Knowing Jesus

Knowing Jesus is a lifelong process for His followers. It is not a simple thing. Attending church or "walking down the aisle" will not get you there. "There" is a walk with Him through life, talking with Him, reaching out to Him always, everywhere, praising Him, worshipping Him.

Knowing Jesus is a very personal thing. It's not head knowledge, because having information about something doesn't mean you are doing anything with it. It's a heart knowledge based on faith. It's an overwhelming sensation of love for Jesus, who died for me. Jesus Loves Me! I spent a long time arguing with myself over that. I couldn't understand how Jesus could love me. I am very undeserving, yet He loves me. He always loves me. He doesn't always love what I do, which I fear shows I do not always love Him. If I did, I do not think He would be unhappy with any of my actions. I am striving to live in His truth and not make up lies or falsehoods along the way. Like I said its a lifelong process.

Knowing Jesus is satisfying and exciting. The Bible, His word, is filled with exciting morsels of truth. The more you read, the more you want to know and the more you want to share with others. I do that through my Web site, Windows To Christian Ministries ... in Iowa and through this blog.

Knowing Jesus is having a song in your heart and a smile on your face ... no matter what. Sometimes that's hard. We think our tough times are the worst. But they're not. Afterall, Jesus went to the cross for us. He died for us. He died to give us life. Through thick and thin, Jesus is there for us. Where are we?

Ministries

I'm working on a new business idea ... one that might bring in some of that GREEN stuff, and no, I don't mean the grass on the ground or the leaves on some trees that haven't even turned red yet!

This project is connected with Window To Christian Ministries ... in Iowa in a broad sense. I'm putting together a Web site (its not up yet!) to sell laminated memorial keepsakes/tribute cards and bookmarks.

I've talked to lots of people who would like laminated copies of a loved ones' obituary, and they don't know where to turn. I've decided to fill a void here, although there are some funeral homes who provide this service and a lot of copy shops can laminate all sorts of things for you.

Today I even applied for a sales tax license, although unfortunately that will take 4 to 6 weeks before it arrives in my mailbox.

I've been toying with this idea for some time, but today I went forth and got a little bit conquered.

Walking in the Light

The other day (Oct. 24: The Unrighteous) I talked about how God loves us for ourselves, but not always for what we do or how we act. Today, as I finished studying the first part of Ephesians 5, I was reminded that we are to walk not only in love, but in the light. And the light is Jesus. We are to be fragrant imitators of God, a pleasant aroma. We can not be if we continue to walk in the ways of our past. For when we become children of God, our old way is washed away and we become new.
Verses 8-12 say:
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret."

If you do not believe this and persist in living in your old ways, then it is reasonable to question whether you really are a child of God. According to Ephesians 4:22-24: "that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness."

Implementing change

Galatians 5:16-17 says: "...walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

How true. My biggest downfall has to do with eating. Even though I have lost considerable weight and look better and feel better, I still have my cravings and, unfortunately, give in to them too often. And then I don't feel so good. And hindsight seems to work better than foresight. We see the results of our sin (that's what it really is) after the fact. Its only when we learn how to say no to our personal desires and no to Satan, will we have a finger-hold in walking with the Lord. Its day-to-day, minute-to-minute, as we strive to be obedient to what the Lord commands of us.

You may think you have it down pat one day, everything is going so smoothly, but unless you stay in the Word, study it and follow through with your actions, the next day you may find has gone sour. The Lord is always available to each of us, but we have to actively seek His leading and pursue.

What is a Christian?

What is a Christian and are you one? To me a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. It is not one who merely prays or attends church. Its a personal relationship with Jesus, the founder of our faith.

On my Web site, http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com I have a link about World Religions. Under Christianity, there is listed Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. The primary belief of all three is that Jesus is the Messiah and Saviour and heaven can only be assessed through belief and faith in Him.

What I find sad is that is where it stops. I have received emails from some people who think Catholicism is a cult and others who thank me for listing it as part of Christianity. Its confusing to say the least.

Earlier this morning I started reading on this Web site:
Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. I will be doing some more reading and studying before I come to definite conclusions.

The unrighteous

God loves you and God loves me. But God does not love what we do when it is against Him and His commandments. I recently came across a site called ChristianGays.com
and while I believe God loves the gay man or woman, I do not believe God loves how that person is living.

