With God all things are possible. ~ Matthew 19:26
“If you say so;” A common phrase among those of us who are not totally convinced that what someone is telling us is true or even possible. People watched as a man walked a tight wire across Niagara Falls. After returning he then walked it again a second time blindfolded. After that he then pushed a wheelbarrow across it blindfolded. The people cheered as he accomplished these feats. He then asked a fellow standing in the crowd; “Do you think I can do that again?” The guy quickly said yes. The fellow then said, “Then how about you getting in the wheelbarrow this time?” Our faith cannot be measured by what we say or even think but rather by what we do. You and I are programmed naturally to reject things that do not appear logical to us. How can you push a camel through the eye of a needle? It has to be a trick question or an impossible feat. The truth is you cannot; but God can. God is the Master of impossibility. His works are not limited by our logical assumptions. He deals in miracles and we live in doubt. Why? Maybe because we have not actually seen Him push a wheelbarrow across a tight wire blindfolded. Could be that we have to take someone else’s word for what He has done. The doctor says, “I’m sorry, but the results are positive for cancer.” A friend says, “I will pray for you; God can heal you.” You think, “If you say so.” You have seen many die from the disease so your human logic reasons that it is only by chance that some survive it. The truth is all survive it. Disease kills bodies; not souls. Jesus saves souls, not bodies. He sacrificed His body that our soul might be saved. Man cannot save a soul, it is impossible for us to do. God can do it though. Look around; do you see any life forms around you at this moment? God created them. So go ahead and put a blindfold on your doubt and get into the wheelbarrow with God; live by faith and not by sight.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Life Storms
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. ~ Matthew 8:26 (NLT)
There was an old fellow that lived near my dad and would come over and sit on his front porch on late summer evenings. One evening I was there and the wind was getting up. “Why God made the wind makes no sense to me,” he said. “You can’t hunt in it, you can’t fish in it; I know everything He made has a purpose, but I have no idea what the wind does!” I know what purpose He has for the wind but I have not figured out what mosquitoes do.
Life storms; they come unexpectedly just like the one here the disciples were battling. Storms invoke fear. Fear; because we cannot control them. Damage and loss are usually the results of storms. We get a phone call in the middle of the night or while at the mall, and suddenly we find ourselves in the same boat with the disciples. Fear sets in; fear that we are going to have to face the worst; perhaps the loss of a child, a parent, or a loved one. A few moments earlier we were sailing clear across still waters with a friendly breeze in our face and then the phone call or the pink slip comes and our boat begins to fill with water. The wind becomes fierce and the sky darkens. “Oh God” is usually the first thought we have or maybe even the first words we mutter. Mark tells us in his Gospel that they cried out to Jesus and asked, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” If you read the Bible or have been in church very long you know what happens next; Jesus steps up and stills the storm. He knew the storm was coming; He had it all planned. “The devil was trying to kill them,” some say. If that was the case it was still allowed by God. Job experienced life at the hand of a loving God that allowed the devil to try him. Jesus then teaches us a lesson about fear; it comes upon us because in that instant instead of trusting God to keep us from going under we feel helpless and hopeless. With the wind driving the water into our face, the boat rocking from side to side dipping up water with each plunge under the waves, we struggle to hold onto the mast and thoughts of drowning fill our mind. Jesus said that faith is our life jacket. Regardless of what comes against us Jesus can handle it. We may have to get wet and maybe even sea sick from the rocking boat but if we will turn to Him, He will calm our storm too. Faith and trust go hand in hand. If we are willing to trust Christ to save us from Hell then we must learn to trust Him to save us from hell on earth. If you are sailing on the sea of life today and you are not in the boat with Jesus then be afraid; be very afraid. But if you are on board with Him then enjoy the ride knowing that when the storm comes, and it will, He will take care of it; and you.
There was an old fellow that lived near my dad and would come over and sit on his front porch on late summer evenings. One evening I was there and the wind was getting up. “Why God made the wind makes no sense to me,” he said. “You can’t hunt in it, you can’t fish in it; I know everything He made has a purpose, but I have no idea what the wind does!” I know what purpose He has for the wind but I have not figured out what mosquitoes do.
