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In Luke 15:1-7, Jesus
shares the parable of the lost sheep to further reveal the heart of God to
us. In it we see that God's love is so merciful and personal that He notices
and pursues even one erring sheep.
How amazing that our
God is intimately concerned with those who have strayed from His fold. When
He finds the sheep in Luke 15:5, "He joyfully puts it on his
shoulders" and carries the sheep all the way home. The shepherd never
sets the sheep down but carries the entire burden on His strong shoulders.
Likewise, Christ
stands ready to take on all of our burdens, whether physical infirmities,
heartbreaks, or worries. He has shoulders capable of bearing any weight we
are willing to give up to Him. Your burdens become His burdens as you rest in
Him.
Christ pursues us,
saves us, carries us, and rejoices over us. Luke 15:6 says the shepherd calls
his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with
me; I have found my lost sheep."
How long has it been
since you brought so much joy to someone that the person wanted to throw you
a party? How does it feel to know that your salvation brings such joy to our
Almighty God?
Easter is about God's
greatest expression of love for you. He stepped down from His throne in
Heaven to come, seek and save each one who is lost.
Prayer:
Lord, help me
to fully understand how extravagantly
You love me. Help me to remember that
You are my shepherd and have given everything,
including Your life, to rescue
me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"The Lord is
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).
(Via -Michael Youssef)
Be Blessed!!!
Dawn
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Wednesday, April 1, 2015
One Lost Sheep
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Simply Trusting
When our children were
young, taking them to the doctor’s office was an interesting experience. The
waiting room was filled with toys they could play with and children’s magazines
I would read to them. So getting that far with them was no problem. But as soon
as I picked them up to carry them into the appointment, everything changed.
Suddenly the fun turned into fear as the nurse approached with the needle for
the needed shot. The closer she got, the tighter they hugged my neck. They
would cling to me for comfort, probably hoping for rescue, not knowing that it
was for their own good.
Sometimes in this fallen
world we move from times of peace and tranquility into the painful realm of
trouble. At that point, the question is, “How will I respond?” We can be fearful
and wonder why God allowed this to happen to us, or we can trust that in the
midst of this trouble He is doing something that in the end is for our best,
even if it hurts. We would do well to remember the words of the psalmist who
wrote, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in
You” (Ps. 56:3).
Like my children, the
tougher it gets, the tighter we should hug His neck. Trust Him. His love never
fails!
Come quickly, Lord, to
help me. Teach me to trust You in times of trouble. Remind me of Your presence
and of the fact that You hold me in Your loving arms.
Cling
to your heavenly Father; He is your only hope.
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
The Choice to Obey
Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "The first thing God requires
of His child is obedience." But human nature often rebels against
obedience.
The
Bible is full of examples of individuals who disobeyed God. Adam and Eve ate
the forbidden fruit. Lot's wife blatantly looked back to see the destruction of
Sodom. Jonah refused to go to Nineveh. Moses struck the rock, instead of
speaking to it as God commanded.
We all
can remember incidents when we have disobeyedwhether it was against an
authority figure, a law of the land, or a biblical principle. Most likely we
even remember our punishment or the consequences we suffered. The act of
disobedience brings guilt, sadness, and shame.
There is
no long-lasting pleasure in getting our own way. It brings grief to our
heavenly Father because He longs for us to walk with Him. Our disobedience
separates us from Him. Yet God extends His grace toward us even when we disobey
His Word. Therefore, our response should be to seek His forgiveness with a
repentant heart and to learn from the consequences of our disobedience.
When we
face a hard decision to choose between what is right and what we want, how do
we respond? No matter how you may be ridiculed or how hard it may be to follow
God's guidance, obedience is its own reward.
Jesus
lived a life of obedience. His earthly ministry was to do the will of His
Father. Like us, Jesus had a choice, and He said, "Not my will, but
yours" (Luke 22:42). The Lord desires our obedience, but He never demands
it. The choice is ours.
“And this is love: that we walk in obedience
to his commands” (2 John 1:6).
(Via By Michael Youssef,
Ph.D.) BE BLESSED!
DAWN
Friday, July 11, 2014
The Secret Place
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Monday, May 5, 2014
The Real Reason God Loves You
Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from
the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is
he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like
grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them
like a tent to dwell in (Isaiah 40:21–22, ESV)?
When you face that
sobering truth, your natural response might be, “Don’t I matter at all to God?”
That’s not the point. The point is that God loves you because He chooses to.
Get rid of the twisted
thinking that God loves you because He saw something in you that attracted Him.
While that may be how human relationships work, don’t project those motives onto
the Lord. God loves you because He chooses to.
At first that feels hard
to swallow. We might think, I want God to care for me because He really
likes me. But if He only loves us because of who we are, then we have to
lie to ourselves about who we are in order to earn His love. We have to see
ourselves as good and worthy, full of redeeming and admirable qualities. The
Bible assures us we aren’t good (Psalm 14:3), and our “good deeds” don’t
impress God (Isaiah 64:6). He doesn’t love us any more—or any less—because of
who we are or what we do. He loves us simply because in His mercy He chooses
to.
O nly then will you
discover the freedom to love God more fully, because you understand how little
any of us deserve His love. And only then will you find the freedom to love
others more freely, because you are simply passing on what you’ve freely
received.
Dawn
Imagine a summer night,
sitting on the deck with family and friends. Low in the background is the
familiar hum of grasshoppers. How much do grasshoppers in the lawn affect your
evening? Not much—they hardly even register. Isaiah likens grasshoppers to the entire
human race before God and His awesome purposes (40:22).
While God sits,
stretches, andspreads—the powerful verbs Isaiah uses to describe His
effortless, universe-shaping work—we squeak, like a pack of tiny grasshoppers
hidden in the grass. That’s a healthy dose of perspective. We might envision
ourselves as critical to the Lord’s plan, but we aren’t. He doesn’t need us. He
doesn’t need anyone.
How freeing! There’s no
risk of losing God’s love. You can’t forfeit His love because of who you are,
no matter how corrupt your heart. You’re not removed from His love because of
what you’ve done, no matter how vile your sins. You can never step outside the
circle of God’s love, no matter who you are or what you do—because it’s not
about you; it’s about Him.
Let’s humbly change our
perspectives. This may need to be a daily exercise so you don’t default to your
natural way of thinking. Remind yourself of these truths: I am loved because
God loves me. What’s good in me is Christ in me. Stop worrying about your
performance, constantly trying to prove to God, to yourself, or to others how
good and worthy you are.
Journal
Many of us
subconsciously try to perform for God and others. How do you see that in
yourself?
God loves you
unconditionally, simply because He chooses to. How does that truth change the way
you treat God? And others?
