Category: Devotionals

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11

There are actually 12 days until Christmas, and the familiar song about the partridge in the pear tree came to mind. As I pondered the words, I decided to rewrite them for me, so that I could keep my focus on the real reason for the season. That reason is Jesus! I have read other Christian versions of this song, but I have not read one that focuses entirely upon my Saviour. This is my own thoughts to countdown the 12 days of CHRISTmas!

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12 – When Jesus was 12 years old, He was publicly recognized to have spiritual authority through His teaching in the temple as recorded in Luke 2:42-47.

• “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” (Luke 2:47)

11 – Jesus had 11 faithful original disciples to take the gospel to the world after His betrayal.

• “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:12)

10 – There were 10 lepers that Jesus healed, but only 1 returned to thank Him as it is stated in Luke 17:12-18 .

• “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:” (Luke 17:12)

9 – Jesus died in the 9th hour. It is at this time that He cried out, “It is finished!” and gave up the ghost. He had paid the ultimate price for the sins of all of us.

• “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama
  sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

8- Jesus was brought to the temple 8 days after His birth and legally received His name.

• “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21)

7 – There are 7 recorded titles of Jesus in Hebrews.

• “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (1:2)
• “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (2:10)
• “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” (3:1)
• “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (5:9)
• “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (6:20)
• “And having an high priest over the house of God;” (10:21)
• “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (12:2)

6 – There were 6 wounds inflicted on Jesus at the crucifixion – 5 were while He was still living, and one was postmortem. There were 2 in His hands and 2 in His feet from the nails; one collective wound in His head from the crown of thorns, and one in His side from the soldier’s spear.

• “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

5 – Jesus used 5 loaves of bread in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 as it is written in Matthew 14:19-21.

• “And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” (Matthew 14:19)

4 – There are 4 books at the beginning of the New Testament that are known as the gospels. These four books present Jesus from a different perspective: Matthew, the king; Mark, the servant; Luke, the man; and John, the deity of Christ

3 – While there is only one God, yet He is three-in-one. This is known as the Trinity. Jesus is the 2nd person of the Trinity. The first is God the Father; the second is God the Son, and the third person of the Trinity is God the Holy Spirit.

• “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

2 – There are 2 main divisions of the Bible – the Old and New Testaments, both of which clearly point to Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of the World.

1 – There is only 1 Saviour of the world – Jesus!

• “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

These are my 12 days of my CHRISTmas! As I continue through this season, my focus will be upon my Saviour, remembering that the greatest gift God ever gave to mankind began with a promise in Genesis, a manifestation in Matthew and Luke, and a glorious appearing in the not-too-distant future!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

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What’s your focus this Christmas?

(photo courtesy of Vicki Mansell)

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It’s that special time of year when we are supposed to reflect on the things for which we are grateful. Many of us could write a long list about the things we are truly thankful for… family, friends, health… the list goes on and on.
Yet, for many people Thanksgiving is more about stuffing your face with food, watching football, and relaxing. Now I’m all in favor of the turkey and pumpkin pie, but this Thanksgiving season, I plan to dig a little deeper and really focus on giving thanks for what’s really important.

For many, this was a year marked by pain. Some people lost jobs. Some people said a final goodbye to loved ones. Some people faced terminal illnesses. Some people struggled to make ends meet. So how do we summon an attitude of thanksgiving?

The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Paul didn’t write that we were to give thanks FOR every thing, but that IN every things, we were to give thanks. As a Christian, I should thank God that He is with me and will see me through any and every situation. Why? Because as this verse reminds me, “…it is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”… to give thanks.

While I can list many blessings from God, I can also list many times of hardship, heartbreak, and disillusionment. If you are a Christian, God is always with you. We know that because His Word tells us so. I  must confess that in times past, there have been occasions where I didn’t even remember God was there, but He was…and continues to be, and for that, I am very grateful. Even in the hard times when I didn’t feel His presence, He was faithful to be there.

