This morning it hit me pretty hard that I need to be more thankful. I have so much to be thankful for! James 1:17 says that ''Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.'' I have to admit that I take so much for granted. Every gift is from the Most High God. I just took a breath, my heart is beating, I was able to get out of bed this morning, we have a great God who hears our prayers (and responds). This is a list that can go on and on. It is God that holds me together. Not just me but everything. EVERYTHING! I praise God for that. I know that my life would fall apart were it not for His great presence. God created everything we see in 6 days and I do not believe that this made God tired. God continues to hold all of this together, all of creation is held together with no effort. This is big stuff! God is a big God! I can not comprehend how big God is. This same big God chose to love me and He chose to love you. This same big God chose to know suffering and death by the hands of little people like me and you. He chose to know these things FOR little people like me and you. Praise God! Every good and every perfect gift comes from God. All these things we take for granted come from God. The Gospel came from God. Salvation came from God. That breath I just took came from God. What did I do to deserve all of this? Not a thing, nothing. I am not able to anything to earn these gifts. He gives them because he is Love. Grace. I am thankful for Gods grace. It is because of Gods grace that I can be saved. It is because of Gods grace that I can see, smell, hear, think, walk, breathe, cry, love.... Grace. It is God and God alone that has given these gifts. I need to be more thankful for these gifts.
Ps. 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Ps. 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Ps. 86:12
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Ps. 97:12
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
Give thanks with me today to our great God!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
''Christians'' in the News
It seems to me that more and more ''Christians'' are making the news. I just read an article this morning about a ''Pastor'' who is encouraging his congregation to pray with him for Obama's death.
"I'm gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That's what I'm gonna pray," he told his congregation. You can read the article here. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/31/phoenix-pastor-draws-protests-telling-church-prays-obamas-death/?test=latestnews
How ''Christian'' is that? Where in scripture do we see that we are to pray for anther's death? Where in scripture do we see that we should pray for another to go to hell? Where is the love we are taught about in scripture? I am glad that this is not the way that God feels. I am thankful that Christ died for sinners and provided a way for salvation. He died for all sinners, sinners like you and me. Yes we need to pray for Barack Obama! Pray for this man! Pray for his salvation. Pray for his family. Pray for this nation! My heart is full this morning. Pray for this ''Pastor'' and others like him. Our adversary is strong and very intelligent! Fight on your knees!
"I'm gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That's what I'm gonna pray," he told his congregation. You can read the article here. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/31/phoenix-pastor-draws-protests-telling-church-prays-obamas-death/?test=latestnews
How ''Christian'' is that? Where in scripture do we see that we are to pray for anther's death? Where in scripture do we see that we should pray for another to go to hell? Where is the love we are taught about in scripture? I am glad that this is not the way that God feels. I am thankful that Christ died for sinners and provided a way for salvation. He died for all sinners, sinners like you and me. Yes we need to pray for Barack Obama! Pray for this man! Pray for his salvation. Pray for his family. Pray for this nation! My heart is full this morning. Pray for this ''Pastor'' and others like him. Our adversary is strong and very intelligent! Fight on your knees!
Monday, August 31, 2009
A Really Really Big But
Recently I was sharing some scripture with someone I know. It was straigt forward, no nonsence scripture. It was the kind of scripture that the world would look at as foolish. It was scripture that should make the Christian wonder and pray. This person responded to this scripture with a ''Yes, but''. ''Yes, it may say that but I think...''. The sad thing is that this person professes to be a Christian.
''Yes, but''... Very dangerous words when it comes to Gods word! It is the ''Yes, buts'' that are polluting the very gospel of Jesus. It is the ''Yes, buts'' that are responsible doctrines, very important doctrines being set aside in order to promote unity with folks the likes of which Jesus himself turned away.
While it saddened me to hear this person respond in this way it caused me to examine my own life. How many ''Yes, buts'' do I have in my own life? I think we all have them in our lives to some degree. Let us watch out for these ''Yes, buts''. It is these ''Yes, buts'' that slow our growth as men and women of God. It is these ''Yes, buts'' that cause dissension and quarrels. Pride, our biggest and most damaging ''Yes, but''. Let us grow in the gospel. Let us rest there. Find refuge there. Let us rest in sufficiency of Gods grace. 2 Cor 12:9.
''Yes, but''... Very dangerous words when it comes to Gods word! It is the ''Yes, buts'' that are polluting the very gospel of Jesus. It is the ''Yes, buts'' that are responsible doctrines, very important doctrines being set aside in order to promote unity with folks the likes of which Jesus himself turned away.
While it saddened me to hear this person respond in this way it caused me to examine my own life. How many ''Yes, buts'' do I have in my own life? I think we all have them in our lives to some degree. Let us watch out for these ''Yes, buts''. It is these ''Yes, buts'' that slow our growth as men and women of God. It is these ''Yes, buts'' that cause dissension and quarrels. Pride, our biggest and most damaging ''Yes, but''. Let us grow in the gospel. Let us rest there. Find refuge there. Let us rest in sufficiency of Gods grace. 2 Cor 12:9.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hokey Pokey
I think when I say ''Hokey Pokey'' we all get the image in our heads of a silly dance where you put your right hand in, then your left hand, right foot, left foot, shake um all about and then take them all out again. Silly dance right? I am sure that most of us have at one time or another participated in the ''Hokey Pokey'' and had a great time to boot! Well, I got to thinking this morning about the Hokey Pokey in a much more sinister way. Picture with me for a moment a Christian dancing the Hokey Pokey only now when they put their hands and feet in they are putting them in the world, being a part of the world. Come on they beckon, it's only a silly dance! There is no harm in it! Look at the fun we are having! Here, drink this! Smoke that! Feast your eyes on this! Look at all this cool stuff!
