Failure- Never Giving Up

We may, indeed, be sure that perfect chastity-like perfect charity-will
not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God's help.
Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help,
or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure,
ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first
helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always
trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness,
or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul
which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and
teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust
ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not
despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal
thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection.


Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis


Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.


Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.


We fail. We not only fail, we fail miserably. We fail terribly and often. We fail and that failure brings disgrace, despair, anger, confusion, you name it failure is no stranger to every human being in existence. When we fail we have to deal with that failure. It's so easy to give up when it seems all we ever do is fail, and that all we will ever continue to do is fail.


C.S. Lewis says it clearly enough- Very often what God first helps us towards is NOT the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again.


Always trying again.


Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us


Let us LAY aside every weight
Lay aside the...
Sin which easily besets us


Run with PATIENCE the race that is set before us.


PATIENCE.


Endurance, tolerance, perserving


ALWAYS TRYING AGAIN.


We have to have FAITH.


Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen


Things HOPED for... you hope for what you DON'T have.


We truly need to believe that our failures are stepping stones. Sometimes we slip right off the stones and have to start all over again. Sometimes we do have an achievement it spurs us on, but then sometimes we turn around and lose that achievement and then some.


We MUST grow a faith in Christ, not ourselves. Our hope must be in GOD, never us, never. We don't achieve- God achieves through us.


Again C.S. Lewis said it nicely-- We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven.


May God help us to keep hoping, to have patience, to have faith, to trust solely in Him now and always. May our failures not lead us to despair but have us turning to God asking forgiveness and trusting in Him...


Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ


AMEN.

Abba! Father!

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.


How many of us feel that being a Christian is a call to another kind of bondage? Exchanging the bondage to the law for a bondage to Christ. When we think of serving God as a call to bondage we don't know God at all whatsoever. God offers freedom. God offers true freedom. It is the carnal nature in us that believes there is bondage in being a Christian. The carnal nature wants so-called freedom to do as it pleases, to sin as it wants to sin, to indulge in lusts without any thought of anything else at all.


When we accept Christ we aren't receiving the spirit of bondage, we should have NO fear of being put into bondage with God, none! We are adopted into a loving family by a loving Father.


The words... WE CRY ABBA FATHER tell us so much. The love there is amazing, the love of a father that will never ever disappear. We need the love of God, we need to realize our adopted status. Adopted by God. By the grace...by the mercy of our Lord, our FATHER, Abba! May we feel this love fully in Christ our Lord, our Savior now and forever!


Amen.

We've Been Warned

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.


Peace and safety. Is there any peace or any safety outside the protection of Christ's love? No.
This world is doomed.
This world as we know it has a death sentence hanging over its head.
This world is literally living on death row.
Do people bask in this world and it's worldly ways, it's worldly pleasures?
Is the world blinded to the imminent destruction to come?
The answers are yes to those questions.
Only fools would live as if the Lord could come at any moment especially when thousands of years have passed since that promised return. Why live believing that the end of all things as we know it could occur at any time? Why live prepared for Christ's return? Why? It's like a bride left at the altar never removing her gown but waiting day after day for a groom who shows no sign of returning, yet she lives in hope. People would call her delusional. People don't want to be called delusional and they don't want to be delusional so they'd rather live as if the bridegroom will never return. Peace and safety. There is no danger here, there is no upset, no reason for any alarm, no reason to believe your eternal life hangs in the balance.
Peace and safety.
Everything is fine.
Eat, drink, be merry and don't worry about the future let it worry about itself, do as you please now, logic dictates that believing in Jesus and believing in His return is all a fable, all foolhardy behavior, you can't live and believe like that. Remember God doesn't want us to worry about what we'll eat or drink or wear so why would He want us to worry about eternal life?
Peace and safety.
The majority of people, society with its established mores tells us beyond a doubt that only crazy people, only religious fanatics live believing that each day could be their last and they need to be ready for Christ's return at any moment. Only those troublesome people believe that way. You know, look at all those crazy cults where people end up dead. Look at the over zealous Muslim people who believe in suicide bombs and all that- religous fanatics that's what all the crazies are and you don't want to be a religious crazy. You don't want to stand out. You don't want to be labeled. You don't want to embarrass yourself do you? You want to fit in, we all want to fit in.
Peace and safety.
Peace and safety.
Are you among those saying- peace and safety?
Are you among those hearing- peace and safety, and believe it to be true?
Sudden destruction will come upon them.
Sudden
Destruction
There will be no grand calamity to call people to Christ. All the calamities, all the preparation will be over and we will live in a world with people saying-- PEACE and SAFETY, but it will be too late because there will be SUDDEN DESTRUCTION.
AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES.
We've been warned.
We've been told.
We know the Lord will come. To stop believing in the Lord's return is certain death. We must believe and we must be ready. We must be the bride awaiting her Groom no matter how long it takes.


By the grace, by the mercy, by the love, through the righteousness of our Savior, through His sacrifice, through His forgiveness, all in Him now and forever.


Amen.


1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.


They shall say-

Peace
and
Safety


They- 1Th 5:5, 6; 1Th 4:13

Children of the dark
Others that sleep
Them which are asleep
Others which have no hope


Jeremiah 6:14 "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.


Jeremiah 8:11 "They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.


Ezekiel 13:10 "It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;


John 16:21 "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.


2 Thessalonians 1:9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (NASB ©1995)

*******

1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

We are those who are 'afar off'

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.


You and I are called by God, we are those who are 'afar off'.
We need to Repent.
We need to be baptized everyone one of us in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins.
We want to receive the Holy Ghost and we do when we listen to the Word of God.


Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.



May we who are 'afar off' listen to the call of God and receive the promise, may we walk after the Spirit.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever!