When my parents divorced, God was with me. When I waved goodbye to my daughter as she left to go to a college 3000 miles away, God was with me. He was with me in every radiation and chemotherapy session during my battle with cancer. He was with me when I was told there a chance my 4-day-old son would not survive an illness. He was there when I said goodbye to my mother as she went to her heavenly home, and He was with me when I held my father’s hand as he slipped into eternity. Through it all, good or bad, God was there, and I give thanks that He was because I never would have made it through those times without Him.

Was I thankful that all these things happened? Not really… but I was thankful that God was with me through them all. He gave me strength when I was weak; He comforted me when I was in despair; He calmed me when I was afraid. Through each one, God was with me.

Matthew 28:20 records Jesus’ words to His followers. “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” In my darkest moments, He is with me; in my times of joy, He is with me. There never is a moment when Jesus is not with me. He is faithful to His Word. This Thanksgiving season, I remember that God is with me always, and everything is under His control. For that, I am very thankful.

Psalm 106:1 says “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” The phrase “Give thanks unto the Lord for His mercy endureth forever” occurs over and over again in the Bible. In Psalm 136, that phrase is repeated in 26 verses! Each verse in that chapter! What does it mean? What is this mercy that lasts forever?
According to the dictionary, mercy means “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”

God’s mercy is forever. He withholds the punishment that I deserve… forever. And that is the greatest thing for which I am most thankful. I deserve nothing from God. Absolutely nothing. None of us do. But in spite of our unworthiness, in spite of the sin in our life, in spite of our pride, God still loves us. John 3:16 is a verse with which many people are familiar. It reads, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In 1968, God’s Holy Spirit revealed to me who I really was. A sinner. One who was an enemy of God, but when He revealed my sinful state to me, He also showed me His incredible plan of redemption. He showed me how I could be reconciled to Him, and it really was nothing that I could do… only God could accomplish it, and He did it all! He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to suffer and die on an old rugged cross for me. Jesus died to take the punishment I deserved for my sin. But the glorious part is that He didn’t remain in the grave! Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God’s Son! Now the risen Saviour of the world, Jesus was ready to forgive anyone of their sins and be welcomed into God’s family if they but seek Him and ask. That’s God’s mercy that endureth forever. I deserved the punishment, but God withheld it from me and replaced with with compassion and forgiveness. Why? Because He loves me. Jeremiah 31:3 states that God loves me “…with an everlasting love.”

This Thanksgiving season, I am so grateful for God’s mercy that endureth forever.
My salvation didn’t come because I went to church or did good deeds. It wasn’t because I donated money to charities or even because I read the Bible. It was because I chose to believe what God said in His Word, and I accepted it by asking Jesus to forgive me and become my Saviour. Once I did that, I became a child of God’s, and I have the assurance that one day I’m going to live forever with Him in heaven because of His great love for me!

The challenge for all of us is to remember who God is and what He has done for us. Life may get hard at times… it happens… but it all falls under God’s sovereign will. And because of that, we can give thanks in all things because His love and His mercy endureth forever! So this Thanksgiving season, I am most thankful for God, who loves me, saved me, and is with me every single moment of every single day of my life. Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(from “Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul” by Seth and Bessie Sykes)

“So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.”- Psalm 79:13

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For what are you grateful to God for today?

“With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.” – Job 12:12

When retirement loomed before me, I wondered what I would be doing to occupy those 8-10 hours that previously had been filled with teaching and all that goes along with that particular career. I thought I would have endless hours of idleness, but nothing has been farther from the truth. My days are busy with homeschooling grandchildren, running a health and wellness business, and writing. In fact, there are times when I wonder how I will find the time to do all the things I have planned in a day!

I did discover that with retirement comes revelation. Mine was realizing that I was replaceable! When I retired from teaching middle school, there was no void left in my absence. Instead, my vacancy was filled by a younger, more energetic teacher, who was eager to take up where I left off. Aaugh! My pride took a direct hit! But I managed to shake that off. My life was not over, but sadly, that revelation sometimes takes roots in the minds of the elderly.