I Corinthians 6:9-10 says:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

Jesus Loves Me!

and He loves you too. Every now and then I sing "Jesus Loves Me" around the house. But I never knew the second and third verses, or if I did, they weren't in my memory bank. Here are all three verses:

Jesus loves me! this I know; For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; They are weak but He is strong

Jesus loves me! He who died; Heaven's gate to open wide; He will wasy away my Sin; Let his little child come in

Jesus loves me! He will stay; Close beside me all the way; He prepared a home for me; And some day His face I'll see.

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

About God ... the lies and the TRUTH

Maybe you think there are no lies you believe about God. Well think again. Here are some you may have thought about at one time or another.

• God is not really good
• God doesn't love me
• God is just like my father
• God's ways are too restrictive
• God should fix my problems

I have believed God doesn't love me from time to time. But He does. And He's not like my earthly father. My father left when I was young. The Lord is always there for me. We are the ones who leave.

Think about what lies you have believed. There's probably more than are listed here. And once you've AGREED with God about these lies, ACCEPT responsibility for them and AFFIRM the truth and then ACT on that truth.

Truths I found for myself are:

• God's love for me is infinite and unconditional
• I don't have to perform to earn God's love or favor
• God always has my best interests at heart
• God is exactly wht He has revealed Himself to be in His word
• God is infinitely more wise and loving than any earthly father could ever be
• No matter what problem I am facing, God's grace is sufficient for me

Get out your Bible and read these verses:

• Psalm 100:5
• Psalm 23
• Psalm 124
• Romans 8:28-39

Think about what these verses reveal to you about the character of God and His heart toward His children.

I realized that I knew the Lord is good; His mercy lasts forever; His truth endures to all generations; the Lord is all - guide, protector, constant companion; the Lord watches over me at all times. He is ever waiting and watching; All things work together for good to those who love God. God is in control at all times.

Knowing the truth about God and living the truth about HIM is the difference.

Old and new

Our Sunday School class is studying Ephesians. Today's reading is from Ephesians 4:22-24:
"that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness."

I read that and it reminded me of the the many ways Satan digs into our minds and makes us think things that aren't true. We hear something and instead of bringing to mind all that God has said through His word, we dwell on the untruths and then believe and act on them.

How stupid! I'm right up there. I was saved, I am saved, I am a child of God, therefore, what was my old former self has been renewed. But if we don't live in the new, if we don't renew our minds ... our way of thinking, we haven't really put off that former conduct and we are living in bondage to sin, to Satan.

The way we live reveals what we believe.

The Lord

The Lord IS

• righteous
• faithful ... trusthworthy
• pure
• everlasting
• truth

He is so much more. But that is what He is in Psalm 119 verses 137-144.

Dear Lord,

Help me to always believe in you, never let me become wayward and distant from you.

Bring to my mind all that you are. Remembering you are faithful, help me too to to be faithful and do all that you instruct.

Help me always to see your truths.

Help me stay afloat, not falter, not drown in sorrow, in debt to man (myself or others).

Amen.

It's all about Jesus ... in Iowa

I started a ministry site 4 years ago. It purpose is to provide listings of Christian churches and ministries in Iowa so visitors and residents of the state can find a Bible-believing church or activity to attend. That link is http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/Communities.html

The site is a continuing work in progress. If you live in Iowa and are reading this blog, please check out the numerous links on the site. And if there is something you would like to see that isn't there or if you have information about a particular Bible-believing church or ministry that is not listed, please submit your request. That link is http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/SubmitInfo.html

Other links that you may be interested in are:

• How to know you have eternal life: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/GodsPromises.html

• Have you accepted Jesus as your personal saviour?http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html

• Who or what do you perceive as God? http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/God_Is.html

• Christianity/Buddhism/Islam and more http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/WorldReligions.html

• Churches/Denominations that preach the word http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/namethem.html

• Organizations that DO NOT believe in or profess the word of God http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/cults.html

• Do you believe you can sin and get away with it?http://www.windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/Consequences.html

• Educating your child http://www.windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ChildcareandSchools.html

• Evangelists and Missionaries with an Iowa connection http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/Ambassadors.html

• Links to Christian sites: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/Connections.html

• Testimony and Faith Statement http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ChristianMinistries.html

For your garden

I received this from a friend. I've seen it before, but decided to share it this time with all of you. It's so true. If we did what it instructs we'd be far better off.

Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses...






FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:


1. Peace of mind 2. Peace of heart 3. Peace of soul


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:




1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:




1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:



1. Turnip for meetings 2. Turnip for service 3. Turnip to help one another




TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN, WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other 2. Thyme for family

3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE

AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.

THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN

BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Poetic beauty

I have been reading Psalm 119 for weeks. It has many, many verses - 176 to be exact, and I read 129-136 today. I want to share it with you today from the New King James version of the Bible.
"Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law."

My hope is in you

Psalm 119 (Samek) says, "I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word."

My hope is in You. Do not let me be ashamed. You are my hiding place, my refuge. In times of strife, do not allow me to become separated from you, to become divided, to stray, to not know what is right and what is not. Hold me up, keep me ever mindful of your statutes, your judgements, your testimonies, your commandments. Help me be obedient to you Lord.

Coming of Age

How old are you? If you're past 21 or even if you're not there yet, what does that mean to you?

For lots of people turning 21 means you can be on your own, out from under your parents' wing, with opportunities to do or be whatever you want. Those opportunities can result in positive development or negative. It could mean drinking and bar-hopping, or getting stoned on marijuana or crack, or being promiscuous, having children out of wedlock. It could also mean following the Lord, learning how to be what He desires of you, listening to and learning from those more mature than you and becoming mature yourself.

Spiritual maturity is not something that comes with age. I'm in my 50s (shhhh! don't tell anyone) but I've witnessed people in their 20s or 30s who have more maturity than I. A person can be 50 or 70 and not be mature. Therefore a person in their teens can show more spiritual maturity than someone much older.

Spiritual maturity has to do with your walk with Christ. It involves prayer, Bible study, obedience. Its an ever learning process ...

Lies - an overview

Everyone at some time or another in their life tells a lie or believes a lie. When I read the book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free," my eyes opened wide in amazement.

Firstly, DeMoss indicates we are in bondage ... frazzled, exhausted, burned-out, overwhelmed, confused, angry, frustrated, discouraged, defeated, depressed, ashamed, emotionally unstable, uptight, insecure, lonely, fearful, suicidal. I admit I've been all of those at least once. I bet you have too. And we don't like how that feels.

God wants us to be joyous, contented, loving, radiant, confident, gracious, peaceful, stable.

So, why aren't we? What has happened? DeMoss says Satan deceives us by causing us to make decisions based on what we can see and what our emotions and our reason tell us is right RATHER than what God has already told us. Nowhere does it say in the Bible that God desires us to be exhausted or overwhelmed or frustrated or insecure or fearful.

When we are not honest with each other we are doing Satan's work for him, we are acting as Satan's agents, deceiving and destroying each other.

Stop and think, meditate on what you are hearing.

• What is the message here?
• Is it really true?
• Am I being deceived by a way of thinking that is contrary to the truth?

Bondage begins when we first listen to a lie.

Listening to a view point that is contrary to God's word sends us down a road that leads to disobedience and ultimately, physical and spiritual death.

1. Listen to lie
2. Dwell on lie and sooner or later we
3. Believe the lie and then we
4. Act on the lie

In moving from bondage (lies) to freedom (truth), each of us need to

1. Identify areas of bondage or sinful behavior. Ask God to show you specific areas where you are not free.
2. Identify the lie(s) at the root of that bondage or behavior.
3. Replace the lie(s) with the Truth.

Its more than "Do I believe this lie?" Its "Do I live as though I believe this lie?"

Birthdays

Today is nearly over. But its still Sunday, Oct. 16. Today is Beanne's birthday. She'd be 90-something. She and my mom were friends, went to college together ... back in the 1930s. A lifetime ago. They went to Coe College ... how that campus has changed. They actually have a campus and it is really pretty. Beanne was always silly and I remember her telling me I was too and not to ever lose it. Having humor is important in life. Sometimes it helps you get through the painfully difficult times.

I was reading a blog (before I decided to write this) of someone who was reminiscing about his dad who died 14 years ago. My mom died nine years ago last month. I think of the day of her going home every year, about a month or a week before the actual date. There are so many times I wish she was here, to talk with and do stuff with. But she is in a better place (heaven) and although I still miss her, one day I'll be with her and we can talk to our hearts' content.

