Remember His Faithfulness

Stop and take a few moments to remember God's faithfulness to you this past year...

Timing Is Everything

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

Colossians 2:13

Timing is everything. This is especially awesome when we consider our salvation, our adoption into the family of God, and our acceptance into the kingdom. 

God didn't make us alive with Christ after we repented and performed several acts of contrition. The Holy Spirit, the Hound of Heaven, didn't wait for us to confess our sins and faith in Christ before he started drawing us to Christ. Our Heavenly Father didn't see us come bow our heads at some revival, camp, our church service and decide to let us into the family. 

Timing is everything. God choose us first. When we were dead in our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh he made us alive with Christ. God's grace, his love, his amazing love is shown to us in that we didn't deserve his love yet when we were least deserving he was most gracious and merciful. He forgave us all our sins. 

In the kingdom of God, God's timing is everything. When we were dead in our sins He forgave us all our sins. That's grace, that's God,

that's amazing!

Preserved in Unfailing Love

Only God Can Fix It

When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!”

Numbers 14:39-40

This is a bit of a warning to start of the work week. I want to point out two things  about their reaction to God dealing with their unbelief, which is sin and then remind us that God is still Sovereign and gracious.

First, notice that the Israelites didn't deal with their sin as he commanded. Yes, they admitted that they sinned, but, they didn't go to the tabernacle and offer the proper sacrifice. That's what God had commanded them to do with regards to their sin.

Second, they did what we do, tried to fix it by themselves. They just decided that they would go ahead and take the land. Well, no. They needed to deal with their sin. And just like us, if we don't deal with it God's way, we will face defeat.

Now, it isn't that God didn't want to forgive them, because he did. God always wants to restore us, to bring us back to himself. But, it must be on his terms. When I read the Old Testament it's easy to say they didn't have the Holy Spirit indwelling them like we do, or to just write off their stubborn refusal to trust God and obey his commandments as and Old Testament issue. But, quite frankly, what's my excuse? I have the Holy Spirit, the New Testament, access to great teaching, the Bible in a myriad of translations including the original, and yet... I sometimes still struggle to believe God is able and seek to do things my own way. 

What I have, what we have, is access to the throne of grace where Christ, our Lord and Savior, sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. So, as we go into battle with the world around us and we fight the good fight within ourselves and around us, let us seek the Lord for his strength, grace, forgiveness and love. 

Thank You, Lord, for Your Compassion

The Most Humble Man

This is one of those verses that just flies right in the face of what I call "popular theology". Most people would have a hard time writing this about themselves. Because a humble person is not supposed to say they are a humble person. That's why (my opinion) that some have to say this was Joshua or some scribe writing this at a later date because Moses, if he was the most humble man would never write that about himself.

In a way, we often think of humility as not saying we are as humble or whatever (fill in the blank) as we think we are. Someone else can say it, just not us. Maybe that's one reason a lot of people have trouble with how some athletes celebrate a home run, touchdown, basket, goal or some success in one form or another. 

I just think Moses knew who he was before God. He knew that when he tried to save his people, the Israelites, in his own way, he ended up a murderer. Yet, God called him to deliver his people from bondage to the Egyptians and take them to the promised land. He knew it was God doing the miracles, not him. 

Now, when did Moses blow it? He blew it when he said, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"(Numbers 20:10b, emphasis mine). Remember, God will not yield his glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). If anger keeps you from getting into the promised land, not many of us are getting in. Moses could of been angry, spoke to the rock as God instructed him, but no, he struck the rock and said, "must we", we being God, Aaron and himself. Moses forgot who he was and what his place was before God. He was only an instrument, a servant. 

So, I think it's important to realize who we are in Christ. Be confident in who God created us to be and what he chooses us to be at different times of our lives. Always remember that like Paul you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).  In humility let God do whatever he wants to do. Rejoice in His work in and through your life.

Merry Christmas! Glory to God!