Sometimes the retirement mindset of replacement invades our thoughts when it comes to serving God. Maybe you no longer have the energy to teach a Sunday school class or you struggle to drive at night, so you no longer attend some of the social functions of the church. Perhaps you live in a retirement home where you cannot always attend your home church or even get out and about on your own. What can you possibly do for the Lord?

I have great news!! God doesn’t use age as a qualifier for service! Here are three examples from the Scriptures of how God used the elderly.

• “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” – Genesis 17:17
  1. Sarah was 90 years old when she gave birth to Isaac, the son God promised to Abraham, who was 100 years old at that time.
• “And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.” – Genesis 7:6
  1. Noah was 600 years old during the time period that God flooded the earth, and then Noah had the responsibility of reestablishing humankind on the planet.
• “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” – Luke 17:36-37
  1. Anna served in the Lord’s temple when she was more than 80 years old along with Simeon, who was also an elderly servant of the Lord.

So practically speaking, what can an older individual do for the Lord? Plenty!

• Pray – Any person can pray! The Bible instructs us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and age is not an excuse to stop praying in your life. There are no restrictions to prayer… position doesn’t matter; time of day is irrelevant; the place is not a factor in prayer, and most importantly, age is not factor! Prayer can be done anytime, anyplace, and by anyone of any age! That includes the elderly, so you can most certainly be a prayer warrior for Jesus!
• Witness – Age is not important when it comes to sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ with those who are lost in their sins. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) We are all called to be witnesses of God’s “good news,” and we can do it anywhere… over tea with a friend, through a card or letter, with a phone call, or even by a text message!
• Teach – There is no age limit on teaching. In fact, being older gives us more knowledge and experience than the younger generations. Teaching about the Lord doesn’t have to done in a formal classroom setting either. We can teach others about the Lord wherever we happen to be… at the beach, at home, in the grocery store… whenever God’s Holy Spirit prompts us to teach His Word to someone, we should be ready and willing to do so! “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.” (Deuteronomy 32:7)

The Bible never tells us that there will come a time during our life when we can retire from doing the work of the Lord. Instead, we are instructed to continue His work for our entire lives as is evidence by the writings of the apostle Paul. No matter our age, our work is never in vain when it is God-centered.

• “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” -1 Corinthians 15:58
• “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” – Colossians 3:23
• “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” – Philippians 2:16

Our usefulness to God doesn’t end when we hit the magic age of 65 or 70. It doesn’t end until He takes us home through death or the Rapture. Until then, it is important to continue the work to which He has called us. Then one sweet day, we will hopefully hear Him say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21)

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou forever near me,
My Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.

(from “O Jesus, I Have Promised” by John Ernest Bode)

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” – Hebrews 6:10

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“Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.” -St. Francis de Sales

“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 24:6

The picture above shows me with a group of my favorite people… my health coach friends! Our responsibilities include teaching and guiding individuals in their personal health journeys, attending workshops and meetings to keep our knowledge current in the fields of health and nutrition, and of course, maintaining optimal health for ourselves. Studies have shown that when it comes to weight loss, being accountable to another person increases the changes of successful and permanent weight loss, and having a health coach is a proven part of our program. Health coaching is a wonderful career, and I love the joy I see in my clients when they reach a particular goal in their health journey!

Many of the skills I have learned in my physical health journey transfer over into my spiritual life. The same strategies I use to keep my weight under control, I use to keep myself fit spiritually. Here are a few of those comparisons.

One of the most important components in my physical health journey is my Habits of Health Lifebook that has invaluable information designed to keep me focused on my goals and provide ways to achieve them.  The concepts within the book are to be practiced daily for the best results, but if I don’t ever read it, it is worthless simply sitting on my desk. I must make a diligent effort to read it and put its strategies into practice.

