Living Beyond Our Limitations

Have you grown weary standing up against people that oppose you? Do you want to become someone stronger and freer? Ever feel like giving up when you once again face the struggles in your life? You know, the ones that tire you out, the secret places deep inside that you’d be ashamed to admit exist, the pain you’ve tried and often failed to overcome, the depression that haunts you. Thankfully, there’s hope.

Let’s cut to the chase: Without the power of God acting in your life and on your behalf, there is no hope but only human effort.

(Man, I haven't shared my personal Bible Study notes in a long, long, time! Do you miss them? If so, let me know.)

As those who follow Jesus Christ, we know we are choosing to go against the grain in how we live and have different priorities. This creates a tension we can’t deny. But all these troubles are in exchange for an eternal life with God instead of an eternity of pain and torment with Him.

This Christian life that we’ve chosen is a vigorous life- hard but rewarding!  

As a Jesus follower, we will have 3 main areas of trials and tribulations:

1- External Battles (Living against the grain of our culture)

2- Internal Battles (Nagging temptations, struggles, a “thorn in the flesh”)

3- I’ll share this one a few paragraphs down the line.

Some battles we win; others we lose. But Jesus has won the war! Let’s talk about one of our biggest battles- the fight against shame.

What creates shame in our lives?

Shame comes from many places:

·       Family History (Background, social status, ethnicity)

·       Our Personal History

·       Sexual and Physical Abuse

·       Our Sin - Our Temptations - Our Secrets!

Even as you are reading this, I bet these secret, darker places in your heart and mind are coming to the forefront! These are the same things that cause us to walk in brokenness instead of wholeness! Now, right now, stop and pray. Pray for God to protect your mind and heart from the attacks of Satan, who doesn’t want you to be whole and free! Below is a key verse to remember:

Ephesians 6:12   “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “

The world hated Jesus first (John 15:18). He is our model as well as Lord and Savior! Just look at the temptations Jesus faced and at the hand of Satan no less! Look at Luke 4:1-13:

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” (Deut. 8:3) 

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” (Deut. 6:13)   

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” (Psalm 91:11-12)

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Deut. 6:16)  

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. 14  Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside."

Overall, Satan offered Jesus a way to live that left God out of the picture. Although we know Jesus is divine, the One True God, we also know that he had very real needs as a man on this earth. Imagine being in the desert, in the rough untamed wilderness for forty days. 

·       Hungry? See Verse 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Deut. 8:3) 

Satan offers: Meet your own need (the counterfeit of trusting God’s provision)

·       Power, Position, Influence?  See Verse 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Deut. 6:16)  

Satan offers:  Power and position that comes from the world (a counterfeit of true authority and impact that comes from obedience to God) 

·    See Verse 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Deut. 6:13) 

Safety, Security, Proving Yourself to Others?   

Satan offers: Trust in yourself and human wisdom (the counterfeit of God’s wisdom)

Ultimately, Satan offers results without relationship with God! Our enemy is trying to separate people from the Living God, the only one that brings hope, joy, peace, and eternal life. Just like Adam and Eve in the garden, Jesus was given and a chance to bypass obedience to God, taking glory from God. Where Adam failed, Jesus succeeded. 

We fool ourselves into thinking we can avoid a similar life of hardship and trouble. And our very nature fights against these things. But even if we gain some measure of success in that, we are missing out on God’s good plans for us. Plans better than we can imagine or create for ourselves.

Obeying God brings suffering, but it brings glory to God- and don’t miss this- we are often healed in the process!

How do we win those internal battles?  

1-     We must know and believe the promises of God.

o   Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35)

o   When we look to Him, we are never covered with shame (Psalm 34:4-5) 

o   Our sins are removed from us (Psalm 103:1-13)

o   God has good plans for us (1 Corinthians 2:9)

o   We are created intentionally and with purpose. Created for His Glory (Isaiah 43:7)

We can know the truth, but still feel lies. How you will choose to live will have as impact on your healing.

2-     Our Identity Comes from God now, not the world. Not from who others say we are. Not our parents, not our society, not our boss, the news, or our political affiliation… and not even our own self-doubt.

Proverbs 23:7- “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (American KJB translation)

3-     We have power of Holy Spirit-   

·       Luke 11:9-14 tells us that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask!

·       God gives us the gifts we need to bring Him glory and do His will (Hebrews 2:3-13- and We are HIS family!)

NOTE: We have grace to succeed or fail!  

Ephesians 2:8-9. “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. “

Salvation doesn’t depend on our performance. It’s a gift- but how we choose to live reflects our thankfulness for God and all he has done through Jesus Christ.

(Need more? Read Romans 61-23.)

Let’s get practical!

Those deepest ongoing temptations are signals you need time with the Lord. Spend a good portion of time in prayer, in reading the Bible, in worship.

Choose obedience. You are as free as you want to be- Every choice you make (obedience or sin) shows how free you will live. And who is your master. When we bring God glory as we should, we receive joy!

Focus on the work of the Kingdom and your love for God- not on your wounding! When we are self-focused, we tend to concentrate on what we DO NOT have vs. What we DO have! This is a practical application of this verse:

Luke 9:23- “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

How to Bring Healing and Wholeness

As I said earlier, you will have 3 main areas of trials and tribulations (see Jesus’ words in John 16)

1- External battles (you are used to these living in your culture)

2- Internal battles (thorn in the flesh, torment, temptation)

And now the last one…

3- BATTLES AND JUDGMENTS WITHIN THE BODY OF BELIEVERS (Yes, we can be our own worst enemy... this one hurts!)