It's Time To Worship Christ

Have you ever heard the saying, "'Tis the season"? I'm pretty sure you have. Just like the Magi, who understood the times and knew it was time to worship Christ, we should remember that Christmas "'tis the season" to worship Christ, who came as a baby, lived like us, died for our sins, rose again conquering sin and death, and will come again to take us home someday. 

God Is Mindful of You

And Mary said: 
“My soul glorifies the Lord 
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
for he has been mindful 
   of the humble state of his servant. 
From now on all generations will call me blessed, 
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name. 
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.

Luke 1:46-50

As Christmas approaches it is time to remember that Jesus came as a child. As we read these verses of Mary's praise we are reminded of the awesome truth that God is and has been mindful of us. 

What state are you in? Maybe things are going well, or, maybe things are not going so well for you. God knows. Remember Jesus came to save us from our sins and to bring us back into right relationship with our Creator, our God, with our Father. He didn't come the easy way, he came as a child. 

Thank you, Father, for being mindful of us. Help us to praise you, trust you, and serve you today. 

Trust His Word

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,

   your salvation, according to your promise;

then I can answer anyone who taunts me,

   for I trust in your word.

Psalms 119:41-42

This weekend at the Miss Universe Pageant the wrong contestant was named the winner. Apparently, Steve Harvey, the popular comedian, mistakingly announced Ms. Columbia the winner when in actuality is was Ms. Philippins. A very awkward moment indeed. We here politicians say things and then the pundits come out and rate the truth of what was said. I'm sure you have heard the old joke, "How can you tell when a politician is lying? When the lips are moving?" The point is that it is hard to trust most people's word. 

In contrast to that we have the Lord and his Word which we can trust. 

"They are not just idle words for you - they are you life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." Deuteronomy 32:47

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17

May God's Face Shine On You

Enlighten Your Eyes

My Prayer for You...

Get the Word

Marvelous!

Are You Alive

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

Colossians 2:13 NIV

I get what being made alive in Christ means, theoretically. But, what that means in how I am different from before I became a Christian, I struggle to put that in words.  

Here's what I do know: Within me, without God, I am completely unrighteous (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:9-20). It is only by the Spirit I can say that Jesus is Lord (I Corinthians 12:3). This leads me to the conclusion that any thought I have about God is the Spirit working in me. If I feel convicted about something, that's the Holy Spirit because otherwise I just wouldn't care. That's being alive Spiritually, or, evidence of being made alive with Christ. It's not about a warm fuzzy feeling, because I often think about God without a lot of emotion. Don't get me wrong. I do often respond emotionally to the truth that in Christ God loves me. It just that faith often moves me when I feel the least like I'm spiritual.

And here is the bottom line for today: Any thought about God, about loving in his Name, about reading the Bible, doing the right (righteous) thing, praying or just remembering that God is Sovereign Lord and Jesus is your Savior, that is part of being alive with Christ. In a sense, just reading this is God being alive in you...

All Our Sins

Be Set Apart

You Are Full

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 

Colossians 2:9-10 NIV

We all have a God shaped whole within our inner being that only Christ can fill. We usually try to fill it with just about anyone and anything else. Some are good things, like a godly marriage, working hard or even serving others. Some things are not so good, like ungodly relationships and activities. Even as Christians we can look to good things to fill that void and they were not meant to so we end up frustrated and bitter. 

Christ is our righteousness, holiness and redemption; our wisdom from God (see I Corinthians 1:30). He completely forgives us, makes us completely holy, and completely redeems us, in Christ. Now, when Paul was writing to the Colossians they were being confronted with many other beliefs and faiths. One of those "philosophies" insisted that to really know God you had to be part of their sect because they held the secret knowledge one needed to fully know God. They were also being inundated with groups from the Jews that were teaching that they had to follow the law (as demonstrated by their legalistic actions) if they truly wanted to know God fully. Paul reminds them that they "have been brought to fullness" in Christ. 

