Jesus -- "a new cleansing wind"

A puzzling equation of science …
The resurrection of Christ - for how can it be?!

A miracle …
God’s miracle
The Holy Scriptures are filled with the miracles of God surrounding us
Not to be puzzled over, questioned
But simply to believe
in God
in His Son
in the Holy Spirit
to Trust.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

“…You believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29a)

God is the master of the universe.
He can do anything.
He can do all.
He is all.

Of Himself
Yet separate
He is the Lord Jesus sent to Earth to save its people from damnation

Jesus
the perfect atonement,
replaced the dove, the animal sacrifices of old.

Jesus
He took the sin of us all upon Himself
carried to the cross
because of His love for us.

His Father loved Him too and loves Him still
but He had to look away
He could not witness all the evilness of the world
loaded onto His precious Son. Overwhelming dismay for this One, His Son.


And so it was finished. Jesus died.
And was buried.
But death, alas, was not the end.

He said He would … after 3 days in the tomb, arise.
And so He did.

He is risen!

The Lord has risen! He has risen indeed!

Christ overcame death.

Some of us only sleep, perhaps a very sound sleep, giving the appearance of death, because we cannot be awakened.


A “new, cleansing wind,” Dietrich Bonhoeffer says.
The resurrection of Christ
rings anew, brings renewal.
Easter is coming.

Christ was reborn. He died. He was buried. After three days, He was risen.
Risen from the dead.


The dead of darkness, of sin, has died, been destroyed.

The Lord has risen to new life.
And we, as believers, through Him, live in this new life.

Our old has died. We have been reborn. And in the Last Day, our bodies in the grave or still alive on Earth will be resurrected to join Him in the heavenly realms.


Divine, supreme Love
intervenes, coming against guilty humanity and is the ultimate winner.

Easter.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)

“For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The judgment of sin is death. Jesus’ death was the only and final act of judgment made for the future of mankind as well as past and present. Upon Him was all our sin.

“…For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift (given by Christ) which come from many offenses resulted in justification.” (Romans 5:16)

“For as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many (all) were made sinners; so also by one Man’s (Jesus) obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

For Christians, our life has meaning only because of Easter.

If Easter wasn’t – if the Jesus Christ who died for the sins of mankind and was buried, did not arise, then our life would be meaningless. We would not be Christians, we would still be living in guilt, we would still make sacrifices for our sins and hope whatever we do/did would be good enough. The foundation upon which our whole live rests as Christians, believers in Christ, falls, collapses.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up – if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ; we are of all men the most pitiable.

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:13-22)

“What you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be; … But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds.” (I Corinthians 15:36a-39)

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. Sown in dishonor, raised in glory. Sown in weakness, raised in power. Sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” (I Corinthians 15:42-45)

Love, God’s Love
overcame sin

Sin and death were defeated at the cross
upon which His Son
The Christ
hung and died
buried in a tomb
and after 3 days,

AROSE!

There are no what ifs or how can you be sure. The Scriptures say it.

Do you believe?

You who do not are already damned.

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Christ lives because God lives, because God’s love lives.

God forgives us of our sins through Christ, His Son, when we accept and believe.
God loves us / loved us so much He came to earth as His Son to save the children of the world.

God has committed Himself to Christ, and Christ has committed Himself to us.

In Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, the faith of His disciples was confirmed, giving their faith new meaning. That new meaning encompasses Easter.

When we believe Jesus and God are one yet separate entities, that Jesus came to earth, born of God and the Virgin Mary, that He walked upon the earth teaching, suffering, being tempted (all that we too come in contact) that prophecy foretold, His destiny came to be, was fulfilled.

He died for us, was buried, and after 3 days, God set Him free – He arose. Jesus Christ arose!

And because my life is wrapped in His, I too have been set free.

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. … For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:18-23)

Christ is The Light -- are we a follower?

"The only visible sign of God in the world is the cross." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Christ is the Light of the world
He came among us
to show us the Light
the way out
of the darkness
that consumes us

Christ died
and was reborn
He is the resurrection of the Light

Christ's death on the cross
All the darkness of humankind
was upon Him
He could not escape it
He sought its removal,
but His destiny was upon Him

A prayer to the Father
amidst a grove of olive trees
in a place called Gethsemane ...
"Abba, Father,
All things are possible for You. 
Take this cup away from Me; 
Nevertheless, not what I will, 
but what You will." (Mark 14:36 NKJ)

The burden
The heaviness
of each of everyone
our sin
upon Him, who is without
taken
each step, each stripe, each lashing,
each pounding

All He embraced
All our sin
upon Himself
His destiny
His Father's will

All the darkness
that Jesus took upon Himself
separated Him
from the Love of His Father

but
in dying came rebirth
Three days
in the tomb
buried
just as He foretold

The resurrected body
of Jesus Christ
All the darkness of the world
was not enough
to overcome The Light.

