How can I be sure?

When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.

God did this so that, by two unchanging things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be great encouraged.
                                     -- Hebrews 6:13-18

What are the "two unchanging things" the writer of Hebrews is talking about?

The two unchanging things are (1) the original promise (covenant) God made with Abraham, and (2) the oath He made later to confirm it.

The story is told in Genesis 15.

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
     'Do not be afraid, Abram.
     I am your shield, your very great reward.

     '....Look up at the heavens and count the starts -- if indeed you
     can count them...so shall your offspring be.

     Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as
     righteousness.

     ....I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans
     to give you this land to take possession of it.'


But Abram questions God about the land:



     'O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession
     of it?'



This is such an astonishing glimpse of the Sovereign God, LORD Creator of the Universe, speaking to one of His small creatures.

But He doesn't speak to Abram in a condescending way, as if he were small and insignificant (most astonishing is that He would speak to him at all, if
you think about it).

Instead God takes Abram's question seriously.


"How can I know for sure?" Abram asks.


"Well, Abram, you foolish man," I might say. "God just told you what He was going to do...how can you
question Him?"

But Gold decides to swear to Abram, in an oath-confirming ceremony, just what He had promised.

It was a common, accepted ceremony performed in those days between people making business arrangements.

They would take sacrificial animals, cut them in two parts, and both parties would walk between the pieces, reciting the terms of the agreement.

This would make it binding, as if we went to the Court House and had our signatures on a contract verified by a Notary.

Perhaps one man was selling land to another man, and the buyer was going to pay in cattle.

The two men would walk between the pieces of the animal, reciting the terms to each other. When the ceremony was completed it was sworn testimony to their agreement.

In the book of Jeremiah there is another reference to one of these ceremonies.

So instead of being angry at Abram for his doubt, we see a gracious and kind God patiently dealing with Abram in human terms that he would understand.

And why did God do this act of mercy?

The writer of Hebrews tell us in the passage above: (1) to make His promise and purpose very clear
and (2) to encourage us.

Read about it in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, chapter 15.

What does Abram do during the ceremony? Does he walk between the pieces with God?

No. Abram falls into a deep sleep and God walks alone through the ceremony.

Why? Because Abram had nothing to bring to the agreement. He wasn't paying anything. He was the recipient of all the blessings.

So God walked alone and confirmed His everlasting covenant with Abram and Abram rested and received it all.

It's called grace.

And it is pictured again at Calvary, when God the Son
confirmed His oath to mankind, and suffered alone.

We, like Abram, have nothing to bring to the table.

We are only recipients of the benefits of the oath.

Jesus performed the ceremony alone.


                              

Why do we hate God? Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon once on the four things that men hate about God. He titled his sermon Man Naturally God's Enemy.

At the beginning of the sermon Edwards said: "There are four things about God that make men hate him."

I wondered what his list of four things were. I guessed the first three:

(1) The first thing man hates about God is His Holiness.

     Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate
       wrong. Habakkuk 1:13

God's holiness terrifies man.  Contemplating it increases our own sense of sin. We try to minimize God's holiness by minimizing Him -- and, finally, by denying His existence all together -- then we don't have to deal with our own sin issue. 

Because if there is no God -- no measure of righteousness in the universe -- then we can't consider ourselves sinners! We have not violated any standard of righteousness!

But, sadly, if our lives are not accountable, then our lives don't count.

(2) The second thing man hates about God is His Omniscience.

If He knows everything, then we can't hide anything from Him.

     Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.
       Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes
       of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:13

(3) The third thing man hates about God is His Sovereignty.

God has absolute authority and rule over all His creation. In order to be sovereign, He must be all-knowing, all-powerful and absolutely free. If He were limited in any of these areas His sovereignty would not be absolute.

If God is sovereign, then I am not. There cannot be
two equal absolute sovereigns. I am not the ruler of my life, much less the world around me. I am not the
"Captain of my fate."

God is the center of everything - not man and not me!

What I do does not change anything!

And man really hates this!

     Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory  
     and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and
     earth is yours.

     Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over
     all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all
     things.  1 Chronicles 29:11-12

So what's the fourth thing man hates about God?

(4) The fourth thing man hates about God is His Immutability! That is, He never changes - never has and never will. He does not mutate.....

So why is that so offensive to man?

Edwards explains, "Man faces this dilemma: Not only does man know and know clearly that God is holy and omniscient and sovereign, but he knows that God will always be holy; He will always be omniscient; He will always be sovereign.

"And there is nothing we can do to make Him less holy, less omniscient, or less sovereign.

"These attributes are not open to negotiation. We cannot find God involved in a process of change whereby He can enter into certain mutations to compromise with us."

     I, the LORD, do not change. Malachi 3:6

     Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
          Hebrews 13:8

              As Thou has been, Thou forever wilt be!

So man hates God especially for the fact that He never changes.

He is never going to be someone we will like better.
He is never going to be any different than He is now.

(We might wait till our mother gets in a better mood before we tell her we  broke her favorite piece of china. Bot God's standard is always the same!)

God's holiness, omniscience and sovereignty are perfect. And perfection cannot change - any change would indicate less than perfection at any stage.

And God is always perfect - so there can be no changing His character, ever!


But once we embrace God and welcome Him into our hearts, isn't it funny how that thing we hate most becomes the thing we love most about Him?

We cannot depend on human beings - they change - they mutate - they vary with the circumstances around us.

We might please them one day and make them angry the next. We don't know how they will react - we cannot predict how our actions will be received.


But God is always the same. His will is invariable.

We know what pleases Him and how He wants us to live. All the time and in every circumstance.


We can count on Him to keep His promises and to fulfill His eternal plan.

We can count on Him always to be who He says He is!

And that's really good news for His children!

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day

Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away

Change and decay in all around I see

O Thou who changes not, abide with me!

What do we inherit? - Charles Spurgeon

The boundless realms of His Father's universe belong by right to Christ.

As "heir of all things," He is the sole proprietor of the vast creation of God, and He has admitted us to claim it all as ours, by making us His fellow heirs.

The golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of life, the transcendent bliss, and the unutterable glory are all, by our blessed Lord, made ours for an everlasting possession.

All that He has, He shares with His people. The royal crown He has placed on the head of His Church, granting her a kingdom, and calling her sons a royal priesthood, a generation of priests and kings.

He uncrowned Himself that we might have a coronation of glory; He would not sit upon His own throne until He had procured a place upon it for all who overcome by His blood.

Crown the Head, and the whole body shares the honor.

Here then is the reward of every Christian conqueror!  Christ's throne, crown, scepter, palace, treasure, robes, heritage are yours.

He deems His happiness completed by His people sharing it.

The glory that You have given me

I have given to them.

John 17:22

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.John 15:11

The smiles of His Father are all the sweeter to Him because His people share them.

The honors of His kingdom are more pleasing because His people appear with Him in glory.

More valuable to Him are His conquests since they have taught His people to overcome.

He delights in his throne because on it there is a place for them.

He rejoices in His royal robes since they cover His people.

He delights all the more in His joy because He calls them to enter into it.

                    -- Charles H Spurgeon

Being Transformed and Renewed

                                                          

                                                      Being Transformed and Renewed

"Be transformed, by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2)

When the Spirit renews our minds, all of life  becomes an act of worship.

That's because the Spirit not only opens our eyes to see who Christ really is, but also breaks our hearts to see who we really are.

And rather than this being some deathly experience of unending humiliation, seeing ourselves as broken and in need of a Savior actually liberates us.

It frees us from self-absorption and throws us on the mercy of God with joyous gratitude and love.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not by works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own  mercy, by the washing and regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:5)

                                                                   *****                                     

Now all of life has become an act of worship - every moment - every day --

How to Please God!

'I will praise God's Name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD...' 
Psalm 69:31

'LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.'  
Psalm 147:11.

'If anyone wants to boast, they should boast that they know and understand Me...These are the things that please me."  
Jeremiah 9:24.

'Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please Him.' Hebrews 12:28...'True worshippers must worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.' 
John 4:23

'The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who are trustworthy.'
Proverbs 12:22

'Let Israel rejoice in their Maker...Let them praise His Name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes delight in His people...Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor'.  Psalm 149:3-5



How do we please God? 

This is what I have learned...

     We please God when we thank Him!

     When we praise Him!

     When we seek to know Him and understand Him!

     When we worship Him and put our trust in His  unfailing love!

Look how easy and simple He has made it! Like a wonderful, kind Parent. 

How blessed we are.


BUT I usually just want Him to please me..

I need to change that....

Immanuel - God's Perfect Name

Jesus has many names in Scripture -- throughout most of my life, my favorite has been "Immanuel"! It means "God with us" and what better way to think of our Savior -- He is with you, and me, and all of us! Not just sometimes -- but now and always! Everyday! All the time!

In Hebrew the letters "el" is "God" and the other letters are "with us." Plain and simple. No great interpretation and context challenges.

We first read it in Isaiah 7:14. The prophet Isaiah encourages King Ahaz to seek a special sign from God at a time of national crisis. 

Ahaz has no interest in receiving a sign from God. So Isaiah says that God Himself will give the sign to Ahaz. It is recorded for us:

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel."

This was a promise to the kingdom of Judah, God's covenant people -- even with their wicked king and unfaithful people -- 'I will remember My promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Though things look dismal right now, you will have glorious future!

Seven hundred years later an angel appeared to Joseph and assured him that the baby Mary carried was from Holy Spirit, and would save his people. It's recorded for us in Matthew 2, and we are told it was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14..."And they will call Him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us!' What a great promise!

When I wait for medical test results, when I stand beside the casket of my husband or child, while I wait for pedestrians at the stop light, while I browse the internet, when  my heart is breaking, when I can't figure out what to do, He is right here with me!

He reaches out His hand for me, you know, that nail-scarred hand, and grabs me!

My Immanuel forever!

If (when) we're near to Jesus - Charles Spurgeon

The Lord Jesus gives special revelation of Himself to His people.

Even if Scripture did not declare this, many children of God could testify to the truth of it from their own experience....

...when Jesus manifests Himself to His people, it is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is bliss begun.

Special manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer's heart.

One effect will be humility.

If a man says, "I have had such-and-such spiritual communications; I am a great man," he has never had any communication with Jesus at all; for "the LORD regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar" (Psalm 138:6).  He does not need to come near the haughty to know them and will never give them visits of love.

Another effect will be happiness; for in God's presence there are pleasures forevermore.

Holiness will be sure to follow. A man who has no holiness has never had this manifestation [God's revelation]. Some men profess a great deal, but we must not believe anyone unless we see that his actions agree with what he says.

 "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked" (Galatians 6:7). He will not bestow His favors upon the wicked, for He will neither cast away a perfect man, nor will he respect an evildoer.

Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus--humility, happiness, and holiness.

May God give them to you, Christian!

           --  Charles Spurgeon

Great news!

My sin - oh the bliss of this glorious thought -

My sin - not in part, but the whole -

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! O My soul!*

Just think about it - all my sin - not just some of it - all of it -

 taken care of by Jesus at the cross!

God doesn't look at our sins - categorize them - maybe putting some of them in one pile and some in another, and saying, "OK, I'll take care of this stack...but that stack, well, you knew better, Glorya, you'll have to take care of them yourself!"

No, He put them all together in one large (really extra-large cosmic garbage bag) and hurled them into the depths of the deepest sea....out of His memory forever -

"Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives transgression....You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy....You will hurl all our iniquities into the depth of the sea." Micah 7:18-19

Who can imagine it? He delights to show mercy!

Yes, I believe in God - but not in just any god - I believe in THIS GOD! A God who delights to give me His mercy and forgives me 

all my sins!

"If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

*{Great words from It Is Well With My Soul, written by Horatio Spafford around 1875...}

A Perfect Prayer - Daniel

                                       What is a "Perfect Prayer"?



I was looking for a "perfect prayer."

There are so many.

Peter, when fearing for his life, prayed, "Lord, save me!" 