Pray
God of all grace, thank
You for choosing to love me and for reminding me I can stop trying to earn Your
love. I can never be good enough or do enough good things to impress You. When
I’m honest I see that I’m small, sinful, and weak. And when I realize how much
You’ve forgiven me, my love for You grows. Help me to live in the freedom of
grace, accepting that You love me no matter what. Just as I have freely
received Your grace, help me freely give grace to others—all because of Jesus,
in whose name I pray, amen.
Dawn
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Understanding the Roadblock
Today's Prayer
Father, thank you for your comforting promise that you will never leave nor forsake me. In times like today, I need that assurance. You are my Rock and my Salvation. I trust you, even when I feel like I cannot trust anyone else. I look up to you, because I know you will always be there for me, even if the whole world forsakes me. Thank you, so much, for your love and dependability. You are awesome! With love and appreciation in my heart, amen.
Understanding the Roadblock
"And Joshua said, 'Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring
this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to
destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the
Jordan!'" - Joshua 7:7
Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do,
but your plans were totally frustrated? This was how Joshua felt.
The Lord had been with the people of Israel as they entered the
Promised Land. They defeated every enemy because of God's blessing and protection.
They had just taken the city of Jericho. The next battle was the city of Ai.
They scouted the enemy and determined it would require only 3,000 men to defeat
them. They attacked, and soon the reports came back that they were being
routed. Joshua could not understand this. He cried out to God asking why this
was happening.
The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has
sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They
have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they
have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot
stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have
been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you
destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction" (Joshua 7:10-12).
Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable. God
removes His protective shield from our lives in order for the sin in our lives
to be purged out. He often uses the enemy of our souls to accomplish the task.
If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if
there is any sin that is the cause of the problem. Adversity is not always due to
sin, but it can be. Ask Him. He will show you. As with Joshua, God
immediately answered this prayer when Joshua asked. He desires for His children
to live in a right relationship with Him.
Via Os Hillman
Be Blessed!!
Dawn
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The Identity of the Word
14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15) (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. —John 1:14-17
To the Jews in New Testament days, the term Word referred to the Word of God. The Word was the revelation that came from God. They had the written Old Testament. So the Word meant God’s revelation of Himself. It is brilliant that John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, didn’t coin some new term. His audience knew there was a Word. John made the connection: The Word is Jesus!
But because we don’t have the background, John’s language doesn’t click for us like it did in the first century. Hopefully now the point will be clearer to you when John says in John 1:14, “And the Word (the revelation of God; the rational principle by which everything exists, who is Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Isn’t Christianity revolutionary? Because Christianity says, Oh yeah, there’s a Word all right! Not unreachable or unknowable as the Greeks taught! Certainly the Source of all rational thought who created all the order in the universe. And His name is Jesus!
Jesus Christ is the Word of God who “became flesh.” That’s the headline of the Gospel—that God didn’t leave us in our sin but He came to do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.
Now John tells us his role as an eyewitness: “We have seen his glory.” But John means more than just seeing Jesus, the man. We saw and we recognized “his glory.”
Glory is God’s fingerprint; His signature. Glory is anything in the universe that indicates there is a God—whether it’s a beautiful mountain-scape or the stars at night or the human eye. Jesus’ life exuded glory!
John goes on to say, “Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Now notice John didn’t focus on Jesus’ love and kindness, though He certainly had those traits. And he didn’t highlight Jesus’ obvious wisdom.
John, Jesus’ closest friend, reports, “The glory of Jesus was; He was “full of grace and truth.” Nothing He did with truth diminished His grace. And nothing Jesus did with grace diminished truth. He was full of grace and truth. That’s what I’m going for every day. I’m spending the rest of my life on that point. That’s the glory of Jesus—full of grace and full of truth.
Journal
Do I gravitate more toward grace or truth?
In what ways do I need to adjust so I’m seeking to have my life be marked by both grace and truth?
Prayer
Eternal Father, it doesn’t surprise me that Your Son was full of grace and truth, because He is the exact and full image of You. Because He emptied Himself, You have recognized His special role and given Him a name above every name. I gladly bow at His feet. And while I live on this earth I want to follow where He leads, longing to have Him generate His grace and truth in my life. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.
(Via James MacDonald)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
To the Jews in New Testament days, the term Word referred to the Word of God. The Word was the revelation that came from God. They had the written Old Testament. So the Word meant God’s revelation of Himself. It is brilliant that John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, didn’t coin some new term. His audience knew there was a Word. John made the connection: The Word is Jesus!
But because we don’t have the background, John’s language doesn’t click for us like it did in the first century. Hopefully now the point will be clearer to you when John says in John 1:14, “And the Word (the revelation of God; the rational principle by which everything exists, who is Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Isn’t Christianity revolutionary? Because Christianity says, Oh yeah, there’s a Word all right! Not unreachable or unknowable as the Greeks taught! Certainly the Source of all rational thought who created all the order in the universe. And His name is Jesus!
Jesus Christ is the Word of God who “became flesh.” That’s the headline of the Gospel—that God didn’t leave us in our sin but He came to do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.
Now John tells us his role as an eyewitness: “We have seen his glory.” But John means more than just seeing Jesus, the man. We saw and we recognized “his glory.”
Glory is God’s fingerprint; His signature. Glory is anything in the universe that indicates there is a God—whether it’s a beautiful mountain-scape or the stars at night or the human eye. Jesus’ life exuded glory!
John goes on to say, “Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Now notice John didn’t focus on Jesus’ love and kindness, though He certainly had those traits. And he didn’t highlight Jesus’ obvious wisdom.
John, Jesus’ closest friend, reports, “The glory of Jesus was; He was “full of grace and truth.” Nothing He did with truth diminished His grace. And nothing Jesus did with grace diminished truth. He was full of grace and truth. That’s what I’m going for every day. I’m spending the rest of my life on that point. That’s the glory of Jesus—full of grace and full of truth.
Journal
Do I gravitate more toward grace or truth?
In what ways do I need to adjust so I’m seeking to have my life be marked by both grace and truth?
Prayer
Eternal Father, it doesn’t surprise me that Your Son was full of grace and truth, because He is the exact and full image of You. Because He emptied Himself, You have recognized His special role and given Him a name above every name. I gladly bow at His feet. And while I live on this earth I want to follow where He leads, longing to have Him generate His grace and truth in my life. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.
(Via James MacDonald)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Strength in Troubled Times
47) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49) But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. ~ Luke 6:47-49
Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite magazine? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You will need something to give you strength and direction in your time of need—and you cannot find a better resource than the Word of God.
As one writer said, "One gem from that ocean is worth all of the pebbles from earthly streams." Just a single pebble from the ocean of God's Word can make all the difference when tragedy or hardship strikes. How many in their affliction have found comfort from the Scripture?
