Luke 23... that's what the Lord woke me up with last night. I don't know why yet, but it was so heavily impressed on my heart. I've read it over and over today and am praying that the Lord reveals what it is that He is trying to show me.
For those who are unfamiliar with Luke 23, it is the story of Jesus before Pilate through his burial and the women coming to see him and then preparing spices.
"...the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'"
- Luke 2:10-11
Do we do nothing at all for obtaining this righteousness? I answer, Nothing at all. For this is perfect righteousness, to do nothing, to hear nothing, to know nothing of the law or of works, but to know and believe this only, that Christ is gone to the Father not as judge, but made unto us righteousness, holiness, redemption that He is our high priest entreating for us, and reigning over us and in us by grace,in his righteousness and life I have no sin I am indeed a sinner as touching this present life but I have another righteousness and another life which is Christ.
Here is an interesting video that I came across. I pray that whoever listens to this would examine yourself in light of the Word of God.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
-I John 2:15
It's been a long time since I've posted and while there have been numerous things that I would like t talk about, the one that stand out the most is that on July 3 at 9:25pm , our youngest daughter prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior!!!!!!!! Thank you Lord for Your love and mercy!!!!!!!!
What an incredible feeling it is to have her come to her mom and I and ask us about what being a Christian means and how she goes about doing it.
I know that the angels in Heaven are rejoicing over her decision as are mom, dad, friends and church family!
Yesterday, we started going through a workbook for younger children that helps explain what a Christian believes, why it's important to read the Bible, etc.
Thank you again Lord for your love and mercy.
Because Truth matters,
George
He is risen!
What an awesome day! We started the day with checking the oven for our resurrection cookies (hollow merengue and almonds). They kids thought they were cool, but our 5 year-old was a little underwhelmed that they did not turn into chocolate chip cookies overnight... lol
Service was great today as our pastor preached our of 1st Thessalonians and the resurrection of our bodies and the rapture of the church.
The kids then had an Easter egg hunt.
Anyway, as I sit here and think about the day, I am reflecting on the real love and sacrifice that our Saviour has shown to us as well as the future resurrection that waits for believers when the Lord returns.
At the end of the day, I am happy that our children know and can explain the real meaning of the today which is not an easy thing to do when trying to keep your 5 year-old's mind off of the chocolate bunny in the next room... lol
Thank you, Lord for your love, sacrifice and for chosing and saving us!
Because Truth matters,
George
Today is Good Friday and as I sit and reflect on the meaning of this day, I am humbled by the love and sacrifice that our Lord has made.
During the lessons this week, I've challenged the youth and Royal Ambassadors to look beyond the busyiness of the week... to look beyond the time away from school... to look past the candy and to stay focused on Jesus on this week of all weeks.
As 9:00 this morning rolled around, I thought about that point in time some 1976 years ago when Jesus was brutally beated, humilated and crucified on a cross.
It's unfathomable to think about the shame, scorn and separation that He went through in my place, so that I could have eternal life. To think that Jesus was thinking about me while he suffered and died is almost too much to comprehend.
The song, Wonderful Cross, taken from an old hymn comes to mind.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from his head, his hands, his
feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and blessYour name
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
I like quotes and find them interesting. People use quotes in a number of ways such as to make or refute a point. We often quote the Bible in such a manner. We also do this with "fathers of our Christian faith"; with those people that we consider "spiritual giants".
While God should be our focus and the Holy Spirit our guide, I do believe that articles of truth can be shored up by a quote offered in line with what the Bible teaches.
Anyway, I came across this quote today and wanted to share it. I find it interesting considering the modern landscape of Christianity today.
“One of the most popular current errors, and the one out of which springs most of the noisy, blustering religious activity being carried in evangelical circles these days, is the notion that as times change the church must change with them. Christians must adapt their methods by the demands of the people. If they want ten-minute sermons, give them ten-minute sermons. If they want truth in capsule form, give it to them. If they want pictures, give them plenty of pictures. If they like stories, tell them stories. If they prefer to absorb their religious instruction through drama, go along with them—give them what they want. ‘The message is the same, only the method changes,’ say the advocates of compromise.”