Likewise, I have a lifebook for my spiritual health journey. It is, of course, the Bible, and it is full of the godly guidelines I should follow if I am striving for a healthy spiritual life. There is no situation in life in which I cannot find guidance within the pages of God’s Word, but like my health book, I have to read and study the Bible daily to receive the greatest benefits from it. If I only open my Bible on Sunday mornings when I am at church, I will be lacking greatly in the instruction it has to offer me for living a life pleasing to the Lord. Psalm 119:111 states, “Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart,” and earlier in the same chapter in verse 28, the Bible says, “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” His Word is life to me! It has led me down His paths of righteousness to salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ; it has provided structure and teachings that carry me through this life, and it leads me toward a promised eternity with God forever!

Another important part of my health program are the strategies I learn to help me achieve my goals. One strategy I use is the “stop-challenge-choose” strategy. When facing a situation where I am tempted to go off my nutritional plan, I am to stop and consider the outcome of my choices. I challenge myself by asking what would happen if I do eat something or if I don’t eat it. Based on that, I then choose my course of action. That is exactly what I must do when confronted with sin.

When my spiritual life is threatened, and I am tempted to do something that is contrary to the will of God, I need to stop and consider the outcome of my actions. Is it pleasing to God, or does it go against what the Scriptures teach? God promises in His Word that He will ALWAYS provide a way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” As in my physical journey, the choices in my spiritual journey are mine to make, and I need to choose wisely. Therefore, I must consider, “What would the Lord have me do in this situation?” It then becomes clearer as to what choice would be the wise one for me to make.

The third aspect of my physical journey is to surround myself with like-minded individuals who will support and encourage me. I have a wonderful group of fellow coaches with whom I can share my struggles, ask questions, and lean on in times of crises. They are such an encouragement to me! The same must be true in my spiritual life. 2 Corinthians 6:14 cautions me, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” I must carefully choose with whom I will consistently associate myself. When I spend time with my Christian brothers and sisters, I am encouraged, uplifted, and supported in my journey of faith! It is a blessing beyond words.

Lastly, as Proverbs 24:6 states, I should surround myself with wise counsellors in both journeys. Physically, I have my personal health coach, plus a multitude of other coaches who have walked these steps before me and have great wisdom when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. As I glean from them, then I am able to share this information with the clients and coaches with whom I work, thus paying it forward and blessings all parties.. me included!

Likewise, spiritually, I must also surround myself with those who are mature and wise in the faith. There are so many that lead by example, and to watch and listen to these people is like reaching into a treasure trove full of heavenly riches! I become stronger in my own faith as I see them live their own faith out loud, and it helps me grow in my own Christian walk as I strive to follow in the footsteps of Christ, my Saviour.

These are just a few of the many parallels between my physical health journey and my spiritual health journey. I am excited to be on both! Is it easy? Not always, but in this life I have a “multitude of counsellors” that keep me safely on track. I have the “wise counsel” of the Word of God that equips me for the battles in my life, and I have the greatest heavenly coach ever… the Lord Jesus Christ! When I am fully clad in His armor, I am able to stand in His strength to face my enemies…no matter if they are physical or spiritual! Praise the Lord!

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

(from “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” by William Williams)

“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” – Psalm 73:24

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Having Jesus as my coach has eternal benefits and everlasting results!

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” – 2 Peter 1:4

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch?” It means to be cautious about expectations and not depend on them happening because they may not come to fruition.

I remember a holiday movie in which the main character was so confident that he would receive a huge amount of money as an end-of-year bonus (as he had in previous years) that he purchased an in-ground pool for his family. When he received the notification of his bonus, it turned out to be a membership in a “jelly-of-the-month” club! He was so angry by this, and additionally he also had to face the daunting task of finding a way to pay for his extravagant purchase. He clearly “counted his chickens before they had hatched!”

Probably most of us can remember a time when we also counted our chickens before they hatched. Maybe you expected an invitation to a certain event by a special someone, and he or she chose to attend with someone else. Maybe you counted on getting a raise at work, and it never materialized. Maybe you were confident that a loved one would receive a clean bill of health, but the doctor’s report was bad news. These are all examples of counting one’s chickens before they have hatched.

