A REASON TO CELEBRATE!

 

Man was hopeless, lost in sin;

But then the love of God stepped in.

He sent His Son, a tiny babe,

To conquer sin and make a way.

From babe to child to perfect man

Fulfilling God’s eternal plan.

He made the choice to give His life

Become the Father’s sacrifice.

He healed the sick and raised the dead;

Yet on the cross His blood was shed.

He shared the truth, God’s will proclaimed;

Yet at His death was mocked and shamed.

The thief cried out, “Remember me.”

Christ said, “Today, with me you’ll be.”

“It is finished” was His cry, 

And giving up the ghost He died.

For three days in the tomb He lay,

Then rose victorious from the grave.

The gift of life is ours to take

If we but turn to Him in faith.

So joyfully celebrate His birth,

His willingness to live on earth.

To pay the price that we might be

With Him throughout eternity!

A VERSE OF THANKSGIVING

My God is great in goodness and grace

Abundant in love and compassion

How can I do less than to give Him my all

To serve Him in truth—word and action.

May my lips overflow with the praise He deserves

May my works be a light to His glory

As I seek to tell others the wonderful news

Of His gift and the great gospel story.

May the joy of the LORD be the shine on my face

As I count every blessing that’s mine

Redeemed and forgiven, a child of the King,

A future with Him for all time.

A CALL FOR PROFESSING CHRISTIANS TO EXAMINE YOURSELF

Matthew 7:21–23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

These verses speak to a very important truth, a sad truth.  There are those that “think” they are saved, but they are not.  Some will even claim to have done amazing works in the name of the LORD, but they have actually been serving self in the process.  One who has made a true profession of faith has humbled self and accepted Jesus as his LORD and Savior.

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Those who accept Jesus as LORD will strive to do the things that please Him according to His will as revealed in the scripture because they love Him and are thankful for the sacrifice He made to provide for their salvation.

Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me….”

How are we to love the LORD Jesus? With our whole being.  He is to be the primary focus of all we do and say.  Our love for Him should affect every choice we make.  

Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

The Apostle Paul encouraged us to examine ourselves to determine whether our actions prove our faith.  

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

You must know that you cannot endorse most of what our culture today promotes as acceptable and good and be a true follower of Jesus because it goes directly against His word and His will.  I urge you to examine yourself and make sure you have a future home in the presence of God.  

A Commentary on Today

 I just want to give a big Amen! to Jonathan Brentner’s article found on Harbinger’s Daily.

THE RISE OF SATAN'S KINGDOM

The signs are all around us

It cannot be denied

Our LORD is coming very soon

To carry off His bride.

Evil forces are advancing

Just as He foretold

Pushing their agenda 

Through actions strong and bold.

Manipulating science

With schemes that they devise

Inciting fear and violence

To propagate their lies.

Those that stand against them

Are vilified and mocked

And all attempts to share the truth

Aggressively are blocked.

These self-appointed leaders

Declare they know what’s best

To ensure a better future

And bring the planet rest.

The nations must surrender

One government must reign

To ensure peace and equity

At least—That’s what they claim.

But those familiar with God’s word

Know this is Satan’s plan

Establishing his throne on earth

The world at his command.

Our LORD is ever in control

He’s not a bit surprised

For through the prophets long ago

He told of Satan’s rise.

The time allotted for his reign

Is short—God’s word is clear

The LORD will then return as King

It’s oh so very near.

So servants of the LORD take heart

Find strength and power in faith

Share the truth of His great love

With urgency and grace.

Random Notes for Meditation to Encourage and Convict

Interesting note from Wiersbe:  “‘Conscience’ is one of Paul’s favorite words….The word means ‘to know with, to know together.’  Conscience is the inner judge or witness that approves when we do right and disapproves when we do wrong (Rom. 2:15).  Conscience does not set the standard; it only applies the standard.  Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light.  God’s law is the light, and the cleaner the window is, the more the light shines in.  As the window gets dirty, the light gets dimmer, and finally the light becomes darkness.”

*****

1Chronicles 16:36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever.

Again, David reiterates that the LORD God of Israel is to be adored (from the Hebrew for blessed) forever.  What does it mean to adore the LORD?  Webster tells us that it is to “worship with profound reverence…to honor as deity….to love in the highest degree….”  Thought:  Does my life reflect my adoration for the LORD?