1.     LOVE one another!  

Look at Matthew 22:37-39:

“Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Can we love from afar?” It’s difficult! But we must go beyond our choices to love as well! 

2.     We Must also ACCEPT one another!

Just read  I Corinthians 1:10-13 here:

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?  

We may not be divided by teacher or church, but we divide ourselves out in other ways:

·       Leader vs. Follower

·       Married or single

·       With or without children

·       By interests and hobbies (athletes vs. Creatives, introverts vs. Extroverts- other examples)

·       By our beliefs on secondary theologies

·       We need friendships with those different than us! God uses those not like us to bring pain to the surface so that he can heal! He uses our differences to conform us to Christlikeness. 

3.     Forgive One Another  

Here's two killer verses to wrestle with: 

Romans 15:7- “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Colossians 3:12-17-  

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The hardest and sometimes most powerful? Confession.

1-Personal Confession before God (See 1 Peter 2:1- Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.)

2- Confession to Each Other

James 5:16- “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

I’m going to leave the following in caps. And I hope it makes an impact:

THE ENEMY’S PLAN IS DIVIDE AND CONQUER. SEPARATE OUT THE SHEEP, THEY’LL SCATTER, AND THE WOLF WILL PICK THEM OFF ONE BY ONE!

Let’s not help our enemy defeat us by playing into his hands! And let us not grow weary, but let us give God time to complete our transformation into Christlikeness.

Yes, our past, our sins, our secrets, can leave us living in shame! Certainly, we’ll be tempted by the enemy to meet our own needs and not letting God do His work in His time. We’ve got to know God’s word, know our identity, and then we must embrace His power to walk in grace!

Help us Lord to accept each other, forgive each other, and confess our sins before God and to our family in Christ. Amen!

It's a Symphony!

 

The Most Important Family Affair

The times when all our family is together are too few and far between, but they each hold significance. Last year, my grandson (on the left) shared about Jesus' heart for a broken and sinful people (that's all of us!) with his cousin (in the lime green shirt). This led to him asking me all about it over pizza one night while we were enjoying slices with his family. He asked incredible questions- deep ones. I could see by the look on his face that he understood the gravity of his separation from God and that he understood that only by receiving the gift of Jesus Christ and turning toward Him would pay for his sin and gain him entry into heaven upon his death. Weighty stuff! (It IS weighty! Read the Bible's book of John, chapters 1-3 and Romans, chapters 1-6 to understand these timeless truths.) 

My younger grandson prayed right then on the spot in the restaurant and gave his life to Jesus. Then he asked about baptism, saying his older cousin had explained it. He wondered if he had the facts right. When I asked more questions to clarify his understanding, it was obvious he knew it was a step of obedience in his newfound faith, one he wanted to experience. Since we were in a restaurant, I joked I could dump water on his head if I had to, but it would be better to do it later.

This year, we were enjoying the cool water of the pool, beating the July summer heat. Unprompted except by God and his own heart, he asked me, "Grandpa, can you baptize me now?" His parents gave their approval, and with his brother right there, and his cousin at his side, the youngest and newest follower of Jesus in our family, was baptized. I asked him all the appropriate questions you'd expect and asked him if he was ready to be dunked. Then, with his cousin helping me, we baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The small crowd around him erupted in cheers and with clapping. What an awesome gift God gives every believer to share the Truth and then also to be a part of a baptism afterward! I'm nothing special, but God sees each one of us as important and worthy of doing His joyful work!
 

Why I Was Wrong to Ignore The Chosen

The global phenomenon known as The Chosen should have been a must see television event for this Christian man, but I've avoided it. Why? I saw one maybe two episodes when it first came out. It was definitely well produced, but I really didn't want a series that added to the truths in the Bible. I wanted to keep the facts straight from what was conjecture and not confuse story elements with truth. But then, unexpectedly, something changed. We restarted the show, and it was episode three of season one that caught me. "Jesus Loves the Little Children". Actor Jonathan Roumie's tender portrayal of the Messiah, the Savior of the World, as he interacted with a group of kids grabbed my heart. 

I got a bit choked up inside. Then Jesus' words from him that I know so well rung in my head:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” These words of his recorded in Matthew 11 verses 28-30 seemed fresh and new once more. And they were once again very personal. I hope they are personal for you as well.

As I went to turn on the television and watch another episode, a series called Jonathan and Jesus popped up. It's a four episode look that takes viewers behind the scenes. But not of the show per se. It's an in-depth look at what actor Jonathan Roumie has gone through as he wrestles playing the Son of God. It's as riveting as the series which birthed the behind the scenes look. Really challenging and inspiring at the same time.

So now, I've changed my mind and am watching The Chosen. (If I had to pick one episode so far to watch, it would be episode 7 of season one. Jesus encounters different people and asks them to follow him. It's powerful and very heart wrenching to say the least.) 

So, I'm now a fan of The Chosen. I'm still paying attention to what is said and if it's Biblically accurate. But I'm asking God to touch my heart and keep me tender toward Him as I watch. Needless to say, God has grabbed my attention in a fresh way. And I couldn't be happier about it.

Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!" So reads Psalm 33:12 in the Bible. As you watch the Hall of Presidents, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln or the American Adventure at the Disney parks, listen with an open mind and heart. You'll hear the story of how God was so involved in the creation of our nation. Do we still believe that? I do. 

No, we're not perfect- but you cannot take away our heritage. Many try, but it's evil to remove what God has done and his role in our story. I'll be very curious to see what stories historian Ken Burns uncovers with the new documentary on PBS, The American Revolution.

Personally, as we celebrate 4th of July, our Independence Day, we should stop and ask ourselves if we are truly living a free and vicarious life.  God's Word shows us the truth once again: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17) How we gain this real freedom is through turning our lives over to Jesus, holding nothing back- holding absolutely nothing back- and letting him transform us into what He intends for us to be. It may be painful at times, but pleasing God begins to be the priority of those He calls his children. His Spirit is always present when we submit to God and His ways. Every day is a new opportunity and a choice. What will you choose?

Rome - Eternally Yours

Rome- The Eternal City. What an amazing place! The famous sights, the sounds of fountains, music, the people; and the utterly magnificent flavors! But they pale in comparison to what is to come. The true eternal city as described by the beloved Apostle John in the book of Revelation: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Can there be anything better than what is to come for all who have received the free gift of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ? No, a thousand times, no.

 

A Piece of Good Advice

Sometimes the best advice comes in a simple and straightforward manner. Life isn't all that it's cracked up to be at time. And it can always be much better by following these three simple instructions: Be With Jesus; Become Like Jesus; Do What Jesus Did. Will life get easier? Absolutely not! It will get harder because you will wake up to a new dimension of understanding and a clearer set up priorities. But it will be filled with purpose, joy, hope and eternal rewards. Nothing is better than that!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Notable and Quotable: Chuck Swindoll

 

A timely message from one of the greats, Chuck Swindoll: 

In Mark 12, we run across several types of Jewish religious leaders, all taking their turns at trying to trap Jesus into saying something that they can use against Him: Pharisees in Mark 12:13-17, Sadducees in Mark 12:18-27, and one of the teachers of religious law in Mark 12:28-34. Of course, they all fail. Each of these types of religious leaders had its own specific types of rules, regulations, and ways of living. The problem is, these religious types didn’t vanish. Many of these people are sitting in the pews of churches today.

Are you a modern-day Pharisee—religious, legalistic, judgmental, opinionated, and harsh with those who don’t keep your rules? I have a good friend who is an elder in his church. He says, “My problem is that I’m a recovering Pharisee.” There’s an honest man. But maybe you’re not even “recovering.” Maybe you don’t even realize your pharisaic tendencies at all. The fact is that you may still be lost. You’ve got all these things you’re keeping, all this stuff you’re proud of, all these people you’re judging. You don’t miss a meeting, and you don’t miss a chance to refer to your righteousness (or at least hint about it), talk about how often you pray, explain why you pray, and on and on and on. You can be full of religion but still lost. When we come to Jesus, we drop all that garbage, and we realize that there’s nothing in our hands we can bring—there’s only a cross we can cling to.

Maybe you’re a modern-day Sadducee. See if this ­description fits: You look like you’re interested in religion, but you’re really interested in politics. You’re impressed with the teachings of Jesus, but you’re humanistic. You’re somewhat religious, but you’re more sophisticated. You may be wealthy. Maybe you’ve grown up in a church, but you’re not really all that sure about the devil and the demons and all that life-after-death stuff. You’re far more concerned about your position, your wealth, your possessions. If you’re a Sadducee, you’re also lost.

Of all these types, the people I’m most concerned about are the modern-day “teachers of religious law,” the modern-day scribes. You may have studied theology. You may have heard about grace or even taught about grace. Folks might think you’re a faithful follower. You’re sensible. You’re intelligent. You’re not far from the Kingdom, but you’re not there yet either. Make sure that you don’t let your study of the details of theology replace your need to submit to the Lord Jesus by faith. Those who fall into this category, like modern-day Pharisees and Sadducees, are lost.

I fear for you if you are anywhere on this list, because none of us know what a day will bring forth (see Prov. 27:1). Today is the day, my friends, to find Jesus. Quit fighting Him. Quit thinking you’ve got plenty of time. Quit thinking you’re bulletproof.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29). Find your peace in your relationship with Him. He’s the only One who can forgive you—and He will. He’s the only One who can provide goodness and mercy all the rest of the days of your life—and He will. But you must come to Him. Come.

Victorious Love

Easter Sunday is here! I am shocked by the number of faithful people who choose to think of Jesus as the broken martyr who had no choice but to die on the cross for our sins. Think about it: The Biblical truth is that Jesus completed the mission God the Father gave Him. This makes Jesus a victorious king and not a victim.

^^^ Imagine this being your sole mission in life!

You just have to read the following passage today that describes the Resurrection of Jesus.... then ask yourself, "Was Jesus the victim or the victorious king?"

He is Risen Indeed!

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Resurrection!

Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."

Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid. They said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?"

"They took my Master," she said, "and I don't know where they put him." After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't recognize him.

Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?"
She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him."

Jesus said, "Mary."

Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" meaning "Teacher!"

Jesus said, "Don't cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.'"

Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: "I saw the Master!" And she told them everything he said to her.

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.

The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."

Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master."

But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."

Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."

Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"

Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."

Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

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From Eugene Peterson's The Message - a contemporary translation of the Bible. This beautiful stained glass window is found in Houston, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Looking For and Finding a Perfect Love

Do you want the kind of love that will last forever? Don't we all! Look no further than to Jesus Christ, God Himself in the flesh. He was sent from Heaven to a broken people on earth to die in their place so that they could have life. That is love, I tell you! 

But who exactly is Jesus? That's the question we all must answer. Each of us. Believer or not, this question will be asked of us one day. If you don't understand, read ahead and you'll discover the greatest love story ever told.

Today is Good Friday for we who believe and so commemorate the passion of Jesus of Nazareth, meaning his crucifixion on the cross for the sin of mankind... all leading to His Resurrection. 

Think about this: The very measurement of time changed because of this event!

Jesus is controversial- and His story timeless. Magazines still devote cover stories to Him, books continue to be written, songs composed, and films made. Each piece brings to the forefront Jesus' own question to his disciple Peter, and agin, it is one we all must answer: "Who do you say I am?"

Yes, it's true. Just for you and me and the whole earth - from the beginning of time. Jesus chose to lay down his life to redeem us from Hell. The Hell we deserve for our sin. Ever lie? Cheat? Slander? Then, his sacrifice via the cross was just for you. It's a gift that cost him much pain and sorrow. But if you receive this gift of eternal life by choosing and following Him, it's a gift back to Him that will bless him. Yes, something very special.

God is very gracious and loving by making it crystal clear and easy to understand: Jesus Himself says He is the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life and that no one would be able to come to an eternity with God the Father except by receiving Him. (Read the Book of John in the New Testament, Chapter 14). God could have made it difficult to discover, but He did not. It's not from hate or prejudice, it's from love He said what He said and did what He did.

It was His same great love for the people He created- that includes you and me- that caused Him to sacrifice Jesus in our place. And it's His same love that draws you to Him. Can you feel the call to Him in your heart? Does your spirit leap at the sound of His name?
If not, it's time to ask yourself why. 

First comes death on a cross. A brutal and terrifying way to die. Torture like none other. Medically, it's just an awfully painful way to die. (Read about the medical explanation of what this does to a body here.) His radical way to show great love begins with his submission to this kind of death.

But oh, then comes Easter Sunday morning- the Triumph of Jesus over sin and death- for our benefit! Never a victim- always a champion. He accomplished this great mission born from Love- the very mission the Father gave Him. Jesus the triumphant one! Preachers everywhere should remember this! As should the people He gave his life for.

At the end of time, known as the Final Judgment in the Bible, (See the last book of the Bible. It's called "Revelation"), Jesus has returned to earth as the Triumphant King that He is. Mankind, one person at a time, must give an account for how they have lived their life. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have lived to please Him all their days will proceed to an eternal glory free from pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, not all will believe. He gave men free will to choose. To those who have turned away from Jesus, rejected Him even though He was God's gift to pay for our sins, they will be sent to Hell, the place of fire and torment forever. Hell was designed for Satan and his demonic angels, but those that deny Jesus as Messiah (Christ) and follow their own path, end up in that place as well. It's their choice, not God's.

So, Jesus' question remains: Who do you say that I am?

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Yes, Happy Anniversary to us! This great little photo was taken at the home of our first "couple friends" that were neither mine nor hers before we met... and we've remained life long friends many, many, MANY, years later.

Today as we celebrate, my wonderful wife, I want to tell you how much I love you. We're not young anymore, but you're still beautiful- and no one can compare.  May God be lifted up and may we be blessed as we walk out the rest of our life together!

God Is Still Speaking But Are We Still Listening?

In days such as these, it is becoming easier and easier to let ourselves drift away from God- that is, if we even believe He is alive and active and involved in the world. That is now becoming a popular train of thought.

When we want to inquire of God, this decision assumes we take a posture of humility. What's the purpose of wanting to hear from God if you don't want to really know what He says or don't intend to follow through with it? We can usually find most of what God wants from us as we read the Bible. 

Some questions God may choose to leave a mystery, but almost all others He will answer from His written word. Now honestly, if we think we can figure everything out, then we reduce God to human size, and He is limited to our brainpower and understanding. Who wants a god who is only as big and powerful as we are? I'd prefer a God who is not limited by what man thinks. But that's another discussion for a later time.

We can hear God's voice to us by talking to Him. That is what prayer is. The reason God desires our prayer is important and foundational to faith: God wants a personal relationship with the people He created. It may be hard to fathom, but God loves us that much! It really is all about relationship. Next point in hearing God's voice...

Wise counsel. Let's put this in perspective, if we were going to undertake a complex home improvement project, we'd want to talk with someone who had already successfully completed a similar job. You might talk to the proper medical specialist if you were diagnosed with a particular illness you knew little about. See a skilled mechanic to work on your car, etc. You get the point. The same principle works with discovering God's will. After setting the right heart attitude in place, seeking God out in reading the Bible and in talking to Him through prayer, we can also seek out the wise counsel of others as a way of hearing God.

