I hope the material I post will challenge you to seek a relationship with, or grow in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. My primary objective is to post information that will be informative, but that will also raise questions and bring discussion.
My hope is that this page will be a meeting place to discuss those things that we think about and question, but maybe don't have others to talk to about, and do so in a respectful, civil manner.
A few winters ago in Stockholm, Sweden, an eighty-four-year-old woman sat for two months on her balcony before a neighbor discovered she was dead. The woman was found sitting in a chair, dressed in a coat and hat, her forehead leaning against the railing. A neighbor realized something was wrong when she saw the woman sitting on her balcony around the clock, despite freezing temperatures. "I accused myself for not having seen her earlier," she said later. "I hope this dreadful story makes us better at keeping in touch with our old neighbors." Isolationism is not a Scandinavian phenomenon; it is a human tragedy. For fear of poking our nose in someone else's business or getting involved in something that could backfire on us, we have trained ourselves not to stop, look, or listen. But in a fast-paced world where only the fit survive, it sure is easy to feel dehumanized. Our technological age has made us more aware of our insignificance. Our suspicion that we are not loved for who we are is confirmed daily by the impersonal nature of twenty-first-century living. We make a phone call and "voice mail" takes over. If folks are not home, we can talk to an answering machine. If we don't even want to talk, we can e-mail or "text" instead. If we need money at 2:00 A.M., we can drop by the local ATM machine. Machines write for us, answer phones for us, get money for us, shop for us, think for us, rent cars for us. They can even sign our letters. And the result is scary. A subtle erosion of individuality, followed by a no-touch, don't-bother-me-I'm-too-busy coldness, leading to a total absence of eyeball-to-eyeball interaction, resulting in the ultimate: more loss of human dignity. This is excused because it saves time and keeps us from getting hung up on knotty things like relationships. They say that's healthier? What's so healthy about becoming completely untouchable? Machines can't hug you when you're grieving. Machines don't care when you need a sounding board. Machines never affirm you when you are low or confront you when you are wrong. When you need reassurance and hope and strength to go on, you cannot replace the essential presence of another human being. Christ came to save people. Human beings with names and personalities and fingerprints and faces. Upholding human dignity is worth the effort every time.
So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. — Colossians 2:10
After crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and His disciples arrived in the region of the Gadarenes, where He was met by two pathetic, demented men who had come completely under the power of the devil.
In Luke's account of this story, he zeroes in on one of these men in particular, probably because he was the more extreme of the two. In fact, in Luke 8:27, he writes that this man didn't wear clothes and lived among the tombs. In addition, we know he would beat and bruise himself, as well as cut himself with sharp rocks. An attempt had been made to chain him up, but with superhuman strength, he was able to break the chains.
When these two men came face to face with Jesus, the demons in them asked, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?" (Matthew 8:29). This tells us that the devil and his demons know that a day of judgment is coming. Of course, the devil is in rebellion against God, so his agenda is different than ours. He wants to wreak as much havoc as he can until Jesus comes back again.
If we believe that Jesus Christ is coming back again, it should cause us to want to live godly lives, to stay as close to Him as we can, and to try and reach others for Him.
But the devil wants to stop us from reaching our world. He might whisper, "Well, God would never use you! You are just a sinner! You are a failure!" So the next time the devil reminds you of your past, just remind him of his future. He will get his due and will face judgment from God—and he knows it.
From where I write I can see seven miracles.
White-crested waves slap the beach with rhythmic regularity. One after the other the rising swells of salt water gain momentum, humping, rising, then standing to salute the beach before crashing onto the sand. How many billions of times has this simple mystery repeated itself since time began?
In the distance lies a miracle of colors—twins of blue. The ocean-blue of the Atlantic encounters the pale blue of the sky, separated only by the horizon, stretched like a taut wire between two poles.
Also within my eyesight are the two bookends of life. A young mother pushes a baby in a carriage, both recent participants with God in the miracle of birth. They pass a snowy-haired, stooped old gentleman seated on a bench, a victim of life's thief—age. (I wonder if he is aware of the curtain closing on his life.)
Behind them are three boys kicking a soccer ball on the beach. With effortless skill they coordinate countless muscles and reflexes, engage and disengage perfectly designed joints … all to do one task—move a ball in the sand.