That's "practically perfect in every way," as Mary Poppins would say.

It is short (the shortest in the entire Bible), to the point, and directed to the Lord Himself, who alone could take care of the problem.

Here's another one:

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;

wisdom and power are His.

He changes times and seasons;

He sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise and

knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

He knows what lies in darkness,

and light dwells with Him.

I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:

You have given me wisdom and power,

You have made known to me what we asked of You,

You have made known to us the dream of the king.

                                         --Daniel 2:20-23

Daniel and all the wise men of Babylon had been told if they couldn't, not  just interpret, but actually relate Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him, they would be killed.

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah [Shadrack, Meshak and Abednego].

He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.   -- Daniel 2:17-19

What we learn from Daniel's grateful prayer - recorded in Daniel 2:20-23 (see above):

1. He starts with praise - passionate words giving glory to God for all He has done "for ever and ever."
For His wisdom and power, His control over nature, His control over mankind and its rulers.

2. Then he acknowledges that God gives wisdom and knowledge to His people, and He reveals deep and hidden things. God is not tight-fisted - He is generous and gracious.

3. Then Daniel gets personal and thanks God for giving him wisdom and power -- gifts that belong to God Himself. "Wisdom and power are His" Daniel had said at the beginning of the prayer.

4. Then Daniel gets specific: "You have made known to us what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king."

Daniel's heart is overflowing with praise and gratitude. He begins praising God for His great power and majesty, and His kindness. Then he thanks Him for answering his specific prayer.




From praising God for His universal sovereign greatness, and then thanking and praising Him for His goodness to Daniel personally.

That's why this is an example of a perfect prayer.


Note: I am amazed at how many times the words revealer, and reveal (or made known) occurs in Daniel 2. It's about 10 times in that chapter. And always God is the revealer.

What Made David Happy?

                                                 What Made David Happy?

Words from David recorded in Psalm 26: "I go about your altar, LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling all your wonderful deeds. LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells."

How joyous David is that he can come into the  house where God lives, where God's glory dwells.He moves freely around, praising God out loud! Such a beautiful picture!

But what about us? The gospel tells us that now Jesus Is the true temple (John 2) -- that God's glory dwells in Him and with all of us who unite with Him through faith (1 Peter 2). 

Those people in the next row with the whiny baby? That lady who really should carry a box of Kleenex with her? Those young people who don't dress right for church (or anywhere else for that matter!) 

They should be objects of my love and respect because God's glory dwells in them!

Father, each of my brothers and sisters in your family has your image and is precious in your sight, and house Christ and His glory. How can I be cold, impatient, irritable, and disrespectful to them? How can I look down at them? 

But I do sometimes. I need more of your love -- please fill me  to joyful overflowing -- your fountain has an endless supply. And I stand here with an empty heart.

As You have been to me, help me to be to others.

Amen.

Miscellaneous Thoughts About Prayer

~~~~~From the venerable Rabbis:



Here is one of the Jewish blessings recited in their services after the Torah scroll has been read, tied and covered.

Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, Rock of all eternities, Righteous in all generations, the trustworthy God, Who says and does, Who speaks and fulfills, all of Whose words are true and righteous. Trustworthy are You, Hashem, our God and trustworthy are Your words, not one of Your words is turned back to its origin unfulfilled for You are God, trustworthy and compassionate King. Blessed are You, Hashem, the God Who is trustworthy in all His word.

~~~~~From the Westminster Catechism:



Westminster Catechism Question 107:

Q. What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. teaches us to take our encouragements in prayer from God only [a], and in our prayers to praise Him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to Him [b]; and, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard we say, Amen [c].

[a] Dan 9:4, 7-9, 16-19; Luke 18:1,7-8
[b] 1 Chron 29:10-13; 1 Tim 1:17; Rev 5:11-13
[c] 1 Co 14:16; Rev 22:20





~~~~~What we learn from Job, chapter 42

From the LORD to Job's 3 friends:

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them: for the LORD had accepted Job.


And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.



It appears Job did not know God would restore his losses until after he prayed for his friends. He acted first in obedience to pray for his friends, and then God restored His blessings on Job.

Is there a lesson here for us?


