The Cross

(cross found on freedesktopwallpaper.org)

At some point almost everyone has seen a cross. May I share an observation?

GOD put it on my heart this morning to look at HIS Cross anew. The vertical bar shows what Jesus accomplished on the cross. HE made a way for us to have renewed relationship with the Father. HE did this by descending to earth, becoming man, teaching and ultimately sacrificing HIMSELF on the Cross. HE then rose again, HIS task accomplished, victorious for all time over sin, death and hell.

The horizontal bar is the task HE left us with, The Great Commission. We are to bring more of our brothers and sisters into GOD's Kingdom. We are to be HIS hands reaching out to the world in love.

Thus we are to first communicate with GOD through the way HE has made then we are to reach out to others in HIS strength, power and love.

The Cross is a reminder of heaven's love and mercy to us and the Call that still resounds from HE who wants all HIS children safely home.

Black Friday

Black Friday is known for helping stores get into the "black" and giving consumers a chance at great deals. I would posit though that as the years pass, the black in Black Friday is due to how bleak consumers' behavior has become on this giant shopping day.

Let us remember what this season is for, please.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.(Isaiah 6:6)

See I lay a stone in Zion, a trusted stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. (Isaiah 28:16)

The greatest gift we have ever received came in peace, love and humility. Go forth and behave in a similar manner.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and to give you some food for thought.

There is always something to give thanks to GOD for.

Even if HE did no more than send HIS Son for your salvation, that is enough to fill HIS Halls with praise for eternity.

But GOD shows HIS mercies and love every day of your life. Each breath you take is a gift. Every sky you see is a masterpiece HE crafted for you. Your very senses declare his grace in every way.

I am not trying to diminish anyone's suffering. We all have pain. But that too we can be grateful for in time. Pain softens the hardness of our hearts and creates compassion for others. Shared hardship can build bridges which no kind word could. And GOD speaks to us in our pain and weakness in a special way for HE too knew suffering, hardship and loss.

So for those who do rejoice this day, may GOD bless you and yours and I hope you enjoy this special time of fellowship and family. Remember to give thanks to HIM for this day and for all the ways HE blessed and blesses you throughout the year.

And for those for whom this is a painful day,  I pray for the renewal of your joy and that Our Father holds you in HIS arms and lets you know the myriad of ways that HE loves you. May the peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus wrap around you like a cloak. And may the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit ever be in your mind and heart.

GOD be with you all my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Watch how you walk

You may be the only Christ someone sees, so be careful how you walk in this life.

Non-believers often criticize Christians for not practicing what we preach. They use this as an excuse for not attempting a faith journey of their own. But sadly there is some merit to their words. Sometimes we Christians use our GOD-given freedom for license and wreck our testimony for Jesus.

We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. If we don't respect the Bible and what it dictates for our lives how will anyone else.

Do you not know that when you stand firm in GOD's truth other believers are encouraged?
 1Thessalonians 4:7-9, Paul talks of how he is encouraged by the Thessalonians standing firm and that it brings him joy. I have felt this myself when people take public stands of gratefulness towards our Savior. My heart leaps as they give words of testimony and thanks. When you take that stand of faith, you may be that bit of encouragement that GOD uses to help another believer take one more step in his journey.

Just as children look to adults for how they should behave, so often do younger believers look to those they view as more mature. Jesus warns us of behavior that could cause any of HIS little ones to fall. (Luke 17:1-3) So ask yourself as you take an action that may be even the least be sketchy, if a younger believer sees this will it cause his faith to falter?

A small side note for this day. I do not believe in celebrating Halloween. I know some do. To me faithwise it is too tied to idolatry and paganistic practice to be of any use. Even in these times, there are those individuals that still call this one of their holy days. Safety-wise I think it is risky for anyone to let their children go traipsing around the neighborhood asking strangers for treats. If you want to let your kids get costumes fine but do it another day. Many churches have harvest fests that allow a safe environment for kids to socialize and  have fun.

