hand, walked down the long row of steps, and on to the baseball field at a Billy Graham Crusade.
Perhaps I didn’t understand everything I was doing but three things I did know; 1) I knew I did some things wrong and was a sinner, 2) I needed someone who could forgive me and love me in spite of my imperfections, 3) I wanted to start over and have Him forever in my life and that someone was Jesus—the One whose sacrifice paid the price for all time.
…He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15
Have you gone to Jesus with childlike faith today? Go to Abba (Daddy) and place every care you have in His lap. He’s waiting for you with open arms.
Next week we will start the third series called “Will It Be Easy or Painful”.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Once and For All
Sin cost. How do I know? I’m a slow-learner. The cost is unsettling in my soul. The disruption leads me to either run to find another sin to numb the anxiousness or causes me to fall on my knees with regret, because there is no worse feeling than that of being separated from God.
Atonement for sin is nothing new. Starting in Genesis, animal sacrifices were presented to God as a means of restitution. Atonement—satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury—to make amends. The cost was, and is, the same…bloodshed.
Hebrews Chapter 9 reminds us of how atonement was practiced in the Old Testament, then shares the provision of the New Testament. The temporary practice of animal sacrifices was to only lead to a permanent solution.
God loved us so much that He gave a sinless, perfect, and unblemished gift, Jesus. No longer would a perfect animal be needed to be our replacement. His only son would be more than sufficient for not only past sins but the ones yet to be committed. He took the place of all.
“But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven's "tent"—the true Holy Place—once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.” Hebrews 9:11-14 The Message translation.
Accept God’s greatest gift as His Son’s blood-transfusion brings life to your soul. There has been no sweeter gift to this world.
Atonement for sin is nothing new. Starting in Genesis, animal sacrifices were presented to God as a means of restitution. Atonement—satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury—to make amends. The cost was, and is, the same…bloodshed.
Hebrews Chapter 9 reminds us of how atonement was practiced in the Old Testament, then shares the provision of the New Testament. The temporary practice of animal sacrifices was to only lead to a permanent solution.
God loved us so much that He gave a sinless, perfect, and unblemished gift, Jesus. No longer would a perfect animal be needed to be our replacement. His only son would be more than sufficient for not only past sins but the ones yet to be committed. He took the place of all.
“But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven's "tent"—the true Holy Place—once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.” Hebrews 9:11-14 The Message translation.
Accept God’s greatest gift as His Son’s blood-transfusion brings life to your soul. There has been no sweeter gift to this world.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Hallowed
“Ops! Sorry,” apologizing to a little hunched-over woman behind me in a black coat and hat. Too much focus on my daily errands left me insensitive to others around me. I turned to the woman with long gray hair assuming she was hard of hearing because she continued to stand still with no response. As I bent down to look at her I found a bright green grotesque face. I took a step back as I realized it was a life size manikin of a witch.
Feeling silly I wondered over to another aisle and met another manikin eye-to-eye. This time it was a decomposed man, dressed in a tuxedo, with fake blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. I guess you can tell Halloween is not my favorite anymore.
"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery.” Leviticus 19:26
Halloween traces back to the Celts, in Ireland, during medieval times. Their armies imitated over 300 different gods in efforts to terrorize their enemy. Witchcraft was, also, practiced to tap into the spiritual world for strength.
A feast called, Samhain (Sah-ween), was celebrated to mark the release of hostile supernatural forces to wonder around the earth. The chosen day…October 31st, the day before All Saints Day on November 1st. European Catholics would pray, to the saints, for their deceased ancestors who may be in purgatory.
Halloween seems to be gaining more attention. Decorations are becoming more elaborate too. So, what are we teaching our children? What will this lead to? Little wonder why movies like Harry Potter and Twilight have grossed over 1.6 billion dollars at the box office and DVD sales (this total does not include other series). The fascination of occult practices is evidently on the rise.
The definition of Halloween is: the last night of the year in the old Celtic calendar, where it was Old Year's Night; a night for witches.
The word Hallowed, as in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Hallowed be Thy name…’ means; holy, sanctified, consecrated, and sacred.
Which would you rather celebrate?
Feeling silly I wondered over to another aisle and met another manikin eye-to-eye. This time it was a decomposed man, dressed in a tuxedo, with fake blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. I guess you can tell Halloween is not my favorite anymore.
"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery.” Leviticus 19:26
Halloween traces back to the Celts, in Ireland, during medieval times. Their armies imitated over 300 different gods in efforts to terrorize their enemy. Witchcraft was, also, practiced to tap into the spiritual world for strength.
