Phil. 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Churching the Unchurched

A friend of mine shared this quote with me the other day. I had to borrow it from the ''Truth Matters'' blog to share here.

What do we need besides the gospel to attract the lost to the cross? Nothing. This job belongs to only One.

"Churching the unchurched is an absolute fallacy – it is like purposing to let the tares in. It is absolutely bizarre to want to make unsaved people feel comfortable in a church. The church is not a building – the church is a group of worshiping, redeemed, and sanctified people among whom an unbeliever should feel either miserable, convicted and drawn to Christ, or else alienated and isolated. Only if the church hides its message and ceases to be what God designed the church to be, can it make an unbeliever comfortable."

John MacArthur

The God Sense

I had a bit of time the other day and decided that it would be well spent on a river in search of some trout for my fry pan. It was truly a wonderful day. Though I did catch some trout I was further blessed by beauty of Gods creation. I could hear the birds singing to each other in their many different languages, beautiful songs, but songs I could not understand except for to praise God along with them. I could hear and feel the rumble of the fast moving water as it was slowly changing the landscape it flows through, around, over and in. I could smell a fresh breeze swirling around me; it brought with it the scents of spring, wild flowers mostly but occasionally an almost discreet odor of decay would intrude as if to remind me of the fallen world I live in. The colors I could see were stunning. The blues and whites of the sky and rushing water, the many different greens of the trees, grasses, moss, and bushes were staggering. The yellows, blues, oranges, violets, whites, and reds of the wild flowers and blossoms that were scattered around me could almost take ones breath away.

Take just one sense of the five God had given us and it was beautiful. All five and it was awesome. I was surrounded by the beauty of Gods creation. All this beauty in a fallen world. Imagine what awaits us in glory!

I was blessed that day to see, and feel, and smell, hear, and taste what it is that God has created. We as Christians have been blesses with a ''sixth sense'' as well. That is the ability to recognize the presence of God in all things. He is present in all of our lives. He is the creator and sustainer of all that we are aware of (all the we are not aware of too). In our busy lives all of this can be so easy to miss. Slow down and pay attention. Take some time to get alone with God. His attention to detail is wonderful.

Do not worship this beautiful creation but the One who created it. SDG!

Col. 1:15-23
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation1 under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Deuteronomy 31:19-21

19 “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel. 20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. 21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”

This is more from the Chrono read that I have been doing.

I am so thankful that even though God knows what I am inclined to do He still loves me! He still pulls me towards Him. He even sacrificed His Son for me! I am so undeserving!

It has been a blessing learning better who my God is as I read through the Old Testament!

A New Hope

If you are a Star Wars buff the title of this post may bring back memories of the 1977 original blockbuster hit when nobody had a clue who Harrison Ford was. I grew up Star Wars. I had more Star Wars action figures they you could shake a stick at. I was in love with Princess Leia and terrified of the Dark Side of the force! How the time flies! Life was easy then, none of the hardships we face as adults. No bills to pay or kids to raise or phones to answer. No job, no worries, no problem. The ''innocence'' of youth, were the sky was the limit and the dreams were big. Nobody or nothing to grind you down and wear you out.

Star Wars was not what I was dwelling on when I thought of sharing my heart. A new hope is. The new hope (or new birth) that is available to all who will believe in Jesus. Spring always brings these thoughts to the forefront of my mind. I always look at spring as a new beginning, a new hope. A time to reexamine myself in view of the new creation I am in Christ. Where am I as a Christian compared to where I was last year. Have I changed? Have I grown closer to my God? Am I the same? What have I learned? Where have I grown. Have I been trampled by the dark side or am I clinging to the Light. Self examination is an important part of the Christian walk. Let us grow in His grace!

2 Cor 13:5a- Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.

Persevering Perseverance

My son asked me to show him where in scripture it talks about the end times and earthquakes. He has heard from a couple of different sources that the end could be near. I dearly hope that it is! I yearn for that trumpet call. I know that depending on your eschatology this all shakes out a little differently but this is not what this post is about.

After showing my son the scripture in Mark 13 that talks about earthquakes and the end of this age I continued reading.
Here is Mark 13:3-13.

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Now this is the stuff movies are made of right!? It seems in today's world this doomsday stuff is very popular and makes millions at the box office; only its global warming that is causing this to happen not All Mighty God!

I would like to draw you attention to the last part of verse 13, "But the one who endures to the end will be saved." What a great text for Perseverance of the Saints. Let us run the race to completion, and finish strong. End times or not, it should not matter. Endure my brothers and sisters!

Selections from Numbers

I just wanted to take a moment to share with you some of what I have been reading. These scriptures have hit me hard and caused me examine my walk. The first is Numbers 12:1-9

1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.

Verses 7 and 8 are the ones that got me excited. The second selection is Numbers 18:20.

And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.

I struggle with this because sometimes in my life I feel that He is not enough. He is not my portion. I ''need'' something else, something created. In reality He is more then enough. He is my portion. He is all I need. Why can't I get that through my thick skull! Sin sucks.