This past July I was offered a new position and I accepted. I am and educator so we were off for the summer. I didn't speak with my supervisor until we went back to work about a month or so later. Now, I knew I was offered the position, but, not until I started moving my stuff from my room to my new office space did it really start to "feel" real. Even though I had been given the new position I didn't really physically change anything until I moved into my new office. But, I did do some research and planning in the meantime. How does that relate to theses verses? We may not be in our new resurrection bodies yet, but, we are still God's people, his children, his chosen and holy priests, called to serve him and each other. We may not always feel holy, righteous and redeemed, but according to God, we are. We just need to live according to the truth. 

David said, "What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD." (Psalm 116:12-13) We have what we fully need in Christ. We just need to take hold of it by faith. You have Christ. You have fullness. You are holy. You are righteous. You are redeemed. 

God Makes You Holy

See To It

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8

I can remember when I first gave my life to Christ and the pastor would emphasis the need to look to the Bible to decide the validity and truth of any teaching. They would exhort us to compare what they or any other teacher said with Scripture and if it didn't match up we should first of all forget it and then call them out about it. 

A few years past and one of my pastors (who I love and still respect) was teaching about the end times and made a statement that I had a little trouble with. He said, "You don't want to be at a Stone's concert when, pa-da-ta-da (the sound of a trumpet?), then you are". The context of his teaching that sermon led you to understand that as you would be left behind because you were "sinning", according to him. Well, there's a lot of things I've done and I don't want to be doing when the Lord comes to take us home, but, the idea that if you just happen to be sinning at that precise moment when Jesus comes again because then you'll be left behind, is not a teaching I find in the Bible. 

My issue with that is not so much that it is not what the Bible teaches because it's not in Scripture but that it depends on human effort rather than God's grace. It's really just a form of sinless perfectionism, which is legalism. Sometimes what we have to  concern ourselves with is not full on heresy but things that depend upon "human traditions" or "the basic principles of this world". If it depends upon me rather than on the righteousness of Christ and his death upon the cross, then it's wrong. For example, my issue with the whole name-it-and-claim-it teaching is that it depends upon the individuals faith rather than on Christ. 

Here's the deal: we should all press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us (Philippians 3:12), but that is not to earn your salvation, it's to ensure salvations purpose in our lives. We depend upon Christ, abiding in him as he so powerfully works in us. If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time you realize your own frailty and Christ's faithfulness. That encourages us to continue in Christ. So, guard yourselves. Watch that you don't start looking to your own righteousness rather than to Christ's. Christ is the Cornerstone. 

How did you?

Just one question? How did you receive Jesus?

Are You Firm?

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Colossians 2:5 NIV

When I worked in construction we would occasionally help other crews raise a few walls. When you build a house in the mountains you build the walls lying down with the windows and siding all ready on. You place metal straps on the bottom near the edge to keep the wall from sliding off the building. Then everyone takes a place near the top of the wall (that is lying down) and on the word of the foreman everyone lifts the wall and pushes it up to its plumb position. The foreman would always yell, "If a strap breaks you better not run! Hold on and keep pushing!" One time not only did one of the straps break, but the crew had only placed three straps on a pretty big wall, so, many choice words were offered, but we held firm and kept pushing to get the wall up and in place. 

As Christians we need to hold firm together, each one doing his own part. When something goes wrong, you persevere and press on. We must stay disciplined even when we don't feel like it. Too often we look to our emotions to decide if we should do something. Do you decide if you should do something (anything from reading the Bible to serving others, from telling the truth to remaining faithful to your spouse) based upon how it makes you feel or upon what you know is true according the to Bible? Being firm in your faith is all about doing what is right, because God says it is, even if you don't get an immediate reward out of it. Being firm in your faith is doing what is right by faith and trusting Christ with the results. 

 Christ is faithful and he will bring you through whatever you are going through. Trust him and do what you know is right in Christ and leave the results up to him. 

Delivered to Live

The Goal

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:2-3 NIV

Here we have the bottom line, don't we? If I'm not posting to encourage you and unite us in Christ, then I'm missing the point of serving Christ. If you're not seeking to find hope and maturity in Christ then you're going to find yourself frustrated. 