~~~~From George McDonald

Intercessory Prayer

And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another? I can only answer with the return question, "Why should my love be powerless to help another?"

It's All About Salt!

                          

                                    It's All About Salt!

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

These are the words of Jesus, when He spoke to His disciples, recorded in Matthew 5.

Very familiar, maybe so familiar we skip over their importance.

Salt in the ancient world was essential to preserve (no refrigeration then) and season food. Its sodium and chloride maintain bodily functions, like nerve transmission and muscle contractions. It also helps bone development and regulates blood pressure.

Life on earth would not exist without the abundance of salt!

And so it became an important trade commodity, even used as currency. The word "salary" originally came from the Latin word for "salt" -- hence the phrase, "worth your salt."

Pure salt, like we use today, is chemically stable.

But in ancient times it could become ineffective in various ways -- dissolved in water and its components leached out, impurities added and contamination.

It lost its "saltiness."

It was good for nothing, except to be "thrown out and trampled underfoot," Jesus said.

Did that happen?

Yes! Contaminated salt that had lost its original effectiveness was stored. Later, in times of rain and icy weather, it was brought out and scattered over the slippery places, to provide traction for walkers in the dangerous areas, especially on the steps leading into the temple! Many accidents were prevented by the use of salt.

And salt lowers the temperature needed to freeze water, so it would help dissolve ice and retard its build up! 

Great idea, right? Don't we do the same? -- We salt roads to prevent sliding and accidents.

And so WE are the salt needed on earth  -- intended to preserve and season the goodness of life -- love, kindness and truth -- and we extend God's grace.

And besides all that -- SALT MAKES PEOPLE THIRSTY!

And Jesus comes to us to quench that thirst!

Remember what Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well:

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14).

So we are the critical salt of the earth-- go out today and be salt! Make people thirsty! For Jesus!

What we Believe -- about the Holy Spirit

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.

He inspired holy men of old to write the scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth.

He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.

He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration.

He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church.

He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption.
His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ.

He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Gen 1:2; Judg 14:6; Job 26:13,;Psalm 1:11, 139:7ff; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt 1:18, 3:16, 4:1, 12:28-30 28:19,;Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35, 4:1, 18-19;.....
.
                                                                                       --From Baptist Faith and Message, 1963

I keep re-reading that sentence: His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ.

The assurance....into the full stature....so that means it is really going to happen!

We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:13

There is a Redeemer

Jesus, God's own Son

Holy Lamb of God, Messiah,

Holy One!

Thank you, O my Father,

For giving us Your Son

And leaving Your Spirit 'til
The work on earth is done!

The Message of Jesus - Where Did It Come From?

 

         The Message of Jesus - Where Did It Come From?

"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, 

that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, 

I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."

 -- Galatians 1:11-12

 This is a very good thing for us to remember. And it is our story, too.

We received the  message of Jesus, not because someone talked us into it, or argued with us until our futile objections were exposed, or exhausted our patience.

But because of the work of God, who, through the Holy Spirit, broke down our reservations and revealed the truth to our hungry hearts.

All praise to Him!

The Way of Wisdom - The House of Mourning

...the day of death is better than the day of birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man...

Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

        --Ecclesiastes 7:1-4


At one time I was confounded by these, what I thought of as dreary, passages.... 

the day of death is better than the day of birth....

{that's sort of 'Jewish' in that it reminds us all of that
old Jewish traditional proverb: 'cry when a baby is born and rejoice when he dies'...a reality certainly played out in Jewish history....}

better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of merry-making....

a sad face is good for the heart....

and that last line...the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning....

As the author focuses on sorrow and mourning, he repeatedly uses the terms good and better. And then tells us that the way to wisdom is through the house of mourning....

The older I get I begin to understand Solomon's philosophy here....it's just the simple truth - real, enduring, life-changing wisdom comes through pain and suffering -

As happy it is to experience the arrival of a tiny baby,
that occasion does not provide the wisdom and perspective that grief and death do.

