The Twenty Six Days of Advent - "B" - "Because of Love"

December 1, 2013 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) The skeptics always want proof of Jesus’ magnanimous love and His complete sacrifice for mankind. Without faith in the fact that Jesus was born, lived and died for “who-so-ever will,” nothing can convince the skeptics. What proves Jesus’ love, humility and mercy was sufficient for our salvation? First of all, because “He stooped so low” to fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation. Only God could love this much! Some glibly talk about the sacrifice of Jesus as if He was just inconvenienced for a while here on earth. Have you ever meditated on the condescension of the God of the universe Who guided the stars and galaxies through the skies He had created; Who ruled over myriads of angels (some of them fallen); and Who prearranged the “plan of salvation” for His one creation that was created in His image. He sat on a throne, He walked on golden streets, He was all knowing, all wise, ever-present and all powerful – He left all this because He loved us and wanted to have fellowship with us. He came to the earth He had created, He became a human like He had created, experiencing an immaculate conception, gestation, and birth in a dirty, smelly cave, which served as a stable which housed the farm animals He had created. This tiny baby, Creator of all, was born of a very common mother, and into a hostile world of sinners who were irreconciled to God, His Father. When He was a small child He was the object of a search to kill Him by a jealous king, because He was also a King Who had stooped so low as to be born into a world of enemies who hated Him; all this heartache because He loved us. Another truth that proves His love is that He lived with the undeserved hatred, rejection, betrayal and eventually death as a criminal on the cross – because He loved us so much and wanted us to be reconciled to the Father and have eternal life in heaven with Him and the Father. He wanted us to sit on the throne with Him at His right hand, as He sits at the right hand of the Father – because He loves us. Actions speak louder than words – He told us, then because He loved us, He stretched out His hands to be nailed to a cross to show us. Because He Lives Gloria and Bill Gaither God sent His Son – they called Him Jesus, He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives I can face tomorrow, Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.

The Twenty Six Days of Advent - "A" ABUNDANT

November,2013 “He is able to do abundantly above all we could ask or imagine.” (Eph. 3:20) “He has come to give us life and life more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Mr. Webster says abundant means, “plentiful.” There is no want, there is more than just enough, and the supply is undiminished. In Exodus 34:6, the Lord says of Himself, “The Lord! The Lord! A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.” The only thing God is lacking here is His anger – aren’t you glad? II Cor. 4:15 and I Timothy 1:14, Paul speaks of God’s abundant grace (and even superabundant grace). Paul perceived, acknowledged and praised God for His profuse grace being poured out upon him. Shouldn’t we do the same? I Peter 1:13, tells us that “By His boundless abundance of mercy we have been born again to an ever-lasting hope.” Abundant mercy, grace and loving-kindness comes out of His magnanimous heart of love. Psalm 36:7-8 describes God’s love, “How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of your wings. They relish and feast on the abundance of Your house; and You cause them to drink of the stream of Your pleasures.” These abundant pleasures and joys are at His right hand and in His presence forevermore, (Psalm 16:11). All of these wonderful attributes of God that are lavished on us was part of the divine DNA that was born in that tiny baby, Jesus, and He lived His life, and died for us, demonstrating His abundant grace, mercy and love which He so willingly poured out on us! And Can It Be? Charles Wesley He left his Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite His grace! Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race! Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me. Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God shouldst die for me!

Fearful or Dismayed?