Trusting in what God has said through the Bible can sustain us and give us direction and hope and comfort when we most need it. Little platitudes or clever sayings don't help, but the Word of God does. It has been said that "he who rejects the Bible has nothing to live by. Neither does he have anything to die by."
Things go in and out of style, but the Word of God never goes out of style. It never goes out of date, unlike this morning's newspaper. The Word of God always will be relevant.
That is why C.S. Lewis once said, "Everything that is not eternal is eternally out of date."
I urge you to get a good foundation in this Book, because it is only a matter of time until hardship strikes you. It happens in every life, without exception. But if you have a good foundation in the Word of God, then you will be ready for difficulty when it comes. Don't wait until then to try and catch up.
Get that foundation now. (Via Greg Laurie) Be Blessed! Dawn
Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite magazine? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You will need something to give you strength and direction in your time of need—and you cannot find a better resource than the Word of God.
As one writer said, "One gem from that ocean is worth all of the pebbles from earthly streams." Just a single pebble from the ocean of God's Word can make all the difference when tragedy or hardship strikes. How many in their affliction have found comfort from the Scripture?
Trusting in what God has said through the Bible can sustain us and give us direction and hope and comfort when we most need it. Little platitudes or clever sayings don't help, but the Word of God does. It has been said that "he who rejects the Bible has nothing to live by. Neither does he have anything to die by."
Things go in and out of style, but the Word of God never goes out of style. It never goes out of date, unlike this morning's newspaper. The Word of God always will be relevant.
That is why C.S. Lewis once said, "Everything that is not eternal is eternally out of date."
I urge you to get a good foundation in this Book, because it is only a matter of time until hardship strikes you. It happens in every life, without exception. But if you have a good foundation in the Word of God, then you will be ready for difficulty when it comes. Don't wait until then to try and catch up.
Get that foundation now. (Via Greg Laurie) Be Blessed! Dawn
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Having Ears to Hear
Have you ever known someone who would call you on the telephone, talk what seemed like a thousand words a minute, and then, when he finished telling you what he needed to say, would hang up? Even before you had a chance to say a word, you heard a click.
Sadly, this is how many people treat God. They don’t stay on the line long enough to hear from Him. They pray to Him in a flurry of words, expressing needs and desires, but they miss the most important part of prayer: worship and listening for God’s still, small voice.
Prayer is a two-way form of communication. One of the reasons many avoid spending silent time in prayer is because they are afraid to hear what God has to say to them. They are sure that if they listen, He will say something that they don’t want to hear.
Someone has called American Christianity “decaffeinated Christianity.” If you think about it, decaffeinated Christianity won’t keep you awake at night. It won’t disturb you. It won’t motivate you, and it certainly won’t change you!
God is a gentleman. He will never force you to listen for His voice. He will never coerce you into meditating on His Word or taking time to pray. However, He will continue to draw you to Himself. Sometimes this is pleasant; other times it is not.
Allowing us to experience disappointment and frustration is one of the ways God gets our attention. If you feel as though you have been running away from God and prayer, ask yourself, “Isn’t it time I stop running and avoiding the Lord?” Great things come to us when we stop rushing and begin seeking God with a humble, obedient heart.
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for rushing through prayer and not stopping to hear Your voice. I pray You would help calm my mind and heart to hear You each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him” (Proverbs 15:8).
Sadly, this is how many people treat God. They don’t stay on the line long enough to hear from Him. They pray to Him in a flurry of words, expressing needs and desires, but they miss the most important part of prayer: worship and listening for God’s still, small voice.
Prayer is a two-way form of communication. One of the reasons many avoid spending silent time in prayer is because they are afraid to hear what God has to say to them. They are sure that if they listen, He will say something that they don’t want to hear.
Someone has called American Christianity “decaffeinated Christianity.” If you think about it, decaffeinated Christianity won’t keep you awake at night. It won’t disturb you. It won’t motivate you, and it certainly won’t change you!
God is a gentleman. He will never force you to listen for His voice. He will never coerce you into meditating on His Word or taking time to pray. However, He will continue to draw you to Himself. Sometimes this is pleasant; other times it is not.
Allowing us to experience disappointment and frustration is one of the ways God gets our attention. If you feel as though you have been running away from God and prayer, ask yourself, “Isn’t it time I stop running and avoiding the Lord?” Great things come to us when we stop rushing and begin seeking God with a humble, obedient heart.
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for rushing through prayer and not stopping to hear Your voice. I pray You would help calm my mind and heart to hear You each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him” (Proverbs 15:8).
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Selfish Christianity
26) Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27) Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” ~ John 6: 26-27
Think honestly about this question: Which interests you more—who Jesus is or what He can do for you? I’m afraid that too many of us are more concerned about what the Lord can give us than we are about getting to know who He is.
But this is nothing new—Jesus had the same problem when He walked on earth. The crowds often sought Him out for what He could do for them. Even though their needs were quite often legitimate, Christ knew their motives.
There is a fine line between selfishly trying to use the Lord to get what we want and humbly coming to Him with our needs and struggles. Some of the issues we bring to Him are so pressing and urgent in our minds that our desire for Him to take action in the way we want becomes greater than our willingness to submit to His will. At times, what we call “faith” is really a demanding spirit.
We must remember that our earthly needs will come to an end, but Jesus Christ will remain forever. If our prayers have dealt only with presenting our requests to the Lord, then we are missing a great opportunity to get to know the One with whom we are going to spend all eternity. Let’s invest time in pursuing intimacy with the great God who created us. Then we can enjoy all the benefits of that relationship forever.
How much of your communion with God is devoted to your needs—even legitimate ones? Are you spending any time getting to know the Lord? Although God delights in our prayers and tells us to pray about everything, He also wants us to come to Him just because we enjoy being with Him. Be Blessed! Dawn
Think honestly about this question: Which interests you more—who Jesus is or what He can do for you? I’m afraid that too many of us are more concerned about what the Lord can give us than we are about getting to know who He is.
But this is nothing new—Jesus had the same problem when He walked on earth. The crowds often sought Him out for what He could do for them. Even though their needs were quite often legitimate, Christ knew their motives.
There is a fine line between selfishly trying to use the Lord to get what we want and humbly coming to Him with our needs and struggles. Some of the issues we bring to Him are so pressing and urgent in our minds that our desire for Him to take action in the way we want becomes greater than our willingness to submit to His will. At times, what we call “faith” is really a demanding spirit.