Life storms; they come unexpectedly just like the one here the disciples were battling. Storms invoke fear. Fear; because we cannot control them. Damage and loss are usually the results of storms. We get a phone call in the middle of the night or while at the mall, and suddenly we find ourselves in the same boat with the disciples. Fear sets in; fear that we are going to have to face the worst; perhaps the loss of a child, a parent, or a loved one. A few moments earlier we were sailing clear across still waters with a friendly breeze in our face and then the phone call or the pink slip comes and our boat begins to fill with water. The wind becomes fierce and the sky darkens. “Oh God” is usually the first thought we have or maybe even the first words we mutter. Mark tells us in his Gospel that they cried out to Jesus and asked, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” If you read the Bible or have been in church very long you know what happens next; Jesus steps up and stills the storm. He knew the storm was coming; He had it all planned. “The devil was trying to kill them,” some say. If that was the case it was still allowed by God. Job experienced life at the hand of a loving God that allowed the devil to try him. Jesus then teaches us a lesson about fear; it comes upon us because in that instant instead of trusting God to keep us from going under we feel helpless and hopeless. With the wind driving the water into our face, the boat rocking from side to side dipping up water with each plunge under the waves, we struggle to hold onto the mast and thoughts of drowning fill our mind. Jesus said that faith is our life jacket. Regardless of what comes against us Jesus can handle it. We may have to get wet and maybe even sea sick from the rocking boat but if we will turn to Him, He will calm our storm too. Faith and trust go hand in hand. If we are willing to trust Christ to save us from Hell then we must learn to trust Him to save us from hell on earth. If you are sailing on the sea of life today and you are not in the boat with Jesus then be afraid; be very afraid. But if you are on board with Him then enjoy the ride knowing that when the storm comes, and it will, He will take care of it; and you.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Man, you stink.
So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him. (Luke 15:20 NCV)
Shoo, what’s that smell? Look at you, you’re a mess! Where have you been? What did you do with all the money I gave you? I knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you listen to me? Don’t touch me; I don’t want that pig poop on me. I will have one of my servants take you to the barn and hose you off. They will give you some work clothes and feed you. I will come by and check on you when you are all cleaned up. I can’t believe you.
This is what one would expect a dad to say to the son whom he gave half of his inheritance only to have him come back knocking on the door smelling like alcohol, eyes red from drug use, hair matted, and wearing clothes stained with week old vomit. He does not deserve any other reception we would say. He brought all this upon himself, what did he expect? He is lucky the father even received him. This is exactly what God has done for us though. We think sometimes we are the son who stayed home and did the right thing. That God owes us an inheritance because we are the good one in the family and not the black sheep. When Adam ate the fruit the pigs were turned loose. Pigs with names like addiction, sexual immorality, rage and pride. The whole earth has become their pen. They have run of the place and there are millions that eat with them, wallow in the mud with them, and die in their pen every day. God has offered refuge from the pen however. He has a nice home with a room in it just for us. He stands on the porch watching for us to come up the road. When we do, He does not greet us with insults or condemnation, pinching his nose and waving his hand. No, He reaches out to us, wraps His spiritual arms around us, hugs us tight and kisses us on our neck. God has been in the pig pen; He has smelled the smells and had mud on Him. He knows how miserable life is in the pen. That is why He went to the Cross and shed His blood; that it would wash off the mud, the poop, the drugs, the alcohol, the adultery, the homosexuality, the pornography, the prostitution, the greed, the lies, the anger, the rage, the abuse, and the shame. Look around you; see any pigs? Are you in the pen with them? Climb out and run to Jesus. See someone else in it? Give them your hand, help them out, and lead them to Christ. God accepts us as we are but loves us to much to leave us that way.
Shoo, what’s that smell? Look at you, you’re a mess! Where have you been? What did you do with all the money I gave you? I knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you listen to me? Don’t touch me; I don’t want that pig poop on me. I will have one of my servants take you to the barn and hose you off. They will give you some work clothes and feed you. I will come by and check on you when you are all cleaned up. I can’t believe you.