One of the best and wisest parts of seeking out the counsel of others is that we get to hear an outsider's perspective on our life. It can give us an objectivity we may not have otherwise. Wise counsel can potentially alert us to flaws in our logic, remind us of hard lessons from the past, correct faulty beliefs about God, and ultimately protect us from hasty decision making.

The other side benefit of seeking counsel from others is building relationship. We can build friendships, learn more about each other, and be available to serve each other. Since men and women are created in God's image, we get the opportunity to reflect God's heart to each other as we communicate. It's a chance to encourage and love each other. Christianity is at its core a relational faith- the central message is God's great and redeeming love toward man. We do not serve a distant God if we love Jesus. And Jesus modeled love for the people around him as our example as to how we are to treat others.

How do we evaluate the counsel we receive? First and foremost, nothing said will ever contradict God's written word if it is really Him speaking through someone else. All wisdom is God-inspired. Right from the source. There will be no contradiction if what we hear is from His heart to ours. Not our prayer, not other's counsel, not human wisdom or logic, not circumstance. They are all secondary to God's written word. But each these individual pieces should work together, revealing a common thread on which to base His answer to our question. Sometimes, but not always, circumstance can be a measuring tool to discover God's will for us. Stay focused on His Word and waiting for his voice. It will be worth the wait. The end result will bring glory to God and for us, we will be blessed God has chosen to use us!

An Amazing Story of a Powerful Woman

“I vas called to scrub und preach. I vas a borned preacher, und as I vas poor, I learned to vork. I do good vork, so people vants me; but if they haf me, they must haf the preach also. I scrub as unto the Lord, und preach to all in the house.”

A rare character of German descent, Sophie Lichtenfels lived in a one-room apartment only a block away from her beloved church, the Gospel Tabernacle in New York City. Born four days apart from A. B. Simpson, she loved and prayed for her pastor and gave of her meager income to support the missionary outreach he initiated. Although she was uneducated, she wanted desperately to be a missionary herself.

“For 12 years I prayed, ‘Oh, Father, make me a foreign mishener. I vant to go to foreign lands and preach.’ Und Father say, ‘Sophie, stop. Where were you borned?’ ‘Germany, Father.’ ‘Where are you now?’ ‘In America.’ ‘Well, ain’t you a foreign mishener already? And who lives on the floor above you?’ ‘A family of Svedes.’ ‘Und on the floor above them?’ ‘Why, some Svitzers.’ ‘Und in the rear house are Italians, und in a block away some Chinese. Do you think I will send you a thousand miles away to the foreigner und heathen, when you got them all around, und you nefer care enough about them to speak vit them about their soul?’

“I had some money saved up; und I learnt if I give a few dollars, I could send a boy to school in Japan. I do it, and now he is mishener among his own people. One day I hear about the people down South. ‘Vell,’ Father said, ‘Sophie, you can give to that sure’; but I vas stingy-like. I felt bad, und Father seemed to say, ‘All you haf I gif you, und you won’t gif a little back.’ I feel worser until I gif enough to send a woman to teach. Und now I haf a woman teaching for me down South. So I was in Japan, down South, und here in New York—preaching in three places, like as though I vas triplets!”

The original story by Patty McGarvey appears here.

A Tale of Two Houses

It's really a tale of three houses, but more on that later. Often we forget about the blessings that surround us because we're busy moving onto the next thing we need to do or want to do or even have to do. But this very true story is written as a reminder to our children and friends as a tale of God's love and faithfulness towards us. It is a reminder to us as well!

Since the passing of my wife's wonderful parents, she had wanted to leave our home of many years to go to one with main floor living spaces. Our kids grew up in a wonderful home with a very large yard, one where we planted every square inch of trees, flowers and shrubs, added fences and paths and a patio, and in later years, a small but charming greenhouse and garden. It was the perfect spot for more than one wedding, numerous parties and BBQs, outdoor dinners with friends and family, large gatherings for church events and more. So many memories wrapped up into a modest house purchased long ago.

The inside was no less perfect for our family of six. Most all the bedrooms were on the top floor with one on the main level and another in the basement where the laundry was located. We were on the top floor with main living areas downstairs. This meant doing laundry required walking from the upper level to the main level and down to the basement several times with arms full of the laundry basket and poor sight lines at best. Not at all a bad set up but one that became of increasing concern for my wife as we got older and all the kids moved out. Her parents had almost the same arrangement in California. Once my father in law fell and was no longer mobile, my wife began to desire a different floorplan for us. 

To say I was resistant would be to put it kindly. We had spent years, over three decades in fact, in that very house. We moved to Colorado before any of our children began school, and our fourth child was born here. Since my wife grew up in a Kodak family, they moved often to various states as a kid. My father moved us all too often mostly within Orange County. So much so that when my mother and I counted the places, I lived in 21 different locations by the time I was 18 years old. Only the last six years was spent in two spots. I never really settled anywhere in my heart. Friends were very hard to make as we were constantly shifting around.  

When my wife and I married, we both prayed and asked God to give us one location and one house to raise our children through all their school years. And He honored that request. The month before school began for our oldest son, we moved to Colorado and settled into that same house for 35 years. Our kids grew up with the same friends from school and church, and they still have those same friendships today.