If you have been walking with the Lord for a while you probably find yourself seeking to know Christ on a deeper level. I remember when I first became a Christian and after a few years I kind of thought I was getting close to full maturity. I soon discovered how immature I was. But, I was sincerely seeking to know Christ on a deeper level. I have seen many schemes that depend upon a lot of things but not really on Christ. Most are legalistic are partial truths packaged as the end all of spiritual quests. 

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Not my faith. Not my obedience. Not my knowledge. Not my service. All those are good things, they are means but not ends. It's not about my faith, rather it's Christ's faithfulness. My obedience will falter at some point, but, Christ will never fail. My knowledge is foolishness if I don't base it upon the truth that Christ is the Creator of all things and in him all things hold together by the power of his word. My service is just a show if I am not serving Christ, seeking his glory, not mine. The goal is that we may know Christ and be found in him. 

My prayer is that anyone who reads this may grow in Christ with all wisdom and complete understanding and serve him with joy being encouraged in heart and united in love. 

Suffering for...

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 

Colossians 1:24 NIV

I participate in a Precepts Bible Study class at my church on Sunday mornings and we are studying the book of Colossians. I made a comment about these verses and the person who was leading asked me to review these verses next week when I lead the study. The guy next to me looked at me and said, "Good luck with that."

I'm not going to get into the "Why do good people suffer?" topic. I'm just going to point out that like Paul, we sometimes suffer and God uses that suffering to strengthen his body, the church. Paul taught the Corinthians that "just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (II Corinthians 1:5). Now, we usually just hear the previous verses about God comforting us so we can comfort others, but we tend to overlook the suffering that needs comfort component. The point is that God uses our suffering for the sake of his body, the church. 

Remember we are the body of Christ, the living, visible, and active extension of Christ hear on earth. I don't know if someone needs to necessarily see us suffering so much as God uses our suffering. Not everyone saw Paul get forty lashes minus one, beaten with rods, pelted with rocks or shipwrecked ( see II Corinthians 11:23ff). He was beaten and pelted because he was preaching Christ crucified and shipwrecked and imprisoned because the enemy did not want the truth of Christ to be heard. So, if you suffer, look to Christ for comfort and press on to serve the Lord with all you heart, mind and soul.    

Flourish

I am thankful for...

It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
   those who go down to the place of silence; 
it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore. 
Praise the Lord.

Psalms 115:17-18 NIV

and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:12-14 NIV

Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Leviticus 9:23-24 NIV 

I woke up this morning, made my coffee, started to reading the Bible and remembering that it is Thanksgiving here in the United States of America and I asked myself what can I be thankful for. Maybe the coffee hadn't quite kicked in or I was having a bit of a sugar hangover from the Oreo churros my youngest son and I made last night. I could easily say I was thankful for my salvation, my wonderful wife and children, my job, my friends and outside of my back and allergies, my health. 

But I asked myself, "What am I really thankful for?" I want to think about it. I would like to ask you, "What are you really thankful for?" I would truly like to hear and glorify God in the comments section. 

Thanks and have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving!

The Lord Remembers

God Turns

Psalm 114:7-8

God is so good, so gracious and awesome in his love for us. He says he will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). His presence in our lives is both comforting and empowering. We will go through battles. We will fight the good fight. We will walk through the desert, the wilderness and valley of the shadow of death. But, he will be with us. 

But God does not just get us over. He turns rocks into pools and hard rocks into springs. In Exodus 17 the Israelites were in the desert and without water. (I won't go into the lesson that they complained to Moses rather than cried out to God here but if you're complaining rather than crying out; stop complaining and cry out to God.) The Lord had Moses strike the rock and water came out. Think about that. You can't dig for water in a rock. But God turns things that are not into things that are. 

You may be up against a rock, even a hard rock (on a side note: am I the rock, the hard rock that God must strike to bring springs of living water into my marriage or family?). Seek God. His presence will be with you. In his time he will turn that rock, that hard rock into a pool, even a spring. 

