the Word

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God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.

A W Tozer

lost? use your GPS

A GPS tracking system is a device that indicates where on earth you are and gives directions to your destination. It can solve the answers to these questions:
1. "Where am I?"
2. "Where am I going?"
3. "Where are you?"
4. "What's the best way to get there?
5. "When will I get there?"

There's also another GPS system. If you're lost, it shows directions to the way you should go. This GPS system is: God's Plan of Salvation! It’s also known as the Roman Road, the road to salvation.

The Roman Road is a detailed map for our salvation and eternal life with God. Just follow these steps:

1. We must realize we are all sinners and need forgiveness, and that we don’t deserve God’s gift of salvation.
Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2. God sent Jesus to die for us because He loves us so much. When we were still sinners, He died for us.
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
4. Without Jesus, we'd die an eternal death. If we repent our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we'll have eternal life with Him.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. We must admit our sins, and ask God to forgive us. We must believe that Jesus died and rose again to save us, and ask Him to live in our hearts
Romans 10:9-10: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

If you want to receive Jesus as Lord and surrender your life to Him, then ask Him to save you. To accept Jesus as your Savior, ask God from your heart, in a simple prayer, such as:

Dear Jesus,
I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross and rose again to give eternal life. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and I give my life to you. I turn from my sins and receive you as my personal Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Welcome to God's family!
Now that you've prayed the prayer, what's next?

Tell someone about your decision to live for Jesus. Find a local church to help you grow in your faith, to worship, and for fellowship with other believers. Spend time with God every day by reading and studying the Bible, praying to grow in your faith and trust in Him.

Salvation is a gift and a way of life. God has given us this plan because He loves us so much and does not want us to die, but to live with Him forever...

*(Somewhere, I came across the GPS, and thought it was the coolest acronym for God's great love and gift of grace and salvation. When studying the Roman Road, I found numerous variations of scriptures and versions of the steps to salvation. I drew from many of these Bible verses and plans, and summarized in my own words.)

time alone...with God

Spend time with God, in prayer and in praise and in worship...
The chorus of ‘Word of God Speak’ (by Mercy Me) speaks to me...


Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

Immanuel

In last Sunday’s sermon, the pastor pointed out that Jesus felt unloved and unappreciated and used. I thought about that several times this week, and added other feelings I think Jesus may have felt. (I’m not including positive emotions here.)

Have you ever felt unloved?
Have you ever felt unappreciated?
Have you ever felt used?

denied?
sympathy?
tempted?
betrayed?
distressed?
deserted?
troubled?
pain?
rejected?
anger?
grief?

I’ve experienced each one, and Jesus identifies with them all. All of them, and so many more.

Sometimes I ‘forget’ that Jesus was fully man and fully God. Jesus was man. Yet He was man without sin. He shared the emotions of man and understands what we feel. He was one of us, but did not sin.

He was one of us! It’s wonderful to have a Savior who knows me so completely! Immanuel!

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
Matthew 1:23 NAS

Emmanuel, Emmanuel.
Wonderful, Counselor!
Lord of life, Lord of all;
He’s the Prince of Peace,
Mighty God, Holy One!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel.

every path has its puddle

For each and every choice I make, there can be benefits or detriments, positives or negatives, encouragements or discouragements, joy or sorrow, good or bad, or...

Sometimes, while walking along my path, I come upon a puddle. Sometimes the puddle is large and deep, and sometimes it’s shallow and miry, and sometimes it’s wide and murky, and sometimes it’s shiny and slippery, and sometimes...

I have a choice to make. I can walk around it or I can walk thru it, I can jump across it or I can run from it, I can face it or I can turn away, I can...

My path and my puddles, no matter what I face, when I fix my eyes straight down the path, God is always there. I’m never alone, God is always there, loving and teaching and guiding and comforting and forgiving and strengthening and blessing and listening and speaking and...

all the children of the world

and He took them

in His arms and

began blessing them,

laying His hands

on them.

Mark 10:16 NAS

light

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine.

Dwight L. Moody

everybody has one

You are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Cherish your birthverse.

BIRTHVERSE consists of 366 verses chosen from the 66 books of the Bible. Each verse correlates the chapter and verse with its month and day.

mine
Romans 8:18 NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

sweetie’s
Romans 10:8 NIV
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

‘birth’ of our marriage
John 6:29 NIV
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.”

psalm 67 by isaac watts

The nation's prosperity, and the church's increase.

Shine, mighty God, on Britain shine,
With beams of heav'nly grace;
Reveal thy power through all our coasts,
And show thy smiling face.

[Amidst our isle, exalted high,
Do thou our glory stand,
And, like a wall of guardian fire,
Surround the fav'rite land.]