Amen

Married to Christ

The law does not save. Jesus saves. We have to die to the belief that we can work our way to heaven. The law- keeping the law in and of itself does not save, cannot save.


Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren,
ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;
that ye should be married to another,
even to him who is raised from the dead,
that we should bring forth fruit unto God.


We become dead to the law- we agree the law cannot save us, but Christ saves us. 'We should be married to another' married to Christ. The law, the belief we can save ourselves by acting in accordance with the law must die. Touting our godliness, touting our goodness, holding up our actions, holding fast to the belief that we can behave and be saved is all wrong. Christ saves us. Christ raised from the dead and we find life in Him. The fruit we bring forth- our actions that will naturally be in accordance with the commandments of God- are brought forth through the love of God, the love of our Savior. We have to die to self and the belief we can save ourselves through the law. Love needs to reign through our Savior. Our flesh is weak and if we rely on ourselves we are relying on the flesh and we are lost. We must rely on the Lord.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever! In His righteousness.


Amen.


*******
Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren,
(for I speak to them that know the law,)
how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?


Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth;
but if the husband be dead,
she is loosed from the law of her husband.


Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth,
she be married to another man,
she shall be called an adulteress:
but if her husband be dead,
she is free from that law;
so that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man.


Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren,
ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;
that ye should be married to another,
even to him who is raised from the dead,
that we should bring forth fruit unto God.


Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh,
the motions of sins,
which were by the law,
did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.


Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law,
that being dead wherein we were held;
that we should serve in newness of spirit,
and not in the oldness of the letter.


Rom 7:7 What shall we say then?
Is the law sin?
God forbid.
Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law
for I had not known lust
except the law had said,
Thou shalt not covet.


Rom 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.
For without the law sin was dead.


Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once
but when the commandment came,
sin revived, and I died.


Rom 7:10 And the commandment,
which was ordained to life,
I found to be unto death.


Rom 7:11 For sin,
taking occasion by the commandment,
deceived me, and by it slew me.


Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy
and the commandment holy,
and just, and good.


Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me?
God forbid.
But sin,
that it might appear sin,
working death in me by that which is good
that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.


Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual
but I am carnal, sold under sin.


Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not
for what I would,
that do I not;
but what I hate,
that do I.


Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not
I consent unto the law that it is good.


Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it
but sin that dwelleth in me.


Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing
for to will is present with me
but how to perform that which is good I find not.


Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not
but the evil which I would not,
that I do.


Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not,
it is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me.


Rom 7:21 I find then a law,
that, when I would do good,
evil is present with me.


Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man


Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind,
and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.


Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?


Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin.

*******

God Enlighten My Darkness

Psa 18:21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psa 18:22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
Psa 18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Psa 18:24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.


Psa 18:25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Psa 18:27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
Psa 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.


Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.


Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God


Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.


By Your Grace Lord, by Your Grace. I can only hide my face in shame. I can only plead for Your mercy upon me. I can only lay at Your feet surrendered to You, to Your will, my will is no good. I am wretched, so wretched. Thank you God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior. Your righteousness, not mine, Your ways, not mine. You, not me. Anything righteous, anything clean, anything pure, anything upright, any iniquity I keep from all is through You and Your righteousness, Your power. By You Lord, by You Savior, now and forever! You light my candle, You Lord my God enlighten my darkness.


In Your Love Always!


Amen.

Satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psa 16:1 '...Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.'


Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.


We can't preserve ourselves. We can make choices, in fact we make choices every single day of our lives. We make choices in big things and in little things. We choose our own steps. Even those who work under an exacting boss choose to work for that boss. All but slaves- those held captive by another- have choices and even slave have choices but they are very hard to make especially when being killed for disobedience is one of the choices. In the end we can't keep ourselves, the world is too wicked. We have to ask God to preserve us. We have to trust that God will preserve us. Our prayer needs to be 'Preserve me O God for in thee do I put my trust.'


With David, a beloved of God, we need to be satisfied when we wake in our Lord's likeness meaning... nothing on earth is going to be truly satisfying, nothing. Our satisfaction needs to come from the eternal and after we sleep in death we will wake in the likeness of our Savior upon His return for us. Right now as David sleeps the sleep of death he will be satisfied when he is raised from the dead with His Savior's likeness. And in truth we are raised incorruptible as our Lord is incorruptible. We are changed instantly and brought to a new life and that satisfaction is all any of us needs- life eternal in Christ our Lord and Savior, our God.


Can we say that... can we say we'll be satisfied when we wake with Christ's likeness? We are told to seek first the kingdom of God, and we truly need to do that...seek FIRST, not second, not third, not as an afterthought or once a week, but we need to seek first the kingdom of God and that kingdom is our Savior and His righteousness.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever.


Amen.

Your Righteousness

Psa 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.


Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.


Psa 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psa 6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
Psa 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.


Psa 6:9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.


Psa 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.


Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.


Psa 9:8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.


Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear


Lord, I trust in Your righteousness. Lord, I look up to You, my prayers are to You always. Have mercy on me, Lord, I am so very, very weak. Heal me. Heal my soul, deliver my soul, save me by Your mercy. Hear my cries, receive my prayer. Let Your righteousness try our hearts, our lives. All praise to you Lord in Your righteousness. Judge the world by Your righteousness for there is no righteousness without You. Prepare my heart, hear me oh Lord my Savior, my God, the Almighty, the Righteous One.


Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.


Thy will be done Lord, Thy will. By Thy grace and Thy mercy now and forever, on earth as in heaven.


Amen.

Pursue Peace

Psa 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.


Pursue peace.


