Being Joyful

With Christmas coming, the word, "Joy" is often heard. Yet many people are joyless. Loss of a loved one, lack of employment, sickness and disease, marital problems, child problems will sap joy right out of a person. In our minds, we should have a Charles Dickens or Norman Rockwell kind of Christmas. This sets us up for disappointment. Few if any have such a Christmas because "life" gets in the way. Only actors on TV and characters in a book or figures on a painting, people not real, have such Christmas'. All hope is not lost because we can't have these fantasy Christmas'. We just need to "get real" about Christmas. For one thing, it's not about us! Christmas has Pagan roots. The church made Christmas into a Christian holiday to lure people away from Paganism and into Christianity. We use Christmas to celebrate the great gift of God, his ONLY Son, Jesus who eventually redeemed us. No gift and no Christmas celebration can every match that original day! But the gift is for us and it is everlasting. It literally is, "The Gift that Keeps on Giving!" Marie Chapian, PhD, has written a meditation book called, "His Thoughts Toward Me" (Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN, 1987). It is a small book of different topics the Christian often deals with. She takes passages of scriptures and translates them to read as though Jesus were talking to you face to face. Here is something of Joy she (inspired by God's word) has written:

THE JOYFUL PERSON "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold." (Neh. 8:10, Amp. Bible) I love you because you have chosen to live in My heart, which knows no ugliness and no sin. I love you because you are Mine; I can speak to you and you hear Me. When you lack joy, it is because you seek the experience of joy above Me. When you ache and long for just one taste of joy and feel it not, it is because you look for it in places outside your heart. I can tell you to rejoice because I AM joy. To rejoice is to drink of the essential essence of God, to be in My presence. You say, "But, Lord, You are invisible. How can I be joyful when I can't see You?" You are being garrisoned at this moment by My power through your faith. Is this not enough to make you exceedingly glad? Even though you may be distressed by trials for a little while, and suffer temptation, the genuineness of your faith becomes tested and it is more precious than perishable gold. Gold is always refined and purified by fire. And you, without having seen Me, love me. That which you cannot see brings out the greatest pleasure in all life. I constantly give, because I want your joy and gladness to be full, complete and overflowing. It is a delight for Me to tell you of the wonders in store for you when you live vitally untied to Me, when My words remain in your thoughts as permanent fixtures. You have ached for eternal joy and settled for drips of fun. how can you laugh with My holy laugh when Satan's talons are pulling you down into a sea of complaints? You know the Source of joy; now taste and see that I am good. I Peter 1:5-7; John 15:11 (Pages 86-88)

Remembering the Loaves and Fishes

After miraculously feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus had the disciples collect what was left over, "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." Matthew 14:20

Some time ago, I was asked to serve on a Fellowship committee at a small church in the Cleveland, OH area. This was a new committee formed by the church council to create fellowship opportunities for church members. These members were requesting fellowship opportunities so they could develop Christian relationships. In one week's time, I went from being a member of this committee to somehow running the committee! Not what I had in mind! The wife of our church council president, Cheri, was on our committee and she offered much encouragement to this doubtful new council member! Our first event was simple. A hot dog picnic in the park with a softball game and some activities for the children. As news spread of the upcoming event, we heard absolutely nothing from anyone about it. I was beginning to wonder if anyone would show. Cheri relayed this to her husband who wisely said, "If no one comes, then they can't complain if they haven't developed relationships in the church." So we planned it and had two weeks of sign-ups. All you needed to do was let us know you were coming and what food item you were willing to bring, plus pay three bucks for the hot dogs. I had never planned an event before and I was nervous it would flop (pride!). About 20+ people signed up. This wasn't too bad considering the size of our church and me thinking NO ONE would attend. The day of the big event, which was on a Sunday after church, our pastor prayed for it's success. The message of the day was on the feeding of the 5,000. Always a delightful story. But how much do we ever really apply this story to our lives. And what is it REALLY about anyway? I would soon find out! One point I recall being made about this miracle was in the cleaning up part of the story. After the 5,000 people had been fed, the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. What this shows is that God's grace overflows and never runs out. This information came after the phrase, "They all ate and were satisfied..." What does this have to do with my hot dog picnic? As I said earlier, a little over 20 people had signed up. As we began to grill the hot dogs, more and more people were showing up that hadn't signed up. I began to panic! We didn't have enough hot dogs for everyone! People were bringing salads and desserts, but that wasn't helping the hot dog situation! I was getting a little angry that they hadn't signed up and now I was unprepared (more pride!). An older gentleman (who had signed up) overheard those of us grilling and said he'd run to the store and get more hot dogs. We had no money left to offer him. "No problem.", he said. He purchased hot dogs and buns. Some children came up and said all the church volleyballs were flat. This same man somehow came up with a pump for the balls and everyone was "satisfied." Cheri and her husband were nearby when it suddenly hit me. I said to them, "In all my panic....I'm suddenly remembering this morning's sermon on the feeding of the 5,000!" We acknowledged it's timeliness, which of course, God's word always is! After such a powerful message, how could I have ever doubted God would provide? Feeding 50 people hot dogs was nothing compared to feeding 5,000! Even more so, remember this: God is always bigger than our problem - "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32