A feast called, Samhain (Sah-ween), was celebrated to mark the release of hostile supernatural forces to wonder around the earth. The chosen day…October 31st, the day before All Saints Day on November 1st. European Catholics would pray, to the saints, for their deceased ancestors who may be in purgatory.
Halloween seems to be gaining more attention. Decorations are becoming more elaborate too. So, what are we teaching our children? What will this lead to? Little wonder why movies like Harry Potter and Twilight have grossed over 1.6 billion dollars at the box office and DVD sales (this total does not include other series). The fascination of occult practices is evidently on the rise.
The definition of Halloween is: the last night of the year in the old Celtic calendar, where it was Old Year's Night; a night for witches.
The word Hallowed, as in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Hallowed be Thy name…’ means; holy, sanctified, consecrated, and sacred.
Which would you rather celebrate?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Power in the Blood
The sight of blood still makes me weak—not to mention the needle that comes before it. I dread when the doctor says at the end of an exam, “Okay, I’d like to have some blood drawn so we can see how you’re doing.”
As a child I remember squirming in my pew when we sang hymns with words like: there is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb; what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus; are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb. My high soprano 7 year old voice sang along with my family all the while wondering why we had to sing about blood.
For years I ran from the Blood Donor buses when they arrived in the church parking lot. The cookies and juice looked good but no way was I going to sacrifice pain to give a pint of blood. However, the Lord changed this scardy cat when a friend desperately needed platelets in her war against leukemia. (Warning…should the Lord call you to do the same, do not look under your chair to see a plastic bag filled with yellow-white looking paste. The sight of my own platelets made the room grow dark as if I were looking through a paper towel roll. “I think I’m passing out” was all I said to bring me a crowd of white coats.)
I felt so small when I witnessed my friend get out of her hospital bed and walk. How silly for me to act so selfish over a tiny little stick to my arm. Watching her take steps from lifeless to life demonstrated there truly is power in blood.
What once scared me as a child now amazes me of God’s precious gift of warm blood that circulates throughout my body to experience another day. For it is He that commands my heart to beat another beat.
Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." Exodus 24:8
As a child I remember squirming in my pew when we sang hymns with words like: there is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb; what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus; are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb. My high soprano 7 year old voice sang along with my family all the while wondering why we had to sing about blood.
For years I ran from the Blood Donor buses when they arrived in the church parking lot. The cookies and juice looked good but no way was I going to sacrifice pain to give a pint of blood. However, the Lord changed this scardy cat when a friend desperately needed platelets in her war against leukemia. (Warning…should the Lord call you to do the same, do not look under your chair to see a plastic bag filled with yellow-white looking paste. The sight of my own platelets made the room grow dark as if I were looking through a paper towel roll. “I think I’m passing out” was all I said to bring me a crowd of white coats.)
I felt so small when I witnessed my friend get out of her hospital bed and walk. How silly for me to act so selfish over a tiny little stick to my arm. Watching her take steps from lifeless to life demonstrated there truly is power in blood.
What once scared me as a child now amazes me of God’s precious gift of warm blood that circulates throughout my body to experience another day. For it is He that commands my heart to beat another beat.
Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." Exodus 24:8
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Proof Is In The Prophecy – Part 2
With a Master of Studies degree in Law from Yale Law School, Lee Strobel became an award-winning journalist. His greatest talent is the ability to investigate until truth is found. Married, with children, his Agnostic wife discovered truth in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lee, an Atheist, soon turned his attention towards a thorough investigation on the prophecies of Jesus in an effort to rescue his wife from this ‘cult’ she had joined called Christianity.
Lee’s investigation lasted a year and nine months. However, what started out as evidence against Christ eventually led to evidence for Christ when he discovered prophecy written hundreds of years prior were fulfilled by one man; Jesus.
Statistics support physics are only right 6% of the time yet the prophets of the Bible were correct 100%. Lee had no choice but to respond to the truth and became a Christian as well.
Lee is the author of the best-selling book, The Case for Christ, and since has written several other great books that show undeniable evidence that God’s Word is ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth…so help us God’.
Jesus’ Death and Resurrection:
Betrayed by a friend—despised and rejected—beaten and spat on—a Son that was given— a lamb that was slaughtered—the Passover sacrifice with no bone broken—hung on a tree as a curse for us— wounded for our transgressions—thirsty during his execution— given vinegar to drink—struck in the head—hands and feet pierced—soldiers cast lots for his coat—buried with the rich—raised from the dead—swallow up death in victory—ascended on high
His Titles and Attributes:
Promised Redeemer—A Righteous King—Seed of David—The High Priest—Chief Cornerstone—Immanuel—God With Us—The Light—The Stone in Zion—God’s Elect Servant—The Righteous Branch—Good Shepherd
…"How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken…” Deuteronomy 18:21-22
Lee’s investigation lasted a year and nine months. However, what started out as evidence against Christ eventually led to evidence for Christ when he discovered prophecy written hundreds of years prior were fulfilled by one man; Jesus.