Fast forward many years later. The house is now just the two of us. No kids and no more pets. The trees are big, the foliage grown in. Spots of lavender, yellow daisies, and roses. New wooden floors, fresh carpet and paint, new modern lighting, a nicely refreshed kitchen, a leaded glass window by the front door, and bead board embellishment on a prominent wall. Our home was finally truly the way we wanted it. 

One day last summer, I was ready. I'm not sure if it was my tiredness over "discussing" the issue or what. But I let my wife know I was ok with the plan to move, so the house search began.

We drove and drove the Metro area, looking at everything that fit our budget, but we also had other priorities. We wanted a house with two living areas so we could host Bible studies and if we desired, could split up men and women for two prayer groups and more personal ministry. We wanted extra bedrooms to host visiting family and friends from all over the world. Lastly, we wanted smaller yard to maintain, but whatever we found had to have lots of mature trees. I just couldn't start all over again. 

It was that last piece that eventually caused us to remove new builds from our search list. Every series of models we looked at came with barren plots of dirt and nothing more. The thought of it was quite depressing. I just couldn't go there as our previous backyard was now a mature one and had given us much pleasure be it drinks for two on the patio or large parties and even weddings.

We contacted our realtor, our friend, and had he and his wife take us to a few places. One was nearby in a nice neighborhood, but it was very small and had a basement that had clearly been poorly done, probably been used for a marijuana grow house. The next one was the opposite side of the spectrum- in a beautiful area 15 minutes south of our existing home. It was grand, but it would need both a full basement buildout and an entire paint job on the main floor. One large tree in the background, but it was basically all grass and no plantings of any type. 

The next house just down the street was beautiful but small, and no back yard to speak of. Our kids and their spouses would not all fit into one room, making family gatherings hard. Later, we walked into one owner hosted open house that could have been great, but it was marred by so much furniture and a refrigerator in the living room and dark, dark colors that we couldn't see past it all. 

Our search continued until we thought we had finally found "the" house. It was about 30 minutes south from two of our local kids. A bit out of our initial price estimate, but it seemed cozy and on a well treed street. Just like in the South, the branches from one side of the road touched or almost touched the branches of those planted on the other. We went by it several times even though the owner had just taken it off the market, thinking that it would return. This is common practice in our area, and the holidays were not too far off. One day, we happened to drive by it, when just ahead of us a woman pulled into the driveway. I hopped out and asked if she was the owner and expressed interest in the house. As it turned out, she graciously told me she had just signed a long term rental agreement, and yes, it was a great house.  I was devastated to be honest.

The next evening, my wife was on one of the real estate sites and decided to up our price range by a mere $10K just to see what would happen. Bingo! A great looking house in our favorite neighborhood popped up. Uncharacteristically, she called our friend and asked for a showing that same evening, knowing full well that a house like this one would disappear soon. He set it up. 

The floor plan was perfect, and the neighborhood was one we loved. The inside had its issues, but they were easily overcome with time, elbow grease, and some cash: It all needed paint, particularly the dining room that was dark brown with gold and silver flecks- including the ceiling painted the same as the walls. A few other rooms were painted in very bold and bright colors we did not like. The kitchen appliances needed replacing as they were dented, scratched, and in disrepair. The cabinets were a bit beat up. Some needed repair or repainting. I wasn't thrilled about the tile flooring throughout, but only because we had installed incredibly beautiful real wood floors in our existing house a few years prior. The backyard was an all stone patio with a few fully grown trees. No room for new plantings in the ground. The exterior of the house hadn't been painted since it was built twenty years prior- and it looked like it. But these were all fixed with time and some money. Best of all, it was in our price range.

As we were wrapping up our tour, my wife and I felt confident this was the house for us. We could just see ourselves living here! As we were walking out, another family came in for their second look at the house. After a long talk with our friends about the house, we decided to make an offer- and a good one at that. We didn't want to lose this home. The floor plan was hard to find on our general area. And the neighborhood couldn't be beat. 

Once our offer was accepted two days later, it was time for all the inspections. Everything looked great- with one not so minor exception: The sewer line would probably need major repairs in the next few years. Major repairs. The broken and troublesome portion ran from the backyard under the sidewalk to the front of the house and then under the driveway to the street. This meant full tear up on all the concrete and then repouring it. Then things got even worse. The electrical lines next to the sewer were entangled with it, meaning they'd have to be pulled and relaid as well. It could be $20k or it could be $50K plus. It was risky, but we still wanted the house. We weren't sure what to do. Our realtor friend suggested we let the seller know the results of the inspection and see if he would make some financial concession for the repair work.

Naturally, we qualified for the loan as we made enough money but more importantly had no debt and a house to sell that was fully paid for. To help us with it all, the interest rate had dropped, and we were able to take advantage of it.

Two nights later, we met with our friends at our realtor's request. It seemed he couldn't sleep the nights before as he was dogged by the thought that this was a disaster waiting to happen to us. The seller had offered $10K off the selling price. It sounded on the low side to us, especially after the realtor revealed he had done further investigation with the inspectors and construction crews. Seems repairs would probably go to the higher end of the estimates. He recommended we drop the offer due to the results of the inspection. Of course, my wife and I had discussed this being a possibility. Even before we drove for this meeting, as much as we wanted this home, we had concluded we would be humble and accept his professional recommendation. But oh, how it hurt to do so. To let go of the "perfect" house. But back on the market it went.