Happy Thanksgiving

May we be thankful and grateful for all the things our Lord gives us. Even those things we wonder why we must endure. For it is written: "Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. " I Thessalonians 5:17-18 Happy Thanksgiving and may God Bless you!

Rumor: Being Good Gets You Into Heaven

RUMOR: Being good is what gets you to heaven. FACT: If that were true, none of us would ever get there! BIBLE SNOPES: The bible proves without a doubt that this rumor is just that (and one Satan would love us all to believe). What does the Creator of the universe and everything in it have to say about this? "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 . . . THEREFORE . . . "There is no one righteous, not even one!" Romans 3:10 . . . AND what's more . . . "The wages of sin is death!" Romans 6:23 No matter how hard we try, we cannot keep God's commandments. Ten rules for righteous living... no one but Jesus himself has ever been able to keep. Paul understood this problem. He taught, "I know nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing!....What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:18-19, 24 (Read the entire struggle of Paul's sin nature, and ours, in Romans 7) As for the law (Ten Commandments), check this out: "Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his (God's) sight by observing the law; rather, through the law, we become conscious of sin." Romans 3:20. What is the way to eternal life and heaven then? Most of us know the John 3:16 verse...but let's read it and the next verses that follow, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (does this mean the whole world then is saved? Read on) WHOEVER believes in him is NOT condemned, but WHOEVER DOES NOT believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 SO..."..if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. Believing (Knowing and putting one's faith in) in Jesus Christ is a choice each individual must make to be a part of God's kingdom. It is through no other name, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must saved." Acts 4:12 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 And consider this about God's grace (granting eternal life through accepting His gift of grace through the sacrifice of his Son on the cross): "...if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21. Now if anyone could say they were "good", it would have been Abraham. He was very obedient and the Lord spoke to him face to face as a man would to a friend (Exodus 33:11). Yet, God did not credit him righteous for all his good deeds. It wasn't until Abraham believed in the promises of God (that he would be the father of a nation that would channel the birth of our Redeemer, Jesus). "Abram (later renamed, Abraham) believed the Lord and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 (See also Romans 4 where Paul expands on this truth about Abraham and how righteousness is credited to us). Romans is a great book to study about this truth. I highly recommend everyone study it (this is my current study). This truth is CLEARLY laid out throughout the bible, not just Romans. Search the scriptures yourself and you will see. Don't trust what others say; the rumors of this world (Good people go to heaven). Read what YOUR CREATOR and the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE says about it. Click on this fun comic presentation for more info: Comic Strip: Are You a Good Person? Break the chain of this rumor now. And if you already have, pass this on to someone else who needs to know this LIFE OR DEATH truth! God bless you for choosing life! Don't forget...read the comic strip!

Picking Cherries or Choosing Truth

Most people don't have trouble believing in heaven. But bring up Hell and this will often stir up controversy. Some refuse to believe it even exists. But did you know Hell is mentioned more times in the bible than Heaven (note that Hell has many names in the bible: Hell, Hades, Lake of Fire, etc.)? The bible also has much to say about how we should live which is in stark contrast to the ways of the world. Ask anyone on the street if they believe the bible and many will say yes. But many of those same people will not believe EVERYTHING it says. They will pick out what they like (cherry picking) and reject what they don't like. If we do this, then the bible no longer is God's word. It becomes OUR word. If we say it is acceptable for people to pick and choose what they want to believe in the bible, then GOD's word becomes useless. Everyone has written their own bible. God's word needs to be accepted for everything that is written in it, or completely rejected. It needs to be accepted as written by God through those He inspired. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16. Peter taught the early church this, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.... We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.....Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1:16, 18, 20-21. Not wanting to know God's truth is an age old problem. The prophet Isaiah spoke God's word to an obstinate nation, "These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!'" Isaiah 30:9-11 Not much has changed! Few want to be bothered with Jesus let alone the bible. They don't want some book with a list of rules showing them what sinners they are! Can any part of the bible be trustworthy anyway? How do we know it's true? If these are questions you have, please visit this very informative web site: Investigating The Bible And...know this, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5

Going For The Kingdom!