We pursue a lot of things in life. We are filled with wants and desires, filled with things we believe we need. We pursue people we believe we want to have a part of our lives, we pursue jobs we want to have, we pursue educations, we pursue activities that inspire us and give us enjoyment. Today you could be pursuing a nice quiet evening striving to make all the distractions of our life disappear. Our lives are full of pursuits some that are short lived and others that take years to fulfill. There are some pursuits that are life long. Pursuing peace is a life long pursuit. Our world strives for world peace and yet knows that it is all but impossible with all the on going conflicts. Does believing it is impossible stop the pursuit? No. In our lives we need to pursue peace. God wants us to depart from evil, to do good, to seek peace, and pursue it. If we're pursuing peace we are keeping ourselves from seeking contension, from arguing, from being disruptive.


May God help us all to pursue peace in our lives and let it extend to those all around us. As Satan strives to cause upsets in any way He can we need to pursue peace, remember the armor of God-- feet shod in the preparation of the gospel of PEACE.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we pursue His peace.


In Christ's love now and forever.


Amen.

Die to Self, Live to God

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.


Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.


Gen 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes


Job 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.


Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.


1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

*******


We are dust. We are clay. Animated by the breath of God. Brought to life we live as long as we have the breath of God in us. When that breath is gone we slowly turn back into the dust we were created from. Death is inevitable for us, that return to dust is inevitable. When Job spoke in response to God's reprimand-


Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.


Job abhorred himself. This should be a lesson for us all. In the face of the glory of God we are nothing, we are animated dust by His will alone. We cannot understand Him with our limited ability to comprehend the greatness of God. We need to die to self and realize we live by His will, by His grace, by His love and not by anything we do. We need to repent of our arrogance in dust and ashes. We need to be dead to sins and alive to His righteousness.


Every Sabbath day we are called to remember our Creator. Every Sabbath is a reminder we are to die to self and live to God. Asked to cease from our own labors we are asked to realize that of ourselves we are nothing. We cease from our workings to realize that it is only by God's love that we exist at all. We bow down to His will, acknowledging Him as Lord, as Savior. We help others, we realize God made the Sabbath for us to bring us into a constant remembrance of Him as our God. Doing good on the Sabbath knowing it is by His grace we can do anything at all. All glory goes to Him.


People get baptized- signifying a death of the old life, a dying and a rebirth, a new life in Christ. Every Sabbath we have the opportunity for the same experience. A death to self absorbence, a death to self indulgences, a death to self and a new life to Christ, an honoring of our Creator. One day a week to set aside selfish pursuits and focus on our Lord.


Lord please help me to die to self and live to You. By Your righteousness, by Your grace, by Your mercy, in Your love now and always.


Amen.

The Teacher

The invitation was received not on parchment but by word of mouth. There was no need to RSVP, no need to worry over fancy dress or pristine trousers, polished shoes, nor styled hair. Come as you are, come one, come all the words rang out and curiousity offered its soft embrace gently drawing many.

The podium was a large gray rock with a soft patch of moss on the northern side and a worn crevice used as a step to attain a likely perch on the opposite side. No one sat, nor stood upon the boulder as of yet while people began to gather in a large circle around its central impressive, if yet vacant, figure.


"We are here to listen to the miracle worker, do you think he'll perform?"

"Of course, I'm counting on it."

"He best, else why would I be here?"

"What miracles will he do?"

"He heals."

"And others?"

"He feeds."

"Is there more?"

"He raised the dead."

"Ahhhh, are we sure he's real?"

"I'll believe it all when I see it."

"Shhhhh... here He comes!"


The man walked forward as the crowd parted and his expression was one of care. He had a soft smile for a child nestled against a mother's side and a gentle nod towards a very old man squinting to see him clearly. For those whose gaze touched His own they saw a tenderness, a kindness completely unassuming as it was offered so naturally, so freely.


Easy ascent up the natural stone step upon the boulder and the man carefully settled himself down with a happy sigh.


He didn't take long but began to speak and instantly his voice carried across the gathered throng, his words powerful.


And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.


And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.


No miracles needed the words were enough as they cut to the heart of the listeners. No miracles as each word like a drop of water on a parched tongue pierced the great soul thirst of those hearing him speak. These words were truth as never before spoken. The multitude were ready to follow this man...


...are you?

Confessed before Angels

Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.


Confessed before the angels of God.
Denied before the angels of God.


Confessed Jesus before men.
Deny Jesus before men.


Where do you stand in that picture? We have to ask ourselves the question don't we? Do we acknowledge Jesus before others? Do we deny Jesus before others? We want to be acknoweldge before the angels of God by Jesus don't we? I know I do. Do I feel worthy? Do I believe I've confess my Savior enough before others? Is there such a thing as enough? Have I denied Jesus before others? If I have may God please by the grace of our Lord, forgive me.

Thy Will

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.


Not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven.


We don't want to think about that do we. Watching television and going to movies we are convinced that everyone goes on to a BETTER place. Or that people go on to a better or WORSE place upon death. To the bright light, which is good or to terror and darkness, which is bad. The Bible doesn't promote these beliefs and yet people will say they do.


Upon death we sleep but... the very next thing we'll know will be that we rise up and are changed to immortality or we rise up only to eventually die eternally without ever waking again. So yes, in a way there will be eternal light or eternal nothingness waiting for everyone of us after death's sleep whether it's a person who died 6000 years ago or the day before Christ returns the waking from death's sleep is when we all meet our eternal fate.


Jesus plainly stated, NOT EVERYONE will enter the kingdom of heaven... those who do enter are those who do the WILL of His Father in heaven. We must do the will of God, we must live our lives with God's will being done in us. The Lord's Prayer, a common passage from the Bible even talks of God's will.


Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.


Thy will be done.


Yes, Lord THY will be done now and always by the mercy and grace of our Savior may Your will be done in us.


Amen.

Consent Not

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.


Pro 1:10-19


Consent not.