August 30, 2014 “Fear not, for there is nothing to fear, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice.” (Isaiah 41:10 Amp.) I just had a complete shoulder replacement surgery which left me disabled to a large degree (because of the intense and reoccurring pain), and feeling very vulnerable. Thankfully this was in my left shoulder, and I am right handed, so I can still use my good arm and hand and am able and learning to use my left arm and hand without too much pain. Even in my pain and disability I am amazed at the wonder of God’s knowledge He reveals, in this case, to modern medicine. My entire old and diseased shoulder was taken out and a new, shiny titanium shoulder was put in. I was sewed up and am now healing nicely. One of my great-grandsons, who is nearly four, and after being explained to that my new shoulder was “metal,” prayed for me over the telephone, “Dear God, heal Gran Gran’s robot shoulder.” I know God heard his prayer! In all of this I have found that Jesus is enough. I don’t have to fear whatever the future may hold - any disastrous contingencies, either personally, family-wise, nationally, or even world-wide disasters. Just as He is enough now, He will be then in all my future! The promises in Isaiah 41:10 are effective today, tomorrow and forever, and “though heaven and earth may pass away, His Word (promises) will never pass away” – and they are for you and me! As I was reading this verse I was struck by the totality of life and all of its problems, but with God as the answer and enough today and forever, we don’t have to be afraid or dismayed. Let’s scrutinize the wonderful truths and promises in this one verse. “Fear not!” There is nothing to fear, for I Am with you.” Do you realize Who the “I AM” in this verse is? He is El Shaddai – “God Almighty, all sufficient,” He is El Elyon – “The God most high, King of kings, the Strongest strong One, the Maker of heaven and earth.” He is El Elyon – YHWY God - “strong, faithful, covenant keep God.” He is El Roi – “The God Who sees.” He is Jehovah LORD AND GOD – “The self-existent One Who reveals Himself in the redemptive names of deity.” Although we may not comprehend fully, if we embrace these truths our faith jumps to new heights and we can believe that whatever we face we do not have to fear, for this Almighty God Who lives within us is greater than any force, problem, or disaster we face in this world! So why fear, because this great I AM is with us, “He will never leave us nor forsake us” (Heb.13:5); and “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom.8:31). Next, we are cautioned to “not look around us in terror and be dismayed, for I AM your God.” You must remember that this great I AM is your God – He sees, He knows, and He is able and sufficient to meet your every need, whether spirit, soul or body! I AM doesn’t want you to be dismayed at the horrific happenings in your lives or around you, because I AM will “strengthen you (if you are weak in any way), I AM will help you (however you need help); I AM will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice.” When troubles (like illness, surgery, money problems) make us fearful and dismayed, remember our verse, Isaiah 41:10, and live in peace and rest, knowing I AM is awake and watching and working. So why should we be fearful or dismayed? So “Casting the whole of all your care, all of your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (I Peter 5:7 Amp). Just rest in Him! http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com

Daddy

June 12, 2014 “Our Father, Who is in heaven, holy is your name.”(Luke 11:2) Sunday, June 14, 2014, is Father’s Day. Some of you may be fathers, but all have a father, whether living or dead. Some of your fathers were not in your home as you grew up, whether because of their death, divorce, or uncontrollable circumstances. The only father-figure you ever knew may have been either a grandfather, an uncle, an older brother, a friend, or maybe even a super-hero you admired. Whoever may have been an earthly father-figure to you, that one becomes your first image of God. Whether you are a flesh and blood father, you all are influential for good or bad in someone’s life, whether you are aware of it or not; and you will be held accountable before God for the influence you portray. Because of this fact, it is your obligation to those watching your life, to live in such a way that will show others the correct “image of God.” Of course to be able to do this you must know God personally yourself. No one is perfect, but we can have a “perfect” heart; and the heavenly Father sees and knows your heart. “Even a child is known by his acts, whether or not what he does is pure and right” (Prov.20:11). You cannot be “pure and right” without, first of all, asking Jesus to cleanse you from all your sins, then daily walk with “clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps.24:3-5). If you live a life of love, selflessness, truthfulness, faithfulness, responsibility, forgiveness, patience and acceptance, then those watching, especially children, will expect the heavenly Father to have the same attributes. All of these attributes are so endearing and cherished by all watching, but remember, you can’t live this way without the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower you to be a man of integrity. Although you may fail at times, (and we all do), just acknowledge your failure and try again. It is amazing how failing can inspire you to try again, and it can make you stronger when you acknowledge where you are weak and ask the Lord to help you not fail in that way again. Conversely, if you live your life selfishly; shading the truth to benefit yourself; not being dependable and faithful to keep your word; not accepting your responsibility as an adult of integrity; not forgiving quickly when wronged; being impatient when others don’t do it right; and not accepting others when they fail. Ask your self the questions: Am I consistently harsh; am I too busy for family and also emotionally detached. If these are your traits, those little ones watching will think God the Father is not loving, untruthful, unfaithful, unforgiving, impatience and you are unacceptable. It is very hard, if not impossible, for anyone to desire to trust a heavenly father who has these negative attributes. Do you desire to reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in your life? To reflect Him takes no training, just a complete commitment to Him and follow your training guide – the Bible. By doing those two things the Holy Spirit offers guidance and strength for raising your children, then all those who come behind you will find you faithful, and they will rise up and bless you. Find Us Faithful by Steve Green We're pilgrims on the journey Of the narrow road, and those who've gone before us line the way,cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace. Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us run the race, not only for the prize, but as those who've gone before us let us leave to those behind us the heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives. After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone, and our children sift through all we've left behind. May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover, become the light that leads them to the road we each must find. CHORUS: Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful, may the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe, And the lives we live inspire them to obey. Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