However, Christians can count their chickens before they hatch! We can do so because every promise that God has made, He will keep. He has a perfect track record in keeping His word. Here are just a few promises that He has already fulfilled.

• God promised Abraham a son. “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.” – Genesis 18:10
• God promised He would never again destroy the world with a flood. “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” – Genesis 9:15
• God promised Israel the land. “And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.” – Joshua 21:43
• God promised to feed Elijah. “And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.” – 1 Kings 17:4
• God promised David that his son would build the temple. “And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.” – 1 Chronicles 28:6
• God promised to send His Son. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

There are many more promises in the Bible that God has already fulfilled. Because of His faithfulness in these promises, we can depend upon God to keep His word with all the other promises He has made in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Depending upon God to do exactly what He has said He will do is not risk-taking for Christians. It is a certainty! Here are a few examples that we can definitely count on!

• God promises to hear my prayers. “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” – Proverbs 15:29
• God promises to help me. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
• God promises to always be with me. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
• God promises to help me escape temptations. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
• God promises to forgive me. “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
• God promises me eternal life with Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
• God promises He will come again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:3
• God promises that He will be faithful to keep His word. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” – Hebrews 10:23

So, as Christians, we CAN count our chickens before they hatch! Praise the Lord!

Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

(from “Standing on the Promises” by Russell Kelso Carter)

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1

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Trusting God is as easy as 1, 2, 3… you can count on His promises!

“And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”  Isaiah 58:11

I haven’t had a garden for a couple of years, but this year I decided to get back into it. My first challenge was ridding the plots of weeds! They have been enjoying the fertile ground for a couple of years, and now I had the not-too-enjoyable task of pulling them out in order to prepare the soil for planting. Not the most fun part of gardening, but definitely vital to a successful harvest in the future.

My next task was making sure the soil would support my plants. To do this, I had to add nutrients back into the soil since the weeds had pretty much depleted my plots of anything that would provide any kind of nourishment for my plants. Mixing and turning over soil is another one of those not-much-fun tasks that must be done to guarantee the healthy growth of my future vegetables. Once this was finally finished, it was time to plant.

I dug the holes, planted both seeds and seedlings, and thoroughly watered them. Time to sit back and wait for my bounty? No, not at all! In order for my garden to grow, I have to water the seeds and plants daily, inspect for new weeds encroaching on my young sprouts, pull those unwanted weeds out and discard them. This is an ongoing responsibility for me. If I forget to water, my plants begin to wilt. If I forget to weed, they threaten to take over my plots. It is a never-ending battle, but my persistence will pay off because I know what the future holds.

My vegetable garden is a lot like my spiritual life. Prior to my salvation… the time when I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ… I was like the weed-covered plots of my garden. The weeds were analogous to the sin that was in my life. 1 John 1:8 states, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  Those weeds had to be removed before I could begin to live. That was accomplished by the work of Jesus through His death, burial, and resurrection. When I accepted His forgiveness of my sins and trusted Him as my Saviour,  the weeds of sin were pulled out! “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)

Next, my life had to be prepared in order for me to grow. Like the nutrients I added to my garden to make the soil rich and fertile, the Word of God has to be cultivated in my heart and life to enable me to grow in my faith. 2 Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The more I study the Scriptures, the deeper and richer my relationship with God becomes. However, as I start to “sprout” spiritually, the weeds of sin begin to creep in, threatening to destroy my Christian growth. How do I combat this? By daily watering my life with prayer, studying my Bible, and fellowshiping with other believers. Through these activities, the sinful weeds of the world are pulled out and discarded, but if I forget to “water” my spiritual garden every day, the weeds of sin will quickly overtake me! I will begin to wilt in my faith, and I will yield no spiritual fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). I must be faithful to tend my spiritual garden just as I must be faithful in caring for my vegetable garden.