Miracles. Divine miracles.
These are miracles because they are mysteries. Scientifically explainable? Yes. Reproducible? To a degree.
But still they are mysteries. Events that stretch beyond our understanding and find their origins in another realm. They are every bit as divine as divided seas, walking cripples, and empty tombs.
And they are as much a reminder of God's presence as were the walking lame, fleeing demons, and silenced storms. They are miracles. They are signs. They are testimonies. They are instantaneous incarnations. They remind us of the same truth: The unseen is now visible. The distant has drawn near. His Majesty has come to be seen. And he is in the most common of earth's corners.
In fact, it is the normality not the uniqueness of God's miracles that causes them to be so staggering. Rather than shocking the globe with an occasional demonstration of deity, God has opted to display his power daily. Proverbially. Pounding waves. Prism-cast colors. Birth, death, life. We are surrounded by miracles. God is throwing testimonies at us like fireworks, each one exploding, "God is! God is!"
The psalmist marveled at such holy handiwork. "Where can I go from your Spirit?" he questioned with delight. "Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." (Psalm 139:7-8)
We wonder, with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we could escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet.
Or what is pathetically worse, we demand more. More signs. More proof. More hat tricks. As if God were some vaudeville magician we could summon for a dollar.
How have we grown so deaf? How have we grown so immune to awesomeness? Why are we so reluctant to be staggered or thunderstruck?
Perhaps the frequency of the miracles blinds us to their beauty. After all, what spice is there in a springtime or a tree blossom? Don't the seasons come every year? Aren't there countless seashells just like this one?
Bored, we say Ho-hum and replace the remarkable with the regular, the unbelievable with the anticipated. Science and statistics wave their unmagic wand across the face of life, squelching the oohs and aahs and replacing them with formulas and figures. Would you like to see Jesus? Do you dare be an eyewitness of His Majesty? Then rediscover amazement.
The next time you hear a baby laugh or see an ocean wave, take note. Pause and listen as His Majesty whispers ever so gently, "I'm here."
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." Isaiah 9:2
Imagine being in a cave without a flashlight. Can you see any shadows? You cannot even see your hand! Shadows are only visible in the presence of light.
Regardless of how dark, how large, how absolutely ominous a shadow appears, it is only there because there is light. David says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Why? Because "Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
Jesus has taken the sting out of sin and the fear out of the grave. He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to give us confidence that He will always be with us and watch over us.
There are many today who are grieving because of a loss—the loss of a loved one, a job, a wayward child. Pray for them. Send them a note of hope and include 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Have you ever put together one of those 3000 piece puzzles? You get it home from the store and you clear the dinning room table. You anticipate the time to work on it and then finally, the time arrives. You open the box and there, in that cardboard box, are thousands of tiny, colorful, funny shaped pieces of cardboard. If you’re like me, you always start by looking for the corners, the edges, and the easily recognizable pieces first. You try to build the outline and arrange those recognizable pieces in the places they belong by looking at the box cover. Once this is accomplished, you begin the daunting task of sorting through those countless pieces of blue sky, blue water, green trees and shrubs, green grass, and all the other hard to identify pieces. Slowly but surely an image begins to appear. Just like on the cover of the box.
Have you ever gotten to the end only to find one or two pieces are missing? How can this be? Surely the pieces are here. Maybe they fell on the floor? Maybe the cat or a child got one while you were out of the room for a brief second? You look and look. You may even yell at family members to help you look. You scrounge around on the floor looking. You walk the path you walked to the kitchen, bathroom, front door, or wherever. But alas, to no avail you realize that the piece is no where to be found. How could the store sell you an incomplete puzzle? Why would the manufacturer not have better workers who check to see that no piece is missing?
It’s amazing, but many times that missing piece is one of the insignificant pieces. Maybe it’s a simple blue piece of the water, or a few tiny leaves. One thing is sure, the place where it goes stands out in the huge almost perfect picture.
