Interactive Flash presentation of the Gospel:
www.thekristo.com

Thursday, March 31, 2011

In His image, according to His likeness

Being a Christian means being a human being - as Christ became a human being.

The race we belong to is human. God created us --

"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;" (Genesis 1:26a)

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)

In Our image
According to Our likeness

Jesus
Son of God
came
as us --
created by
Him and His Father God
in
Their image,
according to Their likeness.

Jesus
Son of God
the culmination
of us all
came
took our place
showing us
how to live
and
how to die
in Him,
and according to Him,
Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not
appearances
not emotions
not price tags
not traditions, not customs
These do not make a "human being."

We became
through God

How we
become,
what we become
is dependent on
on who we perceive
our maker, our creator.

Is it
the Word of God
or
is it
the word of me

Do we share,
Do we participate
in the sufferings
of our Lord Jesus,
the bearer of new life
and unending love,
in the life of this world,
a society of human beings
living in hopelessness ...

reaching, seeking ...
Are we there? Like Jesus,
in His image,
according to His likeness?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It was their mission - is it ours?

“5These twelve (disciples) Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: Do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. … 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 10:5-7, 23)
Matthew writes primarily to a Jewish audience. When Jesus says in verse 5 to not go here or there but to the house of Israel, it is because the Jews believed they were better than the Gentiles or the Samaritans, that they were The Chosen Ones. And, yes, they were/are God’s chosen people, but they refuted/refute much of what Jesus said. They were disobedient, arrogant, given in to personal preferential thought.

The mission, “And as you go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” stated in verse 7, is the same as in the gospels of Mark (chapter 6: 7-11) and Luke (chapter 9: 1-6). The instructions to follow do vary dependent upon what Biblical scholar is writing and to what type of audience.

  • The way of the Gentiles

The Gentiles walked in darkness. They lived in the shadows of evilness and wickedness, which was not God’s way, but then they witnessed Jesus, a great light, and upon them the light shines – salvation has come.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2) This verse is similar to what is written in Matthew 4:15-16.

Isaiah also prophesies Jesus’ mission: “I, the Lord have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes.” (Isaiah 42:6-7a)

The Jews were to also be a light to the Gentiles and to the Samaritans; everyone who was foreign. “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good words and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)


  •  The way of the Samaritans
Samaria had been the capital of Israel, the northern kingdom (of 10 cities). The city was captured by Assyria in 722 B.C. and its inhabitants were exiled to locations in the Assyrian Empire. Samaritans were a mixture of Jew and Gentile.

“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.” (I Kings 17:18)

“They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods – according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.” (I Kings 17:33)

There was much hostility, animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans and each would go out of their way to avoid any encounter with the other.

The hostility, however, was not going to stop Jesus, who was determined to meet his opposition head on. Jesus illustrates to His followers how to handle rejection / opposition … anger is not the way.

“For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:56)

In the story of the 10 lepers cleansed (Luke 17:11-19), one was a Samaritan. The rest are presumed to be Jews. It is only the Samaritan, who upon discovering he had been healed, returned to Jesus to thank him. A foreigner, Jesus says to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (v. 19) Faith comes from unexpected sources – women, tax collectors, Samaritans.

Of the lepers, all are shunned. The one who is Samaritan is shunned by Jewish society because he is a Samaritan. Yet the Samaritan leper is the only one who expresses his thanks.

In the story of Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman (John 4:19-26, 28-29), her perceptions bring light and the truth.

“19The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshipped on this mountain and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. 21Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. 25The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things. 26Jesus spoke to her, I who speak to you am He. … 28The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Chronologically, Jesus’ visit with the Samaritan woman came before He sent out the 12 disciples. The destruction of Samaria/Israel was hundreds of years earlier.

  • The lost sheep of the house of Israel

Jesus is determined to spiritually reach His own, but along the way, in his travels to the regions of Tyre and Sidon, which are Gentile, He encounters them, these Gentile foreigners and finds their faith true.

“25For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birh, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27But Jesus said to her, Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. 28And she answered and said to Him, Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs. 29Then He said to her: For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” (Mark 7:25-29)

It is not good to steal from the poor, to take for yourself things belonging to another simply because you can. Jesus came to feed, spiritually feed, the lost sheep – His own, His Jewish brothers and sisters. The physical food the poor have is theirs to partake and another perhaps higher class of people should not take it for themselves just because they can. The same is true of spiritual food. Israel was God’s chosen people; therefore Israel had priority over the Gentiles, just as one’s children had priority over dogs. The Samaritan woman understood this; her faith in the Lord thereby healed her daughter.

Even though Israel was and is God’s chosen, their rejection of the gospel, of the Son of God, resulted in salvation being brought to the Gentiles.

