“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?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Old is New Again
As a child it was very important to my parents for me to learn God’s Word from the very start of life. As a preschooler I memorized Scripture but as a teenager it grew to chapters. Sunday night Bible drills were nerve wracking as we placed our Bibles by our side and waited for someone to announce a random Scripture reference. The first one to find and read it was the winner. Competition was tough as we were all lightening fast.
However, as an adult I realized I had heard the stories, knew the songs, could recite Scripture and the books of the Bible but something was still missing...application. In addition to applying God's truths, Christians leaned more on New Testament studies than the Old by stating we are no longer under the law because Jesus fulfilled the law. But the question still remained in the back of my mind, “Is Jesus really who He says He is?”
Over 25 years ago I walked into a weekday ladies Bible study at my church. Not so much to study the Bible but to be around adult women. Free babysitting for my two preschoolers was a plus too. For 3 years I purchased the workbooks, signed my name inside the front cover, maybe filled in a blank or two but that’s where the effort stopped. Sitting down and reading the Bible for an hour to fill in blanks was not my cup of tea, but I hid it well.
As time marched on I began to complete a whole day, then a couple of days, a week and what I gained…WISDOM! The Old Testament became alive as I could not only see myself in every story but I could see Jesus too.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Have you ever read Genesis? Why not start today and read a chapter per day? I challenge you to ask the Lord to show you how to apply His Words in your today then look for clues for the coming Messiah. They’re there!
However, as an adult I realized I had heard the stories, knew the songs, could recite Scripture and the books of the Bible but something was still missing...application. In addition to applying God's truths, Christians leaned more on New Testament studies than the Old by stating we are no longer under the law because Jesus fulfilled the law. But the question still remained in the back of my mind, “Is Jesus really who He says He is?”
Over 25 years ago I walked into a weekday ladies Bible study at my church. Not so much to study the Bible but to be around adult women. Free babysitting for my two preschoolers was a plus too. For 3 years I purchased the workbooks, signed my name inside the front cover, maybe filled in a blank or two but that’s where the effort stopped. Sitting down and reading the Bible for an hour to fill in blanks was not my cup of tea, but I hid it well.
As time marched on I began to complete a whole day, then a couple of days, a week and what I gained…WISDOM! The Old Testament became alive as I could not only see myself in every story but I could see Jesus too.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Have you ever read Genesis? Why not start today and read a chapter per day? I challenge you to ask the Lord to show you how to apply His Words in your today then look for clues for the coming Messiah. They’re there!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Self-Destruct
“How could I do and say such a thing? I know better than to act like that. Oh, I can’t believe I’m still dealing with those thoughts and actions. Maybe I should give up, accept who I really am, and just go on with life. I wish I could be like Carol who always has it together. But, having come from a background like mine…I can only hope to be half as good as her one day.”
Could it be that you are your own worst enemy? Self-condemnation will become self-destructive, which can lead to self-centeredness resulting in self-righteousness. Ever thought of you in those terms? Pretty harsh, huh? Being ‘full of yourself’ can be thoughts of how exceptional you are to how awful you’ve become. A popular diagnosis for these two spectrums is low and high self-esteem, but rarely do we dwell on the truth…who and whose we are in Christ?
For seventeen years I dealt with a particular sin that kept me from growing in my relationship with Christ. I allowed this ‘unforgivable’ sin to consume me by making a decision to never forgive myself. The benefit—only to fall deeper into despair. However, once I realized I wasn’t even given the power to forgive myself I began to accept the One and Only who could. I had to take action by becoming transparent before the Lord and admitting I could not save myself. Only He could. I had to give up my will to be my own Savior.
Oh, many times before I ran to Jesus crying for Him to please erase that sin only to walk away and take the burden right back. It continued to have power over me. In essence, what I was saying is, “Jesus, your death on the cross was not enough for me. My sin deserves much more.” Much more? How prideful could I get?
The truth of God’s Word says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Take a moment to realize how valuable you are to God. He loves you no matter what. Allow Him to heal you through and through. Let the sin go…He has.