Death causes us to stop and reflect, at a deeply profound and personal level, on life - its purpose, its journey, and its destination.

Death forces us to focus, at least for a moment, on the frailty and brevity of life.

Death reminds us it exists because of sin and that one day it will be utterly destroyed. Death itself will eventually be shown to be the frail and temporary condition - and eternal life will be the permanent conqueror.

And death reminds us that, ultimately, we have important choices to make.

Reflecting on death is the way of wisdom....Death points us to the Eternal One, who has the power over death and promises us the hope of the resurrection and glorious eternal life for those who trust in the finished work of Jesus.


As I look back on my life I see how much more I learned in those times of pain -- it's obvious to me now -- I experience more of God in the house of mourning than I do in the house of merry-making.

Bringing to mind God's words in Jeremiah 22:21:

I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, "I will not hear." This has been your manner since your youth, that you did not obey my voice.

That seems to be my story, too.

This is the journey of wisdom -- we cling to Jesus when we grieve and eagerly await His return.


For on that day, "He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 22:4).

             Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

An ordinary, simple act...? C.S. Lewis

What I mean is this: An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get in touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God---God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God--that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him.

You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying--the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So the three-fold life of the three-personal Being is actually there in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is saying his prayers.

C. S. Lewis, The Business of Heaven

Outside of the incarnation itself, this must be the most incredible fact of our Christian life.

Sin is just So Boring!

Consider the assumption that unhappiness is more interesting than happiness. Tolstoy's maxim in Anna Karenina is regularly cited: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

But is that really true? I have found just the opposite to be the case. An encounter with a happy family or happy marriage -- where people love and support one another; where they find joy in the very being of the other -- is almost always more fascinating than unhappiness.

Unhappiness is a dreary replaying of deadly sins -- envy, pride, resentment, hatred, and endless variations on the "old dreadfuls" of human depravity. It is all so predictable. 

Happiness, by way of sharpest contrast, surprises and delights.

            --From As I Lay Dying by Richard John Newhaus



[I can sure vouch for this! The Christians I know are spontaneous, free, unpredictable, and fun to be around! More so than my unbelieving friends!]




I have come that they might have life, and that they have it more abundantly.  (John 10:10 NKJV)


My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. (John 10:10 NLT)


I came so that they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.  (John 10:10 The Message)


Though you have not see Him, you love Him; you believe in Him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. (1 Peter 1:8 NIV)

Glimpses of Prevenient Grace

Yesterday I did the "Madame Guyon practice" and just picked up my Bible and started reading slowly. The Bible opened to Psalm 40.

I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit
Out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
And gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
A hymn of praise to our God.
Psalm 40:1-3

How many times have I read that passage? Who could count?

But this is the first time (Thank you, Madame Guyon) that I really noticed the wording of the second line: He turned to me and heard my cry.

God turned toward the Psalmist, and THEN He heard his cry. The Psalmist was waiting patiently.....so he must not have started his cry until the LORD turned toward him..

I flipped back to Exodus, chapter 3. God says to Moses, "I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering." So the LORD saw and then heard their cries.

Then there is the record of Adam and Eve. After their sin, they hid. God came to them. They didn't run to Him. He came to them first. He sought them out so He could show them His grace.

"We love Him because He first loved us." (I John 4:19)

Prevenient Grace

People used to talk about Prevenient Grace. I don't hear much about it these days.


Prevenient Grace is divine grace which precedes human decision. It exists prior to and without reference to anything humans may have done.

So God's grace existed for them before they needed it, or before they realized they needed it.

Looking back to Psalm 40: God gave the poet a new song, a song of praise.

Did David ask for the song?

A Morning Prayer

                                            

                                             

A Prayer for This Morning....

Almighty and all-loving Father, my God, the only One worthy of worship --

I do worship and adore You. What I want to say is "Thank You", my Abba Father, for all You've given me.

Your hand is always reaching out to give me more and my life is overflowing with Your goodness.

Thank You for filling the emptiness of my life with Your presence, which brings me pleasure and joy each moment; for Your mighty hand that protects me; for the forgiveness You eagerly offer me each day.