We are like the pieces to a huge puzzle. Life is the puzzle and we each are a part of the grand picture. We may not be a corner, a part of the edge, a part of the windmill, bridge, or other recognizable object, but we each have an important place in the grand scheme. And like that little, seemingly unimportant piece that blends in almost unnoticed, we fill a spot that no other piece can fill. God can use everyone of us to fill a void that is “us” shaped. No matter how insignificant we may feel, if we are missing, it stands out to others. They may not notice us unless we are missing, but rest assured, they will notice if we are out of place. God has given us significance even if we blend in un-noticed.
Thank you Lord that we each have value that no other person can fill. Teach us to understand just how important we are, even if we can’t yet see it.
Blessed be thy name oh Lord. As we celebrate the birth of Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ in human flesh, help us to realize that that was not His beginning. He was from the beginning of time. Help us also to remember He is not still that baby boy in a manger, but that He grew into a man, taught the disciples, healed the sick, loved the poor, and lived a perfect life. That He was crucified for the sins of the world, rose again having defeated death and the grave, ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and will return again to take His children home to be with Himself for eternity.
Oh Lord, we thank You for this season. We thank You for our family and friends. We thank You for all the joys of Christmas. We thank You for the gifts and the ability to buy gifts. We thank You for the time of family gatherings. We thank You for the unexplainable feelings of joy that come with this season- oh Lord. Thank You for coming to dwell with us.
Oh Lord, we pray for those who are away from home. The military, the missionary, the student, the incarcerated, those who can’t afford to go home. We pray for those who don’t have family. We pray for those who have lost family members, especially those who have lost family during this year. We pray for those who are separated from family because of disagreement. We pray for the sick, the lonely, the hurting. We pray for the lost- oh Lord. Please speak to their hearts during this blessed season, and help them to experience You in a new and personal way.
Oh Lord, we pray that we would humble ourselves and commit ourselves wholly to you. We pray that we would commit to living for you this coming year; that we would seek Your will for our lives in all things. We pray that we would have a heart for the lost and would love them even as you love them. Help us to bridge those gaps between others and ourselves. Oh Lord that others would see You in us. That they would be drawn to You because they see You in us.
Oh Lord, we pray that we would fall down on our knees and truly worship You in spirit. We pray that our lives would be a sweet smelling aroma in Your nostrils. Teach us to live in a way that truly honors You. Give us the strength to overcome temptation and choose to honor You. Oh Lord, help us to worship with all our hearts, minds, and bodies.
To You be all honor and praise. We pray this in Your Holy name Lord Jesus- Amen~
"'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight...' " Mark 1: 3b
Here in America, Christmas is almost over. We only have two more days before the radio stations switch to their normal mix and abrubtly stop playing the same five Christmas carols over and over again. How do you feel about this year's preparations? Do you feel ready? Do you feel stressed? Do you wish it was easier to focus on the reason for the season?
For me, this year held a lot of firsts - firsts that forced me to reflect on how I celebrate Christmas and why. I got married this November, so melding family holiday traditions was the first project we tackled as a married couple. It's been a pretty fun process, but also a learning experience. Here's lesson #1: You can be the same religion and still experience that religion very differently!
Although we haven't decided exactly how we'll celebrate Christmas every year from here on out, a friend shared an article with us that outlined the traditional German Christmas centered on Christkind ("Christ child"). We are definitely considering implementing some of these ideas in the future because it seems to combine the joyful festivities with the sacredness of the season so well. Here are the basics:
In this tradition, it is not Santa Claus who brings gifts but the Christkind himself. Now, many families who celebrate Christkind still have a version of jolly, ol' St. Nick, but he arrives on his official feast day, December 6th, bearing gifts more modest than our American Santa Claus.
The miraculous Christmas day arrival of Christkind requires a slow build-up throughout the month of December. Advent is observed carefully; Christmas decorations can wait. Family members take turns lighting the Advent candles as the entire family sings O Come, O Come Emmanuel every evening before dinner.
Children also focus on developing virtue to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christkind. Throughout December, every time a child acts virtuously, he or she can place a piece of straw into the humble, empty manger. In this way, children can tangibly participate in "making the paths straight" for Christ's arrival.
When Christmas finally comes, the family participates in prayer and the youngest child places a replica of baby Jesus into the manger filled with loving acts performed by the children. Then the parents reveal the stunning glitter of Christmas decorations and gifts left by the Christkind. The celebration of Christkind's arrival continues through January 6th - the day marked to commemorate the arrival of the Magi.