We must remember that our earthly needs will come to an end, but Jesus Christ will remain forever. If our prayers have dealt only with presenting our requests to the Lord, then we are missing a great opportunity to get to know the One with whom we are going to spend all eternity. Let’s invest time in pursuing intimacy with the great God who created us. Then we can enjoy all the benefits of that relationship forever.
How much of your communion with God is devoted to your needs—even legitimate ones? Are you spending any time getting to know the Lord? Although God delights in our prayers and tells us to pray about everything, He also wants us to come to Him just because we enjoy being with Him. Be Blessed! Dawn
Friday, April 19, 2013
A Righteous Judge
"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." — Psalm 19:9
When it comes to God's judgment, sometimes people will say they believe in a God who is not judgmental. That sounds good, but here is what they are really saying: "I believe in a God who doesn't care about right and wrong." To put it more bluntly, they are saying they believe in a God they just made up in their heads.
If God really is loving, then God also will be just. That is what the Bible tells us. The love of God makes Him a righteous judge. Know this: No one will be in heaven who deserves to be there. Nor will there be anyone in hell who does not deserve to be there. No one will be in heaven who went there unwillingly. And no one will be in hell who didn't go there willingly.
God won't force anyone to go to heaven. He won't say, "Get up to heaven right now!" You don't have to go if you don't want to. On the other hand, no one will be in hell who did not go there willingly.
I like the way J. I. Packer summed it up: "Scripture sees hell as self-chosen. . . . Hell appears as God's gesture of respect for human choice. All receive what they actually chose. Either to be with God forever, worshipping Him, or without God forever, worshipping themselves."
How could a God of love send people to hell? He doesn't. He won't. If you end up in hell, then you went there willingly because you rejected His offer of forgiveness. You rejected Jesus Christ and all that He did for you. But if you ask God to forgive you of your sin, He will remove it from you and give you a change, a transformation in your life. You will be born again.
(Via Greg Laurie) Be Blessed! Dawn
When it comes to God's judgment, sometimes people will say they believe in a God who is not judgmental. That sounds good, but here is what they are really saying: "I believe in a God who doesn't care about right and wrong." To put it more bluntly, they are saying they believe in a God they just made up in their heads.
If God really is loving, then God also will be just. That is what the Bible tells us. The love of God makes Him a righteous judge. Know this: No one will be in heaven who deserves to be there. Nor will there be anyone in hell who does not deserve to be there. No one will be in heaven who went there unwillingly. And no one will be in hell who didn't go there willingly.
God won't force anyone to go to heaven. He won't say, "Get up to heaven right now!" You don't have to go if you don't want to. On the other hand, no one will be in hell who did not go there willingly.
I like the way J. I. Packer summed it up: "Scripture sees hell as self-chosen. . . . Hell appears as God's gesture of respect for human choice. All receive what they actually chose. Either to be with God forever, worshipping Him, or without God forever, worshipping themselves."
How could a God of love send people to hell? He doesn't. He won't. If you end up in hell, then you went there willingly because you rejected His offer of forgiveness. You rejected Jesus Christ and all that He did for you. But if you ask God to forgive you of your sin, He will remove it from you and give you a change, a transformation in your life. You will be born again.
(Via Greg Laurie) Be Blessed! Dawn
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Pastor's Son
This was just too good not to share!
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain.
The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready.' His Pastor dad asked, 'Ready for what?' 'Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out.' Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.' The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?'
Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.' Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go? Please?' His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful son..'
'Thanks Dad!'
And with that, he was off and out into the rain.. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract .
After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.
Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.
Finally, this eleven year old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him.
Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch!
He rang again and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that * JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU * and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE.'
With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'
Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, 'Does anybody have testimony or want to say anything?'
Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face, 'No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.
So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.'
I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly...
I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.
When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you!
The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU .' Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand..
As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them anymore.
You see-- -I am now a Happy Child of the KING. Since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell..'
There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated.... he took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honor for his son.... Except for One.
Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.
Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heaven is for His people!
Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you.
If you love JESUS, please Spread His word, and share His goodness and faithfulness.
Matthew 10:32 says:
'Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven ' Be Blessed! Dawn
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain.
The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready.' His Pastor dad asked, 'Ready for what?' 'Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out.' Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.' The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?'
Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.' Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go? Please?' His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful son..'
'Thanks Dad!'
And with that, he was off and out into the rain.. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract .
After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.
Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.
Finally, this eleven year old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him.
Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch!
He rang again and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that * JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU * and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE.'
With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'
Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, 'Does anybody have testimony or want to say anything?'
Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face, 'No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.
So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.'
I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly...
I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.
When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you!
The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU .' Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand..
As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them anymore.
You see-- -I am now a Happy Child of the KING. Since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell..'
There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated.... he took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honor for his son.... Except for One.
Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.
Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heaven is for His people!
Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you.
If you love JESUS, please Spread His word, and share His goodness and faithfulness.
Matthew 10:32 says:
'Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven ' Be Blessed! Dawn
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Praying For One Another
(16) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (19) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, (20) let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:16-20
Though he seems to be speaking about praying for those who are sick, the overall command is specifically to "pray for one another."
Further, James instructs us to confess our faults. The apostle does not mean that we should reveal every sin and foible to everyone in the congregation. He implies that we should confide our problems to a close, trusted friend so that he or she can help us by praying to God for help in overcoming it.
We should pray for one another, and it need not be known by others or even asked of us. We may notice a brother struggling with a problem, and rather than pointing out his flaw to others, we should get on our knees to petition God to come to his aid. The apostle James assures us that such a prayer, given seriously and thoughtfully, will make a difference.
The Jews say regarding prayer: "He who prays surrounds his house with a wall stronger than iron." Another of their sayings runs: "Penitence can do something, but prayer can do everything." To them, prayer is nothing less than contacting and employing the power of God; it is the channel through which the strength and grace of God is brought to bear on the troubles of life.
In the next two verses, James uses the illustration of Elijah to show just how effective righteous prayer can be. He chose Elijah because the biblical story of this prophet brings out his passionate - and sometimes still carnal - nature. Nevertheless, he prayed earnestly for drought, and God responded: No rain fell on the earth for three years and six months! When he prayed again for rain, God again heard and acted. What tremendous power can be unleashed through prayer that conforms to the will of God!
James 5:19-20 continues the theme. If we see a brother straying from the truth, and with the help of prayer, restore him to a right understanding, we may indeed be saving him from the Lake of Fire, from the second death! Such loving help is the essence of true outgoing concern. (Via John O. Reid)
Be Blessed! Dawn
Though he seems to be speaking about praying for those who are sick, the overall command is specifically to "pray for one another."
Further, James instructs us to confess our faults. The apostle does not mean that we should reveal every sin and foible to everyone in the congregation. He implies that we should confide our problems to a close, trusted friend so that he or she can help us by praying to God for help in overcoming it.