"And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it." 
(John 1:5 NKJ)

The Light of God
of the Son
triumphs

Judgment is made.

What of you and me --
The very ones whose souls
He came to save

Who do you follow
Do you remain in the darkness
or has the Light
found you? 

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)

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 

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)

Thankfulness reaches beyond ... to God's gift of love

a gift
received
a gift
given

were you, are you
thankful
appreciative
grateful

Thanks
returned
not from an upright heart
is hypocritical,
presumptuous

Thanks
given, returned
from God's word revealed to you
is humbling

Little
and big.

Thankfulness
returned
in all things
all ways
The minutest details
of daily living
Are you thankful
for what you have

or
are you greedy
for more
and more
and more still

Does thankfulness
only come to you
when you have reached
what you think you deserve

Are you deserving
Are any of us

Do you refuse
to accept ...
is it because
there is something
about the other
you cannot, will not condone

Do you accept a gift
only with plans
to return it
to the giver

Where is your thankfulness
Where is your gratefulness
Who are you
to think you are
more deserving
than any other

Do you forget
from where you came

Do you live
like its only your life
that matters and no one else

Are you dissatisfied
with everything,
everyone

Do you doubt
the sincerity
and question
the love
of another?

Do you not know
Are you not aware
Do you not care
(about)
The gift
that God offers
to you
The gift of salvation
The gift of freedom
of new life
of Life! everlasting

In God's gift
there is only love

God, our creator
The One who is
and always shall be
loved us so much,
even in utter despair
over the choices we make,
He reached out to us
to bring us,
reunite us to Him.
God sent His Son
to die for us,
the ungodly.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For 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)

Yet,
we refuse to accept,
to believe.

We follow
a road leading nowhere
a tunnel of darkness
The light of true understanding and insight
escapes us.

The gift offered ...
we see only what is
perceived,
our individual thinking
and beliefs.

The syndrome of ...
This is what "I" believe
What another believes
is all fine and good
But this is what "I" believe
and therefore, this is truth.

There is only One Truth
One Way,
not many, not more than One.

It is not
the individual "what we believe,"
but what God says,
God's Truth,
God's love.

"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." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I believe God's word
I accept God's love
I accept His gift
of eternal life
offered me
through His Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe there is only One Truth
One Savior - Jesus
One basic problem with humanity - Sin
One solution - Death

Too late, too late
Too old you think.
Until the moment you have breathed your last
or until Jesus returns,
it is not too late.
Every moment counts.
Act now.
Don't go to your grave
without God's gift of love,
without His peace.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)

"have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)

Some, many are in the darkness now
and some are among the "used to be"
Those who "were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord, walk as children of light."   (Ephesians 5:8)

"Let us walk properly (decently), as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness; not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:13-14)

Thankfulness reaches beyond ...

Resolutions ... Goals ... Dreams

We have begun a new year. It is 2011.
New resolutions. New goals. And dreams.
Are they the same? I think not. Resolutions are usually made at the beginning of a new year. Sometimes they are not too well thought out. Sometimes, though,  the goals we make are our resolutions and sometimes our dreams become a goal which becomes a resolution. Sometimes.

One can resolve to lose weight, to exercise more, to study the Bible more.

One can resolve to listen more closely to what the Lord says to us, to be open to opportunities to do what the Lord may be telling us to do.

One can resolve to write that book we’ve put off for far too long. One can resolve to get started, to put pen to paper and state our thoughts and feelings and dreams and Bible study insights.  One can resolve to be a better listener, to keep our focus on Jesus Christ and not on our own personal vendettas. One can resolve to write more letters, send more cards, bake more cookies, share more meals, and share the Gospel with all, not just a select few with which we feel at ease.

Sometimes resolutions are kind of like wishful or hopeful thinking that may never be accomplished.

Just like our prayers, we must be specific, to the point. God may know what you mean, because He knows your heart, but it is His discretion on how He will answer.

A goal I might say I have is to write a book. It is a dream as well. To actually do that, accomplish that, I must know what type of book. I must write, not when the mood strikes me, but every day. I must study God’s word and listen, with my heart and soul and mind. I must actively pursue and not be wishy-washy about any of it.