This is what one would expect a dad to say to the son whom he gave half of his inheritance only to have him come back knocking on the door smelling like alcohol, eyes red from drug use, hair matted, and wearing clothes stained with week old vomit. He does not deserve any other reception we would say. He brought all this upon himself, what did he expect? He is lucky the father even received him. This is exactly what God has done for us though. We think sometimes we are the son who stayed home and did the right thing. That God owes us an inheritance because we are the good one in the family and not the black sheep. When Adam ate the fruit the pigs were turned loose. Pigs with names like addiction, sexual immorality, rage and pride. The whole earth has become their pen. They have run of the place and there are millions that eat with them, wallow in the mud with them, and die in their pen every day. God has offered refuge from the pen however. He has a nice home with a room in it just for us. He stands on the porch watching for us to come up the road. When we do, He does not greet us with insults or condemnation, pinching his nose and waving his hand. No, He reaches out to us, wraps His spiritual arms around us, hugs us tight and kisses us on our neck. God has been in the pig pen; He has smelled the smells and had mud on Him. He knows how miserable life is in the pen. That is why He went to the Cross and shed His blood; that it would wash off the mud, the poop, the drugs, the alcohol, the adultery, the homosexuality, the pornography, the prostitution, the greed, the lies, the anger, the rage, the abuse, and the shame. Look around you; see any pigs? Are you in the pen with them? Climb out and run to Jesus. See someone else in it? Give them your hand, help them out, and lead them to Christ. God accepts us as we are but loves us to much to leave us that way.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Why God, why?
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ~ Matthew 27:46
There He was hanging between heaven and earth, just as the Scriptures had said He would. For this reason He came to this sin infested planet to begin with. Having no sin of His own to die for He readily and voluntarily allowed this body to be scourged and spit upon and then nailed to a Cross to be lifted up that all men may be reconciled to an angry God. Anger that stems from the effects that sin had brought upon His favorite creations. Being deceived by the adversary, His human beings, those made in the image of Himself, were turned against Him. His anger could have led to total annihilation of the race yet instead, He chose to preserve us. Taking His anger out on Himself, by way of His guiltless, sinless, Son; Jesus. Is it any wonder Jesus asked this question? After all what had He done to cause His Father to do this to Him? All the time knowing why His Father, for a brief period of time, had to leave Him alone on that blood stained wooden Cross. Sin cannot exist in the presence of the Father; the Holy God. It is consumed in His presence and the body that it dwells in is consumed also. Jesus experienced separation from the Father; I know He is a part of the Trinity and what we know theologically is hard to accept logically. However the flesh and blood body of our Lord contained our sin and it was that body that He sacrificed in order that we could be separated from sin forever. What has all this got to do with us? Have you ever been in a situation, or maybe in one now, where you felt God had or has forsaken you? Could it be there is sin hiding somewhere in your body? Some unforgiven sin of which you have not repented? Forgiveness you need to give and have not given? Perhaps some jealousy or envy? Maybe a little "secret sin" buried deep in an old trunk in the basement of your heart? Jesus knows what you feel like. He did what He did so that you do not have to experience it forever. Look to Him, cast your spiritual eyes upon Him, and then crucify the sin that is separating you from the Father. Give up your spirit to Jesus just as He gave up His to the Father.
There He was hanging between heaven and earth, just as the Scriptures had said He would. For this reason He came to this sin infested planet to begin with. Having no sin of His own to die for He readily and voluntarily allowed this body to be scourged and spit upon and then nailed to a Cross to be lifted up that all men may be reconciled to an angry God. Anger that stems from the effects that sin had brought upon His favorite creations. Being deceived by the adversary, His human beings, those made in the image of Himself, were turned against Him. His anger could have led to total annihilation of the race yet instead, He chose to preserve us. Taking His anger out on Himself, by way of His guiltless, sinless, Son; Jesus. Is it any wonder Jesus asked this question? After all what had He done to cause His Father to do this to Him? All the time knowing why His Father, for a brief period of time, had to leave Him alone on that blood stained wooden Cross. Sin cannot exist in the presence of the Father; the Holy God. It is consumed in His presence and the body that it dwells in is consumed also. Jesus experienced separation from the Father; I know He is a part of the Trinity and what we know theologically is hard to accept logically. However the flesh and blood body of our Lord contained our sin and it was that body that He sacrificed in order that we could be separated from sin forever. What has all this got to do with us? Have you ever been in a situation, or maybe in one now, where you felt God had or has forsaken you? Could it be there is sin hiding somewhere in your body? Some unforgiven sin of which you have not repented? Forgiveness you need to give and have not given? Perhaps some jealousy or envy? Maybe a little "secret sin" buried deep in an old trunk in the basement of your heart? Jesus knows what you feel like. He did what He did so that you do not have to experience it forever. Look to Him, cast your spiritual eyes upon Him, and then crucify the sin that is separating you from the Father. Give up your spirit to Jesus just as He gave up His to the Father.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Oh Baby!