Doesn't this sound peaceful? Doesn't this sound focused? Doesn't this sound appropriately paced? I certainly wish we had more than 24 hours to celebrate Christmas here in the U.S.! And I can practically hear the hushed Advent prayers leading up to the glorious unveiling of Christkind's arrival.
If your holiday season has been harried, scattered and stressful, it's not too late to make some changes. Set aside some time in the next couple of days to regroup and refocus on the Christ child. Reflect on His first coming - not only in the world but in your heart. And ask Him what He'd like you to do to prepare for His special day.
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
According to verse nine, the angel told the shepherds the good news. In verses seventeen and eighteen, the shepherds told others. How often do we take this story complacently? The good news then is still just as relevant, just as promising today as it was two thousand years ago. As we reach the height of this Christmas celebration, let us share the story. Not just the written word, but what it means to us, and what it means to the world. If we truly believe, how can we not share the good news?
Louie Giglio How Great Is Our God Tour Part 1 If you have never seen or heard Louie Giglio, you are missing out. This is part one of his How Great Is Our God Tour. Please watch this video. It will change you.
Does our Testimony Honor God or our self? When we share our testimony, do we tell about all the wonderful things we have done for the Lord? Do we tell it like God is blessed to have us on His side?
Or do we tell about how God reached down to us in our fallen state and redeemed us to Himself? Do we tell of how He rescued us from hell? How He provides us with food and shelter, and meets our every need?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.–John 4: 28-30
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”-John 9:24-33
About fifteen years ago, the church I was attending decided to have members
give their testimony in the Sunday worship service. I think this was of interest to me because I didn’t have a great testimony. I had heard well known people give great testimonies of how God had done miraculous things in their lives.
I heard that a man at church was going to give his testimony. I was curious to know his story and anxiously awaited the event.
He started off by saying that he was not there to talk about all the things he was involved in at the church, but was there to talk about what the Lord had done in his life and the life of his family. He then began to name every duty, function, and office he held in the church. He told of how he had visited people and so forth.
He must have run out of time because he never got around to talking about what God had done in his life. When he stepped down, I had an empty feeling. I hate to say it, but I felt such disappointment. Unfortunately, every testimony I heard sounded more like a recap of life events than stories of God’s faithfulness, love, deliverance, etc. I do not repeat this to criticize, but to consider a question; if I felt this way, how do others feel when I give my testimony? Do they feel like they know my story but still know nothing of how God delivered me? Do they know about what I do for Him but nothing of how He has held me, loved me, forgiven me, and been my closest companion who never fails me? I am not worthy of man’s admiration, but I feel my testimony is, or should be, nothing less than what God has done for me and needs to be shared. He doesn’t need me, but I sure do need Him. He wants me! God wants me! The good news is, “He wants you too!”
As I was preparing to read my daily Bible reading, as usual I was praying that the Lord would open my eyes to the message He would lay on my heart. A picture came to my mind. It was as though God’s word was a plate of food. Now I am not one to leave anything on my plate, I think most people do. I know kids will often leave vegetables, bread, or other items they are not fond of on their plate. How many times have we heard the story of starving kids in Africa, or the threat that there will be no desert until the plate is clean? Anyway, I thought of wasting the food on our plate and in that sense, how many times have I wasted the food on my spiritual plate? How many times have I brushed over some profound nourishment that God wanted to give me for that day? Maybe some of the stress I dealt with was due to lack of nourishment I had skipped over. As with our physical food that we skip because we may not like it, I have skipped spiritual nourishment because it was difficult, or hard to swallow, I had other things on my mind. Maybe I wanted to move on to something else. Whatever the case, I robbed myself of God’s blessing. My prayer today is that we would ask our heavenly Father to nourish us with His spiritual food as He nourishes our body with His physical food. I want to scrounge every single crumb that falls from the plate.
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
by Max Lucado
One of our Brazilian church leaders taught me something about earnest prayer. He met Christ during a yearlong stay in a drug-rehab center. His therapy included three one-hour sessions of prayer a day. Patients weren't required to pray, but they were required to attend the prayer meeting. Dozens of recovering drug addicts spent sixty uninterrupted minutes on their knees.