Dangerous ground! Flirting with the world. How often do I find myself doing the Hokey Pokey with the world? How often do you? Silly dance right?
1 Jn 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
It is total and complete foolishness to flirt with the world in this way. I know that. You know that, yet there are times when we are sucked into the same trap over and over again. We convince ourselves that it is only a silly dance again and again. Why is it so difficult for us to get it through our heads that sin is dangerous! There is a silly dance called the Hokey Pokey. There is no such thing as silly sin though, it is sinister! It is that same silly sin that we flirt with that put Jesus on the cross. It is that same silly sin that caused God to know death. Imagine eternal God knowing death! It is that same sin that had God the Father to turn his back on God the Son. The same God that loved the Son with a love that is so much better then you or I could ever comprehend. No, there is no silly sin. Let us stop this Hokey Pokey with the world. Let us look to God and God alone for our Joy not to the silly (sinister) sins of this world!
Dangerous ground! Flirting with the world. How often do I find myself doing the Hokey Pokey with the world? How often do you? Silly dance right?
1 Jn 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
It is total and complete foolishness to flirt with the world in this way. I know that. You know that, yet there are times when we are sucked into the same trap over and over again. We convince ourselves that it is only a silly dance again and again. Why is it so difficult for us to get it through our heads that sin is dangerous! There is a silly dance called the Hokey Pokey. There is no such thing as silly sin though, it is sinister! It is that same silly sin that we flirt with that put Jesus on the cross. It is that same silly sin that caused God to know death. Imagine eternal God knowing death! It is that same sin that had God the Father to turn his back on God the Son. The same God that loved the Son with a love that is so much better then you or I could ever comprehend. No, there is no silly sin. Let us stop this Hokey Pokey with the world. Let us look to God and God alone for our Joy not to the silly (sinister) sins of this world!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Morning Thoughts
I have heard much talk as of late about eschatology. Of the many godly men I respect few have the same view. These things can not be fully known.
There are so many Christian folks that quarrel or wrangle (for you Al) about stuff that cannot be fully known! Stop it. Just stop it!
Yes, there are battles that need to be fought. If someone comes to you with a gospel different then the one taught in scripture, I believe that is the time for the boxing gloves to get dusted off. Fight the fights that need to be fought. Fight them with scripture. This is not the time to say ''I think'' or ''I feel'', this is the time to say ''the Word of God says!'' There is authority in the word of God only foolishness from the word of man.
I am convinced however that if we spent as much time trying to figure out what it means to walk by the spirit as we do fighting silly fights that have no answers that this world could be a different place. This world could use a few more Spurgeons, or Newtons, or Brainerds, or Calvins. Let us go together for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ go boldly into this dark world!
It has been said that the night is darkest before the dawn and I believe this to be true. As I look around this dark world in these dark times I can't help but wonder how much darker it will have to get before the coming of the Son.
There are so many Christian folks that quarrel or wrangle (for you Al) about stuff that cannot be fully known! Stop it. Just stop it!
Yes, there are battles that need to be fought. If someone comes to you with a gospel different then the one taught in scripture, I believe that is the time for the boxing gloves to get dusted off. Fight the fights that need to be fought. Fight them with scripture. This is not the time to say ''I think'' or ''I feel'', this is the time to say ''the Word of God says!'' There is authority in the word of God only foolishness from the word of man.
I am convinced however that if we spent as much time trying to figure out what it means to walk by the spirit as we do fighting silly fights that have no answers that this world could be a different place. This world could use a few more Spurgeons, or Newtons, or Brainerds, or Calvins. Let us go together for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ go boldly into this dark world!
It has been said that the night is darkest before the dawn and I believe this to be true. As I look around this dark world in these dark times I can't help but wonder how much darker it will have to get before the coming of the Son.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Jesus who?
Ah the post-modern world we live in today! Not only can my truth be different from yours but my Jesus can be different too? If you don't like this or that about Jesus you can just change him to fit your desires. This ''new'' Jesus is no longer the historical Jesus of the bible and therefore he is not Jesus at all. You may call him Jesus and rely on him to save you but in reality this ''new'' Jesus has no more power to save you then this screen you are looking at. God cannot change! Jesus cannot change. Gods word can not change! It is amazing to me how folks can just pick and choose what they want to believe is or is not true in Gods word. I like this part here but this part over here does not fit me to well so I will just push that back or pretend its not there or means something other then what it says. Gods word does not change just like God does not change. If you change it to fit your wants it is not the bible anymore it is something less, something worse. Beware. Changing scripture to say or mean what you want it to is dangerous business, as is changing Jesus! The Word of God is absolute truth. Just because you may ''change'' what you think Gods word is saying does not mean that you are changing Gods word. It means you are walking on thin ice! Some might even call it heresy.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Galatian Encouragement
I have been spending time in Pauls letter to the Galations as of late. I just love this little epistle! There is one verse that was encouraging to me, I hope it is for you too.
Gal 6:9:
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
We need to continue to do good even when we see little in the line of fruit. It may take some time for that fruit to show up but it will in due time! Is that not a great promise! We can not give up though! We need to run the race, fight the fight, persevere till the end. Do not give up.
Gal 6:9:
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
We need to continue to do good even when we see little in the line of fruit. It may take some time for that fruit to show up but it will in due time! Is that not a great promise! We can not give up though! We need to run the race, fight the fight, persevere till the end. Do not give up.
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