Eventually, both gardens will yield their harvest. One will provide a bounty of vegetables, while the other will provide a harvest of souls. Romans 6:22 promises, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” As I serve God with my life, He may use me to plants seeds or water them or to help pull weeds. Whatever task He gives me, I am excited about what the future will bring for I know there will be a magnificent harvest!

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

(from “In the Garden” by Charles A. Miles)

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:38

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How will the harvest be that will come forth from your garden?

(photo courtesy of John Lawson)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

There has been a lot of talk lately about the “end times.” This is usually in reference to the “Great Tribulation,” “the rise of the anti-Christ,” or the “second coming of Christ.” Regardless of which of these events are the focus of the “end times,” there is a wonderful event that precedes all of these. That is the Rapture of the church.  This is the moment when Jesus descends from heaven and calls all those who have trusted Him as their Saviour to return with Him to heaven. Sadly, many will be left behind.

Shortly after this event, the anti-Christ will come on the scene, beginning a 7-year period of God’s judgment on mankind for their rejection of His Son. This time of “Great Tribulation” is associated with the “mark of the Beast”, a cashless system, a one world economy, a one-world church, and total government dependency/control… this list could go on. This period of time will also bring horrific events upon the earth that the Bible foretells. No one can comprehend how truly bad it will be until it actually happens.

When will this happen? Jesus said that no one knows the exact time this will happen. Matthew 26:46 states, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” However, we can see the signs all around us of the imminent coming of the Rapture and the Tribulation to follow. If we take a look at history, there is no time when the government has ordered us to stay in our homes and to trust and rely completely on the them. Yet, since covid, we have seen this happen, lasting now more than a year in many places across our land. The pandemic has also resulted in schools closing, small businesses failing, isolation of individuals, disrespect of law enforcement, and churches being fined for keeping their doors open. How will it be before the “end times” that the Bible promises will occur, come?

Without God, it will be frightening, confusing, and hopeless. Without God, it will be a dark time, bringing tremendous insecurity, inconsolable despondency, and a deep abiding fear… even more so than what we have experienced with the continuing restrictions imposed from the coronavirus.

However, it won’t be a concern for the children of God. Why? Because prior to this 7-year period of judgement, Jesus will descend from the clouds to take all who have believed in Him home to heaven for all eternity. (It will be interesting to see how the media and ruling leaders explain the disappearance of so many people. I will never know that because I will not be here.)

While Satan is preparing people for the arrival of the anti-Christ, God is preparing people for the return of Christ.  No one knows when the Rapture will take place, but there is not one single Biblical prophecy left to be fulfilled before Jesus comes. I do believe it will be soon, and I KNOW without a doubt that I won’t be left behind when the trump of God sounds!

Right now, God is continuing to give mankind the opportunity to repent. The Bibles states in 2 Peter 5:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  This reminds us that while it seems like the Rapture and Tribulation may never happen, it will. God always keeps His Word. He is waiting in order for everyone to have the opportunity to repent and come to Him through His Son, Jesus. In order for repentance to happen, people must hear the gospel – the good news the Jesus died and shed His precious blood as an atonement for sin, then rose from the dead, which proved He truly was the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. Only through Him, can anyone attain eternal life with God in heaven.

I know I am going to heaven one day because I have a time in my life when I made the choice to believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only true Lord and Saviour. I believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. I believe that He left heaven and came to earth as a baby born of a virgin. I believe He lived a sinless life, and that He died on the cross, shedding His blood, to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. I believe He rose from the dead on the third day, and He is in currently in heaven preparing a place for all those who believe and trust Him as their Saviour.

He loves us all dearly (far more than we deserve) and is ready to forgive us when we seek His divine forgiveness. The Bible states in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Additionally, Romans 10:13 states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus is the only way to eternal life in heaven.

Sadly, many will be left behind at the Rapture. The Bible warns us in Matthew 10:33,  “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which art in heaven.” These individuals will be the ones who will experience the “end times,” the “Great Tribulation” of God’s judgment upon the world, and ultimate separation from God for all eternity. What can be done about this?