I expressed amazement and confessed that my prayers were short and formal. He invited (dared?) me to meet him for prayer. I did the next day. We knelt on the concrete floor of our small church auditorium and began to talk to God. Change that. I talked; he cried, wailed, begged, cajoled, and pleaded. He pounded his fists on the floor, shook a fist toward heaven, confessed, and reconfessed every sin. He recited every promise in the Bible as if God needed a reminder. He prayed like Moses.
When God determined to destroy the Israelites for their golden calf stunt, "Moses begged the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, don't let your anger destroy your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with your great power and strength. Don't let the people of Egypt say, "The Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt for an evil purpose." . . . Remember the men who served you—Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You promised with an oath to them'" (Ex. 32:11-13 NCV).
Moses on Mount Sinai is not calm and quiet, with folded hands and a serene expression. He's on his face one minute, in God's the next. He's on his knees, pointing his finger, lifting his hands. Shedding tears. Shredding his cloak. Wrestling like Jacob at Jabbok for the lives of his people. And God heard him! "So the Lord changed his mind and did not destroy the people as he had said he might" (v.14 NCV).
Our passionate prayers move the heart of God. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James ). Prayer does not change God's nature; who he is will never be altered. Prayer does, however, impact the flow of history. God has wired his world for power, but he calls on us to flip the switch.
Most of us struggle with prayer. We forget to pray, and when we remember, we hurry through prayers with hollow words. Our minds drift; our thoughts scatter like a covey of quail. Why is this? Prayer requires minimal effort. No location is prescribed. No particular clothing is required. No title or office is stipulated. Yet you'd think we were wrestling a greased pig.
Speaking of pigs, Satan seeks to interrupt our prayers. Our battle with prayer is not entirely our fault. The devil knows the stories; he witnessed the angel in Peter's cell and the revival in Jerusalem. He knows what happens when we pray. "Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy's strong places" (2 Cor. 10:4 NCV).
Satan is not troubled when Max writes books or prepares sermons, but his knobby knees tremble when Max prays. Satan does not stutter or stumble when you walk through church doors or attend committee meetings. Demons aren't flustered when you read this book. But the walls of hell shake when one person with an honest heart and faithful confession says, "Oh, God, how great thou art."
Satan keeps you and me from prayer. He tries to position himself between us and God. But he scampers like a spooked dog when we move forward. So let's do.
Let's pray, first. Traveling to help the hungry? Be sure to bathe your mission in prayer. Working to disentangle the knots of injustice? Pray. Weary with a world of racism and division? So is God. And he would love to talk to you about it.
Let's pray, most. Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? Or sing without ceasing? No, but he did call us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. ).
Did Jesus declare: My house shall be called a house of study? Fellowship? Music? A house of exposition? A house of activities? No, but he did say, "My house will be called a house of prayer" (Mark NIV).
No other spiritual activity is guaranteed such results. "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action" (Matt. 18:19 MSG). He is moved by the humble, prayerful heart. Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. (Colossians 4:2-3 NLT)
“Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”” - Luke 1:30-33
5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
Genesis 4:5-10
Are you overcome with grief or regret? Is there some un-confessed sin in your life? Or, are you depressed and don’t know why? Could it be that like Cain, you have some hidden sin, but you refuse to take it to the Lord?
Cain had offered the fruit of the ground as a sacrifice, while his brother Abel had offered a lamb. God accepted Abel’s gift but not Cain’s. The anger was affecting him emotionally, physically, and spiritually. God came to him and inquired of him why he was upset. I believe that God asked him this in love. I would even further say that God was giving him a chance to repent and be restored. Obviously Cain had been having trouble in his relationship with the Lord for some time. The Lord warned him (vs. 6) that he best avoid giving in to sin (his anger). Cain allowed his anger to fester and grow until he did the unthinkable; he murdered his own brother. When the Lord approached Cain about this, Cain never showed any remorse for what he had done. When God pronounced judgment, all he cared about was himself. There is more to this story but I want to focus on this segment. God had given clear directions for how He wanted the sacrifice. Cain chose to do it his way; contrary to God’s way. Then, when God rejected his gift, Cain was angry.