As timing would play out, I had to leave in one week for a 12 day business trip overseas. Even though we were originally scheduled to close on the house a month after I got home, now, we'd be starting all over when I returned. Ugh!

After the dinner with our realtor friends and letting the house go, I went to bed more than a bit sad. But we stopped and prayed. I said, "Lord Jesus, we trust you know best. So, if this wasn't the right house for us, we know you have one for us. Help us find it."

In the middle of the night, I had a dream. In my dream, I felt as if God said to me, "I've seen what you can do. Now, I'm going to show you what I can do." I did not tell my wife about the dream for two weeks. I kept it to myself, and I continued to wait to see how this would play out. Sometimes it can be what I eat for dinner or any other number of factors that can affect my sleep and my dreams. If this was God, He would have to prove himself.

A house with a similar floor plan popped up on the market. We had driven by it when we were looking, but we quickly dismissed it as it was $30K or so more than the top of what we could afford. In fact, this house was one street away from the one we placed a bid on. This day, however, the seller dropped the price $25K! We were intrigued. Could it be? Would this one work?

Naturally, we contacted our realtor for a showing. On the way over to the house, my wife said, "You know, I've been thinking. All I really want to do in the yard is plant a small bit of lavender and a group of yellow daisies." We had done that years ago, and those two plantings had brought her some joy in the summer with their color and/or scent.

Since we arrived about 5 minutes before our friends, we decided to walk up to the front of the house. The exterior paint job was almost the exact same shade of green we had picked out for our current house. The trim was perfect, the door painted with care as well. Fully grown trees in front, including a Japanese Maple- which I had loved since my visit to Japan decades prior. I was cautiously getting excited. There was more to come. Along the walkway, just behind the hedge lining, there were two small plantings: Yes, a bunch of lavender and a bunch of yellow daisies right next to each other. I pointed them out to my wife. It stopped us dead in our tracks. Now, I was getting really excited inside. 

Our realtor and his wife pulled up to the house. He came up to greet us, and uncharacteristically said, "What a beautiful house! Much prettier and in better shape than the other one!" Using the door code on the lockbox, we walked inside. What did we find? We were shocked!

The brown, gold, and silver painted room and ceiling of the dining room were instead clean and bright white with a bead board ceiling treatment that was beautiful. The whole house, in fact, was white, having been freshly painted throughout. The living room had been given a board and batten treatment. This was a look my wife had always loved but our old house was laid out in a manner that made doing it impossible. Then, it hit me: as I had taken off my shoes, I realized the whole lower level was hard wood floors throughout. Not an ounce of tile aside from those found in the bathroom. The carpet in the main bedroom was brand new. It was in a style that we really liked but could never afford. Furthermore, the kitchen appliances were in excellent shape, looking brand new as were the cabinets. Every finish, every piece of hardware was just as we had picked out or better. Each part of this house was "our taste". Could it get any better?

Yes, it got better. Every single bedroom was freshly painted, carpeted, and excellently maintained. Bathrooms were immaculate. The best was arguably yet to come.

The backyard was a showstopper! Professionally landscaped with a great patio, a small amount of grass big enough for a picnic, large, mature, and healthy trees and shrubs. Perhaps best of all was a hillside waterfall and pond with a small bridge and outdoor fireplace. I could not believe what I was seeing! It was such a beautiful house inside and out. 

We walked inside, and I turned to our realtor friend, "Can we even do this?" His response was uncertainty because it was higher than what he thought we'd qualify for. And the interest rate had just gone back up that day. Additionally, we discovered the house had solar panels, which meant we would have to qualify to pay off those as well in addition to the asking price. My heart sank a bit, but he encouraged us to wait for more information.

A couple of days later, we made an offer. And then I took off for my overseas business trip. Trust me, the waiting game is harder when you're not home and can do nothing to affect the outcome. 

Just before I left, I told my wife about the dream I had. If it was truly God, I did not want to shortchange Him of the wonderful thing he had done. Honestly, I was afraid to attribute this to God in case it didn't work out. I am not one to be presumptuous about God or believe in the fully unbiblical "Prosperity Gospel" which turns the all powerful God into a cosmic genie in a bottle with endless wishes to grant. But I did think of the following verse- "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4). 

Days later, God showed His Hand- and the miracles began. 

While I was overseas, I received a message from my wife. Our offer was accepted. Due to the solar panel issue, things were still uncertain.

After some wise counsel and help from our loan officer (yet another friend), our realtor contacted the seller's agent. The seller agreed to pay off the solar panels. This took the pressure off quite a bit as now we only had to be approved for the agreed upon price. But we were still close to the top as to what we would be approved for. 

A couple of days later, all the inspection documents from a previous tentative purchaser were approved by the lending company. The folks before us had were newlyweds and had gotten cold feet in making the purchase, deciding to buy at a much lower price point. But the inspections were still within a few month timeframe and therefore valid for our pending purchase.

The next day, the seller decided to give us a substantial discount due to a somewhat older furnace even though it was in excellent condition and would lats for many more years.

Then to top it all off, our lender discovered we were still within our rights to make use of the lower interest rate we had on offer for the previous house. 

All things considered, these changes substantially lowered the amount we had to qualify for. We were approved for the loan. We closed and moved in one week after I returned home from overseas.