We should pray for one another, and it need not be known by others or even asked of us. We may notice a brother struggling with a problem, and rather than pointing out his flaw to others, we should get on our knees to petition God to come to his aid. The apostle James assures us that such a prayer, given seriously and thoughtfully, will make a difference.
The Jews say regarding prayer: "He who prays surrounds his house with a wall stronger than iron." Another of their sayings runs: "Penitence can do something, but prayer can do everything." To them, prayer is nothing less than contacting and employing the power of God; it is the channel through which the strength and grace of God is brought to bear on the troubles of life.
In the next two verses, James uses the illustration of Elijah to show just how effective righteous prayer can be. He chose Elijah because the biblical story of this prophet brings out his passionate - and sometimes still carnal - nature. Nevertheless, he prayed earnestly for drought, and God responded: No rain fell on the earth for three years and six months! When he prayed again for rain, God again heard and acted. What tremendous power can be unleashed through prayer that conforms to the will of God!
James 5:19-20 continues the theme. If we see a brother straying from the truth, and with the help of prayer, restore him to a right understanding, we may indeed be saving him from the Lake of Fire, from the second death! Such loving help is the essence of true outgoing concern. (Via John O. Reid)
Be Blessed! Dawn
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Our Riches in Christ
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Philippians 4:19-20
As believers, we are truly wealthy because of the riches and grace that are ours in Christ. We have been chosen, redeemed, justified, united with God, and made citizens of heaven. But there is even more to include on our list.
Jesus told the disciples that His departure was necessary: it would actually benefit His followers, as He could then send the third member of the Trinity to indwell each believer (John 16:7). Upon salvation, we are given the Holy Spirit, who seals us as God’s children, comforts us in our pain, and teaches us how to live righteously.
Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, we become more and more like Jesus, which is another blessing from the Lord. His Spirit transforms us from the inside out and produces godly fruit in our life (Gal. 5:22-23). He also empowers us to choose righteous living and break unholy habits.
Another amazing blessing for Christians is access to the throne of grace. At any time, we can enter into God’s presence through prayer and worship. And resurrection and glorification are also treasures for the child of God. Just as the Savior’s body was resurrected, our bodies will likewise be raised; in heaven, they will be made perfect, and we will be free from sin’s presence forever.
Our wealth in Christ surpasses anything this world offers. Don’t let yourself be seduced by earthly thinking, which values comfort and pleasure above all else. Instead, treasure who you are in Christ and what you have been given. When you do, peace and contentment will become yours.
(Via Charles Stanley) Be Blessed! Dawn
Philippians 4:19-20
As believers, we are truly wealthy because of the riches and grace that are ours in Christ. We have been chosen, redeemed, justified, united with God, and made citizens of heaven. But there is even more to include on our list.
Jesus told the disciples that His departure was necessary: it would actually benefit His followers, as He could then send the third member of the Trinity to indwell each believer (John 16:7). Upon salvation, we are given the Holy Spirit, who seals us as God’s children, comforts us in our pain, and teaches us how to live righteously.
Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, we become more and more like Jesus, which is another blessing from the Lord. His Spirit transforms us from the inside out and produces godly fruit in our life (Gal. 5:22-23). He also empowers us to choose righteous living and break unholy habits.
Another amazing blessing for Christians is access to the throne of grace. At any time, we can enter into God’s presence through prayer and worship. And resurrection and glorification are also treasures for the child of God. Just as the Savior’s body was resurrected, our bodies will likewise be raised; in heaven, they will be made perfect, and we will be free from sin’s presence forever.
Our wealth in Christ surpasses anything this world offers. Don’t let yourself be seduced by earthly thinking, which values comfort and pleasure above all else. Instead, treasure who you are in Christ and what you have been given. When you do, peace and contentment will become yours.
(Via Charles Stanley) Be Blessed! Dawn
Monday, January 7, 2013
Hungry and Thirsty For God
1) “Listen! Every one who is thirsty, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2) Why do you spend money for what is not bread? Why spend your pay for what you do not enjoy? Listen well to Me, and eat what is good. Find joy in the best food. 3) Listen and come to Me. Hear, so you may live. And I will make an agreement with you that lasts forever, because of the faithful love promised to David. 4) See, I made him one who told of what he had seen and heard to the nations, a leader and ruler of the people. 5) See, you will call nations that you do not know. And nations that did not know you will run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. For He has given shining-greatness to you.” ~ Is. 55: 1-5 (NLV)
The story of David inspires us to want an intimate relationship with God. But where does that kind of passion come from? It is not manufactured or created by effort or will power. And we cannot work ourselves into a state of genuine yearning for the Lord—our carnal nature would never allow us to sustain that level of devotion. A hunger and thirst for God is actually a gift from the Lord Himself.
God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, so He planted within us an innate desire to know and be known by the Savior. The problem is that many people, mistaking this yearning for cravings of other kinds, pursue things like affection, flattery, or fame. They go through life trying to create whatever kind of personal connection they can to fulfill desires they don’t even understand. All too often, the result is empty relationships, excessive work, and immoral behavior.
People rush from here to there doing their best to satisfy an inborn hunger created by Almighty God Himself—a hunger so powerful that it will be sated by nothing less than intimacy with God. David knew there was only one solution to the constant yearning in his heart. As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Him.”
God has created within all of us the capacity to have a deep personal relationship with Him. But our sin nature does not give us the power to generate such intimacy. If you find yourself trying to satisfy your inborn hunger in your own strength, turn to the Lord, who is the author of your desires. (Via Charles Stanley) Be Blessed! Dawn
The story of David inspires us to want an intimate relationship with God. But where does that kind of passion come from? It is not manufactured or created by effort or will power. And we cannot work ourselves into a state of genuine yearning for the Lord—our carnal nature would never allow us to sustain that level of devotion. A hunger and thirst for God is actually a gift from the Lord Himself.
God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, so He planted within us an innate desire to know and be known by the Savior. The problem is that many people, mistaking this yearning for cravings of other kinds, pursue things like affection, flattery, or fame. They go through life trying to create whatever kind of personal connection they can to fulfill desires they don’t even understand. All too often, the result is empty relationships, excessive work, and immoral behavior.
People rush from here to there doing their best to satisfy an inborn hunger created by Almighty God Himself—a hunger so powerful that it will be sated by nothing less than intimacy with God. David knew there was only one solution to the constant yearning in his heart. As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Him.”