You took my sin and shame and guilt and hurled them into Your sea of forgetfulness.

You took away my darkness and gave me Your light.

I sing Your praises today and join that multitude that will sing praise to You forever....singing that song that will never end.

Amen and Amen forever and ever!

Good Morning Everybody

 

But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalm 58:16

A Morning Prayer

O Lord and Maker of all things, from whose creative power the first light came forth, who looked upon the world's first morning and saw that it was good, I praise You for this light that now streams through my windows to rouse me to the life of another day.

I praise You for the life that stirs within me;
I praise You for the bright and beautiful world into which I go;
I praise You for earth and sea and sky, for scudding cloud and singing bird;
I praise You for the work You have given me to do;
I praise You for all that You have given me to fill my leisure hours;
I praise You for my friends;
I praise You for music and books and good company and all pure pleasures.
Amen
From Valley of Vision (Puritan Prayers)


Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing, fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God's re-creation of the new day!
--Eleanor Farjeon

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
Psalm 5:3

A really good way to start a new day:

Lead on, O King eternal
We follow, not with fear,
For gladness breaks like morning
Wher-e'er Thy face appears!

Generosity - Thoughts From Charles Morris

                                          Generosity - Thoughts from Charles

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors God" (Proverbs 14:31)

I love these thoughts from Charles Morris:

When we share our resources with others, it helps the other person.

But the Bible teaches there is something more going on, something vertical as well as horizontal.

How we treat others actually communicates glory to God.

God created all human beings, and therefore, when  we mistreat others we insult God.

We say to Him, 'Your creatures are not worth my effort.'

But when we show generosity we are telling Him through those acts that we value the things He has made.

They are worth our respect and investment.

Our generosity flows from a heart captivated by the generosity of our loving Savior.

He is generous to us, the needy, by providing a Savior to rebellious people, like we are, who can offer nothing in return but a heart filled with gratitude to Him.

                      As He has been to us, may we be to others...

.

Nothing can stop it!

The bright Morning Star
Heralds the advent of dawn
Nothing can stop it

The early morning sky these days is crystal clear. I find myself staring at the Morning Star and finding new meaning in its position.

Right now the horizon is just beginning to lighten, with shades of mauve and golden moving upward into the sky. (As Emily Dickinson says about the sunrise: 'a ribbon at a time.')

The Morning Star is still visible though and will be until dawn makes it glorious appearance.

A favorite childhood hymn comes to mind:

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me
There a Bright and Morning Star
Shed its beams around me.

To the church at Thyatira, John records God's message --to him who overcomes I will give the morning star. And at the end of The Revelation we see Christ Himself saying ...I am the bright Morning Star.

He is coming and He will herald the New Day of Creation.

And nothing will stop it!

An old hymn:

I was a seeker for light in a dark world

I looked for truth, but settled for lies

I had been blinded, I couldn't see

Till the Star of Bethlehem's sky opened my eyes.

I have seen the Light shining in the darkness

Bursting through the shadows, delivering the dawn

I have seen the Light whose holy name is Jesus

His kingdom is forever. He reigns on Heaven's throne!

It's the Morning Star that announces the coming of dawn.


It's Jesus Himself who will bring in the new day.

And nothing will stop it!

Even so, come quickly! Lord Jesus.

Isaiah 60:22: I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly."

Before We Say Amen!

 

                                                   Before We Say Amen!

Notice how many heartfelt prayers in the Bible end with great exclamations of praise?

Maybe that's how we should end all our prayers....

A good example is Psalm 28

Here are verses 1 and 2:

     To You, LORD, I call; You are my Rock,

     Do not turn a deaf ear to me.

     For if You remain silent, I will be like  those who go down to the pit.

     Hear my cry for mercy as I call to You for help,

     as I lift up my hands toward Your Most Holy Place.

Then look at verses 6 and 7:

     Praise be to the LORD for He has heard my cry for mercy.

     The LORD is my strength and my shield

     My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.

     My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise Him.

Maybe that's the spirit in which we should end all our prayers!