Writing On Eagles Wings

“And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” – Mark 16:6

Easter 2022 was such a joyous day! Many families gathered together for a special meal, while children often hunted for colorfully dyed eyes to put in their Easter baskets. Additionally, many people started their Easter with a time of celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in their churches. Worshippers filled the air with songs like “Because He Lives” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” while pastors shared the good news of the risen Christ.

But now it is Monday, and the excitement of Easter is over. How are you doing today? Our pastor preached a message about living a “resurrected” life, and used a very familiar story from the Scriptures to explain. Let’s take a step back in time and “see” the events of John 11. This is the Biblical account of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus was the beloved brother of Mary and Martha, and he had been very sick when Jesus was summoned by the sisters to come restore Lazarus to health. However, by the time Jesus had arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. John records the conversations between Jesus and Lazarus’ sisters before  the Lord finally commanded Lazarus to come forth from the tomb. What a glorious moment that must have been for everyone, including Lazarus!!

I wonder how Lazarus might have lived after being resurrected by Jesus. Do you think he went back to doing the same old things he did before he became sick? Or do you think maybe that brief glimpse of paradise radically changed how he lived his life after being called forth from the tomb? Did he live a “resurrected” life after understanding the reality of all that Jesus had ever shared with him?

I have to agree with my pastor. I believe Lazarus’ entire point of view about death took a dramatic turn after he returned to the world of the living. Of course, the Bible doesn’t expound upon what Lazarus thought or did after he was raised from the dead, but I imagine he wasn’t the same man as he was before his sickness and death.

It is highly likely that Lazarus no longer feared dying because he knew what was coming! I believe he told his sisters all about his experiences in the “after life.” In fact, I believe he told everybody that crossed his path about the glories he had witnessed! His previous work, whatever that may have been, no longer was the first priority in his life. Instead, I believe he focused on spiritual things… eternal things… and shared that message with his friends and acquaintances. After all, he wouldn’t want anyone he cared about to miss what he had seen firsthand simply because they hadn’t heard about Jesus. Being resurrected surely must have had a profound effect on him! I believe he was emboldened to share what Jesus had done for him without any reservation at all!

What about Mary and Martha? How were their lives impacted by their brother’s resurrection? I am sure they were amazed and overjoyed, and like Lazarus, they must have told everyone they knew what had happened! If they could have, they probably would have been shouting it from the rooftops!! While they hadn’t witnessed what Lazarus had seen, they were eyewitnesses to his resurrection! What an amazing testimony those two ladies must have had, and I believe no one would have been able to keep them quiet about the miracle they had seen at their brother’s tomb.

Fast forward to today once more. What are your thoughts about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it real to you? Real enough to share with others? Real enough to shout it from the rooftops?

Real enough to live a resurrected life?

Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign
He arose! (He arose)
He arose! (He arose)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(from “Christ Arose” by Robert Lowry)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” – John 11:25

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If you know your Redeemer liveth, as Job proclaimed (Job 19:25), share it with someone today!

 

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:8

(Please note: Parts of this blog is graphic in its descriptions of the events leading up to and including the crucifixion of Christ.)

The week before Easter is often referred to as “Passion” week. This is the week that began with Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey while onlookers cried “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21:9) Less than one week later,  Jesus would hear the words “Crucify Him!” shouted by the same people who had earlier praised Him as their king.

We often think of the word “passion” as a strong feeling, but the word actually comes from the Latin word “pati”, which means “to suffer.” Many people are aware of some of the events that happened to Jesus in the week prior to His crucifixion, but a true understanding of His suffering is difficult to grasp.

Physically, Jesus endured a brutal beating by Roman soldiers at Pilate’s command. Typically, this is done with a short whip called a flagrum. It is composed of three knotted leather strips with pieces of metal or bone intertwined. Sometimes, metal hooks were attached to the ends of the strips to dig into the flesh when dragged across the back. Initially, the whipping would remove layers of the skin exposing the muscle tissues below. As the beating continued, excessive blood loss would ensue and often the victims would die from this form of punishment. If the criminal was sentenced to crucifixion, the centurion in charge was responsible to halt the beating before death occurred. Isaiah 53:5 prophesied, “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.”

Roman soldiers also placed a crown of thorns on the head of Jesus. These long sharp thorns penetrated deeply into Jesus’ scalp, causing more bleeding and potential nerve damage, which induced great facial and neck pain. Matthew 27:29 states, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”

Jesus was also forced to carry the crossbeam of His cross to the actual site of the crucifixion. This huge piece of timber was roughly placed on the shoulders of Jesus, and with each step, He struggled to walk the road to Calvary as the wood ripped through even more of His already shredded back. The 75-125 lb weight of the beam was staggering for Him to carry as He was extremely weakened by the massive loss of blood and intense pain. In fact, the Bible records that the Roman soldiers compelled another man to help carry the beam for Jesus. (Luke 23:26).