God has created within all of us the capacity to have a deep personal relationship with Him. But our sin nature does not give us the power to generate such intimacy. If you find yourself trying to satisfy your inborn hunger in your own strength, turn to the Lord, who is the author of your desires. (Via Charles Stanley) Be Blessed! Dawn
Monday, December 31, 2012
God’s Answer to Evil
As we celebrate the birth of Christ and the hope that He alone can offer, let us remember the families in Newtown, Connecticut, and pray that God will supernaturally draw near to them in their time of deep, deep loss. Our hearts are broken for them. Those who lost their most precious little ones and other family members have seen their world shattered. From now on, the Christmas holidays will always bring back painful memories and thoughts of how old their loved one would be if they were still here. They will always wonder what they would be like at that age. Jesus and love-filled people are the only ones who can help lessen the pain these families are experiencing.
Satan is the author and instigator of all evil. He is the very personification of it. Even those who doubt or deny God cannot deny there is an obvious force of evil present in our world. Jesus said Satan is the father of all lies and, above all, a thief and murderer. He seeks to destroy life—every precious aspect of it. When he is in control, he continually manifests despicable, unimaginable acts defying all logic.
We are right to be abhorred by unspeakable brutality and murder of the innocent and the helpless. Such was the case a week ago when those little children and adults were murdered senselessly. Yes, it was demonic. No, the devil didn’t make him do it. The murderer made a horrible choice, seemingly the result of terrible mental, psychological, and emotional disturbance.
Such is the case when the resistance and clear-mindedness on anyone’s part has been compromised and diminished. Many things can negatively impact our spiritual and mental condition to some degree: addiction to alcohol or drugs, damaging emotions such as bitterness or envy, emotional or physical exhaustion. It can even be the result of self-intoxication, as with Herod at the time of Christ’s birth. He ordered the murder of all little boys under two years old in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16). Satanic? Yes. Demonic? Yes. Even so, it was Herod’s choice to act on his evil schemes. Satan so detests freedom and godliness that he seeks to destroy any deliverer or possibility of deliverance.
In the fatherless home and the dysfunctional community I grew up in, you cannot imagine the suggestions other kids made to me, along with the fiery darts (horrific suggestions) Satan fired my way. I was vulnerable; but thanks be to God, praying Christians, a pastor and his wife who never forgot the boy they cared for the first few years of my life, and then the witness of committed Christian teenagers led me to the Christ whose birth we’re about to celebrate. I am convinced that the prayers of others (even before my conversion to Christ) helped prevent me from giving into violent impulses, especially when my alcoholic father threatened to take my life. Sadly, some choose to give in to their anger and act out in unimaginable ways.
Jesus is the answer. He was my answer and He is the sole answer for those who have been devastated by the events last week. Only a great God and a loving heavenly Father can give the people of Newtown the ultimate comfort they long for and must have. Caring neighbors, friends, and other Christians will seek to lighten their load and brighten their future. We rightly celebrate the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, because He is the only way to overcome evil and the evil one. He alone can direct our steps and help us build wise, secure walls of protection.
God’s Word should be our hedge of security. He wants His Word to be written in our hearts, not just carried in our hands. He wants His Word to carry and lead us and, as Paul said, write “letters in the hearts of other men’s lives” as a result of our consistent Christian testimony.
In addition to celebrating His birth, we need to praise God for the resurrection life He offers each day! Jesus came to overcome the evil one and to give us the ability to be delivered from that despicable, damaging influence. Because Christ was born and now lives, we live. May others see Jesus living in us.
Thirty years ago when I experienced a marvelous deliverance from the power of demonic assault due to spiritual burnout and physical exhaustion, I was undoubtedly vulnerable. During the time following my deliverance, God clearly revealed that in the last days evil will wax worse. Satan’s nature will be more obviously manifested than at any time in history with indescribable, unfathomable, despicable acts of evil. But the opposite of that is true also. The church (true Christians - fully devoted followers of Christ), will become more like Jesus than in any time in history because He is coming for a fit and ready bride that looks and behaves like Him. At Christ’s return, Satan will be destroyed, but until then, believers must stand suited up in the whole armor of God resisting evil on every front. We can be forever triumphant by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat when we allow the love, hope, and peace of Christ to prevail.
Jesus is God’s answer to man’s weakness and evil’s intention. Christmas and the rest of His story can become our story. Jesus took this broken, fatherless, and impoverished boy writing this commentary and delivered me from destruction and the intentions of the evil one. He will do the same for all who receive Him and follow Him with their whole heart. Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness. He offers strength beyond ourselves and grants us the grace and ability to share the hope, joy, and peace that only He can give in the face of the most challenging possible circumstances. Just as the shepherds and wise men followed the light of the Star of Bethlehem, we must follow the light of the forever bright and Morning Star – Jesus!
May you have a Christ-honoring Christmas and a God-honoring New Year! (Via James Robison)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Satan is the author and instigator of all evil. He is the very personification of it. Even those who doubt or deny God cannot deny there is an obvious force of evil present in our world. Jesus said Satan is the father of all lies and, above all, a thief and murderer. He seeks to destroy life—every precious aspect of it. When he is in control, he continually manifests despicable, unimaginable acts defying all logic.
We are right to be abhorred by unspeakable brutality and murder of the innocent and the helpless. Such was the case a week ago when those little children and adults were murdered senselessly. Yes, it was demonic. No, the devil didn’t make him do it. The murderer made a horrible choice, seemingly the result of terrible mental, psychological, and emotional disturbance.
Such is the case when the resistance and clear-mindedness on anyone’s part has been compromised and diminished. Many things can negatively impact our spiritual and mental condition to some degree: addiction to alcohol or drugs, damaging emotions such as bitterness or envy, emotional or physical exhaustion. It can even be the result of self-intoxication, as with Herod at the time of Christ’s birth. He ordered the murder of all little boys under two years old in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16). Satanic? Yes. Demonic? Yes. Even so, it was Herod’s choice to act on his evil schemes. Satan so detests freedom and godliness that he seeks to destroy any deliverer or possibility of deliverance.
In the fatherless home and the dysfunctional community I grew up in, you cannot imagine the suggestions other kids made to me, along with the fiery darts (horrific suggestions) Satan fired my way. I was vulnerable; but thanks be to God, praying Christians, a pastor and his wife who never forgot the boy they cared for the first few years of my life, and then the witness of committed Christian teenagers led me to the Christ whose birth we’re about to celebrate. I am convinced that the prayers of others (even before my conversion to Christ) helped prevent me from giving into violent impulses, especially when my alcoholic father threatened to take my life. Sadly, some choose to give in to their anger and act out in unimaginable ways.
Jesus is the answer. He was my answer and He is the sole answer for those who have been devastated by the events last week. Only a great God and a loving heavenly Father can give the people of Newtown the ultimate comfort they long for and must have. Caring neighbors, friends, and other Christians will seek to lighten their load and brighten their future. We rightly celebrate the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, because He is the only way to overcome evil and the evil one. He alone can direct our steps and help us build wise, secure walls of protection.
