If your wondering what to do this morning let me tell you.....GO TO CHURCH! Because you never know what your going to see or hear. It might be something you need! Or God might use you to be a blessing to someone else! It's not just about you , ya know! And go prepared Pray on the way, or sing some worship songs, and be ready to seek the Lord when you get there! Just some thoughts.
In Christ-Jesus Chick.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Salvation
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 )
This is one of the coolest verses in the Book of Genesis. It tells us about the day when Abram (later called Abraham) was "saved." Now, back in the Old Testament they did not talk about "getting saved" like we do today, but Genesis 15:6 records the day of Abram's salvation.
So, how was Abraham saved? Well, the Bible says "he believed the LORD, and he counted to him as righteousness."
What did he believe? In these verses, Abram believed that he would have descendants (children) even though at this point he was childless. But there’s more. Genesis 22:18 reveals that among those descendent would be a Seed through whom "all the nations of the earth" would be blessed.
So what does that mean? It means by faith, Abram believed God was going to send a Savior (Galatians 3:16).
In other words, Abram had faith that God would do what He promised. As a result, God counted him as righteous. Think of righteous or righteousness as being "right" with God.
That is the same way we're saved today. God says in His Word that He loves you, and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for everything you've ever done wrong. We have to believe what God says, trust Him by faith, and He will count us righteous.
So, are you going to believe it? You decide.
Believe= to put your full trust in or on something or someone
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Reflection
John10:29 "What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father’s care." The Good News Bible (GNT)
This was the verse that stood out in my morning’s reading today. Jesus said this at the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple. He was walking on Solomon’s Porch. Well – what do you know about the "Festival of the Dedication of the Temple"? I would imagine that it was a gala event. It sounds as if people would have been bringing great gifts to such a Festival.
I’m reminded of how when new businesses open, even churches; some people send gifts to the business – beautiful plants, vases full of unique flowers, gorgeous plaques. There is often an ‘open house’ and the finest fruits and cakes, teas and coffees and other hors devours are served to the guests. Beautiful music, perhaps a stringed quartet or a beautiful piano are playing in the background, people dress up for the event.
And Solomon was a prominent, well-known man. Well – Here is Jesus attending the event. And he is questioned while on the Porch by other people in attendance. They ask him to tell them the plain truth about who he is – and he had already done that before the Festival began. So he said – I told you I’m the Good Shepherd – but you didn’t believe me – and then he said: "What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father’s care."
No one was bringing gifts to Jesus – but maybe this crowd wanted to know if he was the Messiah because if he was – they were going to give him gifts – because that’s what people do for people who are considered Saviors – that’s what Messiah is – Our Savior. We have no clue if the people had brought gifts – but what we do know is Jesus is perhaps a little miffed – not because Solomon is getting gifts – but because these people would give him gifts if he was somebody special. But there is absolutely no gift we can give him because he isn’t in need of anything. And he might be miffed again because the people just don’t get the message –
People are more important than things – People are the gift that God has given Jesus – There are those who think that perhaps the Authority to judge, or the authority to forgive are what’s so great about Jesus. But what Jesus says is so great, greater than even the earth, the sky, the stars, the planets, the sun, greater than the beauty of a majestic forest or the most beautiful birds in a tropical jungle or whatever you cherish in God’s creation – what is greater than everything is you and me – people – that’s what God and Jesus value over everything else that God created. And absolutely nothing – nothing – nothing can snatch them away from the Father’s care!
Nothing will keep God from caring about people – unfortunately, sometimes we stop caring for even ourselves and for each other. But God Cares – God really cares for you and that is the message that Jesus wants you to hear. There is indeed, someone who cares, all the time. And He doesn’t want you to forget that – no matter where you are, or what you’ve done, whether you are rich or poor or middle class, if you are an A+ student or failed the class – if you are a boy or a girl, old or young, sick or healthy, God cares for you just the same. If you have a brand new Cadillac or broken down 15 yr. old beater – God cares for you just the same. If you work in an ivory tower or in a basement or not at all – God Cares For You, and no one, absolutely no one, not even the meanest person on earth can take that away from you, you will always have someone who cares!