“44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45But when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ (also Isaiah 49:6) 48Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.”

The lost sheep of the house of Israel – all people of Jewish standing who do not know, understand, believe and accept the True Shepherd, The Messiah, Jesus Christ. They are not to be found where you would think they are; they are scattered.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Some shepherds are false prophets.

“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountains to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.” (Jeremiah 50:6)

“11For thus says the Lord God: Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 15I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. 16I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment. 22therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them. 25I will make a covenant of peace with them. 30they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people, says the Lord God. 31You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God.” (Exekiel 34: 11-16, 22-23, 25, 30-31)

“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to The Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (I Peter 2:25)

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion, Says the Lord of hosts. Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land, Says the Lord. That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, This is My people; And each one will say, The Lord is my God.” (Zechariah 13:7-9)

Jesus is the True Shepherd. The Good Shepherd. “7Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11Iam the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:7-11)


  • As you go

As you go, on the way, take only your person, not extra, not more than is necessary. Jesus gave His disciples power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.

"He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts – but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:8-9)

“And He said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.” (Luke 9:3)


  •  Preach, saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

Preach repentance, salvation, everlasting life, eternal life.

We who believe the Lord Jesus is the Son of God – born of the Virgin Mary, and met death, being crucified on the cross at Calvary for the sins against God made by all of mankind, was buried, and after three days, was resurrected – “18(He who believes in Him) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:19-21) “and saying, Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2)

John the Baptist came baptizing in the wilderness. He is the fulfillment of promise/prophecy made in Isaiah 40:3 – “The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

“3And he (John the Baptist) went into all the region; around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; And the crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways made smooth; 6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:3-6)


  • When they persecute you in this city, flee to another

“But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near you.” (Luke 10:10-11) “and whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:11)

In Old Testament time, shaking off the dust was symbolic of a complete break in fellowship and a renunciation of any additional responsibility. Perhaps it is like wiping the slate clean, move on, don’t let the negative result in unnecessary grief.

“ But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.” (Acts 13:50-51)

In Acts 17, Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica to discuss the Scriptures with the Jews there. Some were persuaded, including women and Greeks, but for the most part the Jews were antagonistic, inciting a mob against them.
“But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” (Acts 17:5)

Paul and Silas went on to Berea, where the Jews were more open-minded. But those from Thessalonica heard and came and stirred them up again, therefore forcing Paul to move on.


  • Be assured, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

There is and there continues to be great persecution, resulting in large scale scattering of people.

“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 8:1)

Only the apostles were not scattered. And they were to go forth, to the lost cities, the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

And we as well are to go forth and preach repentance to all. There is much urgency. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, will return before all will be found, before all will hear and see and understand.

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

Monday, March 21, 2011

You are a chosen vessel of the Lord

"But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15) 

You too are a chosen vessel of the Lord, 
to bear His name before all you come in contact. 
He will show you how 
and in what way. ... 
but not necessarily the way you think it should be.
Remember ... ? 
His ways are not your ways. 
His way is better, far better 
than anything we suppose.
We are to show "cares for the things that belong to the Lord - how he may please the Lord."                          (I Corinthians 7:32)

Whatever our stage in life, 
the Lord's desire is for us to care, 
to be concerned about what is pleasing to Him.

Sometimes you run when you're scared or frightened or frustrated; sometimes you withdraw. 
God doesn't want us to be stagnant, but to run, run with endurance, in the way He has destined for us. 

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured ... lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The Lord knows your heart
He knows your innermost being
Remember ...? 
He formed you.

He understands your desires, 
your misgivings,
your pain

He tells us to lay aside every hindrance, every sin which traps us so easily. 
Discouragement is not a sin, nor is frustration or disappointment.
But all can lead to places God does not wish us to partake in. 

God has forgiven you
He has cleansed you 
of your sin
of your guilt
He has pardoned you
He has restored you to righteousness. 

God does not keep a record of your wrongs
He is not like your peers
who remember
and bring before you
your faults, failures, 
making claim to 
disqualification.

Who are they to judge
Who made them Lord
What makes them higher and more powerful than the Lord God Almighty? 

He has pardoned you
Of what matter, 
of what consequence is it
when others put us down. 

Their level is not where God wants you.
He has forgiven you.
Once. Twice. and more. 
He forgives us our trespasses 
again and again, 
when we actively seek His forgiveness
and live the life 
He has chosen for us. 
 
"But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you." (Luke 10:10-11)

Whatever city
Whatever church
Whatever congregation 
Whatever people
if so embittered 
against you
to not receive you
then wipe off the dust
wipe the slate clean
move on 

It is not they who ultimately decide your path. 
It is God. His will. 
Follow Him. 