In the morning over coffee, we still look at each other in amazement for all God did on our behalf... with no painting or repairs necessary! God is good!

Where is God in the Los Angeles Fires?

When a crisis hits, the questions begin. The most common questions are "Why do bad things happen to good people or why is there evil in the world or why would a good God allow such horrible things?" These really are not bad questions to have as long as you dig deep to discover the real answers before you make your conclusions.

Here's the Bible's answer in much abbreviated form. Evil came into the world when the man and woman God created- with free will- decided to trade a perfect relationship with God for knowledge like his. (Ever notice the bite out of the apple on your device?) Bad choice for all mankind. 

The earth and its people now begin to fall apart. People do horrible things to each other, sometimes even in the name of God. It's a pity because God's name is damaged when He had nothing to do with it.

But it is God himself who steps in, offering hope and salvation to every person who would choose to accept his free gift- and accept it His way. Consequences of all kinds of sin lead to disaster. Even though God gives forgiveness to all who come to Him, confess their sin and turn away from it. An eternity of Heaven or Hell hangs in the balance, and each person must choose a path. Not choosing is choosing in this situation.

So, the earth begins to crumble. But God is good! Every beautiful sunset, every fresh breath found in forest filled air, the wonderful sound of crashing waves on the shore come from God's hand. And here's the thing: Every person is born with value and a purpose. Every blessing comes from his hand. The disaster or heartbreak we find is a result of a broken world, but God remains good in the midst of it all, holding everything together. The enemy of God wants people to believe it is all God's fault, but in reality it is man who started it all and God who offers healing and hope, beauty in the middle of pain. His goodness leads us to turn to Him and away from words and actions that cause heartbreak and pain.

The truth is our hardships either make us turn toward God or away from Him. And He is looking at times such as ours, watching for all who would come his way. With eyes of love and tenderness. 

Some will find refuge in God but others will go elsewhere into drink and drugs, sex, a search for power or for wealth or fame, or even to other gods. The God of the Bible offers something better. 

The words of Jesus in the Bible's book of John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

There would be plenty of reasons to walk in fear, and yet God is always in control and always faithful.  He will NEVER leave us or forsake us- even in the worst of events we live through.

The words “Fear not” appear over 150 times in the Bible. God is with us! The world will crumble, but He will never turn away from those who love Him. Will that be you?

The ancient prophet Ezekiel says in Chapter 33, verse 11:  “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

It’s time for us to pray!

Wars, rumors of wars, terrorist bombings, natural disasters of all kinds. They are happening all around us these days- fires in California, bombings in New Orleans and Nevada, and disasters all over the world. These times are opportunities to pray for people- and to pray for people to come to give their lives to Jesus as well -that God would use circumstances the enemy planned for evil to instead be used for God’s purposes.

(Photograph by Amy Katz, Zuma Press.)

The First BIG Snow of the Year

You can't tell from this photo, but it is snowing very, very hard. Just yesterday, our grandson shoveled off the patio snow, leaving it clean and dry. Little did we know. As much as I hate it, I forced myself to stop and thank God for this. Thank you for the water it gives, thank you that I can work from home, and thank you for the protection it brings from many types of fires. Speaking of which, pray for the people of the Los Angeles area who are losing their homes to fire. May God have mercy on them- and may they be drawn to Him for comfort and peace!

 

Olivia Newton John's Prayer

I read/heard on one podcast, The Life of Greatness, she says that when she was pregnant with her daughter Chloe in 1986, she promised God something that has caused her to pray every day since her daughter was born. "I remember when I was pregnant with Chloe, and I was close to losing her. I went to bed and asked God to save her, and if he did, I would say the Lord's Prayer every night for the rest of my life, and so I have."

I read/heard on one podcast, The Life of Greatness, she says that when she was pregnant with her daughter Chloe in 1986, she promised God something that has caused her to pray every day since her daughter was born. "I remember when I was pregnant with Chloe, and I was close to losing her. I went to bed and asked God to save her, and if he did, I would say the Lord's Prayer every night for the rest of my life, and so I have."

On one podcast, The Life of Greatness, Olivia Newton-John says that when she was pregnant with her daughter Chloe in 1986, she promised God something that has caused her to pray every day since her daughter was born. "I remember when I was pregnant with Chloe, and I was close to losing her. I went to bed and asked God to save her, and if he did, I would say the Lord's Prayer every night for the rest of my life, and so I have." 

Oh, Olivia, I pray that the God of the universe heard your prayer and that you were forgiven your sins just as millions of people all over the world have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ. He was the perfect sacrifice in place of us. Over the centuries, people have realized they fall very short from the perfection God requires, and they need to place their lives in the hands of Christ and turn the other direction. Eternity in Heaven or Hell rests in the balance. (Did you know Jesus himself speaks of Hell in the Bible? See Matthew chapter 5.)

Here's one author's paraphrase of some very famous Bible verses which makes it crystal clear: "“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him."

New Day, New Year

It's a new day and a new year. Time to start over? Today's the day. Looking for a fresh beginning? You couldn't pick a better time to do the right things. Choices, choices, choices. I know I have them to make too. And I know I cannot do this on my own. Lord Jesus, give me the strength I need and the desire to walk with you more fully. It's something I cannot do on my own.