Dear Lord, Thank you for your Living Word and for those whom you inspired to write them in a book for us to be forever reminded of your Constant Care and Love for Humanity. Give us ears so we may hear you and minds that we will understand, give us hearts to love ourselves and others as you love us. AMEN!
This was the verse that stood out in my morning’s reading today. Jesus said this at the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple. He was walking on Solomon’s Porch. Well – what do you know about the "Festival of the Dedication of the Temple"? I would imagine that it was a gala event. It sounds as if people would have been bringing great gifts to such a Festival.
I’m reminded of how when new businesses open, even churches; some people send gifts to the business – beautiful plants, vases full of unique flowers, gorgeous plaques. There is often an ‘open house’ and the finest fruits and cakes, teas and coffees and other hors devours are served to the guests. Beautiful music, perhaps a stringed quartet or a beautiful piano are playing in the background, people dress up for the event.
And Solomon was a prominent, well-known man. Well – Here is Jesus attending the event. And he is questioned while on the Porch by other people in attendance. They ask him to tell them the plain truth about who he is – and he had already done that before the Festival began. So he said – I told you I’m the Good Shepherd – but you didn’t believe me – and then he said: "What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father’s care."
No one was bringing gifts to Jesus – but maybe this crowd wanted to know if he was the Messiah because if he was – they were going to give him gifts – because that’s what people do for people who are considered Saviors – that’s what Messiah is – Our Savior. We have no clue if the people had brought gifts – but what we do know is Jesus is perhaps a little miffed – not because Solomon is getting gifts – but because these people would give him gifts if he was somebody special. But there is absolutely no gift we can give him because he isn’t in need of anything. And he might be miffed again because the people just don’t get the message –
People are more important than things – People are the gift that God has given Jesus – There are those who think that perhaps the Authority to judge, or the authority to forgive are what’s so great about Jesus. But what Jesus says is so great, greater than even the earth, the sky, the stars, the planets, the sun, greater than the beauty of a majestic forest or the most beautiful birds in a tropical jungle or whatever you cherish in God’s creation – what is greater than everything is you and me – people – that’s what God and Jesus value over everything else that God created. And absolutely nothing – nothing – nothing can snatch them away from the Father’s care!
Nothing will keep God from caring about people – unfortunately, sometimes we stop caring for even ourselves and for each other. But God Cares – God really cares for you and that is the message that Jesus wants you to hear. There is indeed, someone who cares, all the time. And He doesn’t want you to forget that – no matter where you are, or what you’ve done, whether you are rich or poor or middle class, if you are an A+ student or failed the class – if you are a boy or a girl, old or young, sick or healthy, God cares for you just the same. If you have a brand new Cadillac or broken down 15 yr. old beater – God cares for you just the same. If you work in an ivory tower or in a basement or not at all – God Cares For You, and no one, absolutely no one, not even the meanest person on earth can take that away from you, you will always have someone who cares!
Dear Lord, Thank you for your Living Word and for those whom you inspired to write them in a book for us to be forever reminded of your Constant Care and Love for Humanity. Give us ears so we may hear you and minds that we will understand, give us hearts to love ourselves and others as you love us. AMEN!
Monday, July 2, 2007
God's Love
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them (Genesis 3:21).
Two attributes of God shine out in these verses; two attributes which form the backbone of the story of the Bible. First we see God's mercy. Mercy is when God doesn't give us what we deserve. To put it bluntly, Adam and Eve deserved physical death. Not only because they sinned, but as the original parents, all their children, and their children's children, etc., would be born sinful.
God in His mercy, however, spared their lives even though the spiritual connection they had with Him died. We also see God's grace in action here. Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve.