Those who have never accepted Christ’s free gift of forgiveness of sins… who have never chosen Him to be their Saviour can do so today! What does it take to accept God’s free gift of salvation? Simply Admit you are a sinner in need of a Saviour. Believe that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, so that He, as the Saviour, could offer you forgiveness of your sins once and for all. Then pray and ask Him to forgive you! Choosing Him to be the Lord of your life is as easy as A-B-C! There are no other requirements… not baptism, not communion, not doing good works. Nothing will save you except calling upon Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and become your Saviour. He said in John 14:6 “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There is no other way but through Jesus. No one has sinned so badly that He will not forgive them. He waits with open arms for you to come to Him.

If you’ve never called upon Christ to forgive your sins and become your Saviour, or if you’re not sure you ever have, there’s no better time than today! “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come

(from “Just As I Am” by Charlotte Elliott & William Bradbury)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

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Do you know someone who doesn’t know Christ as their Saviour? Please don’t wait! Share the good news with them! The Bible tells us that Jesus will come, and it could be today!

(photo by Samantha Campbell)

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” – John 14:1

We live in a constantly changing world. Just about anything you can think of is apt to change at a moment’s notice. The weather, world governments, current fads… you name it! This continual change often generates fear. In our mind’s eye, we look forward in time and wonder, “What’s next?”  Will the stock market crash? Will a certain disease bring about global ruin? Will a particular country go to war with another? Will a new Ice Age come? Will we ever have peace in our land?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could answer with certainty the question “What’s next?” Well, we can. While many people speculate as to what will happen in the future, there is one way, and frankly, only one way, to know with certainty what will occur. The answer is found within the pages of the Bible.

While the Bible is considered by many to be solely a book of history or literature, to many others, it is the true Word of God. Within its pages are many prophecies that have come to pass. It is in the fulfillment of these prophecies that lead to the ability to answer the question, “What’s next?”

Historically, Biblical prophecies have been authenticated by the actual events transpiring as predicted. The rise and fall of empires, the destruction of Jerusalem, the coming of Jesus… these have all validated the accuracy of Biblical prophecy. So, what really is next?

Without a doubt, the next event on God’s calendar is the return of Christ for the Church. This refers to the time when Jesus, God’s Son, will “…descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

How do I really know this will happen? I know because every prophecy in the Bible that has to occur before Jesus comes back has been fulfilled.

The unfortunate thing about this is that only a few will actually hear the shout and the trump of God. Only a few will return with Jesus to heaven. The rest will remain, probably unable to explain the disappearance of the Christians, or the reason for the disappearance will be fabricated, and this deception will be completely accepted by those that continue their lives on earth. Again, this is the next prophetic event to be fulfilled. Every single prophecy that needs to be fulfilled prior to the return of Jesus has already happened.

Is there a way to guarantee you will be one of those who hears the shout and the trump of God? Yes, there is! Here is part of a message that my pastor, Rev. Tim Campbell, shared with us, and it clearly explains why Jesus is the only way to secure your place in heaven with God for all eternity.

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“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1:20-22)

About this time over 2000 years ago, our Saviour’s body lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. Joseph and Nicodemus had performed the funeral of Jesus privately preparing him for internment. His body was beaten, bruised, shredded by the scourge, pierced by nails, bloody and almost unrecognizable. What cruelty had taken place on the day of crucifixion at the hands of the Roman executioners. Yet, in that awful scene, God the Son begged His Heavenly Father to forgive them for they did not know what they were doing – but He did! All this seemed tragic to the human heart, but Jesus Christ had come for this hour and this event. Isaiah had written this down in the eternal Word! “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

The Blood of the cross was precious – that means there was none other like it. Its chemistry was perfect, for it could wash away sins forever! Its compass is powerful – it can wash away sins of the whole world. It is compassion – this Blood could wash away the sins because of the Grace of God for the worst of sinners, and its cause – the Blood of Christ could make peace between God and man forever on the singular merits of the Saviour who shed that blood for us.