Have you ever gone against your better judgment in situations where others are tempting you to do things that are inappropriate? Have you ever gone along with others at their urging to do something wrong? Seriously. Have you been guilty of this on a lesser level than robbery? In small things do we consent to sinners when we're enticed by them? When we know right from wrong, when our hearts convict us of right from wrong and yet we still do things unbecoming of a Christian, what does that say? Our faith is weak? We are weak? We are treading on dangerous ground when we follow a path that isn't of God and we know it. But to live in this world today it seems like it is the ONLY path to follow unless we run to the hills to become hermits without any outside influences to tempt us in the ways of the world.


Paul talked about how it was better to remain unmarried because the heart could be fully God's that way and not torn between God and an ungodly spouse. The Bible says how it's better to lose everything and gain eternity. The Word also says the way is narrow. We are told that mothers, brother, sisters, fathers, daughters and sons will all be capable of pulling us from the right way. Yet we don't want to think of things like that, we just don't. We want to believe we can have it all and yet with it all comes a lot of compromising and we try to believe the compromises will be accepted, that God will understand.


In our weekly Bible study we talked about how narrow the path is and how few that are going to find it and it's no wonder at all is it. In a delusional mind, in a mind clouded by half-truths and false hopes people believe they're good and they're going to heaven no matter what but the Bible paints a different story. The words came from our Savior's lips--


Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.


FEW. This is from our Savior Himself! FEW. So why do so many have the attitude that it's easy and everyone will eventually find eternal life?


Proverbs 1:10-19 talks about temptation to evil... about consenting to sinners enticing. By the grace of God may we NOT consent and by His grace may we not be the ones doing the tempting. May we seek the Lord and the narrow way the strait gate, may we find life in Him and Him alone in love. By His mercy.


Amen.

'...but fools despise wisdom and instruction'

Pro 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

*******

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.


wisdom-


H2451
chokma?h
khok-maw'
From H2449; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.


instruction-


H4148
mu?sa?r
moo-sawr'
From H3256; properly chastisement; figuratively reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint: - bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.


Not many people truly consider themselves foolish. Oh, some might like to "act" the fool, but in "acting" they are only pretending to be the fool, playing the part of a fool to get laughs and whatnot. But a person never likes to consider themselves a real fool, a person who is by definition someone who is deficient in judgment, acting unwisely. Yet how many people despise wisdom and instruction? How many people abhor being chastized or corrected? People don't like being corrected because they feel they are being called stupid, they are being made to look the fool because they NEED correction. Needing correction means you were doing something wrong and who likes to be thought of as doing wrong, of being unwise.


Sure we have criminals who spend their lives in wrong doing yet to them they justify their deeds in one way or another. That criminal would even despise instruction and chastizing by being told they are committing their atrocities in a less effiecent manner. Forget the fact the act itself is wrong, they wouldn't want to be criticized on how they go about doing their wrong.


I know I don't like being made to look like a fool and I feel foolish and laughed at, ridiculed, when I'm caught even innocently doing something unintentionally stupid. It's no wonder we are told this--


'...but fools despise wisdom and instruction'


It's easy to despise wisdom and instruction when it makes you appear like a fool, and yet you are a fool in despising wisdom and instruction.


Yes, on the surface that seems like a very good proverb there and we readily agree to it but at the same time it's sooooooo incredibly easy to to just that- despise wisdom and instruction because being full of pride we never like being wrong and worse yet, we never like being laughed at and made to feel a fool, to feel stupid, by others when we are wrong.


The other day I mentioned that it's hard not to consider myself stupid when I'm constantly reminded of my failings and ridiculed for them- even if the one doing the ridiculing isn't doing so with malicious intent but rather for self-amusement. Perhaps I need to contemplate more this saying - 'but fools despise wisdom and instruction', and when the instruction comes as it always does as it points out my failings, I should just by the grace of God be thankful for the instruction and pray that I learn from my mistakes not despising the wisdom and instruction.


In an ideal world people wouldn't be amused at the foolishness of others, they wouldn't laugh at each others mistakes making the person feel deficient, but we CAN'T change anyone else, we can't even really change ourselves, we need to seek Christ and pray He changes us to be the people He would have us be in Him. Wishing others were different means wishing we ourselves were different because we are all guilty of also being the one instigation another's despising of wisdom and instruction.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, In His love now and forever.


Amen.

Scriptures

Jesus spoke of searching the scriptures-


Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.


He was talking about the old testament at the time, the only scriptures that existed. Some will argue that He was also including the new testament scriptures, prophesizing of a future time when the scriptures would include the words written after His life on earth. They could be right but Jesus meant ALL the scriptures. I think people like to neglect the old testament as something Jesus did away with but it's not true. Jesus is found in the old testament.


Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.


Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound


But not only in these verses-- Jesus told us this--


Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.


If we know Jesus we know the Father. There is no disputing the old testament reveals the Father, and in truth it reveals Jesus. Jesus reflects His Father, the ways of Jesus don't supercede the ways of the Father it only reveals them more fully. We need to study ALL scripture not pick and choose one testament over another. Jesus tells us this...


Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.


And we better listen to Him and search! We need to grow ever closer to Jesus, ever closer to the Lord, ever closer to the Father for only in growing closer to them do we learn of them and they know us as well.


By the grace and mercy of Jesus may we search, may we seek Him who is the Way the Truth, and the Life. In His righteousness now and always!


Amen.

Love His Appearing

2Timothy 4:8 (KJV) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.


We aren't given a crown of righteousness while here on earth but the crown is laid up for us and it's a crown the Lord, our righteous judge, will give to us.


1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.


Think about it... there are a countless number of people who put themselves through rigourous training to get a corruptible crown. Countless train all around the world to compete in competitions and in the end there is only one winner in each race. One person out of many that have put themselves through almost torturous training just to gain something that isn't eternal. How much more should we who want to win the ultimate race train to obtain the prize, the crown of Jesus' righteousness. No, I'm not condoning a work for salvation attitude at all, but a spiritual training- seeking Christ the author and finisher of our faith.