Is this not what we do today? Don’t we try to gain God’s favor by our means?
We say there are other ways to heaven (besides Jesus), we don’t need to go to church, our good deeds will earn us a place in the Kingdom. God clearly defines for us in His word what He expects from us, and yet, we come up with alternative ways. Then, when he rejects our worship, we get angry and want to criticize Him.
The fact is, we all fall. None of us gets it right every time. But just like with Cain, God comes to us through the Holy Spirit, and gives us that chance to repent. The question is, what do we do with our choice?
And Yet Another Sinner…
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Psalm 32:3-4
I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Psalm 32:5
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32:11
King David had disobeyed God by:
1.) Not leading his troops into battle.
2.) After seeing Bathsheba bathing, he did not look away.
3.) He called for her to be brought in to him.
4.) He murdered her husband to cover up his sin.
Remember “And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” David allowed sin to creep in and take hold, but unlike Cain, when confronted by Nathan the prophet who was sent by God, David repented. That is why he could sing songs of praise to his Lord. Oh the joy of forgiveness, and the freeing up of a wayward soul.
Friend, do you have un-confessed sin in your life? Why not confess it and enter into the joy of your Lord.
But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. -I Timothy 5:6 Rigor mortis is one of the recognizable signs of death (Latinmors, mortis) that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff (Latinrigor) and difficult to move or manipulate. Eerily, during rigor mortis, muscles may contract in seemingly random and bizarre ways even though the body is dead. - Wikipedia
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6
* * * * *
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I Corinthians 2:14
* * * * *
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
I Corinthians 15:44
* * * * *
What is taking place within the church in America today? Why does it appear that we are dying? The answer can be found within God’s Word, The Holy Bible.
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.-Rev. 3:14-16
Today in America, there are numerous churches; in some cities and towns, there is a church building on every other corner. But many are dwindling in number, and even closing their doors. What we see and hear is quite different. We see the huge, mega-churches, where membership is in the hundreds to thousands. The truth be told, even these have large numbers of members who don’t attend; it is camouflaged by the huge numbers who do. We know the signs of a Spirit filled Christian (Romans 12:14-21; I Tim. 6:11). We also know the signs of a sinful life (Romans -32; I Cor. 6:9-10; I Tim. 6:3-10; II Tim. 3:1-9). The root of the problem is when we see the evidence of a sinful life in the body of Christ, the church. I know, and accept, that this will offend many, but God’s truth will stand. Lack of EMPATHY (understanding of another's feelings: the ability to identify with and understand somebody else's feelings or difficulties). Do we, as the church, care about our wounded brothers and sisters? When a fellow believer is hurting, or struggling, do we empathize and reach out to them? Or do we avoid and neglect them? Over the last few years, I have witnessed others within the church who have lost loved ones, fought cancer, dealt with rebellious children, lost a job, suffered a disabling injury or illness, fought depression or loneliness, and/or dealt with other issues. I have witnessed so many opportunities to reach out to others, only to see these opportunities ignored. I do not mean to attack my brothers and sisters, but to shed light on this area of concern. Paul stated that we could have many wonderful gifts, but if we “have not love (or charity), we are nothing.”