This world is looking for peace in all the wrong places. People need to come to the cross and see that the blood of Christ is the remedy for sin and the key to peace. When we stand before God, now and in eternity, it will be that peace from that blood that will present us unblameable and unreprovable before God. Oh, what a Saviour!

This is salvation! What a wonderful gift from God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Hallelujah, what a Saviour! Jesus, our risen Saviour loves us so much that He offers, with open arms, forgiveness and everlasting life, but anyone who knows anything about the Bible must acknowledge that this gift came at an incredible price. God gave us His only begotten Son as the Lamb of God to die on the cross for our sins. Nothing that men can ever do will merit that gift nor purchase peace with God and eternal life.

As we read Romans 10:9, consider the word, “if.” It is a very important conditional conjunction used in the Bible. I call it the hinge word upon which the door of opportunity swings open. This little word is vital to us obtaining salvation. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” If, and only if, we call on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior will we be saved. When a person meets that condition of calling on the Lord for salvation, the door swings wide to the blessed life of the redeemed.”

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

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How does one be “born again”? How does a person call on the Lord for salvation? It is as easy as A-B-C.

A – Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” You must ADMIT or ACKNOWLEDGE that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness.

B – Acts 16:31 states, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” You must BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God, whom the Father sent to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14), died on the cross, shedding His precious blood, to take the punishment for your sins, and that He rose on the 3^rd day victorious over death and sin forever, proving that He is the Son of God, and He alone has the power to forgive your sins.

C – Romans 10:9 states, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Lastly, you must CHOOSE Jesus to be your Saviour. This is a personal time of prayer between you and Jesus when you simply share what is on your heart, telling Him exactly what you believe, asking Him to forgive you and become the Lord of your life.

That’s it! Once you accept the forgiveness that Christ offers, you become part of God’s eternal family, and you are promised eternal life in heaven with Him.

I was guilty with nothing to say
And they were coming to take me away
When a voice from Heaven was heard that said
“Let him go and take Me instead”
 
Oh I should have been crucified
And I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace
But Jesus, God’s Son, took my place

(from “I Should Have Been Crucified” by Gordon Jensen)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

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One day, that trumpet will sound. Perhaps, today?

Every now and then, I have the opportunity to share a devotion by another writer. This devotion was written by my friend, Barb Depew. With the exception of the verses, italicized text has been added by me. I hope you are blessed by this devotion as much as I was!

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The TP’s of Fellowship

T – Tribe

A teepee has an outer layer, traditionally made of animal skins.  Your tribe is like the covering, the enclosure that is all around you.  Therefore, your tribe is likened unto your church family for they cover you.

1. In prayer
   1. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16
   2. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” – Ephesians 6:18
2. In edification (building up)
   1. “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith on may edify another.” – Romans 14:19
3. In admonition (correcting in love)
   1. “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” – Romans 15:14
   2. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” – Colossians 3:16

P – Peeps

A teepee is supported by the sticks within it. Your peeps are your close friends.  The ones you go to for instruction, for guidance, those you hang out with, that you teach, that help you in times of trouble and who you help when they have a need.  These are like the 3 close companions that Jesus had here on earth – Peter, James and John.  He spent extra time with them and entrusted them with his heart, mind, and time.

1. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17
2. “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17

S – Soulmate

A teepee is bound together by ropes. Like the rope that binds the teepee together, God binds us all as one in Him through His sufferings, His Word, His love, and His Holy Spirit.  Every believer has a soulmate. Not only the married people, but all believers.  Our soulmate is the Lord God Almighty.  The closer we draw to Him, the tighter He binds us to one another and strengthens our hearts to Him.

1. “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God…” – I Chronicles 22:19
2. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” – Psalms 42:1

Are you building your teepee?  Is there an area that is lacking? One that may need strengthening?  Find your tribe, your peeps, your soulmate, and cling to them.  Start today and choose to adorn your teepee with love, goodness, kindness, and praise.

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You will notice we say brother and sister ’round here
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

(from “The Family of God” by Bill & Gloria Gaither)