Lam 5:16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!


We have no crowns here and now, not one.


We can obtain a crown, we can be winners, victors in life all through Christ!


Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


Promised to them that love him. Given unto ALL them also that love his appearing. Our love for the Lord has to be a real viable thing. Our love has to be something tangible to Him. Do we want the Lord to appear? The facts of the matter are that He will return and we who wish to be with Him will LOVE his appearing- not fear it, not loathe for it to happen, no dreading that day. The question was asked recently about how I'd feel about Christ's coming, am I ready for it and truthfully the answer to that is - I am ready but only by Christ's righteousness not because I've obtain some special place in my life that leaves me believing I'm sinless, God forbit that I ever believe I'm at that place. My Savior is my hope I'm not my own hope. Am I ready for Christ to return to take us home with Him- yes, as long as being ready means knowing it's by His amazing grace and righteousness, through His mercy and love that I can live with Him.


Come Lord Jesus, come Son of God, Son of Man, come Savior, come Messiah, come soon Your appearing is the only thing in life worth living for, nothing earthly, nothing corruptible gives us the hope of eternal life in love with You.


Amen.

Courage

Courage. Life demands we be courageous doesn't it? Courage isn't merely something that exists in extraordinary circumstances though some will argue that it does. For some people day to day life takes courage, in fact for a lot of people. Life holds many challenges and for some merely getting through a day is remarkable. Our hearts can grow weak and we need them to be strengthened and only the Lord can do that for us. People will tell others to be strong, to pull themselves together, to take care of themselves, they will point to a person and tell them only they can fix themselves and that leaves a person of little courage very little, in not no hope at all because they have no faith at all in themselves to be able to fix themselves, to manufacture courage from thin air. We have to point to someone much stronger than we are, someone that isn't just another person able to let us down because even the most celebrated person with an ability to help others will let people down. Only God can truly help us. God asks us to trust Him and when we turn from trusting Him to trying to trust ourselves or other people we will always fail, maybe not immediately because Satan loves to set us up for great falls, but we will fail when we put our trust anywhere but in the Lord.


We need to wait on the Lord. Wait. People don't like to wait, they consider waiting a waste of time that could be otherwise used elsewhere doing better things. If they have to wait, why it better be a short wait, the shorter the better. When we are told to wait on the Lord we are told to be of 'good courage'.


courage (kûr´îj, kùr´-) noun
The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.


Good courage- able to face danger, fear... It's plausible to say that good courage enables us to face life without falling apart.


'Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the LORD.'


Wait...trust, believe, have faith in the Lord, the Lord will strengthen our hearts, but we need to wait on Him. Jesus said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation...but be of good cheer...I have overcome the world.'


WE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION!

Tribulation is never fun, never easy and is often painful in many ways. Our courage has to be found in the LORD knowing that HE overcame the world for us. We have to wait on the LORD, trust in the LORD, be of good cheer-- find our happiness in knowing Jesus overcame the world for us.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord, by the righteousness of our Savior, in His love now and forever.


Amen.


Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.


Psa 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.


Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


cheer
tharseo?
thar-seh'-o
From G2294; to have courage: - be of good cheer (comfort). Compare G2292.


Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

Wiles of the Devil

Eph 6:11

(ASV) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

(Bishops) Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stande agaynst the assaultes of the deuyll.

(CEV) Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.

(DRB) Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.

(KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

(KJV-1611) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the deuill.

(KJVA) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.


Wiles
Assaults
Tricks
Deceits


When we think of the devil we do think of an evil being, a figment of an evil being, an imaginary evil, and when we start to believe he's a real force in the world we scare *sane* people.


The devil isn't an imaginary scapegoat used by people to place blame upon so they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions- though some probably do try to do that. Some flippantly, some realistically.


The devil has wiles and he knows exactly how to use them having thousands of years to practice them on human beings. The devil has tricks, deceits and he does assault people in many, many ways, in fact in any way that will deceive you into following him. He especially loves it when people follow him while they think they are following God. The satsifaction he must receive watching people pray and worship him in disguise has to be tremendous.


We are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God to stand against the devil's wiles. The whole armor not just one piece of it. Fat lot of good it will do someone being assaulted in the chest if they're only wearing a helmet and not their breastplate. Put on the WHOLE armor of God. Dress appropriately every single day because the battle you're in goes on every day without end until Christ returns.


Helmet
Breastplate
Girt loins
Shod feet
Shield
Sword
Prayer


Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Peace
Faith
Word of God
Prayer


Dressed for God in the battle between Him and satan, a battle won by Christ- a battle we win in Christ through His righteousness. It's wonderful to know which side has won and we are fools if in knowing we still choose to join the losing side.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior God's Son, may we be fully dressed in the armor of God every day as we face the unending wiles, deceit, trickery, and assaults of the devil.


In Christ's amazing love!


Amen.

Spiritually Clothed

Imagine getting up in the morning and getting dressed for the day. You have your clothes on and then you need to put on more...


You grab up a protective skirt and pull it on. Then you snatch a protective vest and don that. Slipping your feet into some protective shoes you then reach for a shield, helmet, and a sword and now you're ready to start your day.

Can you imagine being dressed that way? Seriously? Maybe if you're in some medieval show or some such but as a rule people don't dress this way nowadays. Having protective gear on means you're in a job of some sort of danger. You could be in a SWAT team, or the Army, and your sword and shield well... a gun and no shield, or perhaps a shield but they're more rare, right?


The idea here being we are to ALWAYS be dressed in our Spiritual armor and that armor never changes no matter the year- a 1000 years ago, 2000 years ago, yesterday or today, it doesn't matter.