God’s Word should be our hedge of security. He wants His Word to be written in our hearts, not just carried in our hands. He wants His Word to carry and lead us and, as Paul said, write “letters in the hearts of other men’s lives” as a result of our consistent Christian testimony.
In addition to celebrating His birth, we need to praise God for the resurrection life He offers each day! Jesus came to overcome the evil one and to give us the ability to be delivered from that despicable, damaging influence. Because Christ was born and now lives, we live. May others see Jesus living in us.
Thirty years ago when I experienced a marvelous deliverance from the power of demonic assault due to spiritual burnout and physical exhaustion, I was undoubtedly vulnerable. During the time following my deliverance, God clearly revealed that in the last days evil will wax worse. Satan’s nature will be more obviously manifested than at any time in history with indescribable, unfathomable, despicable acts of evil. But the opposite of that is true also. The church (true Christians - fully devoted followers of Christ), will become more like Jesus than in any time in history because He is coming for a fit and ready bride that looks and behaves like Him. At Christ’s return, Satan will be destroyed, but until then, believers must stand suited up in the whole armor of God resisting evil on every front. We can be forever triumphant by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat when we allow the love, hope, and peace of Christ to prevail.
Jesus is God’s answer to man’s weakness and evil’s intention. Christmas and the rest of His story can become our story. Jesus took this broken, fatherless, and impoverished boy writing this commentary and delivered me from destruction and the intentions of the evil one. He will do the same for all who receive Him and follow Him with their whole heart. Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness. He offers strength beyond ourselves and grants us the grace and ability to share the hope, joy, and peace that only He can give in the face of the most challenging possible circumstances. Just as the shepherds and wise men followed the light of the Star of Bethlehem, we must follow the light of the forever bright and Morning Star – Jesus!
May you have a Christ-honoring Christmas and a God-honoring New Year! (Via James Robison)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Promise of Christmas
God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. . . Romans 1:2-3
I have always believed in the promise of Christmas. There is something very special, wonderful, even magical (in the best use of that word) at this time of year. And that goes back to my earliest childhood.
With Christmas, we have a sense of wonder, beauty, and anticipation. We look forward to being with loved ones, family and friends, and eating incredible food. It is a wonderful time of the year. It is also a time that is marked, for the most part, by an absence of meanness. There is a kindness that people will demonstrate toward one another, even strangers.
But here is the question: Does Christmas really deliver on its promises? It does sometimes—a little bit here and a little bit there. But for the most part, Christmas doesn't really deliver. In fact, what it does deliver is a lot of difficulty. If you are a man, your blood pressure will go up dramatically at this time of the year. A study was done by a British psychologist who found that Christmas shopping is actually hazardous for men's health, due to its elevating effects on blood pressure. The same study also revealed that women's blood pressure remained unaffected by the holiday shopping ritual.
So what is Christmas at its worst? It is a crass, commercial, empty, exhausting, and very expensive event that drags on for months at a time. And what is Christmas at its best? It is a glimpse of something that is coming: the beauty . . . the wonderful music . . . the adoring angels . . . the love . . . the warmth . . . the promise . . . the hope. Because when you get down to it, Christmas is a promise. It is a promise of things to come.
(Via Greg Laurie) Be Blessed! Dawn
I have always believed in the promise of Christmas. There is something very special, wonderful, even magical (in the best use of that word) at this time of year. And that goes back to my earliest childhood.
With Christmas, we have a sense of wonder, beauty, and anticipation. We look forward to being with loved ones, family and friends, and eating incredible food. It is a wonderful time of the year. It is also a time that is marked, for the most part, by an absence of meanness. There is a kindness that people will demonstrate toward one another, even strangers.
But here is the question: Does Christmas really deliver on its promises? It does sometimes—a little bit here and a little bit there. But for the most part, Christmas doesn't really deliver. In fact, what it does deliver is a lot of difficulty. If you are a man, your blood pressure will go up dramatically at this time of the year. A study was done by a British psychologist who found that Christmas shopping is actually hazardous for men's health, due to its elevating effects on blood pressure. The same study also revealed that women's blood pressure remained unaffected by the holiday shopping ritual.
So what is Christmas at its worst? It is a crass, commercial, empty, exhausting, and very expensive event that drags on for months at a time. And what is Christmas at its best? It is a glimpse of something that is coming: the beauty . . . the wonderful music . . . the adoring angels . . . the love . . . the warmth . . . the promise . . . the hope. Because when you get down to it, Christmas is a promise. It is a promise of things to come.
(Via Greg Laurie) Be Blessed! Dawn
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Spirit Of The Age
You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world. —Ephesians 2:1-2
Every age has its own thoughts, ideas, and values that influence the culture, the “spirit of the age.” It is the kind of growing consensus that morally lulls us to sleep, gradually easing out biblical principles and causing us to accept society’s latest values. The shifting of the Christmas season from one of celebrating and focusing on the birth of God's greatest gift to us, to a time of competition, commercialism and marketing is a prime example.
The apostle Paul called this corrupting atmosphere the “course of this world.” Describing the lives of the believers at Ephesus before they encountered Christ, he said that they were “dead in trespasses and sins” and “walked according to the course of this world” (Eph. 2:1-2). This is the world’s peer pressure—a satanically inspired system of values and ideas that cultivates a lifestyle that is independent of God.
Jesus intends for us to live in the world (John 17:15), so worldly influence is nearly impossible to escape. But He’s given us His Word to so permeate our thinking that we don’t have to become conformed to the world’s values (Rom. 12:1-2). Instead, God helps us walk in His light (Eph. 5:8), in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), in love (Eph. 5:2), in truth (3 John 4), and in Christ (Col. 2:6).
As we walk in God’s power and spend time in His Word, He gives us the strength to live according to kingdom values and not the spirit of the age.
Although Christians live in this world, their allegiance is to Christ and His kingdom. (Via Dennis Fisher) Be Blessed! Dawn
Every age has its own thoughts, ideas, and values that influence the culture, the “spirit of the age.” It is the kind of growing consensus that morally lulls us to sleep, gradually easing out biblical principles and causing us to accept society’s latest values. The shifting of the Christmas season from one of celebrating and focusing on the birth of God's greatest gift to us, to a time of competition, commercialism and marketing is a prime example.
The apostle Paul called this corrupting atmosphere the “course of this world.” Describing the lives of the believers at Ephesus before they encountered Christ, he said that they were “dead in trespasses and sins” and “walked according to the course of this world” (Eph. 2:1-2). This is the world’s peer pressure—a satanically inspired system of values and ideas that cultivates a lifestyle that is independent of God.