Jesus went places of which His disciples cringed.
Jesus' determination super-ceded those who followed Him. 
He listened and discussed with others, 
But it was His Father to whom He obeyed. 

The hostility we face should not deter us 
from following and being obedient 
to our Lord Jesus Christ. 
We need to meet our opposition 
head on, 
not withdraw from it.

Move on and do. 
Perhaps 
not literally, as moving your place of residency to another 
but symbolically, within your heart and soul
Don't become complacent
Don't let those who oppose 
control. 
Let God. 

The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, saying
"Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you." (Acts 18:9-10)

Do not be afraid. 
Do not keep silent.
Sometimes silence of words is necessary, 
but the silence of the heart need not be.
Seek the Lord
Seek His way for you to go. 
He is with you.
He is always with you.

Nothing another says 
because of their fears and unstableness
can truly harm you
if it is to the Lord 
we look and seek and pray and be.
He is our enabler. 
Our all. 
In Him do we trust. 

Amen. 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

His charge to us: we are to love one another


Jesus loves all the children of the world, and that includes you and me …  for we are all children, little and big, young and old, rich and poor, dirty and clean. God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, loved us once and loves us still. He has never stopped loving us. 

Jesus, in John 13:34-35, says a “new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

But the commandment is not new.  "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)  In the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:18, God says, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

No, the commandment is not new. It is old. It has been there from the beginning, but who has heard it, who has listened, who has obeyed? 

The Ten.
Commandments
written
in Exodus
The basics
But
There are more
much more
Specifics
some, such as
the laws of sacrifices
told of
in Leviticus 1-7.

Fulfilled, all
with
Jesus’
birth, death and resurrection

 and upon his return,
Complete. And final.

The Lord God
commands us
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)

God calls us to, in holiness, not uncleanness, not sin.

 “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” (I Thessalonians 4:7)

But are we holy? Do we live as He … in holiness?

Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us,
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Christ is our offering
Christ is the sacrifice
None other is needed
None other is required

Christ fulfills all
that is spoken of, foretold
in the Old Testament.

You who still wait
for The Messiah
He has come
He is here.

For those who are “sons (and daughters) of light and sons (and daughters) of the day” (I Thessalonians 5:5), “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (I Thessalonians 5:9) Live together with Him in Love and in holiness. 

You who are waiting
for His return
The Most High
He is coming again
soon
and very soon
Be watching
Be on guard
Be alert
Remember
His instructions
His Love

Do not show partiality
Do not show preference
God is not partial
There is no favoritism
with Him.
To all
He extends His love
and as the Lord Jesus instructs
See it all throughout the Scriptures …
to love one another.

5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love him? 8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; 9but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:5, 8-10)

One sin
tiny or big
it matters not
a sin
is a sin
is a sin
making
an individual
a sinner,
facing condemnation.

Jesus paid the price
for our sin
and his command!?
To love one another
To love your neighbor
as yourself
to live as He lives

 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (I John 2:3-6)

 “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (I John 2:7-11)

 “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard   from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” (I John 2:6)

“Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” (I John 3:10)

Jesus loves the Little Children video


Children of the World Choir video








Thursday, March 17, 2011

God created us to have dominion over every creeping thing, BUT ...


On the sixth day of creation God created humans.

26Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them….”  (Genesis 1:26-28)

Think about that for a moment. God created us, with dominion over the fish, the birds, the cattle, EVERY CREEPING THING. 

God blessed us … and then we took advantage of  it. 

Adam and Eve gave in to their impulses and greed … they sinned.

 1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. 4And the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die. 5For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” (Genesis 3:1-7)

We were created in God’s image. It is the Lord Jesus himself who shows us what God is like, for “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18)

The (moral) image of God, as shown through Jesus Christ, is sinless. 

The first man and woman were created in a natural and moral likeness to God. When they sinned, their moral likeness to God was no more. It went out the door. As each generation of children are born they are created in the natural image of God and the moral image of their earthly father (and mother). Because of the first generations’ sin act, all generations share equally in the guilt of that sin.

But God is our creator, our ultimate creator. And it is because of His love for us in the world that He sent His Son to show us the way out of the darkness of sin into the light.  

 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 10, 14)

16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Where are you bound?

Have you given your heart to Jesus, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, are you walking the life path of His way for you?

Or, do you rebel against God and pursue a life filled with sin, facing the consequences thereof?

It is your choice. 

For an interactive flash presentation of the Gospel: www.thekristo.com 



Monday, March 14, 2011

A family ... to have, to have not, to be, to love


To have
nearby or far away
to visit by phone
or email
or skype
or Facebook
or some other social medium
or to write a letter,
send a card
or to visit
up close and personal

Families
you miss them
sometimes
and
sometimes again,
it doesn’t matter
whether you miss them or not
They don’t miss you

You want
what once was
But you can’t go back

Can only go forward
and hope for the best

You pray
asking the Lord
to show you
what to do
how to proceed
how to live
with or without.