The Grateful Heart

“At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20 Amp.) “Thank God in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks), for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus (the Revealer and mediator of that will). (I Thess. 5:18 Amp.) If there is one type of person we like to be around, I would venture to say it was the person who was sincerely grateful “in” and “for” everything in their life. I would think these people (they are rare) have been through dire and difficult circumstances and have chosen to believe that God loves them and has either caused or permitted every circumstance, good or bad, to come into their life to prove their faith, like job; and to show how He will be faithful to go with them and to strengthen them in and through the deep waters until they come out victorious. Looking in retrospect they see how God has used the “fire” to burn away the dross of pride, self-sufficiency, doubt, fear and lukewarmness, etc., that has consumed their life, even as a Christian. They choose to be thankful in and for all things. The above are two very astounding and puzzling scriptures. Does God really expect us to thank Him for the bad as well as the good? He said it, so we must believe it, and that should settle it. We may not understand this doctrine of “thanksgiving in and for all things,” but we must remember words are relevant to us, such as “good” and “bad” or “evil,” but not relative to God. Since He knows the beginning and end of every situation, the ramifications of that situation, the perfect time for it to occur, and every detail about it that will fit into His plans, who are we to question what He says is good or bad, He is the omniscient and all wise God. We are just told to give thanks for the situations, and even give thanks while we are in the midst of them. In the beginning God said all His creation was good, but after the fall His creations became what we would call “bad.” Some of the animals became vicious (bad), men’s hearts became “evil” and dark, storms occurred and destroyed life, and the innocent suffer. This all became what we would call “bad,” but God had already planned ahead for the redemption of mankind, and eventually the whole creation. Now sin is not “good” but without the evil and sin in the world, God’s perfect plan of salvation wouldn’t be necessary, so God permitted it. Since He said to “be thankful for all things,” we must thank Him that it was sin that brought us to a recognition of our complete depravity that caused a great gulf between us and God, and subsequently it was the recognition of our sin and our knowledge that we couldn’t save ourselves and needed a Savior, Jesus. There are some key words in these two scriptures we need to look at and study. Webster’s Dictionary says the word, “for,” is a “used as a function word to indicate an actual or implied enumeration.” The Ephesians’ scripture uses the word ”for” to indicate for what we are to give thanks and how often we are to give thanks - for “all” things at “all” times. The word “all” is defined as, “whole number or sum, every, altogether, everybody and everything.” So there is never a circumstance or a time for which we are not to give thanks. We can only do this when we are trusting Jesus explicitly – His wisdom, His love, His power to keep, and His plan. The more we know Him, the more we trust Him, to trust His love is to be thankful for “everything” He permits to come into our life. In the context scriptures Paul was heading toward Jerusalem where he knew he may be facing prison, or even death. But he admonished the Ephesian Christians “to walk in the light, in wisdom, in the will of God, and be filled with the Spirit, rejoicing in God and to give thanks for all things, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” They and many others can, and should rejoice, knowing “they were counted worthy to suffer shame and exposed to disgrace for Christ’s name, ” and “when people hate us for Christ’s sake” (Acts 5:41; Luke 6:22-23). Now let’s look at two other words in the I Thess. 5:18 scripture which clarifies when and where we are to give thanks. The first is the word “in.” Webster says, “In expresses inclusion within limits of space, time, circumstances, sphere, etc.” The second word is “everything” which means, “each of all possible, everyday, everywhere and everyone.” So this scripture tells us we are to “thank God in everything, for this is God’s will for you who are in Christ Jesus.” We are to give thanks in the midst of every and all circumstances (good or bad). Why would we be commanded to give thanks for and in all things? This seems contradictory to all our thinking, but remember, “God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8). We may not understand but we must trust the One Who knows the number of the hairs on our head; the One Who loves us with an incomprehensible and everlasting love; the One Who knows the way through the wilderness – all we have to do is follow. Paul gives us some of the reasons why God wants us to thank Him in and for all things. We should “rejoice in the midst of suffering to make the gospel known” (Col.1:24). Be thankful that to “share His glory we must share His suffering; and that He is working all things for good for those who love God; and that being thankful in all things we are being molded into the image of God’s Son. Be thankful that “if God be for us who can be against us? No one or nothing can separate us from God’s love? Be thankful because He has called us, justified us and makes us righteous. So we should rejoice and be thankful for that knowledge.” (Rom.8:17-18, 28-39). We can be thankful for the opportunity to love our enemies and those who despitefully use us, as Jesus commanded, so we can be like our Father in heaven” (Matt.5:44-45). Our rejoicing and thanks makes us like Him and glorifies Him, and because it shows our complete trust and faith in Our Father. Without trust and faith we cannot please Him (Heb.11:6). “Moreover let us be full of joy now, let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produces patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character. And character produces the hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us” (Rom.5:3-5) (Amp). “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE” (Phil.4:4)!!

