Welcome Readers!


"Hello" to all my regular readers and those who are here for the first time!
I hope that this blog enlightens and encourages those who read it but I also hope that it will wake up those who have been asleep to the clock that is ticking within our beautiful nation and within the body of Christ. It is my goal to glorify our Lord and share the Truth with anyone who will listen!
I pray that the Lord will give you strength and courage each day to do His will and to glorify Him. It seems to be getting harder and harder these days to keep our heads above water, but He does promise us that He will not allow the waters to overtake us! Praise Him for that promise!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Acts of God

Mother Nature has no idea how she interferes with our lives does she? Who would think that a volcano could cause so much headache and inconvenience? No one could imagine the personal situations that were experienced due to this unforeseen event. It is because of worldwide travel and news media capabilities that we are so aware of this act of God. Do we truly realize that we are not in control of things as we believe ourselves to be? It amazes me to think that volcanic dust can bring the world to a screeching halt. Acts of God in the way of natural disasters seem to be on the rise. The number of earthquakes, hurricanes and now we can add volcanoes to the list, are more a headline news item these days than ever before. So what is going on out there?

I am currently going through a Bible study of the gospel of John. Last week we studied the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus and learned that the sun quit shinning for the last three hours of Jesus' life while He carried our sin in His body. I assume that many people try to explain the darkness as an eclipse or some other natural event, but either case was a work of God. Whether it was something that we can somewhat understand or something that totally perplexes us, no matter...it was God! In fact there are so many stories in the Bible that scientists and theorists try to explain or chalk up to a naturally occurring episode: The parting of the Red (or Reed) Sea, the burning bush, the plagues of Egypt and the list goes on. If you spend enough time watching the History channel or Discovery you'll be filled with very plausible and fitting reasons as to how these things took place.

Before I was a believer in the Lord Jesus I used to watch these programs and liked the fact that there was some reasonable explanation for these Biblical stories. I am a science minded person and I appreciated the proposed evidence and theories that drew a conclusion. But now, as I grow in my love and faith in God and His Word, I have gained a new vision for the why's and how's of the sometimes seemingly impossible events. It really is quite simple. God is sovereign and in complete control of EVERYTHING!! Case closed. The Webster's definition of faith is; unquestioning belief specifically in God, complete trust or confidence, loyalty. God's definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1. God says faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. So with that in mind, we can look at the circumstances of life that are confusing and sometimes perplexing to us, and trust that God has it handled.

What circumstances in your life are causing you stress or frustration? Do you look at the situation that the world is in these days and get a little nervous or even frightened? Are you concerned for your loved ones and the future generations of our country? As difficult as it is at times to let go and to cast your cares on our Lord Jesus, it is ultimately what will bring you not only peace but the answers that you seek. Let go and let God! Amen?

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

No Such Thing as In Between

If you are married or ever have been, you are familiar with those two little words that say volumes: "I Do". Those words don't mean "maybe" or "I'll think about it". They mean, Yes, I do. If you are at the altar and decide not to say them, you are making a choice to say "No, I don't". There isn't any in between. Do you realize that this is the same situation with God? If you don't say "I do" to God you are saying "I don't". It is a clear and concise rejection of Him. Yet most people don't understand or see this as rejection. They may say, "Well, I do believe in God, I just don't believe that He has control over my life", or "Yes, there is a God, but I am not a sinner and therefore I don't need to believe that Jesus lived, died and rose, for me". Unfortunately, these comments are a firm and flat out "No" to the offer that God has made to every person, for forgiveness and relationship with Him.

Where do you fit into this picture? Have you gladly accepted the gift of His love, grace, mercy and righteousness through the blood of Jesus? Or are you being deceived by the Father of Lies by thinking that you are a-okay right where you are: That you have never consciously denied Jesus, therefore you are in the middle, safe from hell, yet you get to live as you choose? Well, there is no such place. God makes it clear in His Word, you are either on the side of Jesus or against Him. I guess the example of wedded vows fails in this era because living together has become an acceptable lifestyle and in a way, it is middle ground. No firm "I do's" were cited yet in most daily situations, things flow along as if vows had been exchanged. That is of course until you want insurance as a married couple, you try to file joint taxes, you want to have a child with the same last name, etc. Then these things start to expose the true reality that there wasn't a joining as one, as God had originally planned. Maybe this example still fits, because as you live your life trying to be "in the middle" with God, things start to expose the true reality that you are not committed to Him and that you are living a lie, pretending to be on His side.