Lastly, crucifixion was the Roman form of capital punishment, although it was not invented by them. Those sentenced to die by this method were secured to the cross with nails that were approximately 7-9 inches in length. The wrists are the most likely place that the nails were driven to hold the upper body to the cross itself, while the feet were also secured with these blunt-tipped iron nails. Suspension on the cross would dislocate the shoulders, once again causing intense pain in the arms. In order to draw a breath, Jesus would need to push Himself upward to allow His lungs to inflate, and with each effort made to breathe, wounds on His back would reopen as they scraped along the wood of the cross. Death comes as a result of suffocation when the victim could no longer push himself up to breathe.

In addition to the physical suffering of Jesus, He suffered emotionally. He endured the betrayal of His followers, the mocking from the crowd, the humiliation of the cross, and the separation from His Father for the first time in all eternity. The Bible records Jesus crying out to His heavenly Father in agony. “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)

Why did Jesus go through all of this? He did it because of His “passion” for us. In this usage, “passion” refers to a strong emotional desire, nearly uncontrollable. God has an intense “passion” for His creation. Each person on this planet who has ever lived, or ever will live, is one whom God loves passionately. Genesis records that God chose to create man differently than the rest of His creation, and that He personally, “… breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” We were not created with the animals; we were a special creation. God wanted an intimate relationship with us, but once sin entered the world, it was impossible for God to abide with mankind due to His holiness.

In order to restore this relationship, God sacrificed His only Son, Jesus Christ, on that old rugged cross to become the atonement for the sins of all humanity.  When Jesus rose on that 3rd day after His death, He proved He was the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Through His death and resurrection, God provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him. When we realize that we are sinners in need of a Saviour, we can accept Jesus for who He is and ask Him to forgive us. It is then that our relationship with God is restored, and we are promised an eternity with Him in heaven. The Bible tells us, “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)

That’s the reason for the “Passion” week.

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain;
Tell of the grave where they laid Him, tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see;
Stay, let me weep while you whisper, “Love paid the ransom for me.”

Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.

(from “Tell Me the Story of Jesus” by Fanny Crosby)

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” – John 10:11

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As you celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, never forget the “passion” of our Saviour.

 

Matthew 28:6 “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

With Easter just a few weeks away, stores have filled their shelves with plastic eggs, stuffed bunnies and ducks, and lots of sugary candies. The truth of Easter, however, actually lies in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross and miraculous triumph over sin and death (evidenced by His resurrection), our lives have a God-given purpose and promise for now and the future. This Easter, rejoice in the truth: Jesus is ALIVE!

Jesus’ death and resurrection offers “a new and living way!” (Hebrews 10:20) through the precious gift of salvation that only He can offer. Here is what the God of all creation offers through His beloved Son.

God offers a way to reconcile every person to Him, our Creator.

• John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
• Acts 4:12– “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
• Jesus gave us  the opportunity to restore a relationship with God. In Jeremiah 31:3, God proclaims that He loves us with an everlasting love, and that love was manifested in the most unbelievable way when God the Father sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, on that Roman cross. It is only through the belief in Jesus Christ and the acceptance of His work on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins will we be reconciled to our Creator. There is nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven. Putting your faith in anything or anyone else… will fail. Jesus told us that He is the only way.

God offers liberty to all who accept Jesus as their personal Saviour.

• 2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
• Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
• Christian liberty is not a license to sin. Instead, we have liberty or freedom from the penalty of sin by faith in Jesus Christ as stated in Romans 6:23. We are liberated from the bondage of sin. Second, Romans 6 reminds us that we “should not serve sin.” Sin is no longer our master. Instead, we serve a risen Saviour! Lastly, we also have liberty from the cultural opinions of man as to what is right and wrong. We are to walk “after the Spirit“, following the truths in God’s Word over the so-called truths of the world.

God offers a transformed life for us in Christ.

• Hebrews 10:20 – “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;”
• Romans 12:2 – “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
• A relationship with Jesus changes how we think and act. We are transformed completely by the power of God!  The Holy Spirit renews our minds, changing our carnal way of life for a spiritual way of living. We can thus live a God-centered life with a God-centered purpose, honoring Him in all we think, say, and do.

God offers  empowerment in our daily lives through His Holy Spirit.

• Romans 8:11– “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 – “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
• When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, in addition to forgiveness of sin, we become recipients of the promise that He will never leave us (Matthew 28:20).  To fulfill that promise, He gave us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, making us His temple. No matter where we go or what we do, the Holy Spirit of God is with us – helping, guiding, convicting, providing ways to avoid sin, empowering us to witness and serve God and more… every moment of every day! The power of the Almighty God is within each person who has accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour!

God offers the way to have victory in our lives.

• 1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Because of our relationship with Christ, we have the ability to live victorious lives in a sin-cursed world. Will we have troubles? Yes. Will we have times of discouragement, fear, and even doubt? Yes. This rather bleak list goes on, but we do not have to fear any of it because we have been promised the strength of Christ (Phil. 4:13), the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), and the security of our God to give us the victory (1 John 5:4) in any circumstance or situation. There is true and eternal victory through a personal relationship with Jesus!

God offers us everlasting life in heaven.