Statistics support physics are only right 6% of the time yet the prophets of the Bible were correct 100%. Lee had no choice but to respond to the truth and became a Christian as well.
Lee is the author of the best-selling book, The Case for Christ, and since has written several other great books that show undeniable evidence that God’s Word is ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth…so help us God’.
Jesus’ Death and Resurrection:
Betrayed by a friend—despised and rejected—beaten and spat on—a Son that was given— a lamb that was slaughtered—the Passover sacrifice with no bone broken—hung on a tree as a curse for us— wounded for our transgressions—thirsty during his execution— given vinegar to drink—struck in the head—hands and feet pierced—soldiers cast lots for his coat—buried with the rich—raised from the dead—swallow up death in victory—ascended on high
His Titles and Attributes:
Promised Redeemer—A Righteous King—Seed of David—The High Priest—Chief Cornerstone—Immanuel—God With Us—The Light—The Stone in Zion—God’s Elect Servant—The Righteous Branch—Good Shepherd
…"How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken…” Deuteronomy 18:21-22
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Proof Is In The Prophecy
How many prophecies do you think are in the Bible? A) 500 B) 1,000 C) 2,000 D) 2,500? J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament, for a total of 1,817. These encompass 8,352 verses. So, if you guessed C you guessed the closest to what one person has stated to be the correct number. Congratulations!
Jesus has fulfilled over 300 of those prophecies. Here are just a few from Rose Publishing’s pamphlet 100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus:
Jesus’ Birth:
He was born of a virgin—a seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—from the tribe of Judah—born in Bethlehem of Judea—from a birth line of King David—kings will bring the baby gifts and will bow down before him in worship—be a first born to be sacrificed—be a rod out of the stem of Jesse
Jesus’ Life and Ministry:
A messenger would be sent first to prepare the way (John the Baptist)—be rejected from his brethren—rulers take council against him—will be a rejected capstone—would reach out to the Gentiles as well—he will come riding on a donkey to Jerusalem—be a stumbling block for the Jews—make the deaf to hear and the blind to see—make an everlasting covenant—be a light to a dark world—would speak the words of God—be hated without reason—would come only to do the will of the Father—was anointed by God—would have a zeal for God’s house--would care for the needy—speak in parables—pray for his enemies—people’s hearts would harden from him—would minister in Zebulun, Naphtali, and Galilee—be healer and do miracles—be a shepherd who tends to his sheep—a redeemer out of Zion—preach to those that were captive—will dwell among his people—would establish a new priesthood
These are just a few from His birth and ministry that can be found in the Old Testament. Only through the study of all God’s Word have I discovered how His Words bring power to the foretelling of why we needed a Savior in the first place. It’s obvious that God provided His only Son, Jesus, who would become our sin who knew no sin.
Jesus has fulfilled over 300 of those prophecies. Here are just a few from Rose Publishing’s pamphlet 100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus:
Jesus’ Birth:
He was born of a virgin—a seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—from the tribe of Judah—born in Bethlehem of Judea—from a birth line of King David—kings will bring the baby gifts and will bow down before him in worship—be a first born to be sacrificed—be a rod out of the stem of Jesse
Jesus’ Life and Ministry:
A messenger would be sent first to prepare the way (John the Baptist)—be rejected from his brethren—rulers take council against him—will be a rejected capstone—would reach out to the Gentiles as well—he will come riding on a donkey to Jerusalem—be a stumbling block for the Jews—make the deaf to hear and the blind to see—make an everlasting covenant—be a light to a dark world—would speak the words of God—be hated without reason—would come only to do the will of the Father—was anointed by God—would have a zeal for God’s house--would care for the needy—speak in parables—pray for his enemies—people’s hearts would harden from him—would minister in Zebulun, Naphtali, and Galilee—be healer and do miracles—be a shepherd who tends to his sheep—a redeemer out of Zion—preach to those that were captive—will dwell among his people—would establish a new priesthood
These are just a few from His birth and ministry that can be found in the Old Testament. Only through the study of all God’s Word have I discovered how His Words bring power to the foretelling of why we needed a Savior in the first place. It’s obvious that God provided His only Son, Jesus, who would become our sin who knew no sin.
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