*****

I really liked this application from Meyer as quoted by Guzik:  “The point to remember is that our enemies may shut us in on all sides, preventing reinforcements from north, south, east, and west; but no earthly power can ever shut off God from above us. . . . The way upwards is always kept clear; the ladder which links the beleaguered soul with God and heaven can never be blocked, except by transgression and sin.”

*****

2Chronicles 29:1-2 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

Hezekiah was a good king that did what was right “in the sight of the LORD” in accordance with how King David had lived.

This phrase—in the sight of the LORD—appears many times as we read the historian’s record of Judah’s kings.  I think it is an important truth that not many Christians focus on.  God sees everything we do and say.  There is nothing we can hide from Him.  If we would but focus on that truth, I believe it would certainly have more impact on our actions and our speech.

An Encouraging Word from Isaiah About Our Future

Isaiah has words of encouragement as we await the LORD's return and navigate these difficult times during which the forces of evil are growing in power.

Isaiah 64:4 "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."

Most often I have heard this verse used in reference to what is in store for us in heaven, and I am sure that is a valid statement.  In context, however, the prophet is speaking of the conditions on planet earth that will accompany the return of the Messiah as King.

Paul quotes this verse in 1Corinthians.

1Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

An excerpt from that journal might be appropriate here.

Notice that as Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, he changes the word “waiteth” to “love.”  That tells me that the two are interconnected since the same Holy Spirit breathed the words to both men.  Love involves waiting and endurance.  The root word for waiteth includes the idea of carving and entrenchment.  That seems to be referencing a strong commitment, fortifying oneself to stay the course no matter what.  This ties in with the truth of love presented in 1Corinthians 13:4—Charity suffereth long….  The words charity and love are the same in the Greek—agape/agapao.  It takes unconditional love, a love of choice, to patiently endure even when the going gets really tough and we don’t understand why God is allowing certain things to happen in our life.

The Hebrew for heard states “to hear intelligently, understand.”  “Perceived by the ear” is a reference only to listening.  Every teacher knows that a student can hear without understanding.  The point seems to be that only God knows what He has prepared for those that wait on Him.  Everything that God does is good; every provision He makes is abundant.  Those who choose to be faithful and wait on the LORD, even when circumstances are difficult and hard to endure, will be blessed beyond imagination.

Some thoughts on Proverbs 28:2 & 4

Proverbs 28:2 ¶ For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

I liked the NLT: “When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability.”

The people of our country (America) should take this truth to heart.  I think there have always been men of both good and bad character in government leadership in our country.  The difference today being that those of bad character seem to greatly outnumber the good and are stepping forth more boldly in declaration of their wicked agendas, doing all they can to destroy the moral fiber of our society.  The inevitable conclusion will be the destruction of America.  Only if the American people wake up and recognize that truth and actively work to turn our nation back to the principles upon which it was founded that were rooted in the word of God, do we have a hope for the future.  Our only hope is in strong, godly leadership.  Sadly, I believe we have passed the point of turning back.  My hope is in the return of Jesus to take His children home and eventually usher in His earthly kingdom.

Proverbs 28:4 ¶ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

The Hebrew for the word “law” is a reference to God’s law.  Those who reject God’s law praise the wicked, while those that choose to obey the law oppose the wicked.  

Again, this is blatantly on display in America today.  Those that reject God and His word are blatantly passing laws and instituting practices that are in direct disobedience to God’s word.  As they do so, the masses cheer them on.  They are so blinded by the god of this world that they cannot reason properly.  

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Those of us that seek to honor the LORD and obey the laws and principles set forth in His word are fighting back—but I think complacency and apathy have been allowed to reign for far too long.  It will take a great revival in our country to change course to honor the biblical foundation upon which this country was established.

Scripture is very clear that when it comes to a choice—Acts 5:29 “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW YEAR

Purpose to spend time in God’s word every day!  The word of God will reveal His will for your life, His promises to carry you through the trials of life and how to gain victory over the temptations of the flesh and the attacks of Satan and his forces of evil.  The following poem is on the home page of my website that contains all my personal journals on the word of God.

GOD’S WORD

Your word lights my path in the way I should go.

It comforts in pain, is a balm to the soul.

Your word pricks my heart as I read of the pain

That was caused by my sin when for me you were slain.

Your word gives instruction for wisdom and living

With the keys for success—love, be kind, be forgiving.

Your word gives me hope of a life without sin

When you come for your own, life in heaven to begin.

Your word is a letter preserved through the years

To chastise, encourage and free us from fears.

Your word is a storehouse of treasures galore

If we just take the time to pray, read, and explore.