The Greatest Gift-Love
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.I Cor. 13:1-13 Instead of waiting to let someone else connect, let each of us jump at the chance, as if there were no one else available to intercede. I believe every time the thought crosses our mind that “we need to minister to him/her,” that is God’s invitation to use us. When we look at the letters that Paul wrote, we see how important the letters, visit’s, prayers, etc, were to this man of God. As close as he was to God, he coveted the love and support of others. If he needed this support, how much more so the struggling new believer, homesick soldier, lonely housewife/mother, cancer patient, inmate, orphan, aging parent, unpopular kid in school, Mexican immigrant who doesn’t speak English, and others not listed. (See also Matt. 26:36-38; Jesus in the garden) If we begin to see the people around us as Jesus sees them, we will know they are dying inside without a Savior. And they will spend eternity without God unless we get to them in time. And then suddenly, the differences between Christians don't seem so important - only getting to those people. – Ron Hutchcraft We are not asked to act, we are commanded too. (Mark 16:15-16)
Lack of ENERGY (1. ability to do things: the ability or power to work or make an effort, 2. vigor: liveliness and forcefulness,3. forceful effort: a vigorous effort or action)Do you ever see, or hear of a need within the church, but you just can’t muster the strength to get involved? Do you have a neighbor who you know needs help? Do the people who live around you or your church need Christ? I believe one of the greatest problems within the church today is our un-willingness to reach out to people. I am referring to “Spiritual Energy” here. We hear statements like “They won’t listen; they like living in sin; we don’t get along; we’re not speaking, or I’ve tried to talk to them but they don’t want to hear it.” Please show me where these are biblical arguments. We are called to step out of our comfort zone and reach people where “they” are, not where “we” are. Jesus and his disciples walked everywhere they went. It was hot and dusty and they had no air conditioning. The Jewish leaders constantly hounded them; there were robbers and roving scoundrels, as well as Roman soldiers who would harass people; yet they went. Most times, all we have to do is pick up a phone, open the door, or get in our air conditioned cars and take a short drive. But we don’t have time, we have nothing in common, I don’t feel comfortable around them etc, etc. If we knew Jesus would return 40 days from now, I bet many would run out the door and start doing what they should have been doing a long time ago. Many would still sit at home doing nothing but planning their excuse. Jesus told a parable about this. A Master gave talents to his servants. The first two invested the money, but the third did nothing. He was cast out and called a wicked, lazy servant. What he had was taken and given to another. We sit in judgment, but how many wicked and lazy servants cast stones at each other? Consider some words from Mahatma Ghandi:
1. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
2.What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?
3. The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.
4. It may be long before the law of love will be recognized in international affairs. The machineries of government stand between and hide the hearts of one people from those of another.
5. As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.
6. There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.
7. We must be the change we wish to see.
8. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
9. The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted.
10. Suffering cheerfully endured, ceases to be suffering and is transmuted into an ineffable joy.
The saddest of his statements has to be: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Is this not chilling? Does this not cut us to the very core? After hearing this accusation, how can we not fall to our knees and cry out to God in repentance? If this doesn’t cause you to tremble, you may very well have spiritual rigor mortis.
Maybe one day, the following will be found on Wikipedia:
Spiritual Rigor mortis is one of the recognizable signs of spiritual death that is caused by a change in heart removing usefulness after spiritual death, causing the hands and feet of the spiritual corpse to become stiff and difficult to move or use to do Christ’s work. Eerily, during spiritual rigor mortis, spiritual muscles may contract in seemingly random and bizarre ways appearing to mimic spiritual life even though the body is spiritually dead.
I'm new to this so I am still working on problems. If you have tried to post somthing and were not able to, please try again. I have made some setting adjustments and I hope this helps. If you still have problems or questions, you can email me. Thank you for your patience.
2 When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: “ Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD.” 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
* * * * *
Revelation 17:1-6 (New King James Version)
The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me,] “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” 3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
1:the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money 2: the state of being prostituted:debasement
When the words Prostitute, Whore, Adultress, Harlot, Escort, or Lady of the Evening are mentioned, most God fearing people will shudder. We are not comfortable around these words, much less the sinner who indulges in such acts. In the Old Testament, this behavior was punishable by stoning.
When we think of those who engage in such practices, what images come to mind; short skirts, fishnet stockings, high heel shoes? Maybe even a flashy dressed pimp with a large, sombrero like hat with plumage? Do you remember Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch?
Maybe you have seen them, walking the streets of Hollywood, or even here in Montgomery on Bell St, or some other place. Walking up to car windows, coming in and out of sleazy motels, calling out from the sidewalk to passerby. Maybe you think of The Hollywood Madam, Heidi Fleis, The DC Madam, or one of the women caught with one of many politicians. Some might think about the spread of aids or some other sexually transmitted disease.
I think most of us would conjure up less than appealing images. I don’t believe any of us would have the thought “Well, they’re not so bad,” or They’re just trying to make a living.” If a prostitute, dressed in street apparel were to come in to our church and sit down, I am quite sure, most would distance themselves from her. I hope at this point we have all realized the disdain that we have for prostitution.