Jesus intends for us to live in the world (John 17:15), so worldly influence is nearly impossible to escape. But He’s given us His Word to so permeate our thinking that we don’t have to become conformed to the world’s values (Rom. 12:1-2). Instead, God helps us walk in His light (Eph. 5:8), in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), in love (Eph. 5:2), in truth (3 John 4), and in Christ (Col. 2:6).
As we walk in God’s power and spend time in His Word, He gives us the strength to live according to kingdom values and not the spirit of the age.
Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son.You have made
us alive in Christ and now we
have a new kind of thinking that differs from the world.
Teach us Your kingdom’s values that we might
learn to walk in love. In Jesus's name, Amen.
Although Christians live in this world, their allegiance is to Christ and His kingdom. (Via Dennis Fisher) Be Blessed! Dawn
Friday, November 30, 2012
Know the Right Savior
21) Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22) On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” 23) And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” —Matthew 7:21-23
Sometimes, the people with the most exposure to the Gospel are the least likely to think they need the Good News. Oh, they may say that Christ is their Savior because it’s the right thing to say, but a personal relationship may be lacking. Because they have such knowledge of how they should live according to biblical principles, many times they think they are saved when in fact, they are not. It is very possible to live so “above” others morally that we don’t see how desperately we need a Savior. Why? Because people become their own savior without even realizing it.
You can speak the right language and not know your Savior. You can know the right biblical answers and not know your Savior. You can look and act the part of a Christian, bringing others to know their Savior, and still not have the right Savior.
It is just our natural bent to want to be our own savior. That’s why these verses in Matthew can be so convicting. Every time we read them, it should stop us in our tracks and make us evaluate just who or what is our savior. We must be mindful that how we live is a testimony or witness to who we serve.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1, “To walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” The keys words are worthy and called. How we act is hugely important for the reputation of the Lord who called us. We wear His name on us at all times. If you are a parent, think of how you feel when your kids do something that is just awful. What’s goes through your mind? Right or wrong, you probably think of how their behavior makes you look. It’s no different with how our behavior can sling mud on the reputation of our Heavenly Father. This is one reason why behavior matters.
Now go back to the verses above. Read them slowly and ask yourself if how you live is for your own reputation or for that of God. If you call yourself a Christian, why you act the way you do, whether it’s good or bad, reflects on the true nature of that relationship. You just might need to know the right Savior.
Journal: What motivates me to live like I do?
What excuses do I give myself to act sinfully? Does my bad behavior ever make my Father look appealing to others?
(Via Trent Griffith)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Sometimes, the people with the most exposure to the Gospel are the least likely to think they need the Good News. Oh, they may say that Christ is their Savior because it’s the right thing to say, but a personal relationship may be lacking. Because they have such knowledge of how they should live according to biblical principles, many times they think they are saved when in fact, they are not. It is very possible to live so “above” others morally that we don’t see how desperately we need a Savior. Why? Because people become their own savior without even realizing it.
You can speak the right language and not know your Savior. You can know the right biblical answers and not know your Savior. You can look and act the part of a Christian, bringing others to know their Savior, and still not have the right Savior.
It is just our natural bent to want to be our own savior. That’s why these verses in Matthew can be so convicting. Every time we read them, it should stop us in our tracks and make us evaluate just who or what is our savior. We must be mindful that how we live is a testimony or witness to who we serve.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1, “To walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” The keys words are worthy and called. How we act is hugely important for the reputation of the Lord who called us. We wear His name on us at all times. If you are a parent, think of how you feel when your kids do something that is just awful. What’s goes through your mind? Right or wrong, you probably think of how their behavior makes you look. It’s no different with how our behavior can sling mud on the reputation of our Heavenly Father. This is one reason why behavior matters.
Now go back to the verses above. Read them slowly and ask yourself if how you live is for your own reputation or for that of God. If you call yourself a Christian, why you act the way you do, whether it’s good or bad, reflects on the true nature of that relationship. You just might need to know the right Savior.
Journal: What motivates me to live like I do?
What excuses do I give myself to act sinfully? Does my bad behavior ever make my Father look appealing to others?
Prayer –
Dear Father, I truly want You to be my heavenly Father.
I want to be desperate for Your grace all the days of my life.
I want to be motivated by an intense desire to see Your will lived out through me.
Help me not to make myself my own savior, and alert me when I begin to.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(Via Trent Griffith)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Give Thanks!
I think we forget this sometimes.......
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In Lansing, Michigan, during the winter, we don’t get many sunny days. But last year God blessed us with one of those beautiful days, and it seemed that almost everyone was thanking God, except me. As I left my office, a man said, “What a wonderful day we’re having. This is a gift from God!” To which I replied, “Yes, but we’re getting snow later this week.” What ingratitude!
In his letters, the apostle Paul helped his readers to develop a theology of gratitude. He wrote about thanksgiving more often than any other New Testament author. From the 23 times he used the word, we learn a few lessons about thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was always directed toward God and never toward people. People were gifts from God, and Paul thanked God for their growth, love, and faith (1 Cor. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:2).
Thanksgiving is given through Jesus for everything (Col. 3:15,17). Paul believed followers of Jesus could be thankful for everything because God is sovereign, and He is working things out for the believers’ good (1 Thess. 5:18).
May we intentionally be aware of God’s gifts all around us, and respond with gratitude. In response to God’s gifts, it’s natural to say, “Thank You, Lord.”
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In Lansing, Michigan, during the winter, we don’t get many sunny days. But last year God blessed us with one of those beautiful days, and it seemed that almost everyone was thanking God, except me. As I left my office, a man said, “What a wonderful day we’re having. This is a gift from God!” To which I replied, “Yes, but we’re getting snow later this week.” What ingratitude!
In his letters, the apostle Paul helped his readers to develop a theology of gratitude. He wrote about thanksgiving more often than any other New Testament author. From the 23 times he used the word, we learn a few lessons about thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was always directed toward God and never toward people. People were gifts from God, and Paul thanked God for their growth, love, and faith (1 Cor. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:2).
Thanksgiving is given through Jesus for everything (Col. 3:15,17). Paul believed followers of Jesus could be thankful for everything because God is sovereign, and He is working things out for the believers’ good (1 Thess. 5:18).
May we intentionally be aware of God’s gifts all around us, and respond with gratitude. In response to God’s gifts, it’s natural to say, “Thank You, Lord.”
Lord, for days that are sunny or gray we simply
want to say, Thank You! And for the daily grace
You give us in Your Son, may we always be faithful
to say, Thank You! You are so good to us.
Gratitude is a natural response to God’s grace.
(Via Marvin Williams)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Dawn
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