When shall thy name, from shore to shore,
Sound all the earth abroad;
And distant nations know and love
Their Savior and their God?

Sing to the Lord, ye distant lands,
Sing loud with solemn voice;
While British tongues exalt his praise,
And British hearts rejoice.

He, the great Lord, the sovereign Judge,
That sits enthroned above,
Wisely commands the worlds he made
In justice and in love.

Earth shall obey her Maker's will,
And yield a full increase;
Our God will crown his chosen isle
With fruitfulness and peace.

God the Redeemer scatters round
His choicest favors here,
While the creation's utmost bound
Shall see, adore, and fear.

let's talk about it

"Come, let us discuss this,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

God says "let us discuss this". I've accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, I've been saved by grace, I've been forgiven, I've been given the promise of eternal life.

So yes, I have discussions with God. How? When I pray, or when I’m reading the Bible, or when I hear a song, or when I listen to a sermon, or when I’m contemplating life, or when I’m studying devotions, or when...

When I talk to God, I use basic, everyday words. Generally, I talk to Him in my thoughts. Frequently, especially when I’m alone, I talk aloud to Him. Either way, it’s just God and me. I rarely close my eyes during my daily conversation. I talk to Him just as I talk to a friend.

psalm 67

... a prayer for the enlargement of Christ's kingdom

While studying Psalm 67, I found the following statement made by John Piper:

“To love is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples.”

Need I say more?

(part two of two)

the whole wide world for Jesus

I really like the book of Psalms. (Before I begin, one of my pet peeves is when I see, for example, Psalms 23. It isn’t Psalms 23, it’s Psalm 23. The book is the Psalms, and each chapter is a Psalm.)

Starting over – I really like the book of Psalms. There’s a lot of good reading in its 150 chapters. I’ve been studying Psalm 67.

I’ve seen this chapter entitled the “Missionary Song”. I agree. As Christians, we are called to live according to God’s will and plan for our lives, we are called to share His gift of salvation, we are called to get His message out there everywhere, we are called to praise Him and thank Him and then to thank Him and praise Him all over again and again.

Psalm 67 NAS

1 God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us-- Selah.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth. Selah.
5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

(part one of two)

then and now...past and present

but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 NAS

I attended a small country-ish church from birth until I married and moved away. Mind you, I’m not that old, and can only speak of my experiences, but wow how churches have changed! From my first church to my current church, what a difference!

Pews? The pews were hard and seating was uncomfortable. I remember a few little old ladies came with pillows in tow. (I’m not quite a little old lady, yet I also bring a pillow.) Now the pews are fully cushioned and much more comfortable.

Hymnals? Hymnal racks were attached to the back of pews, and of course, the racks held hymnals. I can’t remember when I last sang from a hymnal. Today, there are complex media systems, both sound and visual. Words to songs are large, easy to read and displayed on two wide screens. We now have not only a piano and organ, but a few other instruments, and pre-recorded music CDs.

Hymnal racks? Not only the unused hymnals, but bibles are also placed in the racks. That’s a good idea for someone who doesn’t have access to a bible. However, I wonder if this convenience causes some to leave their personal bibles at home. Do you go to school without your text book?

Microphones? Preachers didn’t have a microphone, even if the church could buy one. They just spoke a little louder. I’m not sure how many microphones are in the sanctuary now. The preacher and the music leader are clearly heard, as well as the instruments and choir.

Air conditioners? I think not. There were these neat paperboard hand fans on a stick. I’m convinced that the weather back then wasn’t as hot and humid as is now. Now I’m quite comfortable with thermostats.

Announcements? They were usually spoken from the pulpit and also listed in a bulletin. The bulletins were typed by the church secretary and were plain. Now, announcements are listed on the wide screens before the service begins and also in our jazzed up bulletins.

Is the House of God taken for granted? Appreciated? Highly regarded? Revered? Cherished? How about the modern building? Large sanctuary, plenty of Sunday school rooms, and large fellowship hall? Excellent Sunday school materials? Fully equipped nurseries? Wednesday night suppers? Multitude of programs for all age groups? Senior Pastor, Minister of Worship and of Senior Adults, Minister of Youth and of Media, Minister of Children and of Communications, Preschool Director, Secretaries?

Do we, the church, honestly and completely, earnestly and sincerely, recognize exactly how blessed we are???

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20 NAS

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NAS

strike that match

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I heard an old song online (klove.com) last week. I hadn’t thought about it for a long time.

The song begins with a story from long, long ago. In 1519, Cortez landed in Mexico on the shores of the Yucatan. By giving them no option to give up and go home, Cortez forced his men to focus on being successful in their mission.