Light Dawns

Reminder: Christ is Supreme

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 

Colossians 1:18 NIV

This is just a reminder as we head into the weekend, Thanksgiving and the Christmas season: In everything Christ has the supremacy. This is not Christ should be supreme, Christ is supreme. 

Paul was teaching the truth about who Jesus Christ is; the head of the body, the church; the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy. He was not telling them to put Jesus first, he was reminding them that Jesus is first. Christ is supreme. 

Christ did not die on the cross just to die, he died to rise again and conquer sin and death and to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and bring us into his kingdom, redeeming us and forgiving us of our sins. Christ is supreme. 

So, I encourage you to remember, rest and rejoice in the truth that in everything Christ has the supremacy. 

She'll Hold,Scotty!

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

Colossians 1:17 NIV

I don't know if you watched the original Star Trek series, but, sometimes the scene would entail the crew trying to make its' way through a crisis and the Enterprise was being pushed to its' limits.  The whole ship would be shaking and creaking at max warp speed. Scotty would say. "Captain! She's breaking up!" Then Kirk would calmly say, "She'll hold." 

Sometimes I feel like my life is like that except it's me fervently praying, "My life is breaking up, Lord, help!" And the Lord calmly tells me, "I'll hold you together." Maybe you feel the same way. 

The truth, the good news, is that in Christ all things hold together by the power of his word. You will experience some battles and some losses. You may need to do some repairs. But, Christ will hold you together. 

Lord Jesus, you know the trials, struggles and battles we are going through. We ask that in the power of your Name you will hold us together in you. 

All Things In Him

Know Christ, Know God

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

Colossians 1:15 NIV

If I ever hear a rumor about someone and I like to say, "Let's go ask them if that's what they said (or did)." It's not just to stop a rumor before it goes any farther than me, it's also because if I want to know someone or something about someone the best way is usually to go directly to that person. 

Often times when a teacher asks a student a question about a selection they were reading the child will close their eyes or look up to the ceiling to try to remember the answer. I always tell them the answer is in the book, not on the back of their eye lids or the ceiling. When it comes to knowing God, the answer is in Christ, not ourselves or any thing else. 

If you want to know who God is, you need to know who Christ is because Christ and God, the Father and the Son are one (with the Holy Spirit). There are many opinions, theories, religions, sects, and philosophies, that try to state who, what or even if God is. But, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining al things by his powerful word" (Hebrews 1:3a). Paul, in Colossians takes the time to emphasize this foundational truth. Knowing God, knowing Christ is not a mystical experience,  an exclusive philosophy, nor a ritualistic practice available to only those who are able to achieve that state of being. 

The disciples describe their experience with Christ not as some mystical experience but as an encounter with a real person. Christ came into this world to reveal the Father to us and to bring us into his kingdom as brothers and sisters. Knowing Christ is knowing God.

The Beginning of Wisdom

The Spirit and the Skills

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 

Exodus 35:30-34 NIV

We often think that the Spirit only fills people with gifts like evangelism and healing. What we see in this passage is that the Spirit of God enables, or gifts us to serve in many different ways. Bezalel and Oholiab were skilled not only at working with metals and stones and all kinds of artistic crafts but they could teach others to do them. 

Before becoming an educator I worked in construction quite a bit. In both fields I have worked with some gifted and talented people. I believe that the ability to create and make things and to teach others is given by God. We all have abilities and talents that God has given us. The cool part is that God can be glorified in them if we give him the glory. 

So here's the question? What has God gifted you? What abilities has he given you? 

Now here's the challenge (or exhortation): Use your gifts and abilities than God has given you to glorify God. Acknowledge that God has given you those gifts and abilities and thank God or them.  

No Treaty, No Snare

Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 

Exodus 34:12 NIV

When you have an enemy, you have to remember that they are your enemy. The founder of Planned Parenthood, Margret Sanger, had a belief and a goal. She thought there were too many African Americans (not the term she used), to devised a way to have African Americans kill there babies; it's called abortion. I don't think she invented abortion, she just believed that she could offer it to people of color as a choice and the end result would be the death of millions of African Americans by their own choice. Even though she is long dead and gone her idea still has the effect she desired, less African Americans. Thirteen million African American babies have been aborted since 1973 alone. Thirteen MILLION. 