Spiritual clothing. The idea of putting on clothes is we are protecting ourselves with the clothing. Our spiritual clothing is our spiritual protection. We daily dress ourselves in our physical clothing and we need to daily dress in our spiritual clothing.


We need to put on our armor. The truth, Christ's righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God.


If we have these things we are protected spiritually.


We need to pray for this protective armor always.


Tomorrow as you get dressed for the day question yourself, ask yourself if you have your spiritual clothing on. We really shouldn't go about our days until we are spiritually clothed. The wiles of the devil are many and when we aren't spiritually clothed and protected we are open to all of his assaults in whatever form he chooses to use against us.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His righteousness, His amazing love may we be spiritually protected in our spiritual clothing through His power and might.


All glory and honor to God now and forever.


Amen!


Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

As Unto Christ

Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.


Servants be obedient to them that are your masters... could we interpret this to mean people be obedient to those who are your bosses? Seriously, could we interpret it to mean that? In days of old people who worked under others often called those they worked for masters, right? And it wasn't always in a slave way but a respectful way. The master teaching the servant, the student. Even so, when we have bosses today we aren't always in a learning situation but rather we might be in a position that never changes with little hope for advancement and we'll forever have a boss. Very few people are the 'boss' so to speak in comparison to the many who are the employees. A servant gets paid, a master pays the servant. So if we equate these verses to the employer/boss situation we really need to reconsider our thinking don't we? Or maybe it's a situation where an elder is the 'master' to the younger 'servant' in a home situation, a father over a child, or a husband over a wife.


Servants be obedient to them that are your masters.
Employees be obedient to them that are your bosses.


Be obedient with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart AS UNTO CHRIST.

We are to be obedient with fear and trembling in singleness of our hearts AS TO CHRIST. When we are being obedient to others we are doing so as if they were Christ. Of course we know they're not and in no way are we to even for a heartbeat believe they ARE Christ. We are to respect others as we would respect Christ.


It goes on to say don't treat them disrespectfully - the exact wording - 'as menpleasers, with eyeservice' People who are nice to the face of others but in their hearts they are far from being so.


We have to do the will of God from the heart, with good will AS TO THE LORD and NOT TO MEN.


Will our attitude change if we believe we are working for Christ in ALL we do, with all those we interact with even those with the most surly of demeanors? No, Christ wouldn't have a surly demeanor but we are to treat others as we would treat Christ the Bible tells us this. Would we be nasty to Christ? Would we be condescending? Would we be hateful and hurtful, demeaning and abusive to Christ? When we act in such ways we as representatives of Christ's followers are representing Him very well at all, are we? We are to treat others as we would treat Christ and we are to represent Christ as His followers revealing His love, not our own.


This isn't easy, no one said it was easy, our hearts, our natural inclinations are not focused on being good. We are sinners and the inclination runs in that direction. It's a DAILY, hourly, minutely decision to be Christ's and as such we choose to act as Christ would have us to act. It's a choice not a happenstance. It's like love between a man and woman... really, it is, because after the newness wears off it's a choice to love in good times and in bad times. Those vows spoken saying in sickness in health, etc are relevant. A choice is made to love, to forgive, to walk as Christ would have us walk.


May God help us through His power to be as He would have us be. May we treat those around us as we would treat Christ through the power of Christ's righteousness and love, by His grace and mercy.


Please Lord help us all.


Amen.

Can the dead hear?

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.


Resurrection of life.
Resurrection of damnation.


Life or damnation.


All that are in the grave shall hear HIS voice.


Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.


Can the dead hear? No.


If the dead know not any thing then they can't hear can they? You know things because you hear things. I can't know something someone else knows unless they tell me, right?


I can know something if I see it, so can the dead see anything? No. How much more clearer can those words be- 'the dead know not any thing'? You have to be aware of things to know them. Even a patient in a coma is said to know nothing. They wake up and have no memory of life having passed them by. They might remember a few things hear and there but their overall awareness if virtually gone. None in a coma wake up knowing life as it's passed as one who isn't in a coma knows it.


The dead know not any thing.


We want to believe our dead loved ones know things, that they hear us, that they see us, that they're aware of us because it makes US feel better as if we haven't lost their presence entirely. It relieves guilt when we believe we can tell them we're sorry about things and then we believe that because they are dead of course they forgive us. We like to pretend they're still around to offer us comfort in some way, but the truth is... the dead know not anything. The dead don't hear, the dead don't see, the dead know not ANY thing. They are sleeping.


The Bible tells us that Jesus said- 'All that are in the grave shall hear HIS voice.' If a person is alive after death without death being a sleep, then they'd already hear His voice wouldn't they? What need would they have to hear His voice from the grave? They wouldn't. Surely Jesus speaks the truth and the time will come when ALL that are in the grave shall hear His voice--And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.


Only when ALL are in their graves that are ever going to be in their graves will this time come because only then will ALL the dead throughout all time wake to hear the voice of Jesus and they shall come forth from death - some to life everlasting, others to permanent damnation.


There is an amazing justice in this isn't there? All the dead throughout all time sleep upon death and while some have slept for 6000 years and others will have slept in the grave for only a single hour, they will wake at the same time to their eternal fate.


Death is but a sleep.
Life is when Jesus calls us all from the grave at the same time.


May we be found in Jesus as we wake if we sleep in the grave, may our loved ones be found in Him all of us rising to life everlasting in Him, in His amazing love. By His mercy and His grace, through His righteousness alone.


Amen.

Will we be made whole

Joh 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?


Wilt thou be made whole?


The man had no hope of being made whole, or rather he had little hope. He had just enough hope that he came to the pool of Bethesda. This pool was a healing pool but a conditional healing pool. Not just anyone could be healed but the first to make it in the pool when the healing angel troubled the water.