"But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:33-34 Why I ever worry about a thing, is beyond me! Here I am, half a century old and God has always taken care of me. But I worry where I'll be 10 years from now. Who my sons might marry. Will we have enough money to retire? Will our health hold out? The list can go on and on. But Jesus reminds us that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are well taken care of by God. Are we not much more valuable than these to Him? Oh we of little faith??!!??!! (Matthew 6:25-34) God was training the Israelites that He was their provider. They needed to be rescued - he sent a deliver, Moses who even crossed them over the Red Sea. They needed food - He provided manna. They needed water - He provided it through a rock. They sought to be free from the bond of slavery and God whisked them out. He miraculously provided for them in their doubt (stories from Exodus). Yet, they still did not believe the promised land could ever be theirs. God told Moses to send some men, one from each tribe, out to explore the land he was about to give them. They did and came back with a mixed report. They brought back grapes that were so heavy, it took two men to carry it on a pole. Pomegranates and figs were also found. Giants and powerful nations were also living in the land that far outnumbered them (this story is found in Numbers 13). Caleb said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Numbers 13:30 Only he and Joshua had faith that God would be with them and against all human odds, would be given the promised land. The other ten spies cried out, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored." Numbers 13:31b-32a Moses and Aaron knew this would anger God who had protected and provided for them all these years. Had they no faith even after all the miraculous things God did for them? Had they not learned a thing? Moses and Aaron pleaded with the people to not rebel out of fear. Joshua said, "..do not rebel...do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:9. The people wanted to stone them and rebelled anyway. God said, "How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?" Numbers 14:11b. Moses interceded on the people's behalf saving them from God's wrath, but they suffered the consequences of the rebellion. Their fears and worries got to the best of them and God would not allow them into the land. Anyone 20 and older would die before the nation would be ushered in. Only their children would see this miraculous promise unfold. What a great lesson. If all we see is the negative, then the negative just may come to see us! But we have this hope:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 And...while some trust in the things of this world, remember this: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord Our God." Psalm 20:7 Again..."Seek first HIS kingdom...and all of these things (provisions needed for you to live in His will) will be given to you." A prayer for today: "Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9

You ARE The Center of His Universe!

A while back, a friend and I were discussing the age old question, "Is there life on other planets?" I had mentioned that my father couldn't imagine that there wasn't given all the other planets in the universe. I, on the other hand, marveled at the prospect that God would make this vast universe and everything in it just for us; the lone life on one planet of many. At this point my friend said, "Well, I don't think of myself as the center of the universe." I took a bit of offense to this comment as I was not talking about "ME" but about God's love for us. Later, I thought, "But you ARE the center of HIS universe!" God created us. When we blew it in the Garden, separating us from Him, He provided a way to reunite us instead of destroying us. As early as chapter 3 in Genesis, God promises a redeemer. To the one who destroys life (Satan) he says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15 Jesus Christ God's only son, was this promise. His death and resurrection is the price that is paid for our sin so we can be reunited with our perfect God. Sin and perfection cannot be present at the same time. So sin must be cleansed which it was at the cross of Christ. This done all out of a love we can't begin to fathom. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 I'd say this proves we ARE the center of HIS universe. What more could he do? It is the highest price of love there is. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 What a great thought to bring back to mind as much as possible, but especially when we are feeling down. We should be rejoicing always because of this truth. Dear friends, and myself included, as Paul wrote, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19

What's On Your Playlist?

Good medicine for when you are feeling down? Praise and Worship music! It also inhibits road rage, comforts fear, relieves boredom, stops temptations, and relieves stress. I enjoy walking my dog while listening to this uplifting music on my MP3 player. By the time I'm done, I feel Spirit-filled and enriched with endorphins! Even a cloudy, dreary day won't get me down after this! The bible is filled with times of music. Moses and Miriam led the Israelites into song after crossing the Red Sea. Hannah sang a prayer of praise and thanksgiving after dedicating her much longed for son, Samuel, to the Lord. And who cannot marvel at Mary's song when she visited Elizabeth and the rejoiced at the prospect of giving birth to our Redeemer! King David wrote many songs in the Psalms for every occasion. In good times and bad! Music fills our souls with inspiration. Although their is nothing wrong with good, clean secular music, I find that 99% of what I listen to is Christian music. I drive with praise music on and am amazed how irritating drivers no longer bother me. In fearful times, the songs remind me of how great our God is and it comforts me. Soothing Praise and worship songs relax me in times of stress. Don't get me wrong....reading the bible definitely does the same and more! But music is a gift from God, inspired by His Spirit. He gives us music and his word (and the music is FROM his word) to help us in our daily walk. Blessed are those with the gift of music to serve those of us who rejoice in it. What an awesome gift! I look forward to the day when I sound better than I do now (in heaven)! But for now, my playlists will be ones with the songs that God-inspired men and women have created to bless my daily walk with the Lord. "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20