I remember that Cortez was an explorer. Other than that, I was clueless about his trip back in 1519. I googled Cortez and skimmed thru several historical references. I looked up the lyrics of “Burn the Ships”, sung by Steven Curtis Chapman, and remembered why I had listened and listened to this song.

This song is a story about commitment. It’s a story about endurance. It’s a story about obedience. It’s a story about motivation. It’s a story about faithfulness. Did Cortez know the exploration of 1519 would be such a story? I wonder...

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 NAS

let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 NAS

As a Christian, I am called to have nothing less than total commitment. Total commitment to finish the race. That’s total commitment. And, endurance. Endurance strong enough to cross the finish line. And, obedience. Obedience to the commands and instructions of God. Motivation. Motivation by the love of God and to serve God in all I do. And, faithfulness. Faithfulness to the Christian life, the foundation of God’s love.

When I became a Christian, there were many ships to burn. The first ship was my life before accepting Jesus. The first ship was the biggest, but it was surrounded by many, many sin ships. I still see ships that need to be burned. Ships that can hold me back from the will of God. Ships that can change direction and take me where I shouldn’t go. There are many ships wanting to take me off course. There are too many ships.

Burn, burn, burn, and don’t look back...

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Burn the Ships
Steven Curtis Chapman

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying

Chorus
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you know"
But the one who led us here is saying

Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone

got faith?

"Faith in God includes faith in His timing."

I know these words are true. I know I have faith in God, and I know He has His time. So why do I become impatient? Why do I wonder when? Why do I wonder how? Why do wonder?

Sometimes I need reminding of the magnificent infinite wisdom of God.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

Each time I hear this praise and worship chorus, I can almost hear a whisper saying “in My time”.

In His Time
In His time, in His time.
He makes all things beautiful, in His time.
Lord, please show me every day,
As You’re teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say,
In Your time.

In Your time, in Your time,
You make all things beautiful, in Your time.
Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing,
In Your time.

loving-kindness

what’s the difference?

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NAS

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 NAS

Concern? Yes, I’ve had concerns, I have concerns, and I will have concerns. There are things or people or events that have an effect on me, that I’m involved with, that are important to me, that get my attention, that I am somehow, in some way, connected with.

Worry? Yes, I’ve worried. And, I’ll worry again. I’ve worried due to or because of fear, troubles, injustice, disasters, distress, anger, pain, danger, crime.

Is there a difference between concern and worry? Yes, there is a difference, a big difference.

* Concern tries to solve problems, looks for solutions, and faces challenges.

* Worry causes problems and worry is the problem. Worry is a waste of time, it’s pointless, and doesn’t help anything.

There are times it’s very hard not to worry. But, God says that we are not to worry. He’s very clear on the subject. He asks us to give our worries to Him.  And, not to pick them up again.  I'm guilty.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:6-8 NAS

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. A Greg Laurie study summarizes these verses into three steps for keeping worry from our lives.

1- Right praying (verse 6-7). To be free of worry, we have to pray.

2- Right thinking (verse 8). Having peace involves both the heart and mind. The peace of God will guard our thinking.

3- Right living (verse 9). The way we act depends on our attitude. We are to think about things that are praiseworthy.

If Jesus is our personal savior, there’s no need to worry. God is in control of your life. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you know who holds tomorrow.

I close with these quotes:

“Worry is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.”
Unknown

“There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem. “
Harold Stephens

"Only one kind of worry is proper: to worry because you worry too much."
Unknown

“Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway.”
Mary C. Crowley

get ready...get set...go read, listen, and pray

Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:1-3 NIV

I admit it.

Sometimes I’m guilty of not finding ‘time’ for daily devotions and prayer with God. Not finding time? That’s about the sorriest excuse ever! Not taking time for God? How much time is in a day? Is my time better than His time? It’s God that has given me the time I have!

What on earth could have a higher priority? Absolutely, positively, definitely nothing at all!

The beginning of each new day is my best time alone with God. In the quiet, stillness of the morning, it’s an excellent time for me to study and mediate on the Word of God. Spending time alone with God is essential for me to find guidance, to be encouraged, to learn, to be comforted, to understand, to open my heart, and to grow closer to Him. In the peaceful solitude, my heart is prepared to listen. When I talk to God, I know my prayers are heard. My prayers may be simple, but He knows my heart. Prayer is a time to pour out my soul, to ask for strength, to cry, to give thanks, to laugh, and to ask for help.

There is plenty of time for me to spend alone with God. No excuses. Just do it.

It takes discipline. It takes commitment. It takes devotion. It takes obedience. It takes dedication.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 NIV

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 NIV

sonshine

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine.
Dwight L. Moody

quote of the day

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.

Saint Augustine