Monday, April 17, 2017

Closer

For the entire time I have been doing this Bible Study online there's been something I've tried to keep constant.  First and foremost I strive to please God and make sure his words matter.  For the reader I have always prayed that God will use this to bring them closer to him.  
I was reading and the apostle Paul said the things my heart wants for my readers of course more eloquently than I ever could phrase it.  See he knew a thing or two about Bible studies over long distances.    I mean hello writer of Half the New Testament all in letter form to churches.  Doesn't get more long distance than that.  And before any of you think I'm more special than anyone else I'm not I fail on a daily basis by getting angry and not being able to communicate properly.  I need God's grace and forgiveness just as much as you.  But I am bringing to you words I hope will encourage you.  
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.  May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.  Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with Him.  This is all made possible because of the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ."  




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Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter

This Easter celebration I find myself marveling at God's amazing love and sacrifice and I just had it summed up in one line from the song In Heaven's Eyes by Sandi Patti. "And looking up we'll see Compassion's Fire ablaze in Heaven's Eyes." Compassion for undeserving sinners that's the message of the Cross and Crucifixion!


 

Sandi Patty In Heavens Eyes

Sandi singing in Heavens Eyes
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Monday, April 10, 2017

Not done yet

Lamentations 3:20-33

God's not done with you and me yet we're a work in progress.  Philippians 1:6 "And I am certain that God who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
I was reading in Lamentations and for almost two and half chapters it's bad news then suddenly I found this passage of hope that all of us need to remind us that God knows what's best for us and he's not done yet.  We need this encouragement to "continue the mission ".

20I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
21Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
22The faithful love of the LORD never ends!b
His mercies never cease.
23Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
25The LORD is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
26So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the LORD.
27And it is good for people to submit at an early age
to the yoke of his discipline:
28Let them sit alone in silence
beneath the LORD’s demands.
29Let them lie face down in the dust,
for there may be hope at last.
30Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies.
31For no one is abandoned
by the Lord forever.
32Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
33For he does not enjoy hurting people
or causing them sorrow.


For the newer people to the blog and e-mail portion if you ever notice i post the links to the songs and it shows the lyrics there are two reasons for this.  My wife Marion knows sign language and she prefers it this way so she can sign along.  Also the words are there because the lyrics are specific to the blog and i want you to be able to sing along and learn as well.  


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Monday, April 3, 2017

More than Gold



There's a saying in the world of pro wrestling that goes a bit like this.  "If you're not in this business in order to become world champion then you don't need to be in this business."  It in a way translates to the Christian life.  See if you're not in it to please God then you need to have a check up as to where your focus lies and why it is askew.  
I was reading recently and this verse stood out to me.  Paul was remembering his visit to the Thessalonians and defending the things that were said and done during that time and I want you catch his purpose.  1 Thessalonians 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News.  Our purpose is to please God, not people.  He alone examines the motives of our hearts."  Then in chapter 4:1 "Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you.  You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more."  Early on when this life group was starting there was a lady who signed up and I said this was a Bible Study with it's main goal being to glorify God and she remarked that it seemed too serious.  That scares me that someone would be part of a bible study and not want to glorify God.  Like a wrestler trying to obtain the top prize we as followers of God should want to glorify God and know him more.  
In Romans 12:1-2 we see what that looks like.  "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him.  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."  
Peter and the apostles understood this because they were threatened by Jewish leaders to stop talking about Jesus and they had the perfect response.  Acts 5:29-32 
My question to you the reader is seeking to please God too serious or are you content to be merely a Man pleaser I personally would rather please God.  

God takes people following him very seriously he wants us to give him nothing less than our all.  In Revelation 3:14-16 he deals harshly with the church of Laodicea. They were just playing church and using it as a social club.  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea.  This is the message from the one who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's new creation.  'I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold, I wish that you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!'"  Joshua 24:14-15 "14“So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. 15But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Make up your mind who you're going to follow and be serious about it!!!! 


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