15 Some people brought even their babies to Jesus so he could touch them. When the followers saw this, they told them to stop. 16 But Jesus called for the children, saying, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God as if you were a child, or you will never enter it." ~ St. Luke 18: 15 – 17 (NCV)
I can remember years ago when politicians used to make a point of kissing all the babies in the crowd they could reach. People would bring their babies to them to be kissed hoping they would get on camera. Today with all the security issues they face, politicians had to up their protection and we do not see it as much as we used to. I use this illustration that you may have some idea what it was like that day for Jesus when people were bringing their children to Him that He may touch them. Hundreds were there wanting to see Him or be touched or healed by Him. When parents began bringing their infants to Him the adults did not see any benefit in having Him touch babies. There were people who needed healing and the babies were taking His attention away from them perhaps. Listen closely to what Jesus says, read it several times if you need to. “The kingdom of God belongs to people who are like children. I guarantee YOU, if YOU do not accept the kingdom of God as if YOU were a child, YOU will NEVER enter it.” (Emphasis mine of course). Babies have to be carried to get where they go. They spit up milk on you, they make noises that wake you from your sleep in the middle of the night, they emit smells that would even choke a buzzard, and they mess up diapers constantly, but we count them as precious and love them dearly! Now put yourself in that category in relation to God. We must be willing to be totally dependent upon Him to take us where we need to go, to put up with our crying, to feed us when we are hungry, to protect us from danger, and to wash our dirty feet. Now you understand what He meant when He told big old Nicodemus; “You must be born again.” WE need to be born again too if we are to enter the kingdom of God. Babies cannot drive themselves home; they depend on us to take them there. We cannot take ourselves to heaven either; we must depend on Jesus to take us there.
I can remember years ago when politicians used to make a point of kissing all the babies in the crowd they could reach. People would bring their babies to them to be kissed hoping they would get on camera. Today with all the security issues they face, politicians had to up their protection and we do not see it as much as we used to. I use this illustration that you may have some idea what it was like that day for Jesus when people were bringing their children to Him that He may touch them. Hundreds were there wanting to see Him or be touched or healed by Him. When parents began bringing their infants to Him the adults did not see any benefit in having Him touch babies. There were people who needed healing and the babies were taking His attention away from them perhaps. Listen closely to what Jesus says, read it several times if you need to. “The kingdom of God belongs to people who are like children. I guarantee YOU, if YOU do not accept the kingdom of God as if YOU were a child, YOU will NEVER enter it.” (Emphasis mine of course). Babies have to be carried to get where they go. They spit up milk on you, they make noises that wake you from your sleep in the middle of the night, they emit smells that would even choke a buzzard, and they mess up diapers constantly, but we count them as precious and love them dearly! Now put yourself in that category in relation to God. We must be willing to be totally dependent upon Him to take us where we need to go, to put up with our crying, to feed us when we are hungry, to protect us from danger, and to wash our dirty feet. Now you understand what He meant when He told big old Nicodemus; “You must be born again.” WE need to be born again too if we are to enter the kingdom of God. Babies cannot drive themselves home; they depend on us to take them there. We cannot take ourselves to heaven either; we must depend on Jesus to take us there.
Monday, January 17, 2011
A Praying Man: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On a warm, cloudy Wednesday on August 28, 1963, Dr. King ascended the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to deliver his seventeen minute “I Have A Dream” speech to over two hundred thousand people that had gathered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A man of God, an ordained Baptist Minister, a visionary, a family man, and of most importance; a praying man. Dr. King knew the importance of having a personal relationship, not just a casual acquaintance, with the Lord Jesus Christ. A man that understood that hate and discrimination could not be overcome by carnal, (physical), weaponry. “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” (I Have A Dream). The Apostle Paul put it this way: “The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way – never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 The Message). Both men were praying men. Both lived and preached in a godless society, risking their lives to proclaim the message of the Gospel; not just in words but in deeds. Both men realized their strength came from prayer. What a lesson for us! We learn from the persistence, patience, and perseverance of these men of God the source of their strength; a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Both of whom today are there with Him! Prayer is more than just a formal form of religious ritual. Prayer is as Briscoe Darlin once said to Aunt Bee; “It’s your heart talkin’ to my heart.” Prayer is the heart and will of God revealed to His children. The Father to child talk that encourages, corrects, motivates, and assures us of our faith. The faith we have in Him. You may never give a culture changing speech to hundreds of thousands. You may never find yourself in a riot defending the resurrection of Jesus. But you fight the same spiritual battles as those who do. Paul also said; “For in Him we live and move and have our very being.” (Acts 17:28 NKJV). Without prayer, constant communication with the Father, we are left to our own decisions and devices. Prayer is to the soul what oxygen is to our bodies.