- A.W. Tozer
Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
- Jeremiah 33:3
How are you living your life and faith in front of your children? Do you reflect a life of faith and trust in Jesus? Does your life reflect what you say?
The following is a short cool video about how kids observe what their dads do and what they learn and although it's a father and son in the video, the same applies for both mom and dad, boys and girls.
“The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them...providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church...the need is for Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt that it sets men aflame.”
- CH Spurgeon
The title of this quote is taken from Ecclesiastes 1:9-14.
Because Truth matters,
George
I recently came across this interesting picture from a postcard that churches can sent out to people. I think that it's very thought provoking, not only along the lines of it's original intent, but also for what it means to the individual Christian.
The way that I see it is that it's a call to an awakening; a process of self-examination for Christians attending churches and pastors alike.
Christian: Do you give God the leftovers of your day, grabbing a bite of the Bible when you have time, or are you taking the time to feast on the riches of God's Word?
Pastor: Do you fee your flock the Word of God or are you giving them just enough of a "rush" to get through to the next service where they will come back and hear the next feel good message?
We cannot neglect our spiritual bodies and expect to be a healthy and growing Christian, much like the fact that we can't neglect our physical bodies and expect to be healthy.
To quote an old church sign,
7 days without God's Word, makes 1 weak.
The following is from an email list that I belong to. It was taken from J. P.'s Inspirations.
The reading deals with a call to ministry, something that I am dealing with on a personal level. I have known that I have been called to the preaching ministry, but have had difficulty in dealing with it in as far as discerning the next step. In the mean time, I am seeking God's will and am doing the last thing that He told me to do until I have know what the next step is. (thanks Dr. Blackaby)
The article reminds me of some of the "simple" truths of the calling such as:
Humanly speaking, we see Moses was an unlikely candidate to be called as the one to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt. There was a price on his head in Egypt and he was in exile. Yet, we see God's ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts. Moses was chosen by God. Even though he felt he was not qualified to be their leader, God equipped Him with all he needed to carry forth His will and set God's people free.
We are also unqualified for the mission which the Lord calls us. Jesus will remind us that He chose us, we did not choose Him. (Jn. 15: 16). He will supply all we need to enable us to successfully work for Him. By His Spirit and Word, we are led and spiritually fed. As God gives us spiritual food and leads us, we are also to share with others.
If we let the Lord's will be done in our lives and follow Him, we shall have success in all we attempt in His service. Success in the eyes of God, is different than in the eyes of men. To obey is better than sacrifice, and God rewards our faithful obedience.
Remember that God told Moses, "I will be with you" and still tells us these same words today. If we listen closely, we can hear the Lord speaking to our hearts. He will never leave or forsake us. He will always be there, even until the end of the age. Whatever God has called us to do, God will go before and prepare the way. If we are called to share God's Word with others, the Lord will bless us as we seek and let Him equip us for the task. He alone is able supply the spiritual food to sustain souls that they might grow in His grace and knowledge.
We have God's blessed assurance and can claim every promise He has given us. We give thanks for the ever abiding presence of the Holy Spirit and God's help in our lives each day.
I believe that every now and then that we, as Chrsitians must look at the source of our walk,... our faith... and our hope. It is my firm belief that Christians need to hear and keep hearing the Gospel of Christ like the lost need to hear the Good News.
In out Sunday Youth group, we are going through an Evangelism program entitled Sharing Jesus Without Fear. One of the verses that is discussed that we go over with a lost person is Romans 6:23, which reads,
for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.This truth is a fundamental aspect of the preaching of the Word of God. Through it, the sinner is made aware that yes, there are consequences for a life that is lived apart from God. Through this verse, the Holy Spirit can convict the heart of a lost person as well as strengthen the hope and assurance of a Christian.