Could it be that you are your own worst enemy? Self-condemnation will become self-destructive, which can lead to self-centeredness resulting in self-righteousness. Ever thought of you in those terms? Pretty harsh, huh? Being ‘full of yourself’ can be thoughts of how exceptional you are to how awful you’ve become. A popular diagnosis for these two spectrums is low and high self-esteem, but rarely do we dwell on the truth…who and whose we are in Christ?
For seventeen years I dealt with a particular sin that kept me from growing in my relationship with Christ. I allowed this ‘unforgivable’ sin to consume me by making a decision to never forgive myself. The benefit—only to fall deeper into despair. However, once I realized I wasn’t even given the power to forgive myself I began to accept the One and Only who could. I had to take action by becoming transparent before the Lord and admitting I could not save myself. Only He could. I had to give up my will to be my own Savior.
Oh, many times before I ran to Jesus crying for Him to please erase that sin only to walk away and take the burden right back. It continued to have power over me. In essence, what I was saying is, “Jesus, your death on the cross was not enough for me. My sin deserves much more.” Much more? How prideful could I get?
The truth of God’s Word says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Take a moment to realize how valuable you are to God. He loves you no matter what. Allow Him to heal you through and through. Let the sin go…He has.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Brokenness Can Result in Total Trust
Has God ever disappointed you? Have you ever questioned whether He really loves you? What about this thought—“If He’s all-powerful then why did He choose not to intervene during this tragedy?”
The feeling of total abandonment, from the loving God, can be devastating. How do I know? Because He decided it would be best to end my daughter’s earthly life. Overnight I became an official (unwilling) member of a group of parents who have experienced the same. My new sets of friends often ask me, “How could a loving God allow this to happen?” I stop to take in a deep breath and pray for the Lord to keep me from speaking for Him, but to instead guide me to speak about Him. I cannot answer their why’s, but I can certainly tell about The Who.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 says, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” Could it be true that the Sovereign God allows the good and bad? How in the world could something so bad become good? The challenge is to consider: He is always in control, always loving, always powerful, always present, and always able to do more than we could even hope or imagine.
Do you know someone who has said, “But, you don’t understand the pain I’m experiencing. A loving God couldn’t possibility allow this to happen to me. And…to tell you the truth…I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive Him for this one!” However, the truth still remains; Jehovah God is all-loving, all-powerful, and nothing else. So, should we really ask ourselves, “Am I able to trust Him even when He just doesn’t make sense?”
Is there a hurtful memory you need to ‘forgive’ God for today? He won’t be surprised at what you have to say because He can already see into your heart. He’s waiting for you to be honest. Tell Him He broke your heart then ask Him to do what He does best…heal the wound,restore your peace, experience His great love, and be used for His glory.
The feeling of total abandonment, from the loving God, can be devastating. How do I know? Because He decided it would be best to end my daughter’s earthly life. Overnight I became an official (unwilling) member of a group of parents who have experienced the same. My new sets of friends often ask me, “How could a loving God allow this to happen?” I stop to take in a deep breath and pray for the Lord to keep me from speaking for Him, but to instead guide me to speak about Him. I cannot answer their why’s, but I can certainly tell about The Who.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 says, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” Could it be true that the Sovereign God allows the good and bad? How in the world could something so bad become good? The challenge is to consider: He is always in control, always loving, always powerful, always present, and always able to do more than we could even hope or imagine.
Do you know someone who has said, “But, you don’t understand the pain I’m experiencing. A loving God couldn’t possibility allow this to happen to me. And…to tell you the truth…I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive Him for this one!” However, the truth still remains; Jehovah God is all-loving, all-powerful, and nothing else. So, should we really ask ourselves, “Am I able to trust Him even when He just doesn’t make sense?”
Is there a hurtful memory you need to ‘forgive’ God for today? He won’t be surprised at what you have to say because He can already see into your heart. He’s waiting for you to be honest. Tell Him He broke your heart then ask Him to do what He does best…heal the wound,restore your peace, experience His great love, and be used for His glory.
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