My point is that if we make a "treaty" with our enemy, sin, it will continue to be our enemy and find a way to inflict damage, destroy and bring death to us. Later in Exodus 34 the Lord tells Moses not to choose wives for their sons from the daughters of those living in the land because, "they will lead your sons to do the same"(prostitute themselves to their gods. That meant doing things like sacrificing their children. The treaty, the compromise would lead to sin, which leads to death. You can not worship the Lord and any other god. Worshiping the Lord brings life, abundant life, life to the full. 

Remember, God wants you to enjoy your salvation. Jesus didn't die so we would still be bound by sin. He died so that we might have life and have it to the full. 

Veterans: Thank you

It's Time to Rally Together

   Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

Exodus 32:25-26 NIV

The situation was out of control. There was no time for a committee, the time for instruction was long past. Moses assessed things and saw that it was time to draw a line and call out to see who was for the Lord. 

It's time to assess our lives. It's time to listen to the Spirit's call. The world is out of control, calling evil good and good evil. If you are for the Lord, come to Him. We're not coming to a leader, unless the leader is calling us to follow Christ. Like the Levites we must cross that line and decide to be for the Lord. 

Now, I have no desire to start an in house church witch hunt or stir up dissension by saying that "some Christians" or "some churches" or "some pastors" water down the gospel. The truth is some do. The truth is, sometimes I do. Sometimes my actions speak louder than my words and I and standing on the wrong side of that line.  There are times when we must assess our lives, assess our churches, assess our beliefs and actions. What side of the line are we on? 

This is not a call to point out what everyone else is doing wrong. This is an admonition to check yourself and see if you are loving like Christ loved you. Are we worshipping the god of "I got to have it now" (debt, credit cards), the god of "self" or the god of "desire"? Christ is about giving not spending, serving others not your own needs, and seeking to protect and help someone else not use them for your own pleasure or benefit. And this is not about being alone, it's about rallying together as the time draws closer for our Savior to come again. Together we worship the Lord. Together we serve and reach out into the darkness of this dying world with the light of the truth in Christ. 

Who Makes You Holy

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Exodus 31:12-13 NIV

Sometimes when we read a verse like this we forget that the point is that God makes us holy. We get caught up in legalism about if wether the lack of attendance is a sin or not. But that's not the real point. The point is that it is the Lord who makes us holy. We don't go to church to try to be holy, we go to church to be reminded that God makes us holy. 

This calls to mind one of my favorite verses: It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV Christ is our holiness and in him we are made holy. Think about communion. We don't take communion to remember what we did, we remember what Christ did, that his body was broken and his blood was shed. In Christ we are made holy.

Quite frankly, I think most of the time when we go to church we are really just going out of habit or to seek a warm fuzzy. We forget that we are there to worship the Lord of all creation, the Lord God Almighty, our Savior and Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who make us holy. 

Let Your Prayers Rise Up

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each on had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. Revelation 5:8

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. Revelation 8:3-4

Praise God Because He Stands Beside Us

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
   in the great throng I will praise him.
For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
   to save their lives from those who would condemn them.
Psalm 109:30-31

I don't know what you have been going through, but, it has been a stressful little season for me. Sometimes when you go through a trial part of the stress is knowing it's going to last another month or so. But, knowing that God is with you, knowing that he is Sovereign over even your debt, mistakes, and life's little issues that come in and out of our lives on a daily basis, knowing God gives you the strength for each moment. Praise God who saves us from those who would condemn us. 

You're Held Together in Christ

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:15-17 NIV

One of the reasons that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians is because the they needed to be reminded of the supremacy of Christ. Isn't that still part of the battle? The enemy and the world we live in is absolutely opposed to Christ, especially as the Son of God, Creator and sustainer of the universe. Paul emphasized to the Colossians that Christ was above all things in importance and relevance. 