There may be many good routes to take and God may bless any of them, but to do them well, it must be one at a time, not several at once.

Now, this would be a resolution for me -- To write specifically toward one goal, one study to finish before moving on to another;  To determine if prose/poetry written is to result in a published book and to follow through if determination warrants it.

Resolutions should not be made instantaneously, but thoughtfully considered.

Perhaps this is the year you resolve to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; … ” (Proverbs 8:35)

Perhaps this is the year you resolve to be generous, a cheerful giver ….

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:6-7)

Giving is not determined by the size of our pocketbooks. It is not just about money. It is not about obligations. We should not feel obligated to do something, to give, not even to the Lord. All giving should be about love.  If you love the Lord you will abide with Him and He with you, and you will give of your abundance; you will give and give, and your gifts will be cheerful and generous because they are given in love.

Perhaps this is the year you resolve to establish God as your center and let your life move around Him, instead of around you and your whims.

To refocus, re-energize, reorganize, regroup, remember.

Listen to the following song, “My Heart Your Home,” with words and music written by Nathan and Christy Nockels, 1997.







Perhaps this is the year you resolve to be at peace ....

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Perhaps this is the year you resolve to believe His promises, to accept His love, to follow wherever He leads, to obey His teachings, to be One with Him.





To learn more about accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, click here or for an interactive flash presentation of the Gospel: www.thekristo.com

You speak

You speak.
silently,
sometimes softly
sometimes ever so loud
but not with words
spoken.

sometimes written
sometimes in art
the snapshot
the painting

sometimes
the way we walk
how our arms hang
how we stand

tells, says all.

sometimes
our view, our vision
of our life
and of another
is seen
through eyes
downcast
flashing anger
wincing with pain
bloodshot with tears

sometimes.

You speak.
Does no one hear
your pain
your cry
your need
Will no one listen

What am I to do
you think

I too was there.

Many have come and gone
Some have stayed
in place,
lost still
and alone.
Others,
maybe you
have gone on,
found the missing piece
of this puzzle of life.

For God
can be your shield
your protector
your guardian

He will hear your cry of distress
and He will care
He will direct your every move.

He will listen
to your pleas
He will put gladness
in your heart
and lightness to your step.

He will give reason
to trust
He is merciful
and loving
and worthy of praise
and thanksgiving.

He is kind,
yet judges righteously
He is Truth
He is honorable

He instructs
provides insight
leads us to
and through
places we are fearful of

He will save you
He will bring you
a gift ...
a singular gift whose value is priceless ...
The gift of eternal life.
One you cannot repay
Cannot earn.

A gift to accept
and live.

Cathy Orrick Luders

10.23.2010

"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." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

To Know

To Know
To Live
To Be About
yet aware
of the future outcome
when Jesus returns.

To not fall
down in a heap
To not remain
desolate and filled with despair.

To know
... more than head knowledge
... more than thoughts
... more than responses from other people.

To know
the true meaning of life
To find
our way, the way
to Jesus

To not be afraid
To reach out
To grasp hold

To reflect
on where and what we are
where and what we have been
where we will go
what we will be.

To see
beyond our eyes
into our heart.

To review
and remember
Bible prophecies of old

To believe
the promise of the Holy One
To accept
His love for you
His gift of salvation

To live
renewed
re-nourished
reborn
... a new life
... a new beginning
... a new you

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For 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 NKJ)

To search
To find
To believe
To accept
To know
To live

Do you search?
Have you found?
Do you believe?
Have you accepted?
Do you know?
Have you been reborn?

To know more about accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html

Have your eyes been opened?

"We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy." (Daniel 9:18, New Century version)

Not because of our deeds,
Not for our accomplishments,
but for our needs, our burdens, our sin.

All that God has to give and does give is not a result of anything we have earned. It could/would never be enough. He gives because He loves us. He offers because of His love. What we do determines/shows where our allegiance, our thankfulness, lies.

Are we a child of God, the one true God, or are we snug within ourselves, refusing to accept His open hand of grace, believing all there is is only because of what we can do?

"With men (people) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26, New King James version)

Jesus asks of the blind men (and blindness can be physical and spiritual; what we cannot see is not only visual) in Matthew 20:32, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  Their answer? "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." (v. 33)

"So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him." (v. 34)

Have your eyes been opened? Do you see what God offers you? Have you accepted His gift? Are you full of thanksgiving, of praise to Him?