• John 14:1-3 – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. I n my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
• 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.”
• We never need to fear dead or hell. With Jesus as our Saviour, we are promised a heavenly home! At this very moment, Jesus is preparing a place for us to live with Him forever. And He promised He would come again to receive us unto Him so that where Jesus is, we will also be!

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

(from “Victory in Jesus” by Eugene Bartlett)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”- John 11:25

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How will you celebrate Easter this year?

 

 

 

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13

I have a cause and effect religion. Cause and effect? What does that mean? When something occurs that triggers another event, that is termed ‘cause and effect.’ I have read lots of verses that describe my cause and effect relationship with God. Here are a few examples.

Proverbs 3:6 – “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

• Cause: Acknowledge God in all things.
• Effect: He will guide you through life.

James 5:16 – “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.”

• Cause: Pray
• Effect: Results

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

• Cause: Receive the gospel message.
• Effect: Jesus will commune with you as Saviour.

Perhaps the most famous cause and effect in Scripture can be found 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.”

• Cause: Believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as your Saviour.
• Effect: God will give you everlasting life.

So how does Christian cause and effect impact me? First, it tells me that my faith must be a proactive faith. I cannot be a complacent believer, one who simply does nothing, for if I do nothing, my faith is essentially dead according to James 2:20. No action produces no result… no cause equals no effect. The brother of Jesus reiterates that my faith should be actively evidenced by my works… by the “causes” that will generate godly “effects.”

Secondly, I must identify the types of works (causes) that need to be demonstrated in my life. First and foremost, I must call upon the name of the Lord for my salvation. Romans 10:13 says “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Note the cause and effect). After that, I am to seek God’s righteousness… how? Through reading His Word, through attentiveness to the Holy Spirit as He guides me to all truth “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” – John 16:13. I must also become a better witness for the cause of Christ, reflecting Him to those around me. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16.

Thirdly, but no less important than the first two, I must continue to cultivate my relationship with Christ, so I can grow strong in my faith and service to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells me to continually be in prayer. 2 Timothy 2:15 commands me to study God’s Word. 1 Peter 2:2 declares that I must desire the Word of God to grow. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts me to fellowship with other Christians… to gather together for worship. These works are critical for me to grow in my own faith and relationship with Jesus.

The scientist in me sees Newton’s third law of motion… for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  Everything I do in my walk of faith has a reaction… a consequence…an effect… and those effects can be positive or negative. It is my responsibility to strive for positive effects rather than allowing the negative ones to sprout. To do so, I must take the appropriate actions… the right causes… to affect the results I seek. If I want answers, I must pray. If I want the abundantly life that Jesus has promised, I must follow Him. Cause and effect. It’s that simple!

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu, Alleluia
 
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and it shall be opened unto you
Allelu, Alleluia

(from “Seek Ye First” by Karen Lafferty)

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” – Colossians 1:9-10

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Are you satisfied with the picture of faith your works are revealing?

Earlier this month, I saw an acrostic of the word “valentine” that used each letter to share John 3:16. The purpose was to emphasize how much God loves us. That got me to thinking… how much do I love God? How do I show the Lord that I love Him? Here is my acrostic “VALENTINE” to Him.

V is for “Vision”

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18

• I must have a vision for what God has for me in my life! I must actively demonstrate my love for Him by pursuing His will for my life. I must have a viable vision in regard to serving God and following in the footsteps of my Saviour.

A is for “Acknowledge”

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

• I must acknowledge the importance of God in my life! I must pray daily and read His Word regularly. I must recognize and accept His presence and involvement in my life as vital as breathing!

L is for “Listen”

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

• I must take time to sit still, meditate upon God’s Word, and listen to Him as He speaks to me through it. I must make a concerted effort to listen to the Holy Spirit as He teaches, convicts, and guides me.

E is for “Exalt”

“Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.” Psalm 99:5

• I must lift the name of Jesus high in honor and praise. I must exalt Him as I worship Him. I must give Him the honor that is due Him.

N is for “Nigh”

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8

• I must work to be near God, and diligently seek His presence. I must make time for Him in my daily life… not as an afterthought, but as the first priority!

T is for “Transformed”

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

• I must make a commitment in my life to change and align my words and actions with that which is righteous in the sight of God. I must surround myself with things of God that influence my thinking and my behaviors, and reject the things of the world that are against the things of God. I must not surrender my thoughts and actions to the sinfulness of the worldly culture around me, but rather focus on Christ’s example of godly living and do the same.

I is for “Identify”

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

• I must live a life that is a reflection of Jesus, so others can see Him through me. I must be set apart from the sinful culture of man, instead, representing Jesus as His ambassador to a lost and dying world.

N is for “Narrow”

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

• I must strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and not make excuses for following in the paths of the world. I must make a conscious effort to “walk the narrow way” because that is God’s way!

E is for “Embed”

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

• I must continue to study and commit God’s Word to memory. I must be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh” (1 Peter 3:15). I must embed His Scriptures into my mind, my heart, and my life!

O how I love Jesus,

O how I love Jesus,

O how I love Jesus,

Because He first loved me!

(from “Oh How I Love Jesus” by Frederick Whitfield)

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Does God know you love Him? How do you show it?

 

 

 

 

“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!