Finding Joy in Your Journey

The camel in this picture does not look too enthused about the long desert journey before him. He is a camel, however, and camels live in deserts. They travel well through the long, dry desert making for excellent transportation. They serve their masters well. We face many long journeys in our life that lack enthusiasm. Maybe it started out being exciting, but a few steps into it, and the journey wasn't what we had hoped it would be. Consider the Israelites in Egypt. Their deliverer, Moses, a prefigure of Christ, enters their lives of horrid slavery. He promises them deliverance. Against all odds, they are free to leave their land of slavery for a promised land of milk and honey. The journey would take between two and three weeks. No sooner did they leave with this great milk and honey prize to look forward to, when Pharaoh's army chases them with their chariots of rage. Immediately they complain to Moses: "What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?' (note...they cried of their misery as slaves earlier) It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Exodus 14:11-12 But God would not let them die. He is a promise keeper and he had a lot to show them in their journey. He had Moses raise his staff at the Red Sea. The waters miraculously parted and they crossed. When Pharaoh's chariots crossed after them, the Sea closed up drowning the Israelites long time enemy. This was one of many miracles the Israelites would witness. Their short journey would turn into 40 long years because of their grumbling and disobedience. Every journey has an end. So many times we want to take the short route. Instant results and gratification is what we think we want. But what would that teach us? We would become bored and want something bigger and better. We would not be mature for that bigger and better thing. I've read more than one story of a million dollar lottery winner that ended up losing old friends and running out of money not knowing how to manage it. Many sports, music and Hollywood stars with sudden fame and wealth find themselves in a state of confusion and turn to drugs or other ways of escape. The star that worked hard, endured some failures and took his or her time in their journey are the ones who coped better with success. Journeys bring obstacles and trials and we should expect them and be prepared for them. We are refined by them. God equipped the Israelites. "The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle." Exodus 13:18 They had Moses who led them and a God who blessed them beyond measure. They had many failures and lessons. The first generation was so defiant, they would not be alive by the end of the journey. Their descendants behind them would win this prize. Here is how God summed up Moses' journey in the desert: "The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything." Deuteronomy 2:7 We worship the same God as Moses. He will treat us the same way. If you are anxious in your journey, slow down. Look around. How are you being blessed? Perhaps your journey is in a slow spot. Is God showing you something? Are you listening and being obedient? Are you stuck in your past failures? Listen to Paul's advice, "...I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12b-14 Keep praying with expectant prayers in your journey and enjoy the trip along the way! God has amazing things to show you!

Laying It All Out Before The Lord

Have you ever wondered how you were going to get through something? Maybe you received your schedule for the next semester and wondered how you'll carry such a load. Perhaps it's a project at work and you don't even know where to start. Or the medical bills keep coming in and even after insurance, your 20% is overbearing. Election Day is coming up and many of us are disappointed with the selection of candidates. Who will we vote for? Are you in a situation where you just don't know what to do? We can learn an important lesson from King Hezekiah. He was a godly king of Judah who was being taunted by the powerful king of Assyria, Sennacherib. He insulted and blasphemed God and his people. After much success in overthrowing other cities, he now threatened Hezekiah with a letter. King Hezekiah read the letter, then went to the temple and "spread it out before the Lord." He prayed, "O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.....It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone....Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God." Isaiah 37:15-20 In Hezekiah's prayer, he first acknowledged who God is (You alone are God). Then he admitted the disturbing problem (It is true...that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples...). He sees the godlessness in the problem (for they were not gods) and finally, he presents his request (...deliver us from his hand...), but desires the request to be for God's glory (so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God). The prophet, Isaiah, sent a message to Hezekiah saying, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib....the Lord has spoken against him..." Isaiah 37:21-22a. Sennacherib was rebuked by God for his blasphemy against His people. One hundred and eighty-five men were put to death in the Assyrian camp and Sennacherib's own sons cut him down with a sword as he was worshiping an idol. What a God we have! All he desires is for us to turn to Him with our situations. He loves to show us His mighty works because He loves us. Next time something disturbing comes your way, "lay it out before the Lord!" We can do like Hezekiah and place the school schedule, tax forms, bills, voter's guide, or the disturbing front page news, before the Lord. On our knees, we can acknowledge His sovereignty, our problem, the powerlessness of man and our request for His deliverance. Pray expectantly and with right motives. God is glorified in our submission to Him and He blesses us beyond what we can imagine. As this old hymn reminds us, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886 Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918