Joh 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.


A pool of miracles. If such a pool existed today people would be overwhelming the place fighting to be the first. With no time table and no telling when the water would be troubled it's possible it was one time a year, right? Or maybe once every six months? There's no way of knowing and because of that people had to stay by the pool possibly for long periods of time just watching the water maybe afraid to even sleep because they'd miss the troubling of the water.


Here was a man lame for 38 years! 38 years unable to walk and who knows how often he stayed by the pool of water. Who knows how often he witnessed the troubling of the water only to watch another go down into the pool and be healed. He stayed by the pool with that little bit of hope or else he wouldn't have wasted his time being near it at all. The hope he had was so small though that he told Jesus this when asked if he'd be made whole...


Joh 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.


The man would try to make his way there but each time he tried another moved into the water before him reaping the benefits. How many times had he seen it happen? How many times had he watched another be healed? Was he hoping Jesus would offer to put him in the pool? But that would mean Jesus staying near him and waiting until the angel troubling the water made their appearance. The man wanted to be healed of his infirmity he stayed near the pool. Jesus knew of his longing, Jesus knew that the man spoke truthfully. Jesus loved this man, Jesus had pity on this man, Jesus' compassion was roused for this poor man and so he healed him right then and there.


Joh 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Joh 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked


Immediately the man was made whole! To be made whole meant that he wasn't whole. His infirmity, his unwholeness was taken away, he was healed.


Later Jesus said this to that man--


Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.


Jesus told him to 'sin no more' if he sinned a worse thing would come on him. Can you imagine having an infirmity that made you lame for 38 years and then being told something worse could come upon you if you sinned? We are sinners by nature, was this a trap for the man? Sinning is a WILLFUL act, a heart set to do evil, to disobey God. If this man set his heart to oppose God, to do evil to God, to break the laws of God he would receive something worse than being lame for 38 years. It makes you wonder about something... how old was this man made whole? What sins had he committed before? We, in our enlightened ways don't believe at all that our illnesses and infirmities are a result of any sinning, that's like supernatural stuff, right? Yet from Jesus' own mouth came those words. Do we believe in Jesus? Do we really? Can we believe that sinning would have the result of an illnesses, or infirmities, of bad luck? We don't want to believe that because it leaves us feeling hopeless because we know how much we sin. We want to believe our illnesses are just part of life and anything else is just nonsense, germs are germs, diseases are diseases and whether or not we sin means very little. Is it true? No way a baby born with a disease is guilty...but perhaps the sins of the parents or their parents or...well you get the picture. We don't know beyond any doubt, the things of God are His, what we need to know we can know. Is sinning ever good? No, sinning is NEVER good. By the mercy of our Lord and Savior we can be forgiven of our sins, we can live with His righteousness it's the only way to really live-- in Him.


Wilt we be made whole?


In Christ.


Amen.

Ye shall afflict your souls and do no work.

An atonement is a cleansing from all sin.
An atonement for the holy sanctuary- a cleansing of all the sins attached to the holy sanctuary.
An atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation and the alter - a cleansing of all sin in places of worship.
An atonement for the priest- a cleansing of all sin for those who serve the people for God.
An atonement for all the people of the congregation- a cleansing of all sin for all God's people.


With the tabernacle on earth an example of the heavenly we know the temple service on earth foreshadowed Christ's life and death. The temple was a place for people to go to offering sacifices for their sins, a place to worship God, a place where God was to dwell when on earth. Christ, God's Son uniquely begotten on earth, God's Son who lived and died offering Himself as the only sacrifice needed for our sins. No building can truly compare to God fully realized on earth in Jesus. All the services of the temple pointed to the Messiah's life and death and life again. The once yearly full cleansing points to the once only cleansing we will have before Christ returns. Think about it... nothing unclean, nothing with sin, will enter heaven, nothing with sin will go with Christ upon His return. To be Christ's is to be His fully claiming His righteousness as ours, trusting in His righteousness, His forgiveness, His cleansing of us.


If the temple served as an example of the heavenly truly the day of atonement serves as an example of the earth's final cleansing.


Ye shall afflict your souls and do no work.


We can only fall at the feet of Jesus in soul affliction as we realize our helpless, sinless state. We cannot do any work to save ourselves, none. We have to believe that the Messiah will cleanse us of all our sins before the Lord.


Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.


Fear and trembling, afflicted souls. We work out our own salvation WITH fear and trembling. We fall before the feet of our Savior knowing that in our own unworthiness it's all we can possibly do, it's the only work we can possibly perform.



Lev 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
Lev 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.


Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
Lev 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.


Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.


*******

May we afflict our souls with fear and trembling as we seek salvation in our Lord and Savior the Son of God, our Messiah, the only place salvation is found.


Amen

Jesus Kingdom

What is the gospel of the kingdom?


Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.


Preaching the gospel of the kingdom.


Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.


The kingdom of God is at hand.


Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.


The kingdom of God is come unto you.


Jesus was come unto us. Jesus said...


Mar 4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Mar 4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
Mar 4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Mar 4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Mar 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mar 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Mar 4:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.


A miracle.


The greatest thing in all the world is Jesus, there is nothing greater, nothing. He is everything we need. We are so busy trying to find the answers to life we often overlook the only answer that means anything at all, Jesus. He is the gospel, He is the kingdom of God. How many people believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior? How many kneel before Him surrendering all they are to Him? How many plead for forgiveness? Jesus is the only answer and we should never get tired of proclaiming Him as the All in All! Others might get tired of hearing but we should never tire of proclaiming Him living, dying, and living again for us. All praise and honor, all glory to our Lord, our Creator, our Savior.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord, through the Holy Spirit, in the Father's love now and forever.



Amen.

Whether in pretence or in truth-- Christ is preached.