Among other things, God gave Adam and Eve clothes of skin. The life of an innocent animal was taken to cover their nakedness and their sinfulness. In a strange way, we see God's mercy in allowing Adam and Eve to die (when they were old).
I don't want to be insensitive if you've lost loved ones--I have too, and it certainly didn't feel like mercy. But in this world full of selfish, sinful people, an unlimited life span would be too much.
Finally, God gave Adam and Eve children. Cain was born first and then his brother Abel. After Abel was killed Seth was born and then many others. Through the line of Seth, however, would someday come the one promised in Genesis 3:15, who would destroy the evil one. God's mercy and His grace are both evidences of His love for us. And since the beginning of the human race, He has been actively seeking a relationship with people including you. Will you respond?
Two attributes of God shine out in these verses; two attributes which form the backbone of the story of the Bible. First we see God's mercy. Mercy is when God doesn't give us what we deserve. To put it bluntly, Adam and Eve deserved physical death. Not only because they sinned, but as the original parents, all their children, and their children's children, etc., would be born sinful.
God in His mercy, however, spared their lives even though the spiritual connection they had with Him died. We also see God's grace in action here. Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve.
Among other things, God gave Adam and Eve clothes of skin. The life of an innocent animal was taken to cover their nakedness and their sinfulness. In a strange way, we see God's mercy in allowing Adam and Eve to die (when they were old).
I don't want to be insensitive if you've lost loved ones--I have too, and it certainly didn't feel like mercy. But in this world full of selfish, sinful people, an unlimited life span would be too much.
Finally, God gave Adam and Eve children. Cain was born first and then his brother Abel. After Abel was killed Seth was born and then many others. Through the line of Seth, however, would someday come the one promised in Genesis 3:15, who would destroy the evil one. God's mercy and His grace are both evidences of His love for us. And since the beginning of the human race, He has been actively seeking a relationship with people including you. Will you respond?
Your Sins will be Found out...
SIN-FORGIVENESS-UNFORGIVENESS
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground." (Genesis 4:8-10)
This has got to be one of the most tragic stories in the Bible. The third person on the earth murders his own brother--the fourth person and the first to die (ABEL).
After Cain murdered his brother, he tried to cover it up. When God asked him directly about his brother's whereabouts, Cain wouldn't come clean. But God knew exactly what happened. But when Cain was presented with the opportunity to confess his sin, he tried to hide it.
Cain possibly could have kept his dirty little secret from his parents. Maybe covering his tracks by pretending an animal killed his brother. But even if he'd hid the truth from his parents, God knew. God always knows. No matter how hard we try to keep our "skeletons" in the closet, we can't hide them from God. And our sin always has consequences, just like Cain's.
We can't keep anything hidden from God. So, when we mess up, even if it's really bad, we need to confess it to God. He already knows what we did, so it's best to be honest and come clean immediately. For Christ-followers, God gives us a very comforting promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Repent means to turn away from, turn away from your sins...
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground." (Genesis 4:8-10)
This has got to be one of the most tragic stories in the Bible. The third person on the earth murders his own brother--the fourth person and the first to die (ABEL).
After Cain murdered his brother, he tried to cover it up. When God asked him directly about his brother's whereabouts, Cain wouldn't come clean. But God knew exactly what happened. But when Cain was presented with the opportunity to confess his sin, he tried to hide it.
Cain possibly could have kept his dirty little secret from his parents. Maybe covering his tracks by pretending an animal killed his brother. But even if he'd hid the truth from his parents, God knew. God always knows. No matter how hard we try to keep our "skeletons" in the closet, we can't hide them from God. And our sin always has consequences, just like Cain's.
We can't keep anything hidden from God. So, when we mess up, even if it's really bad, we need to confess it to God. He already knows what we did, so it's best to be honest and come clean immediately. For Christ-followers, God gives us a very comforting promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Repent means to turn away from, turn away from your sins...
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