Understanding God's peace

Peace ... what do you consider that to be? According to the Scriptures, it is completeness based on God's presence rather than circumstances. If it were only based on circumstances, none of us would ever find peace. We would be in a constant state of turmoil.

Peace is what Jesus Christ represents to everyone. But of course, not everyone finds that peace, not everyone comes to know Christ as their personal saviour, not everyone becomes one of God's chosen.

God's chosen are not one distinct group of people, i.e., the Jews.

Read Ephesians 2:14-15. It says the same thing in many different versions of the Bible, but some are easier to understand. I compared the New King James to The Message and the Good News. This is what the Good News says:
"For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace."

Emphasizing differences and division thwarts one's abilities to understand and enjoy the meaning of true peace. Even when the walls are torn or broken down, without wholeness and unity, there is no peace.

God's chosen people are all those who come to Christ and are His followers.

Life with Christ

The Sunday school lesson this week is on "Experiencing God's Life-Changing Power" and is taken from Ephesians 1:18 - 2:10.

"The Purpose-Driven Life," written by Rick Warren asks What on Earth am I here for?
I struggled with that for a long time. I wondered what legacy I would leave anyone since I had no children and only one nephew and not a lot of influence there that I could see. I came to realize that I'm not really put on this earth for me and my selfish desires. I'm here to praise and worship God, my creator, your creator. To obey His commandments, not to listen to our inner thoughts telling us other things.

God tells us through the Scriptures (vs. 8-10):
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

It is by His grace we have been saved through faith in His son Jesus Christ. It is not anything we have done -- no way we can earn salvation. It is God's gift to us. No matter where you are in your life - no matter where you live. A person is not saved by being born in a particular country or by belonging to a particular ethnic group.

I will follow you ...

Some of you may remember the song "I will follow you." It was around probably during the late 1960s. I love that song.

But the meaning I'm thinking of here, has to do with following the Lord. Psalm 119 (He) says:
"Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end."

Instruct, help me understand, direct me in your ways;
Incline my heart toward you and not inwardly to my own selfish desires;
Shield my eyes from looking at worthless things;
Regenerate, rejuvenate me to follow you;
Bring to my mind your every word to keep me on your path to righteousness.

Is it the Truth ... or is it a lie?

The Truth -- Psalm 119 (Gimel) says "Open my eyes that I may see." This refers to spiritual insights, what we glean through reading the Word of God. I recently finished reading a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss titled "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free." In the next few weeks I will be commenting on those lies and God's truth.

Pure ... unblemished ... cleansed

Psalm 119 - Beth:

"How can a young man (i.e., person) cleanse his way?"

My take on this is that the only way to keep your life pure, unblemished, or to clean up your life is to obey the Lord's commandments, live according to His will, NOT your own. Bring to mind at all times God's word and apply it to your life. Memorization of the Scriptures is useful (and I'm not very good at that). Study His Holy word and meditate on how God is using the Scriptures to make your life completely whole. Think about what is pleasing to the Lord, not what you personally desire.

Blameless ... undefiled

Psalm 119 - Aleph says
"Blessed are the undefiled (i.e., blameless) in the way who walk in the law of the Lord."

Who is blameless? Is it possible to follow the Lord's commandments and be blameless? We are human, we are not God, how can we be blameless, how can we be pure? Is it talking about cleansed?

There is no one, but Jesus, who is without SIN. The rest of us may make every attempt to follow the Lord, seek Him, walk in His ways, keep His commandments, YET, it is only through Christ's shed blood, His death on the cross, His burial and His resurrection, that we can be cleansed, saved, born-again. And even then, that requires a personal acceptance, a heart knowledge, an individual application.

The Lord

I have been reading the psalms and today's reading was Psalm 118. The first thing I noticed was "His mercy endures forever." I remembered reading yesterday in Psalm 117 that "His truth endures forever." I remember because I wrote it down. I've been contemplating doing a word study on "truth" but today I thought I'd check out the phrase "endures forever."

I found

• 42 occurrences referring to His mercy
• 4 occurrences referring to His righteousness
• 1 occurrence referring to His praise
• 1 occurrence referring to His truth
• 1 occurrence referring to His righteous judgments
• 1 occurrence referring to His name
• 1 occurrence referring to His word

My God reigns.