Depression
gets the best of you

you want
but you can’t always have
what you want

Sometimes what we want
is not God’s best for us
Sometimes you just have to
wait
and wait
and wait.
So endless
So tiring
Waiting and waiting
and waiting some more

Wanting
a family
God gives you what you need
when He deems it right.

Sometimes a family
is just two,
A man and a woman
married to each other.

Sometimes it is only one,
yourself.

Sometimes it is the
4-legged children
who share our abode
and not the 2-legged variety
we think we have so wanted.

Sometimes a family
is the friends
we have
who help
make our life
worthwhile ....
who share
their time
to make
memories
pleasant
for another ....
who listen
without
judgement or prejudice ... 
who desire 
God's best 
for us.

Sometimes 
a family 
is 
adopted  
far, far away 
another country
or 
perhaps 
they are 
just 
around the corner ...
willing to break down 
the walls of
silence 
and 
sadness 
overcoming you 
and be your 
family  
for a little while 
while they can 
when you need it 
when the time is right. 

A family
that hugs
and loves
not keeping record 
of all the wrongs done 
not reminding you 
of failings 
and failures

A family 
to have 
to hold
to cherish 
to share 
to be 
no matter 
how small or big
rich or poor

A family 
to love


IF you claim to be a believer, then you must believe!


When you pray and claim you are a believer, then in all truth, you must believe everything, ALL, that the Lord says, to be true. To pray and not really believe God will do what He says, then can you honestly say you are a believer?

Please God, help us today. Tomorrow will be too late. Please God, send someone, the money needed, someone to befriend us. Please God, help us today. And if you believe, a resounding AMEN! is the perfect conclusion. But if you do not believe, if faith is not …

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

Monday, March 7, 2011

What you plant that you will reap

 A friend sent the following in an email today and I've decided to share it with you. It should give you much to think about.  


A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. 



Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.


A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the varietyof plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. 


Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"


All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.



The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!" 


Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. "How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. 


Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it,and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. 


All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"


* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Think about this for a minute....

If I happened to show up on your door step crying, would you care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up because something happened, would you come?
If I had one day left to live my life, would you be part of that last day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours?

This is a test to see who your real friends are or if you are just someone to talk to you when they are bored.

Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes?

They blink together,
they move together,
they cry together,
they see things together,
and they sleep together,
but they never see each other; ....

that's what friendship is..

Your aspiration is your motivation,
your motivation is your belief,
your belief is your peace,
your peace is your target,
your target is heaven, 

and life is like hard core torture without it!

The cross

The cross
a symbol
representative
of
Christ's suffering
for all of mankind
He came to save

The cross
representative
of
Christ's rejection
faced
because of mankind
 They despised
They abandoned
They refused to believe

The cross
representative
of
Christ in us
His believers
who suffer
and are rejected
with Him.

We look down

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:35-36 NKJV)

We look down
in dismay
in disgust
in anger

at the sick
of mind
and body
and soul

We fail to show
compassion --
love and care
to all

Only a select few
do we find
approachable

Because,
we
are not
Jesus.

Cathy Orrick Luders
March 3, 2011


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

If you don't believe in The One True God heaven is not your final destination

If you don't believe in the very one who died for you, how can you honestly believe you will spend eternity in heaven?

Heaven is not the final destiny of every human on earth. There is a hell. It is not a fictitious place.

Living the"good life," believing in "a god," but not The One True God, does not bring you to the place of eternal peace.

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."  (Galatians 6:7)

If you do not have a life set apart
If you have not accepted God's free gift
If you do not believe in Him
If you do not live and walk as Jesus while you have the opportunity,
your eternal home is NOT heaven.

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:8)

"And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

All to Thee

I found the words to the song "All to Thee" while thumbing through journal writings from 2005. The song is in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal and written in 1966 by Richard D. Baker. I cannot find a video of it (words and music) on YouTube.com or elsewhere, but I can share the words with you. And perhaps you too will discover all you need is HIM.

I have heard the voice of Jesus
Calling clearly Follow me; 
No one else would ever promise
life eternal and so free. 

Tho' unworthy of salvation,
Jesus sought me for His own;
On the cross He died to save me,
Now I long to make Him known. 

Only Jesus is the answer
For the happiness we seek;
He alone can lift life's burden,
And give strength unto the weak.

All to thee, I give my all to thee, 
All to thee, thine only will I be;
All to thee, O Christ of Calvary, 
My prayer shall ever be, 
my all to thee.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6