Getting back to the topic at hand, we should walk in such a way that Christ is glorified in everything we do. Not an easy task and impossible without the help of HIS Holy Spirit. But if we are to be HIS witnesses, to plant seeds and encourage the faithful, it is what we are called to do.

As we are fallen humans we will make mistakes along the way, but as redeemed sons and daughters we can have an impact for Christ.

May HIS wisdom guide your journey, HIS righteousness inspire you, HIS love embrace you, and HIS faithfulness lead you ever onward. GOD Bless and keep you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

9/11

First and foremost, my prayers are for those who lost loved ones that day ten years ago. May GOD bless you with comfort, good memories and HIS peace.

Many will gather to honor the victims and the heroes, both known and unknown. This is appropriate. Let no political rhetoric sully this day. It should be a time of reflection, remembrance, sorrow and hope.

Why hope?

Because once again GOD showed us that even amidst the evil that men do, HE can bring good from it.

We could have crumpled after such a blow but we didn't.

Instead, we used this moment of tragedy to draw nearer to one another. Churches were filled. Volunteers poured into serve at Ground Zero and elsewhere. Hands reached out to other hands that for a moment in time clasped back regardless of differences.

We were lifted up as a country by a sovereign GOD who carries us when we can't carry ourselves.

Angels

I have been tooling around in 1 Corinthians and I want to share an observation.

In today's society much emphasis and interest has been generated on the subject of angels. An angel is a servant of the LORD, a figure of power and awe. One angel devastated the firstborn of Egypt and another later destroyed an army.

An angel is a representative of the LORD and often had messages from HIM. But angels would be quick to state that they are not to be focused on as so many popular books seem to do. They are not to be worshipped or idolized. They like us are servants as one such angel told the apostle John in Revelations. We are to worship GOD.

Angels are in fact ...ministering spirits sent to serve all who will inherit salvation.(Hebrews 1:14)

David Prior in his book The Message of 1 Corinthians brings up an interesting point. It is we by our actions on this earth that teach the wisdom of GOD's gospel to the angels.(page 110, The Message of 1 Corinthians, and 1 Peter 1:14)

To put this in proper perspective, we who believe will eventually be called upon to judge angels. (1 Corinthians 6:3)

Now by no means do I want to denigrate angels. I firmly believe that to this day GOD uses them mightily for the well being of HIS people. But I do want this point driven home. We are to reserve that sense of awe and desire to glorify for GOD alone. For to HIM alone is the majesty, the glory, and the honor owed. As the angel responded to John's attempt to worship him(Revelations 22:9), I counsel you, Worship GOD.

Seekers from Afar

Even in the earliest parts of the Bible, GOD hinted at the drawing in of the nations. It was never meant to be salvation just for the chosen people, the Jews. In fact one of the reasons they were set apart was to draw people in, to show that our GOD was different than the idols of this world.

We see examples of this drawing in, the mending of the dividing line as early as Genesis. Melchizedek, a follower of GOD Most High, blesses Abraham. A priest and a king, he followed GOD even before the Jewish people came into being.

Along the way we find Rahab and Ruth, women from non-believing lands, who choose to take a chance on GOD and are blessed beyond their wildest imaginings.

There are many instances where GOD specifically promised that the Gentiles they would not be left out of HIS great salvation plan.

Isaiah 56:6-8  ...And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD, to serve HIM, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship HIM, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to MY covenant-- these I will bring to MY holy mountain and give them joy in MY house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on MY altar; for MY house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Sovereign LORD declares-- HE who gathers the exiles of Israel; "I will gather still others besides those already gathered.

Read also Isaiah 42:1-4, Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 11:9-12, Joel 2:28-32. This is just a selection of passages on how GOD always intended to bring in all who seek.

For my final selection I lead you to the New Testament. Matthew 2 speaks of men who traveled a great distance to seek out their GOD and King. They had followed the star from the East and brought gifts for HIM.

The Magi represent you and I at the birth of Jesus. Though once far off, GOD drew them as HE still draws us to HIM so that we may find peace, infinite love, salvation and forever joy. May HIS name be forever praised.