Prostitution against God
Seeking other things; people, drugs, money, power, etc before God. If we seek anything before God, we are prostituting
ourselves. It is important to remember, this does not apply to the lost, but to Christians. I heard it once said “what you go to in
your hour of need is your god.”
How have we prostituted ourselves?
Israel’s Unfaithfulness
Judges 2:11-15
11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. 13 They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.
* * * * *
II Chronicles 34:18-28
18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 19 Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.” 22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect. 23 Then she answered them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, 25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.’”’ 26 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. 28 “Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.
Hosea 3:1-5 (New King James Version)
Israel Will Return to God
1 Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.
John 8:1-11
The Woman caught in Adultry 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Days of Our Youth Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries All through the Old Testament, God called the people of Israel to worship Him as the One True God. He spoke through Moses, the priests, and the prophets, but the people continued to turn away. Even after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, God continued to call His Children to return to Him - to return with ALL their heart! During the Babylonian captivity, God told Ezekiel to proclaim His Word to all the people of Israel. Ezekiel gave the people several illustrations of how far they had fallen, and how much sorrow their sin was causing for a loving Father. Through Ezekiel, God said the people of Israel were like a helpless newborn baby who had been thrown into an open field; "Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, 'Live!'" (Ezekiel 16:6). They had done nothing to deserve His favor, but were chosen to become a great nation, set apart and devoted to God. Without His grace, they would have been as lost as the newborn in the field - but God said "Live!" He picked them up, cleaned them off, loved them, and made them beautiful...but His Children forgot His love and abused His grace.
Ezekiel 16:15-16
"You trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his...such things should not happen."
The people of Israel forgot all God had done and gave their love to other gods (spiritual prostitution). They used the grace of God for their own benefit and forgot their previous condition: "In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood" (Ezekiel ).
God loves us so much...and it breaks His heart to see how we abuse His gifts. Without the saving grace of Jesus, each of us are as helpless as the newborn baby. Without Christ, we have no hope of survival: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). We were lost in our sin until God reached down, picked us up, and said "Live!" Thank You Lord!!
Let's remind ourselves of the miracle of Salvation! Though we have done nothing to deserve God's grace, He reaches down and gives us eternal life - cleansing us of our sins and making us beautiful in His sight. We who believe have been born into God's Family. Let's not abuse His gift by forgetting when we were helpless, "naked and bare." Let's give Him ALL our love and always remember the days of our youth.
Another good devotional: A Sure Thing by Skip Heitzig I once saw a TV commercial that had a woman who was trying to get pregnant. She collected a lot of fertility gods and put them on her mantelpiece, hoping they would help her. Fat chance! An Old Testament story illustrates the futility of relying on something other than the Lord for help. The Philistines have defeated the Israelites in battle, and they've captured the Ark of the Covenant. They put the Ark in their temple, next to a statue of their god, Dagon. The next day they find the statue, fallen on its face before the Ark. They stand it up again, only to find it the following day, toppled over again, this time with its head and hands broken off. That's pretty amusing, but the story gets very serious after that. The Philistines are stricken with disease, and they send the Ark from city to city to save themselves from God's anger. You can read it in 1 Samuel 5 and 6. You would think they'd realize, "Hey, we're worshipping the wrong god!" Instead, they decided to stick with the idol that has failed them. But God says, "I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me" (Isaiah 45:5). Psalm 115 says, "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear…they have hands, but they do not handle…" (v. 4-7). Idols don't have to be something as blatant as statues we bow to. They can be more subtle things, like our possessions or people we look up to (it's no accident that the TV show is called "American Idol"). Is your idol a car, or a house, or a wardrobe or jewelry? Is it some celebrity? Or is your idol yourself--your looks, your status? In short, what is it that dominates your thoughts and your activities? If these idols were taken out of your life, would it seem unfulfilling and empty? Any idol will disappoint you. Cars and motorcycles will break down. Our bodies and our looks will deteriorate. Money and homes can be devalued, or lost in a moment. The people we look up to will fall flat on their faces. Only God and His word will remain, and they are unchanging and sure. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:4, "We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one." Put your faith and your trust in Him.
Our Hope
“ Return, you backsliding children, And Iwillheal your backslidings.” “ Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God. (Jer. 3:22) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