One of the most basic truths in God's program involves the fact that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The death we are intended to understand is the second death. There are only two ways to satisfy this basic truth: First, all humans must be paid that wage because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Second, another, an innocent One on whom death has no claim because He never sinned, must pay that wage in our stead, substituting His death for ours. We find both aspects applied to practical Christian life in Romans. Paul writes in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." It is essential that we thoroughly understand that Christ died, not merely as a benefit, but for us, that is, in our place. His death substitutes for our well-deserved death, which we earned through sin. Earlier, the apostle had written in Romans 4:1-5:
When confronted by such scriptures that cannot be broken, our only possible conclusion is that the sin-debt that each person owes to God absolutely cannot be worked off. It is so huge and serious that an already sin-defiled person cannot pay it off. Once a person sins, his debt is absolutely irredeemable by anyone or any action except through death. Either each individual pays for himself, or Christ pays in his place. These are the only acceptable payments. | ||
Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!
What a year this has been and what an awesome time to sit and reflect on the Lord and His blessings. The love that our Father has seems so inconceivable (no, I don't keep using that word). to quote a recent email that I received...
This Christmas…
May your hearts be filled with His Peace
And may your cup runneth over with His Joy
May your life be flooded with His Presence
And may you experience the true essence
of Happiness in Him
This New Year…
May you reach deeper than ever to find Him
May you spend more time getting to know Him
May you reach out to others to share Him
And may you go beyond yourself to please Him
At Thanksgiving Day celebration we as Christians must remember than to be thankful is a commandment to trust God Word that He is guarding over us with His blessings at all times as we should remember His many promises in the Bible both in the Old Testament and specially for us.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
-Jeremiah 29:11
I made up my mind today to live in an attitude of gratitude for God's blessings and not to emotionally react to daily life because what I live is temporal and subject to change but God's Life is eternal.
For the sun in the sky,It's a bit simplistic, but the one thing that it does show it that we should thank God for ALL of our blessings because ALL good things come from Him.
It seems that patriotism is a lost form or at least is losing luster in our society. I remember recently going to sporting events where people don't take off their hats or place their hand over their hearts during our National Anthem.
Anyway, I recently came across a link to a performance of the Battle Hymn of the Republic that was done by public school students. The song starts with elementary school kids singing. Later they are joined by 4 high school choirs and a high school band.
This is a really incredible and moving performance that's bound to stir the patriot in anyone.
Click here to hear the performance!
Keep patriotism alive in our country!
Because Truth matters,
George
I just read an interesting article on a new Bible translation. It's being put out by Brian McLaren and Leonard Sweet, stalwarts of the Emergent church "movement", "conversation", or whatever they call themselves today.
Below is an except from their Gospel of John...
1Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking. The Voice was and is God.
2This celestial Voice remained ever present with the Creator;
3His speech shaped the entire cosmos. Immersed in the practice of creating, all things that exist were birthed in Him.
4His breath filled all things with a living, breathing light.
5Light that thrives in the depths of darkness, blazing through murky bottoms. It cannot, and will not, be quenched.
I dunno, I feel like posting something totally out there today, so here it goes...
The Monkey and the Banana
A rope is placed over the top of a fence, the same amount of rope on both sides of the fence. The rope weighs one - third pound per foot.
On one end of the rope hangs a monkey holding a banana, and on the other end is a weight equal in weight to the weight of the monkey.
The banana weighs two ounces per inch. The length of the rope (in feet) is equal to the age of the monkey (in years), and the weight of the monkey (in ounces) is as much as the age of the monkey's mother (in years). The combined ages of the monkey and its mother are thirty years.
The weight of the banana plus half of the weight of the monkey is one-fourth as much as the sum of the weights of the weight of the rope, where all weights are in the same units.
The monkey's mother is half as old as the monkey will be when it is three times as old as its mother was when she was half as old as the monkey will be when it is twice as old as it is now.
How long is the banana?
Congratulations to G3!
Today, George won the JROTC cadet of the month for his batallion. He was chosen to represent his company against three other companies.
He was tested on his knowledge of a variety of subjects, including drill, chain of command and current events on a local, national and international basis. He was also judged as well on his appearance.
We are very proud of the time and effort that he has invested in this program.
It's also incredible to see how humbly he accepted this honor and the young man that he is becoming.
Way to go!