On a warm, cloudy Wednesday on August 28, 1963, Dr. King ascended the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to deliver his seventeen minute “I Have A Dream” speech to over two hundred thousand people that had gathered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A man of God, an ordained Baptist Minister, a visionary, a family man, and of most importance; a praying man. Dr. King knew the importance of having a personal relationship, not just a casual acquaintance, with the Lord Jesus Christ. A man that understood that hate and discrimination could not be overcome by carnal, (physical), weaponry. “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” (I Have A Dream). The Apostle Paul put it this way: “The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way – never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 The Message). Both men were praying men. Both lived and preached in a godless society, risking their lives to proclaim the message of the Gospel; not just in words but in deeds. Both men realized their strength came from prayer. What a lesson for us! We learn from the persistence, patience, and perseverance of these men of God the source of their strength; a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Both of whom today are there with Him! Prayer is more than just a formal form of religious ritual. Prayer is as Briscoe Darlin once said to Aunt Bee; “It’s your heart talkin’ to my heart.” Prayer is the heart and will of God revealed to His children. The Father to child talk that encourages, corrects, motivates, and assures us of our faith. The faith we have in Him. You may never give a culture changing speech to hundreds of thousands. You may never find yourself in a riot defending the resurrection of Jesus. But you fight the same spiritual battles as those who do. Paul also said; “For in Him we live and move and have our very being.” (Acts 17:28 NKJV). Without prayer, constant communication with the Father, we are left to our own decisions and devices. Prayer is to the soul what oxygen is to our bodies.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Quit Worrying! You Will Go!
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
(John 14:1-3 KJV)
These verses are usually read at funerals. I have read them many times at the funerals of believers. They are not just for the dying or the dead, Jesus said this to encourage us who are alive and well right now. Let me set this up for you, go back into Chapter 13 and pick it up at the Last Supper. After leaving the room and heading into the Garden, Jesus told His disciples He would be leaving them. Peter asked Him where He was going, indicating he would follow Him, even if it cost him his life. Jesus told Peter it was not time for him to come yet. In fact, He told Peter that he would even deny knowing Him before daylight! Then Jesus spoke these words to him. He said it to reassure Peter and us. Would you allow me to put them in my Southern tongue? “Listen guys, I know you are all worried about Me leaving you, but listen to Me. You have trusted God all along; now trust Me when I tell you that all of you will one day come to where I am going. Right now while you are here doing what God needs you to do, I will be up there getting your place ready! Then when it’s your time to come, I will personally come and get you. None of you will be left out, so quit worrying!”
So quit worrying! If you are in Christ today you can be assured that you will go to heaven! Yeah, you will mess up a time or two, as Peter did, and all of us have, but if you have put your trust in Christ, He is preparing a place for you too!
(John 14:1-3 KJV)
These verses are usually read at funerals. I have read them many times at the funerals of believers. They are not just for the dying or the dead, Jesus said this to encourage us who are alive and well right now. Let me set this up for you, go back into Chapter 13 and pick it up at the Last Supper. After leaving the room and heading into the Garden, Jesus told His disciples He would be leaving them. Peter asked Him where He was going, indicating he would follow Him, even if it cost him his life. Jesus told Peter it was not time for him to come yet. In fact, He told Peter that he would even deny knowing Him before daylight! Then Jesus spoke these words to him. He said it to reassure Peter and us. Would you allow me to put them in my Southern tongue? “Listen guys, I know you are all worried about Me leaving you, but listen to Me. You have trusted God all along; now trust Me when I tell you that all of you will one day come to where I am going. Right now while you are here doing what God needs you to do, I will be up there getting your place ready! Then when it’s your time to come, I will personally come and get you. None of you will be left out, so quit worrying!”
So quit worrying! If you are in Christ today you can be assured that you will go to heaven! Yeah, you will mess up a time or two, as Peter did, and all of us have, but if you have put your trust in Christ, He is preparing a place for you too!
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