So again I ask you: Where do you stand? Are you choosing God by believing on Jesus as your righteousness before God, or denying God by denying this need to be cleansed from sin? There is no in between, no middle ground. It's either "I do" or you don't. I will leave you with this thought: If Jesus' blood was not necessary for our redemption and payment for our sin, why would an innocent Man, whom by the way Pilate agreed was innocent, have given His life for the very same people who tortured and crucified Him? No one in their right mind would do that unless it was necessary to fulfill God's ultimate plan. AND no one except God Himself has the power or authority to have victory over death and atone for our sin. Apathy is not an option with God!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Heaven...Guaranteed?

Heaven. Is it a real place or is it just a figment of our imaginations? If it is a real place, do all people go there and if not, who does? Do I get there by being "good" or by going to church? More importantly, can I have complete assurance that I will be going to heaven or is my place in eternity something that I'll discover when I die? These questions are on the minds of millions of people throughout the world. A recent news headline profiled Heaven and the possible answers to these questions. In fact I, myself, have asked them previously. So let me ask you: Do you know where you are going when you die? Do you understand that you CAN have complete assurance of your final destination?

With Easter being a few days away, I thought that I would join the many other groups and individuals who are pondering the life and death of Jesus. Even the secular television stations are examining His historical journey. It is a common thing both this time of year and around the Christmas season, for people to contemplate His existence. Why is He a curiosity during those times of the year but the rest of the year a forgotten and obscure historical figure? Obviously the two celebratory days are based on His life; however, commercialism and secular society have changed them into the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. But let us look right now, to the factual and truthful events that brought about Easter.

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus but what does that truly mean and why did He have to die? Even though Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God in the Garden of Eden, God was not finished with mankind. He still desired to have a relationship with us and had the perfect plan for restoration. The only way for this to happen was for the proper payment to be made for their sin. Sadly enough death is the wage of sin and therefore someone had to die. Unfortunately the only way for redemption was through a perfect sacrifice; something no person could be due to the "sin DNA" we as a race acquired from our "original" parents. So in God's wisdom, sovereignty and love He became man in the flesh, aka Jesus, and was therefore a suitable sacrifice for the atonement of Man's sin. If Jesus had not chosen to die there would have been no payment made, and had He not risen from the grave, there would be victory over death and His crucifixion would have been in vain. It is only because He was God the Son who lived, died AND rose again that we have the opportunity for eternal life in heaven.

Now, as for the "How do I know that's where I am going" part: There is no trick, no test or even a difficult level of "goodness" that you have to reach to obtain a seat in the glorious Kingdom of Heaven. God knows our weaknesses and knows that there is no possible way that we could be good enough. Hence the role that Jesus played; our righteousness! It amazes me how many people understand that Jesus was God and died on the cross for their sins, yet they can't answer the question emphatically, "Yes, I am going to heaven when I die!" I suppose it feels too easy for some people. Maybe others out there don't think that they need God's righteousness because they have lived good lives. I know some who struggle with the idea their loved ones who have passed, to their knowledge, never believed in Jesus while they lived. This leads them to the cold, hard truth that those loved ones may be in hell. Whatever the reason, people have a hard time accepting this awesome and beautiful gift. Our God is the perfect Father who loves us beyond our comprehension. Why would He make it difficult for us to spend eternity with Him? Why would He make it too complicated to understand? He doesn't!

I truly find more joy in Resurrection Day, aka Easter, than I do in Christmas. Yes, Jesus had to be born to die, but there really isn't any doubt that He lived. On the other hand, He had to rise to be my propitiation and that is the foundation for my faith. So, if you are not one hundred percent certain that you are going to spend eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus, might I suggest that you seek God in prayer and ask Him to show you where you are mistaken. Either you haven't truly believed in His blood for your sins or you are being lied to by the Father of Lies and you need to hear the truth from God. It is a simple thing really, to know with a certainty like none other, that you are heaven bound. It is my prayer that each person reading this, will today, find the comfort and assurance of salvation that God offers. So, I ask you again: Do you know where you are going when you die?

Note: Please see the Prayer of Assurance at the bottom of this page if you have any doubts about where you are headed.