Have you ever been told to get it together? Have you ever felt it was hard keeping yourself together? I have. 

Here is the good news: Christ holds all things together. If he can hold the universe together, he can hold us together. We just have to stay in him. This makes me think of a something like the Apollo space rockets and Space Shuttles. I'll bet it was crazy blasting off into space. Everything shaking and the g-forces pressing against you. But, your safe inside. That's kind of like our spiritual lives. Sometimes the take off seems a bit rough and scary, but you can't just jump out, you need to stay in Christ, trusting that he will hold things together. So, maybe you may feel like things are a bit shaky but, remember that Christ holds all things together, even your life. 

Rescued from Darkness

Hope is a Spring

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

Colossians 1:3-6 NIV

I'm a teacher by profession and last year the powers that be finally (after nearly eight years) worked out a deal for a raise. It still took a few months to actually get into our paychecks, but, at least there was a reasonable hope that I'd finally see a few more bucks in my account to provide for my family. That hope was not blind. 

Our faith and love spring from the truth of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. It is truth, it is not fiction, truth. Knowing that Jesus lived and died, died for our sins and rose from the dead gives us hope. The gospel is not a static concept that has no affect on those who hear it. The gospel is Christ in you the hope of glory (I Thessalonians 1:27). The hope of the gospel produces faith, faith that allows us to love, even the unlovable. Just like Christ loved us. 

So, may the hope you have in Christ Jesus, in his unfailing, Sovereign goodness and love for you, produce faith in you, faith that allows you to love. Love that serves and gives even when none is given back, appreciated, or accepted. Love that sacrifices. Love that endures. 

Great is His Love

Being Honorable

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12 NIV

Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death... Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

Exodus 21:15,17 NIV

I have to tell you that one of the things that I see in society today that I find most alarming is the incredible lack of respect people generally have for each other. As and educator I see it everyday. Sometimes parents come in to discuss an issue concerning their son or daughter and the interaction between parent and child is as if two adults or two children were talking with each other. The child does not honor their parent and the parent, frankly, is not honorable in front of their child. When a child believes they have an equal position in the relationship then their extremely limited, immature and inexperienced point of view becomes the focal point of any issue. That is a formula for failure.

OK, I'm king of going off here, but, I believe that much of the problems in society today have their root problem in the break down of the family unit. God, as our Creator, set up the family as a foundational part of society. When someone knows how to honor their parents they understand that everyone has a place, important and valuable but not supreme (that is God's place alone). In life we all move from being children who are taken care of by their parents to adults who take care of their parents as they get older. As a child I was to obey my parents in the Lord. As an adult I (when the time comes) take care of my parents. Both actions honor them. 

Showing honor and being honorable are two sides of the same coin. But it starts when we teach our children to honor us. We teach them how to communicate, how to relate, how to express themselves even when they believe they are wronged, and how to trust God even when they can't see the end from the beginning. And that brings us the bottom line: Honoring your parents, honors God. My prayer is that you and I teach our children, by example and instruction, to show honor and be honorable.

Remember Where You Came From

And God spoke all these words:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Exodus 20:1-2 NIV

It's funny, in a sad way, how easy it is for us to forget where we came from. Just the the Israelites who just came out of Egypt and God was reminded them not to forget that they were just recently in slavery in Egypt, we sometimes need to remember that we were slaves to sin. 

I am not saying you should dwell or revel in your past. But, sin is a cruel and deceptive master. It desires to have you. In a bad way. Sin may seem good for a season but in the end it only separates you from God and those you love. We need to remember that Jesus is God, who brought us out of sin. Sin is not good. Sin is destructive. 

The Ten Commandment begin with God reminding the Israelites that he, the LORD, is their God and that he is the one who brought them out of Egypt, the land of slavery. We need to remember that he is the LORD our God who brings us out of the slavery of sin. I don't know what that looks like to you, but I do know it is good to remember that you are no longer a slave to sin, but have been set free in Christ. 

God Hears Your Distress Signal