"Lord lift my eyes,

Open my heart,

Touch others through me
In You, always, only." 

Struggles abound; Light chases away darkness and gloom

My new work week hours begin next week. Obituary changes begin next week too. ... earlier deadlines, cost increases, etc.
Looking on the bright side, God knew this. So there's something good to come out of having Monday and Tuesday off and working weekends. I can't imagine what it is, but He knows.

So, instead of complaining, which I've been prone to do, I should, as has been pointed out, be grateful I have a job no matter what the hours.

Enough said.

However, talking, sharing about what's going on in your life can be beneficial in reducing the stress. By keeping your feelings within, things are merely building up until eventually you explode and every bit of pain you're feeling rears its ugly head and spews forth.

Also interesting, sort of, is the number of people who have current jobs but don't know if they have future jobs with a given company. Being offered a job and accepting the job offer does not mean their future is secure. It might be for a few months or a year or longer. It might be. It might not be as well.

The world is a scary place right now. How we get through it shows others much about ourselves. We are all human. We all have struggles. One struggle is just as important as another. It is not fair to think your struggles are more important than another. You don't know what another is going through, what blows they've been dealt. My struggles are just as important to me as your struggles are to you. You may think your struggles are bigger, insurmountable, but there is always someone somewhere whose struggles top yours.

It is not about who can get to the top of the empire of despair. It is easy to fall into a depression. It is much harder to lift your eyes upward ... to the Lord and wait on Him, praying He will enable you to see this through, that He will be with you every step of the way.

Of course, if you do not know the Lord, if you have not accepted the Lord as your personal Savior, then looking up doesn't show you anything - you just see darkness all around you.

Jesus is the light.

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8: 12)

Light chases away darkness and gloom.

Have you ever taken a cave tour? The lights are turned out and it is pitch black. Can't see a thing, not even your hand in front of your face. Then someone turns on a flashlight and the darkness vanishes.

There is light at the end of every tunnel. But you must seek it to find it.

Click here for interactive flash presentation of the Gospel.

always learning, never knowing

2 Timothy 3: 7 says, "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

I think of those who don't understand, don't believe Jesus is the only way to gain entrance to heaven, His eternal home.
If you don't know Jesus and accept Him as the son of God who died for You, but instead think a little bit of Buddhism and a little bit of Muslim and whatever else will bring you peace, how very mistaken you are.

There is no other god greater. God the Father created the world -- the heavens, the earth, the seas, the planets, the grasses, the animals and birds, humans. Everything that was created came from the Almighty God. (Genesis 1)

God the Father sent His son, Jesus Christ, to earth to be the eternal sacrifice for all. (Luke 1:26-35; 2; 22:39 - 24:53)

He is Alive today. Every person who has truly accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, has the Holy Spirit living within them. To learn more about how to become born again and accept Christ as your Savior, click here.

And then, as a new creation, the journey begins.

If we ... then we must

If we profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, then we must live as He did. He teaches us to love one another -- that's everyone. The person, not necessary what they do, what they might stand for. He loves us -- enough to die for each and everyone of us.

He died for all. All of us are sinners. Some are set free, some remain choked in their chains. How do you become free you may ask.

You believe Jesus died for you. You believe Jesus is the son of God and son of Man (Mary). That He lived and died for the sins of mankind and was buried and on the third day rose again. That after 40 days He returned to heaven and sent in his place the Holy Spirit to live within each of us until His second coming. This gift of salvation is offered to each person -- past, present and future.

I accepted His gift at age 31. Some are much younger or older.

The gift is free. It is our misconceptions that cause us to think the gift has strings attached -- that we are required to give up things in our lives. There are no requirements... not really. But our desires do change if we truly have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.

~~~~~~~
Christians we must not determine our personal preferences are more important than Jesus.
~~~~~~~

How can we profess to be His if we do not follow His example?

In John 13:34-35, Jesus says: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

I John 4:15: "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God."
and verse 20: "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"

Good-bye, hello

Thought: once you die and are in heaven, are you aware of those still on earth who have not accepted the Lord as Savior?

I asked my husband about this and after some discussion, we determined that since heaven was a place of joy, there could be no sadness. If a loved one was not saved, that would be oh so very sad, but those in heaven would not be aware of it. That is why, while there is still time, those of us who know the Lord - have accepted His offering of salvation - must actively show others the way to the cross. We can't just sit on our duff and hope someone else takes care of it.