The Cost of Discipleship - The Discipline of How We Should Then Live - (Part 6) - "A Holy Life"

(Mary Jones) “But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. For it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1: 15-16; Leviticus11:45;) The words, “holy/holiness,” to some conjure up pictures of women in long dresses with long sleeves and her hair in a bun, and men with a highly buttoned coat, always carrying a black Bible, ever ready to figuratively hit anyone over the head who disagreed with his version of that black Book. To others “holy” is a picture of God the Father seated on a magnificent throne with a crown on His head and wearing a long white robe. He appears very aloof and looking down on mankind with a condemning eye and a scepter in His hand to readily judge anyone who steps out of His line. Neither picture is correct, although parts may be true according to the Word of God, a little truth among many untruths can cause a much distorted picture. The whole Truth is that the word “holy” means in the Hebrew, where it was first used, as “someone, or something that had been dedicated for sacred use: an angel, a saint, a day, and/or a sanctuary.” To be holy is to be “set apart,” “separate,” - we are holy to the Lord (Duet.14:21). In the New Testament the Greek defines being holy or holiness as, “an awful (full of awe) thing; it is being set apart to God (sacred), blameless, pure from defilement, moral and consecrated to God.” II Cor.6:16-18 ask the question, “What agreement can there be between a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, ‘I will dwell in and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. So come out from among them and separate yourselves from them,’ says the Lord, ‘and touch not any unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor’. ‘And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty (Isa.43:6; Hos.1:10).” So how do we live holy lives? To be holy unto God we are to fully dedicate ourselves to God and however He wants to use us. We are to keep ourselves clean and pure from the world’s defilements (its way of thinking and acting). We are to be chaste and modest in our thoughts, actions, speech, how we dress, the places we go, and the activities in which we participate. As well as our text (I Pet.1:15-16), James 1:21 makes it clear and reiterates, “So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle and modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your souls. So obey the message of the Word and not merely listening to it, betraying yourselves into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth.” To help us live holy lives we must always keep heaven in view. Think of the hope of the redeemed: 1) To be caught up with the Lord in the air; 2) The Lord will descend with a loud cry of summons, and the shout of an archangel and blast of the trumpet of God; 3) and those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first; 4) then we, the living ones who remain on the earth, shall simultaneously be caught up along with the resurrected dead in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; 5) we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, to have our bodies transformed to be like His glory; 6) death is swallowed up in victory; 7) He will wipe away all our tears and reproach; 8)and so always through the eternity of the eternities we shall be with the Lord. This hope should inspire us to live holy lives and to be like Jesus. Thinking of all the eternal glories - the peace, the joys, and spending eternity with Jesus should inspire us to steadfastly and faithfully live holy lives. Peace of mind and heart is one of the fruits of living a holy life. Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us that we will have perfect peace if our minds are kept on Him, because we have committed ourselves to Him, and lean on Him, and hope confidently in Him. To keep our minds on Him we must shift our focus from the problems, hurts and allurements of this life, to our Father, Savior, Helper, Provider, our Prince of Peace and His Word. Focus on His precious Promises. Hide them in your heart, trust in them and pray them back to the Father – He doesn’t have to be reminded but it strengthens our faith to remind ourselves of His promises that never fail. He tells us in Philippians 4:6-9 to not be anxious for anything, but by prayer, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God; change your thought life to think on the pure, true, honorable, lovable, kind, gracious and winsome things; things that have virtue and excellence and is worthy of our praise. Then God’s peace will be ours. This is holy living because our thoughts will become actions, our actions will become habits, and our habits with become our character. To have a holy character we must take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Cor.10:5); and keep our minds kept on God and His Promises – all through prayer. This is holy living. To live a holy life we must strive to please Him. We please Him by obeying Him, trusting Him, walking in faith and love, to do justly, loving mercy and walking humbly before Him and worshipping Him with clean hands and a pure heart. (Prov.9:10; 3:5-6; Heb.11:6; Mt.22:37-39; Micah 6:8; Col.3:12-17; Ps.24:3-4). We can live holy lives only through His strength (Phil.4:13). As Christ made us holy (sanctified us (set us apart) and purified us)in salvation and He will give us all we need to be holy as we strive in all our conduct and manner of living to be holy. Anything that has been cleansed and made special by God is beautiful. Holiness is beautiful and we should worship God in that beauty (I Chr.16:29), so we should set aside as special, not ordinary, our worship time and our worship place (whenever and wherever that may be). We should come into that holy time and place with respect and honor to God, the One we have come to worship, whether we come individually or corporately (Ps.93:5; 96:9). Do we come together into that “sanctuary” with an attitude of worship and of focusing on the Almighty God and our Savior, Who has saved us and daily keeps us? Or do we come in a frivolous and worldly minded attitude more intent on visiting with friends rather than honoring and worshipping Him, the only One who is Holy and is worthy to be worshipped? He will not share His honor with anyone. Oh, may HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, be our watchword and song!

Easter Words - Death

Easter Words – “Death” “Death is swallowed up and utterly vanquished forever in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power upon the soul through the abuse of the Law. But thanks be to God, Who makes us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor.15:54b-57(Amp.). Jesus’ death on the cross, with all of its ramifications, was the most significant death in all of history. To a Christian there is no “grim reaper” in death, just angels to usher us into the Father’s presence, and to forever be with Him (Luke 16:22). There have been more books written about Jesus’ death, more sermons preached, more songs sung and more enactments than all commemorations ever given. Jesus’ death, and all it meant for the eternal salvation of all mankind who would believe in His shed blood, became the crux of the Christian faith and he crossroads for the Jews (Rom.1:16). Jesus’ death became the pivotal point which turned the “Law” to “Grace,” from sacrifice of a lamb to the eternal sacrifice of “The Lamb” (John 1:29). Jesus’ death meant we could live forever. It meant we are free from the curse and demands of the “Law.” Jesus’ death meant because of His going back to the Father He sent His Holy Spirit to live in and with us. Jesus’ death meant we can now live in the power, gifts and joys of His spiritual kingdom. To a Christian there is hope after death; hope of all the joys of heaven – no tears, no sickness, no sorrows, no disappointments, nor sin. And, just think, we will be forever with the Lord and those who have gone before us. So Death, where is your victory; for because of the power of the cross your victory has been swallowed up, and your sting has been healed? So why should those of us who are in Christ fear you? We should just give all praise to Jesus Who took the “sting” out of death for us! Face To Face (Carrie E. Breck) What rejoicing in His presence, when are banished grief and pain, When the crooked ways are straightened and the dark things shall be plain. Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; Face to face, in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!