Php 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel


The things that happened to Paul- ridiculed, jailed, set on trial for his faith in Jesus Christ, and all the hardships, beatened, bruised, abraded, all these things happened to further the message of the gospel to others, to spread the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.


Php 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places


Because of those bonds he was placed in Christ's message was manifested to the palace, and in other places! His tragedy was used to further God's plan.


Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.


Others when they witness Paul's persecution and the way he holds fast to the message of Christ are emboldened by his example to speak the gospel without fear!


Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds


Some people preached Christ wrongly yet Paul says here that even those that did that thinking they'd heap more harm upon him instead gained more interest for Christ and Hisw word, His gospel.


Php 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Php 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ


Whether in pretence or in truth-- Christ is preached.


We don't know who might hear something to spike the interest of another, a genuine interest, a real love for Christ can come from something even preached wrongly. It's not up to us to convict a heart it's the Holy Spirit who convicts, we can spread the word, we can preach what we know but in the end the Holy Spirit is the force used by God to bring Christ into hearts opened to Him


By His grace and mercy always and forever, in His righteousness.


Amen.

May God who has performed a good work in us do so until the day of Jesus Christ.

Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Php 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Php 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ


May God who has performed a good work in us do so until the day of Jesus Christ.


Is there anyone you thank God for upon remembering them? Do you pray for others with joy?


All too often we get caught up in praying with despair in our hearts, pain wracking us deeply as we feel for the trials and tribulations those we are praying for are going through. Our hearts get heavy with grief for others but we need to allow joy in our hearts as well. Make requests with joy. Jesus has conquered the worst there is in life and He's done if for us. We will suffer but it is only temporary. We should rejoice in the gospel, in the message of salvation through our Lord and Savior. Joy should fill us as we believe in His return.


The other day I was waiting in a doctor's waiting room and I couldn't help but think about Jesus and wonder how many of them knew of His plan of salvation. Not being the type to strike up conversations with anyone at all, I couldn't very well even consider finding out. It brought to mind the striking contrast of the disciples of Christ preaching His word, spreading the gospel far and wide. There are a few religions that go about to spread the word but it's a VERY rare occurance to find someone preaching the gospel outside of a church setting or function. People usually seek to find someone to share the word and it's not readily given otherwise in my personal experience.


With the joy of Christ in our lives we need to reflect Him and if we don't... why don't we.


May God help us to live in His joy, in His love, and help us to share the love of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.


Amen.

Jesus Christ in Sincerity

Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.


In Sincerity.


Loving our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.


Are you sincere in your love for Jesus Christ?


sincere (sîn-sîr´) adjective
sincerer, sincerest
1. Not feigned or affected; genuine: sincere indignation.
2. Being without hypocrisy or pretense; true: a sincere friend.
3. Archaic. Pure; unadulterated.


Do you love Jesus with a genuine love?
Do you love Jesus without any pretense?
Do you love Jesus unfeigned?


How is a sincere love revealed?


1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.


If you love God... people will know. Loving God isn't something you keep a secret it's something you share. Not everyone can share in all ways but if you love God people will know. We have a light and we can't hide it but we have to let it shine. Maybe we aren't going to climb on a soapbox and preach but there are other ways aren't there? There is NO shame in being a Christian. So many have no problem showing that they're goth, or hiphop, cool, cold, classy, divas, jocks, business-like. We can look at people and generally get a little idea about them. Of course we can't know everything in a glance and there are a lot of people who don't reveal anything other than what we might term - ordinary. But when someone is quite passionate about their beliefs they let people know, don't they? Do we have passion for our Lord and Savior? Do we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity?


May God bless and keep us in Him, loving Him, sharing Him, with a true sincerity through the righteousness, through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!


Amen.

Beauty for Ashes

The promises of God to His people are many. Promises of a future with Him. Promises of a life in Him with great eternal rewards. 'Beauty for ashes'


We mourn now and rightly so. We mourn with a great heaviness of heart, with a spirit heavy with grief, because we live in a world that offers us so much pain. We lay off the mourning and feel joy, we begin to praise rather than dwell in the heaviness of a broken spirit. We can only do that when we are freed from the captivity of sin that threatens to have us drown in our sins, die in our pain. We live in a world that isn't right for us, trying to fit in and failing because all the superficial trappings that we suppose might make us happy fail us. We turn to one thing after the other trying to fill the emptiness, the pain of life and disappointment still finds us. Some people settle for mediocre existence, not seeking happiness but rather becoming content with what life throws their way, making the best of whatever befalls them- not realizing that they are truly captives in another way. It's good when we mourn, when we weep, when we feel that spirit of heaviness because then we can realize there is something wrong. Seeking relief from pain whether emotional or physical is a natural response and the true life pain reliever is faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and the world He offers, salvation in Him.


Salvation.


Salvation isn't just a promise for life hereafter, it's a promise for life now.


How would you act if you were promised 100,000,000 dollars? You would feel rich even before that money was realized. The promise of it enough to give you the thrill of that richness.


We are promised salvation and we can grasp hold of that thrill now.


Just as someone promised a great amount of money has to count their pennies until it's in their hands, living in their means until it's a reality- those promised salvation have to continue to live in a life that warrants mourning, brings them pain, and causes heartache. The joy of the promise makes life bearable. The promise needs to be real to us though. We have to believe in the promise. If we fail to believe in the promise then we lose hope and begin to live in despair. Without a promise, without hope we might settle for life with no future salvation.


May God help us to claim the promise of salvation in Christ now and live with the promise real in our lives believing its truthfulness, believing in the reality as if we've won the race, the prize before us is real.


By the mercy and the grace of our Lord and Savior through His righteousness now and forever! Amen.


Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isa 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isa 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isa 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Isa 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Isa 61:9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.


Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.


Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord


Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.


Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints