Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa knows our name and address and writes our name on his naughty or nice list.

JESUS knew our name before we did. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. And JESUS writes our names in the Book of Life.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Submitted by Gloria Lewis

Because of Him

The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Rev. 21:5)

When I drive in to work, I have to cross over a hill to get to the freeway. As I crested the hill this morning, I was greeted with the sight of the local mountains covered in snow. Even the foothills had a light dusting. The sky, which was grey and rainy all day yesterday, has given way to clear blue and sunshine. The air is cold and crisp – the kind of day you see on a picture postcard.

Such a beautiful scene can’t help but feel like a new beginning. Reflecting on the meaning of Christmas causes one to think about new beginnings too. And isn’t that precisely why Christ was born – to give us a new beginning?

2008 has been a unique year, I think. So many events have happened that will impact our lives for years, and even decades to come. For many people, it’s been a very difficult year. But something amazing has come out of it all. People can be heard talking about how grateful they are for what they have, even if things are tight. They say things like “Yes, things are tough now, but there are a lot of folks out there in much worse circumstances.”

In his audience in Rome yesterday, Pope Benedict made a comment that one positive coming out of the economic crisis is that it can help people to rediscover "the warmth, simplicity, friendship and solidarity" contained in authentic Christmas values. I think he's absolutely right and believe with all my heart that this is a case of burdens being turned into blessings, and an opportunity to understand more clearly who we are by understanding who we are not. We are not our own beginning or end, though some scientists would like us to think otherwise.

It’s hard to understand sometimes why we as a society are so fixated on controlling our own destiny. The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that admitting our limitations is nothing to be ashamed of because He has been victorious, and He has claimed us as His own. Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the One who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld (Rev. 1:17-18).

So as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, and as we begin a new year, let us rejoice, secure in the knowledge of Whose we are. Jesus said, I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand (Jn. 10:28-29). Hallelujah!

Prayer Request: For all those seeking a new beginning

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this year of life that You have given us, with all its burdens and blessings. As we celebrate the birth of Your Son, grant us the grace to learn to love simplicity, and to root ourselves deeply in the love of the child born in a manger. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The History of St. Nicholas

As we prepare for Christmas and New Year’s, I thought I would do some blogs regarding the history and little known facts regarding familiar traditions many of us hold to during the holidays.

Truth be told, I was inspired by my pastor who has been sharing these findings with the congregation this month. The below account has been edited by me due to space.

Source: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church.

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.

One of the oldest stories showing St. Nicholas as a protector of children takes place long after his death. The townspeople of Myra were celebrating on the eve of his feast day when a band of Arab pirates from Crete came into the district. They stole treasures from the Church of Saint Nicholas to take away as booty. As they were leaving town, they snatched a young boy, Basilios, to make into a slave. The emir, or ruler, selected Basilios to be his personal cupbearer, as not knowing the language, Basilios would not understand what the king said to those around him. So, for the next year Basilios waited on the king, bringing his wine in a beautiful golden cup. For Basilios' parents, devastated at the loss of their only child, the year passed slowly, filled with grief. As the next St. Nicholas' feast day approached, Basilios' mother would not join in the festivity, as it was now a day of tragedy. However, she was persuaded to have a simple observance at home—with quiet prayers for Basilios' safekeeping. Meanwhile, as Basilios was fulfilling his tasks serving the emir, he was suddenly whisked up and away. St. Nicholas appeared to the terrified boy, blessed him, and set him down at his home back in Myra. Imagine the joy and wonderment when Basilios amazingly appeared before his parents, still holding the king's golden cup. This is the first story told of St. Nicholas protecting children—which became his primary role in the West.

Through the centuries St. Nicholas has continued to be venerated by Catholics and Orthodox and honored by Protestants. By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate life.

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops begged alms for the poor—and sometimes for themselves! In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint's horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

There are so many more stories at the above listed link, and I encourage you to read through them when you have time. You will be amazed!

But it is always awe-inspiring to take a moment to stop in the middle of gift buying, gift wrapping, baking cookies, and filling out your Christmas cards – to reflect on the reason we are celebrating Christmas. A very special time when God chose to send his Son to us to be our Savior.

Prayer: Lord, help us all to remember the Reason for the Season. Help us to remember it's CHRIST's birth we are all celebrating, and we should all be in awe about that awesome day. Thank You, Father, for sending us the Messiah to save us all!!

Prayer request: For everyone to have safe travels during the holidays, for broken relationships to be mended, for this to be a time of healing and celebration of the Christ Child.

The Gift on Christmas

Scriptures: But after had had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. "(Matthew 1:20-21)

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, after the service and the pot-luck, a few brothers and sisters were talking about going to some huge sales event. They encouraged each other to bring enough clothing so they can stay warm through the night. When I heard this, out of my ignorance, I asked why they had to prepare for the night. They laughed at me and told me that people would line up, even days before the sales began, so they could get in the store early enough to get what they wanted. This is amazing, especially when you take into account the problems we are having in our economy. Yet, that’s part of the reality we live in.

Everyone loves gifts and this season of Christmas has been said to be a season of gifts. That is true to the extent that Jesus was a gift from God to us. Just about every gift we received, either for birthday or anniversary or other reasons, was for our own personal use. But this gift called Jesus is definitely different. He is a special gift that came with a mission and with glorious revelation.

The angel told Joseph that this son he was going to have should be named “Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Jesus wasn’t just one of the gifts. He wasn’t just any gifts that you can find in a store. He was THE GIFT that God sent us for a purpose. That purpose was to save us from our sins.

For this purpose, He was made lowly and poor. For this purpose, He endured sufferings and injustices. For this purpose, He was listed among the criminals. For this purpose, He was nailed to the cross. His birth had everything to do with His death and resurrection. I wonder how often we missed the tie between Christmas and Easter when we celebrate Christmas.

If we can see the hope beyond the cross and the grave on the Easter, what can we see beyond the nativity and the gifts on Christmas? Now, if “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich,” (II Corinthians 8:9) then what should we learn from this act of divine giving from God?

This divine gift of God was a life, this man called Jesus. More than that, Jesus was a life through whom God saved and transformed lives. Jesus accomplished the mission entrusted to Him. Now this mission has been entrusted to His Church who has been the only people in the world willing to acknowledge the receipt of this divine and eternal gift.

I sincerely pray and hope that, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and ponder on the meaning of this historical event, we do not lose sight of the significance and purpose of His coming then. More than that, I pray that we will all be fired up again by His humility and faithfulness in carrying out His mission and be willing to respond to the calling He has for each one of us in like manner. I am convinced that the best gift anyone can give any time is the gift of an eternally reconciled relationship with God in His glory!

Prayer Request:
For Christmas gift shoppers

Prayers:
Gracious Father, thank You for willing to give us Your Son Jesus for our salvation. Help us to go beyond the act of giving and truly learn and remember the heart and the purpose You had behind this divine giving. May You bless our acts of giving this Christmas so they can be used by the Holy Spirit to touch and transform others in Jesus’ name, as was intended in Your giving. We humbly ask in the glorious name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!

When it is Your Time.

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end.
The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waitingroom of what I thought to be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seatby the defense table.
As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor."
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.
He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney,a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in fullflowing robes.
He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room Icouldn't take my eyes off of Him.
As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said,
"My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this woman belongs in hell."
He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole,and In the past when I cheated others Satan told of other horrible Perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, thefurtherdown in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my ownAttorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completelyforgottenabout.
As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things aboutme, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not Offering any form of defense at all.
I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done somegood in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'ddone?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This woman belongs in hell,she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person whocan prove otherwise."
When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He mightapproach the bench.
The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan,and beckoned Him to come forward.
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him inHis full splendor and majesty.
I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesusrepresenting me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi,Dad," and then He turned to address the court.
"Satan was correct in saying that this woman had sinned,I won't deny any of these allegations.
And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman deserves to bepunished."
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross sothatthis person might have eternal life and she has accepted Me as herSavior, so she is Mine."
My Lord continued with, "Her name is written in the Book of Life,and no one can snatch her from Me.
Satan still does not understand yet.This woman is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down,
He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said,"There is nothing else that needs to be done."
"I've done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.The following words bellowed from His lips..
"This woman is free."
The penalty for her has already been paid in full.
"Case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving,"I won't give up, I will win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gavememy instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent themhas received the same verdict as you,
~Paid In Full~
If you do not pass this along to 15 people immediately,absolutely nothing will happen.
Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend,(as I have done here), will bless you both.
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"

submitted by Gloria Lewis

O Tidings of Comfort & Joy

Comfort, give comfort to My people, says your God (Is. 40:1)

Thus begins the section of Isaiah known as “The Book of Consolation.” I can remember sitting in the gas station lines back in the 70s when gas was being rationed. (Remember those even and odd days?). I remember a 13-month period toward the end of my high school years when my dad was unemployed and money was tight. My mom was able to make a dollar stretch to proportions seemingly outdone only by the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and as far as the three of us kids were concerned, everything was normal. We never felt deprived of anything.

Those burdens can turn into blessings, though. My dad’s unemployment situation translated into a full scholarship when I went off to a private university, something there is no way we could have afforded on our own, even if Dad had not been out of work.

When the Lord says, “Give comfort to My people,” He doesn’t expect us to solve the economic crisis or rescue someone’s mortgage, although I did read a story recently of a person buying a house at an auction and then turning around and giving it to the original owner who’d suffered the foreclosure. One of the recent issues of Reader’s Digest carried a story about someone who did an experiment and determined to wave and/or smile at a number of people each day. The author indicated that you could see people’s stress levels go down in their body language, faces would brighten, and both parties felt better as a result. All this from such a small gesture.

Jesus promised that we would do His work and even greater ones than these (Jn. 14:12), if only we believe in Him and in the power we have through His Holy Spirit living in us. Most of you know that I am a huge fan of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. One of her best loved sayings is that God doesn’t expect us to do great things, only small things with great love. Neither does He ask for success, but rather for our fidelity. Sometimes it takes an enormous act of faith to believe that a seemingly small thing can have a huge impact on another person. But as the angel Gabriel said to Mary, nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 1:37).

Small kindnesses done to others have a way of spreading like wild fire. The Lord ardently desires that we spread this fire in our time. I have come to set the world on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze (Lk 12:49). As we approach the glory of Christmas, let us each in our own small ways help to keep that fire burning to welcome the Light of the World who is our King and Prince of Peace.

Prayer Request: That we would all find small ways to bring comfort to God's people during these stressful times.

Prayer: O Lord, our God, what a wondrous work You did in sending Your only Son to redeem our fallen world and to bring us the comfort of salvation. In this time when so many are hurting - financially, emotionally and especially spiritually, help us to be attentive to their needs and to offer what comfort we can, in ways both great and small as Your Spirit leads us. We make this prayer through Him who is our Comfort and our Joy, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GIVE THANKS DAILY

Scripture:
"There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."
(Luke 17:18)

Relatively few people who receive the goodness of the Lord return to give Him thanks for what He has done. That does not keep the Lord from doing what is right for us. He healed all ten of these lepers according to their request - not just the one who was thankful. However, there was only one out of the ten that was made "whole."

The Lord desires that we prosper in spirit, soul, and body. He wants us to be whole - not just healed. Part of the reason God meets our physical needs is to prove to us His willingness and ability to meet our emotional and spiritual needs. The Lord is concerned about our temporal needs (Mt. 6:30), but He is even more concerned about our eternal needs. All of these lepers needed physical healing and the Lord was moved with compassion and met their need.

He was also desiring to meet their spiritual needs, but only one out of the ten came back for that.

Being unthankful is always a sign that self is exalting itself above God. A selfless person can be content with very little. A self-centered person cannot be satisfied. Thankfulness is a sign of humility and cultivating a life of thankfulness will help keep "self" in its proper place.

Thankfulness to the Lord for what He is and what He has done is a very important part of the Christian life. One of the many benefits of thanksgiving and praise is that they keep us from being "self" oriented.

Giving thanks is a totally unselfish action and is a key to relationship with the Father that makes us "whole" and not just "healed."

Prayer:
Thank you Lord. We need you. We surrender all to you during this Holiday season. Give us the eyes and the heart to see those who have needs and be generous to them. You have all the Glory Lord. We love you Jesus.


(http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/aug_14)

Cleanup

Scriptures: "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purpose, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." (II Timothy 2:20-21)

The week of the Thanksgiving holiday was a blessing to me. I finally got to clean up my garage. Over the years, I don't know how I have accumulated so many things, some were still in the wrapping when we moved in and others were conveniently left on the rack without ever being touched again.

It actually took a couple of days just to go through everything in the garage and to identify what need to go. It took another day and half to move things around so I can have the space to put the unwanted things. then, we had to go through all unwanted things and put them in the proper category, oversize objects, hazadous materials, recyclable containers, etc. It's really a project on its own.

Because of the various Tahnksgiving events, we were not able to do all these things at once. Though we started early on Monday, we didn't get to ship them out to the dump site until the following Monday, three carloads of them. Afterwards, when I looked at the cleaned up and reorganized garage, I felt so good. Now I could set my ping-pong table again and play with my kids; I could move my cars back in the garage where they belong; I could find things I need so much easier. Not only does my garage look so much neater, it's actually a lot more useful to us and easier to work in there, too.

Then it hit me. Isn't our hearts just like this? Over time, we have allowed so many things, conciousely or unconciousely, to be stored up in our hearts. Some of them may look nice at first. But, as they are not really needed in life, after a while, we forgot about them. They just sat there, taking up some space of our hearts. Some were simply junks, things that were not good for us, like bitterness, hurts, disappointments, worries for our life and the world around us, and many others. For some reason, sometimes, it's really hard to let go of these things.

With our daily responsibilities, sometimes, finding time to reflect on our spiritual condition becomes a luxury. But the consequence is also costly. When our hearts are filled with these unneeded and destructive things, we constantly find ourselves battling against ourselves. It slows us down in our quest for deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus. It reduces the capacity we have for loving others. Sometimes, more often than we would like to admit, it made it difficult for us to study and understand the Word of God. These spiritual wastes and junks not only take up spaces in our hearts, they wear us down, too.

But, this Thanksgiving week, I am grateful that I am once again reminded to make sure there's enough room in my heart for things of God. The psalmist said, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2)

Let's make room for God to work in our hearts so that His truth and grace can reside in us and empower us to bear witness to our Lord Jesus and His saving grace!

Prayer Requests:
For dump site workers

Prayers:
Dear Aba Father, thank You for the grace and provision You have for us. Help us to learn from our Lord Jesus and empty ourselves of all earthly concerns and burdens so we can completely filled with Your heavenly will and guidance in response to Your glorious grace. Help us to be wise and vigilant in making our hearts available to You and You alone always as we pray in the precious name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus, Amen!

The month before Christmas

'Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand.
Why the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets are hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton and Obama !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'DreamTree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

submitted by Gloria Lewis

An All Too Familiar Song

Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on My account, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin (Jn. 15:20-22).

The efforts of some people to completely do away with any expressions of the Christian principles on which this country was founded are becoming less veiled these days. It’s only necessary for one person declare his being offended by some public display of anything religious (as though the alleged offense was deliberately perpetrated upon that individual), and the courts shift into high gear to eradicate the “problem.”

Take this week’s furor in in Kentucky. Ten residents and the national American Atheists Inc. are suing to overturn legislation linking the state's security to reliance on God. At issue are two clauses that were inserted in a floor amendment and approved by state lawmakers. One says that the "safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God" and cites statements to that effect by Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. A permanent plaque quoting that text is posted at the state's Emergency Operations Center, as required by the clause. The other clause, listing the executive director's duties, begins with a requirement to publicize "the dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth."

The plaintiffs are also seeking financial compensation claiming they have suffered emotional distress "from the belief that the existence of these unconstitutional laws suggest that their very safety as residents of Kentucky may be in the hands of fanatics, traitors, or fools." With all due respect to these folks, GIVE ME A BREAK! Why is it that people can claim freedom of speech when they want to express whatever sort of vitriol they wish to heap on society, and yet if that same speech hints at anything even vaguely religious – despite the fact that we allegedly have freedom of religion in this country – that speech is viewed as a violation against the separation of church and state at best or, at worst, as some horrendous threat to the well being of the country?

I can’t help but wonder if any of these offended Kentucky residents was in church in the aftermath of September 11th. Why is it that the American Atheists were not making noise back then when government representatives were invoking God’s name all over the place in those first few weeks following the terrorist attacks? Sounds like a double standard, doesn’t it?

As I’ve read the news headlines over the past few weeks, I can’t help but hear an echo of my college studies of the French Revolution. One of the best books I’ve read on the subject is one by William Bush, professor emeritus of French literature at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He writes:

Meanwhile, king and beggar alike were beheaded with no distinction, and with egalitarian efficiency as the new order’s goal of supplanting Christianity with a less fanatical religion was ardently pursued. Outdated superstitious nonsense about Jesus Christ, that Jew whom Christians believed to be the virgin-born Son of God, and who rose from the dead, were things to be relegated to France’s pre-Enlightenment past. Indeed, what could prove more inimical to progress and the modernity of the new philosophical thought than Judeo-Christian superstitions rooted in seven-day weeks, sacrificial lambs, scapegoats, victims of holocaust, or a God who counts every bird that falls (Mt. 10:29)? (To Quell the Terror, pp. 124-125)

Just as was true in late 18th century France, faithful Christians are being summarily subjected to more and more persecution and attacks on our beliefs. The Freedom of Choice Act that president-elect Obama has committed to signing into law has horrendous potential ramifications to Christian consciences with respect to health care, abortion, adoption and numerous other areas where limits have been placed to, in many ways, save us from ourselves.

St Paul warned us that the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching (2 Tim. 4:3); those days are here. It seems the time is not too far off when being a Christian will be illegal. Thankfully, the remedy has also been provided to us: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:11-12).

The powers of darkness seem to have the upper hand these days. But at the same time, I believe that God is at work raising up another “faithful remnant” mentioned numerous times in Scripture. He is calling us to be the holy nation, a people set apart (1Pt 2:9). Let us pray for the grace to answer that call.

The Wisdom of God

Note: I was sent the below email just the other day and thought I would share it with you all. ~Jen~

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I recently read an article called "178 Seconds to Live." It was about twenty pilots who were capable pilots in clear weather but who had never taken instrument training. Each was put in a flight simulator and instructed to do whatever he could to keep the airplane under control as he flew into thick, dark clouds and stormy weather. The article stated that all twenty pilots "crashed" and "killed themselves" within an average of 178 seconds. It took these seasoned pilots with skilled intuition less than three minutes to destroy themselves once they lost their visual reference points! …

When the writer of this proverb tells us not to lean on our own understanding, he is making the point that no matter how smart we are or how many life experiences we have under our belts, we still need to realize that human judgment is always limited and sometimes wrong. Sometimes our best notions about what ought to be said or done are ill-advised, dangerous, even destructive. When it comes to the key decisions in our lives, we almost always need deeper insights and a broader perspective than mere human wisdom can offer us.

What we desperately need is God's mind on the serious matters of life. He offers it to us through the teaching of His Word and the inner guidance of His Spirit. Our job is not to question it or to assume that we know better, like an overconfident pilot second-guessing the instructions of his instruments, but to trust that God does know better how to make our lives work. A helpful spiritual rule of thumb might be "When in doubt, always, always, always, trust the wisdom of God."

-- Bill Hybels in Making Life Work: Putting God's Wisdom into Action


Prayer: Father, we often have trouble listening to Your "still, small voice" that guides us in our many decisions we make throughout the day. We often have trouble making contact with You between tv shows, phone calls, errands, family business, household chores and all the things that get between You and us. Help us to slow down and tilt an ear up to what You have to say to us. Help us each to find a little time in the middle of the day to be with You, and listen uninterrupted. Just for a moment. Amen

GOD'S WORD: USE AS DIRECTED

Scripture:
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11)

This parable illustrates the importance of the Word of God. God's Word contains total power, but it has to be planted in our hearts and allowed to germinate before it releases that power.

The seed is God's Word, and the types of ground are the four major categories of men's hearts. The Word was the same in each situation, but there were different results in each case because of the condition of men's hearts - not because of the Word. The Word doesn't work for everyone because not everyone will allow the Word to work. The variable in this parable is the condition of these hearts. God's Word is always the same. It has the same potential in every heart.

Good ground doesn't just happen; it must be cultivated. This is the reason why only one out of four persons in Jesus' parable brought forth fruit. It takes a lot of time, effort, and diligence to be a fruitful Christian. The Christian life is not like a hundred-yard dash but rather a 26.2 mile marathon. It's quicker and easier to raise weeds than it is to raise tomatoes or corn.

In this whole parable, it was the Word that produced the fruit. The ground simply gave it a place to grow. If we will simply put God's Word in our hearts, protect it, and give it priority in our lives, the Word will produce fruit of itself. Satan has deceived many people into thinking that they don't have the talents or abilities to be fruitful Christians, but they are not the ones who bring forth fruit; it's God's Word. When we protect the Word sown in our hearts, it will do the rest.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us cultivate our hearts so that we can receive the seed of the Word of God in our lives and bring fruit that will glorify your name. Amen

(http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/apr_08)

Thanks and Praise

Scripture: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”

As the holidays come swiftly upon us, and we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, I’d like to reflect on the fact that it is more than celebrating American history, when the pilgrims feasted with the Indians, (or Native Americans. Forgive my ignorance of what is politically correct.) But this day is more than just history, eating large amounts of food with friends and family, and shopping for great deals for Christmas. This is also a time to truly thank the Lord for His enduring love, provision and blessings upon us this year.

It’s been a difficult year, and we have all experienced our own personal and national trials and triumphs. But all through the ups and downs, God has always been right by our sides, ever faithful, ever true.

If nothing else this year, I hope to remember this scripture as I sit at the table with my close friends, “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:13). Without Him – I am nothing. Without Him, my life would be a miserable, directionless abyss. Praise God for capturing my heart as a floundering 25 year old and drawing me into close fellowship with Him and with others who’ve been closely connected to Him for years longer than me! Praise God for my close circle of friends who constantly encourage me, guide me and make me accountable. I am a better Christian for them.

Tomorrow, I will give Him thanks and praise – not that I shouldn’t on a daily basis, but as a nation, we can all give Him thanks and praise together as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” 1 Chronicles 16:34

This is the first of many times this phrase shows up in the bible. (I’m so thankful for the wonderful resource, www.biblegateway.com)! If it’s repeated so much, it must be worth paying attention to. Thirteen little words that mean so much. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Amen!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Many blessings upon you and yours as we enter the holiday season!

Prayer request: For a blessed and safe holiday for everyone.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being in our lives. Thank you for your blessings, Your provision and for Your enduring love. Help us to keep You in the center of the holidays despite the hustle and bustle that pulls our attention off of You. Amen

Keep Your Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked..

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say,
'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie; Something wonderful, and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that t hey probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there for them, even when you need them more. For you never know when it may be their time to 'Keep your fork.'

Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share. Being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

And keep your fork

submitted by Rhonda Currie

What's Right?

Do the right, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God (Mic. 6:8)

There's been a lot of discussion in the media lately about rights, especially here in California as regards the backlash against the passage of Proposition 8 which amends the state constitution to restore marriage as being between one man and one woman. The demonstrators, though the majority of voters said otherwise, insist that their civil rights have been violated and they are now rallying state supreme court judges to reinstitute what they feel is their "right."

"Rights" is an interesting notion. The Preamble to the Constitution says that "all men are created equal and they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights...." Yet, people here are screaming that they are being denied something - something not given to them by the Creator. If anything, they want to push the idea of a Creator entirely out of the picture. I think this is because when we are gifted by God with something, it brings with it a measure of responsibility. American society's sense of rugged individualism doesn't like that. We don't want anyone in our lives who might somehow limit what we want to do.

Funny how after the September 11 attacks, our churches were full of people asking God to do something, as though He is just a vending machine that we tap when we want something. I can understand how the Old Testament prophets must have felt, watching society slide further and further down the slippery slope as they warned of what would come from such disobedience to God's laws. To quote Yogi Berra, this is like deja vu all over again. God must be shaking His head much as he did during the time of the prophet Isaiah: Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob; But you have become weary of Me, O Israel (Is. 43:22).

And yet, just as in Old Testament times, God is always waiting for us to return to Him. He wants that so much that He sent His Son to die for us. And, as in Old Testament times, we need to be prophets to those around us who are teetering on the precipice, who have bought the lie that we don't need God. Lest we think that's not really happening, consider an article that CNN ran last week about the American Humanist Association. They are currently running a huge campaign in Washingon, plastering busses and other places with ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake."

Thanks, but I'd rather be good for Goodness' sake.

Wisdom

Scripture: "Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble." (Proverbs 4:10-12)


Wisdom. It is a very important attribute to God for each of us to have. I have a concordance at home, and the number of times the word "wisdom" shows up in the bible was more than I could count.


Someone once described wisdom to me as such: "Wisdom is the application of the knowledge you have learned." In other words - applying to your life what you have learned from the bible. Or, making use of the knowledge you have attained. This is wisdom.



According to http://www.dictionary.com/, wisdom is described, "The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity."


Wisdom is so important for us to have, that God places a high value on it. It's less a suggestion, and nearly a command for us to attain it in order to live long and prosperous lives. "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. (Prov 3:13-15 13)


We're not talking about wisdom in general or worldly wisdom. We are talking about wisdom bestowed on us by God Himself. If we apply God's teachings to our lives, it's really no wonder we can prosper, for the lessons taught through the experiences of so many bible characters teaches us how to live our own lives. And it goes without saying that Christ's teachings in the New Testament are extraordinarily important!! Unlike learning trigonometry in high school and then getting a job in data entry, where it is never used, we MUST seek God's wisdom in our day to day lives. Daily, we battle worldly values and desires, and we are constantly having to separate ourselves from where the world would lead us. And how are we to know the difference between worldly values and God's values if we don't read our bibles and apply His word to our lives?

As I did a word search on wisdom, it really hit home how desperately important God wants us to seek wisdom and to live by wisdom. Proverbs 4:6-7 reads, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.” There is such an urgency in those words. As much as we thirst for God, we must also thirst for His wisdom. It is part of our life blood. There is so much action placed behind the attainment of wisdom. Love wisdom. Get wisdom. Wisdom will watch over you, protect you. James 1:5 reads: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

So while we all continue to seek a closer relationship with God on a daily basis, we must also seek His wisdom with just as much fervor. At least three times in Proverbs alone, wisdom is valued higher than silver, gold and rubies. “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:15)

“Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Prov 8:10-11)

“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!” (Prov. 16:16)

If you think about it, if you knew you were guaranteed to find a whole lot of gold, rubies and silver, would you not do all you could do to attain such wealth? Wouldn't you do all the research you could, and enlist your trustworthy friends and go seek it out with relish?
Ask God for wisdom. Seek it out NOW and with urgency! Treat it like precious gold and rubies. And your rewards will be greater than you could ever imagine.

Prayer request: For guidance in our every day lives.

Prayer: Father, in Your holy name, we each ask You to give us wisdom – Your wisdom, so we can each have a deeper understanding of who You are and what You expect from us in every circumstance and situation in our lives. Just as it is written in James, please give each reader a generous portion of Your wisdom. Help us to continue to seek it out, passionately, in Your word every day, as we would seek out precious jewels. Amen

God's Voice

Scripture:
"Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:28)

This past week we had to do something that was very hard to do. My wife's dog had cancer and we had to put him down. Now some of you may know that my grandson Seth live with us and on the evening when we went to take the dog to the vet, Seth said to me, "Grandpa, my heart is telling me I should go with you."

This verse makes it clear that it was a voice that the Father spoke in; however, there were different reports of the same event. Some people heard a voice and thought it was an angel who spoke. Others thought it was thunder.

This illustrates "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14). A carnal man with a hardened heart will always find some natural explanation for the supernatural even if he heard an audible voice from God.

A hard heart keeps us from perceiving spiritual truths and stops us from understanding. When a person doesn't understand God's Word, Satan finds no resistance when he comes to steal it away. A hard heart keeps us from remembering. This isn't to say that facts or scriptures can't be recalled, it's the spiritual lessons learned that have been forgotten. Likewise, some people can quote scripture or remember what the sermon was about, but they can't perceive the spiritual life in it or retain what they did perceive, because of a hardened heart.

Jesus didn't need to hear this audible voice of God because he had a more sure word of prophecy than the audible voice of God from heaven (2 Pet. 1:18-20). Jesus knew the "voice" of the Old Testament scriptures that spoke of the Christ being glorified and He could also hear the Father's voice in His heart as He had on so many other occasions. This audible voice didn't come to reassure Jesus, but it came to those who had ears to hear, so that they might believe.

http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/sep_05

Now I can't tell you for sure if the voice Seth heard in his heart was the Holy Spirit of God or not. But I can tell you that I am proud of him that he was able to heart that soft voice inside. we need to do more of the same.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us to comfort us and teach your Ways. Forgive us for not listening and help to find the time where we can turn off everything else and listen to you. Amen

Holy Fire

Scriptures: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” (I Peter 2:24)

Last Saturday, my wife was supposed to go and teach in Chinese school. But we were waken up early in the morning and were informed that there was no Chinese school that day due to wildfire. So, we turned on the TV to find that not only was there wildfires burning, but also freeways were closed.

As we watched the news on TV, with pictures after pictures of the rampant fires burning across hills and planes, residential and commercial areas, we saw the destructive power of these wildfires changing the appearance of the landscape and the lives of those residents.

In the Bible, fire has often been used as an analogy of the coming judgment of God. John the Baptist, in his warnings to the people of Israel of his days, said, “…I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16)

D. L. Moody once told a story. He said, in his days, people who travelled in the west sometimes ran into wildfires. These wildfires burned wide and fast. So fast, he said, that people often found themselves incapable of running away from it. In such time, seeing the wildfires approaching, experienced travelers would lit up a fire and burned the area near themselves first. Once an area was burned and all fuels to fire was gone, they would move into this area and stood there. That burned area became their refuge and the wildfires would not come close to harm them.

Moody concluded that, in the same way, God’s fire of judgment had come upon our Lord Jesus on Calvary. On that cross on Calvary, Jesus has become that area that has been burned by the fire of God’s judgment. Anyone who chose to enter into it will be saved from the fire of God’s judgment on our sins and inequities.

How true! Apostle Peter said, in his teaching on the saving grace of our Lord Jesus, that “He Himself bore our sins in His body on that tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” (I Peter 2:24) Our Lord bore our sins and was judged accordingly so we will not have to be judged again. But, more than this, He gave us an opportunity to be freed from the grip of sin and be subjects to the righteousness of God.

That holy fire of God will act as His instrument of grace that offers us a hiding place from the bondage of sins and from the wrath of God. More than a hiding place, it will be a place where we will be refined and purified so we may meet Him.

In the face of these devastating wildfires, we know as Christians that we need to reach out to those who suffered great loss materially, physically, and mentally to help restore them. Likewise, as children of God in this dark and wicked generation, we need to pray for the power of God to cleanse and purify us so we may be His instruments in taking down all barriers and obstacles that keep the lost souls outside of the grace of God.

REFINER’S FIRE

Purify my heart,
Let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart,
Let me be as gold, pure god.

(chorus)
Refiner’s fire,
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for you, Lord.
I choose to be holy,
Set apart for you, my Master,
Ready to do your will.

Purify my heart,
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy.
Purify my heart,
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within.

-- By Brian Doerksen

Prayer Request:
For victims of these recent wildfires

Prayers:
Abba Father, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and make us instruments after Your heart to bring comfort to the victims of the wildfires rampant in our community and to bring hope and salvation to the lost in our generation as we pray in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, A-men!

No Greater Love

Scripture:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends"
(John 15:13)

Today I got one of those prayer email chain laters. Usually I say a short prayer for whatever the request is and let everyone else do all the forwarding. Today I did something different. Today I prayed a good time looking at each of the pictures, for the service men who lost their lives, for the families and children who do not have a dad coming home to them, for those still fighting for their safety, to quick end to these wars and our Lord's return.

Jesus tells us in this world we will have all kinds of tribulations. Many times we apply this pasage of scripture to the difficulties we are personally having. This time I want us to see this from a global perspective understanding that ALL of the troubles of the world Jesus has overcome for us.

We also know that the last days will have many wars and rumors of wars and over the last century history tells us that there are an exponential amount of wars today compare to centuries ago.

Jesus already overcome the world and we are only waiting for the day when all will manifest. That day when we will be "caught up in the air" and we will "be like him and see Him as He is." Hallelujah.

I have included some of those pictures here. As you look at them, pray for the families and friends and loved ones and ask our Lord to bless them who gave their lives for us.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, This world is in such great turmoil and there are many wars going on right now. Many have given their lives to protect our country. Bless them Lord and their families and loved ones. Bring peace upon our world and come quickly. In Jesus name. Amen

Disappearance of Values

Scripture: "Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: " 'When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD. .....Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:4-7 & 12)

Just about every morning, I read from a Chronological Bible out loud as my friend drives us to work. It's so interesting to read the books in chronological order as they happened. I'm going through Jeremiah these days, and I read the above scripture just this morning. This afternoon (Tuesday) at lunch, just before I began to write Wednesday's blog, I read Peter's sharing from Monday, and it seems that the Lord is leading the authors down similar paths of thinking.

The above scripture touched me because it sounds sooo much like America today. Every day I hear about how there are near violent protests against Proposition 8 that passed here in California, indicating that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, and not between same sexes. (Amen!!) But the sinful have gathered together and are trying to undermine what the voters have just unanimously voted on. This is only a small example of the chipping away of modern values that I am (and we all are) witnessing.

Let me be clear. I have nothing personal against the protesters. People are people, we can't all agree on all things, and I'm no better a person than they are, for I am a sinner too. But the difference is - I believe in what the bible has to say, and the path that the Lord has carved out for us as believers. We follow Christ, we live by His Spirit, even if it goes against the grain of society. But it doesn't break my heart any less to see how the world is changing around me, where people no longer even "know how to blush." (vs. 12)

I know I wrote along similar lines last Wednesday, but this scripture touched me, and makes me all the more aware that we Christians are all fast becoming a minority who believe in basic morals, values and ethics that seem to be dying quickly in a nation that wants desperately to follow their own sinful desires and wants.

In Exodus 32, when Aaron created a golden calf to worship, because the Israelites demanded him to do so, I am certain there were at least a handful who stood back and watched in horror, as the calf was raised up to "take the place" of God Almighty to worship. I feel like those few Israelites! I stand here with my mouth open in astonishment and my heart breaking for there is only One God to be worshipped - but it seems like fewer and fewer know Who He is, therefore, living their lives for themselves, their own desires and pleasures. They don't realize God's heart is breaking, for He never meant for His creatures to use and abuse each other as they do. We are created in His image. It is heartbreaking that so few know that, and would rather live sinful lives, entirely void of God.

I'm not talking just about the marriage issue. But it's hard to watch even our youth, the TV shows they are exposed to, the movies they attend, and sexuality gone rampant in ones so young. And often, how little they think of themselves because they have no one and no One to take them in and guide them towards what is emotionally, spiritually and physically good and healthy for them. They are our future, and I fear for what is ahead unless God intervenes in a big way.

As before, I encourage you all, as well as myself - to keep shining the Light of Christ in all you do. Share whenever you find an opportunity. Always with love and respect. But we must band together more so then ever. And most of all

Prayer request: For non-believers who know not what they are doing.

Prayer: Lord, we ask you to help us to make difference in this world for Your sake. Help us to shine Your light on an ever darkening world, in loving and respectful ways. Help our nation to turn back to you. Please place your hand of guidance on the judges that are now being asked to overturn Proposition 8 as "unconstitutional". Strengthen our minds and hearts to know Your Word better, to be able to defend our faith as well as to share our faith. Help each one of us to make time for You in ways we never have before. Amen

Itching Ears

Scriptures: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministries.” (II Timothy 4:3-5)

Recently, a few friends whom I used to call brothers in Christ, have turned to liberal theology and have embraced such things like New Theology and Emerging Church. They have invited speakers of like mind to their meetings and have confused many of their faith in our Lord Jesus.

When confronted by church leadership team, they exalted their freedom to believe higher than the authority of church and of the orthodox interpretation of the Word of God. They went through the Bible and crossed out passages that recorded supernatural events and called them superstitions. They taught people that there’s no such thing as Trinity, calling it polytheism. They denied the divine nature of our Lord Jesus and called our Lord’s claim that there’s only one God as narrow-mindedness. As a result, tensions among members of the body of Christ became problematic and the unity of the church is under attack.

For many of us, it was simply shocking! It’s one thing to read about such things as recorded in the Bible, like the passage I used today. It’s a totally different thing to witness it personally. How can someone who grew up in the church and have been taught for years the truth of God be swayed away that easily? What is happening here?

This world is full of those false teachings, as Paul indicated in the book of Ephesians, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14)

These people come into our church as Christians. They speak all terminology we use. They go through the worship with us. They participate in our fellowship activities. They show great interest and enthusiasm in what we do and think. In a place where few are willing to devote their time to serve, these people are more than welcome. And, to be honest with you, I believe they did all these out of their sincere hearts.

It’s just that they embraced the false teachings. So, out of their sincerity and good intention, they accomplished just the opposite of what they thought they were striving for. Seeing them going astray make me realize how vulnerable we truly are. If it were not for the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, how are we going to be able to stand in the midst of such spiritually stormy generation?

We need to study and understand the Word of God and all His instructions so as to have the whole counsel of God. We need to be held accountable for what we believe so as to remain in truth. We need to humble ourselves before God and admit that there are things about God that we do not, and maybe will never, understand so as not to exalt ourselves higher than who we really are. We need to be active in the ministries of God so we will not leave room for the evil in His ministries.

We need to remember that, in the core of our belief, it is a living and loving relationship we have with God. It is this relationship that says Amen to the teachings and the revelation God has for us in the Bible about Himself and about us. It is also this relationship we have with God that makes His teachings true and powerful in our lives.

Most importantly, we need to ask for the Spirit of wisdom and enlightenment so we may discern what is truthful and what is not. Paul’s prayers for Ephesian saints should be ours, too, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparable great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)


Prayer Request:
For wayside brothers and sisters in Christ

Prayers:
Father God, as many of us are falling to the prey of human understanding and pride, we ask that You have mercy on us. Grant us faith where it’s lacking or fainting in us and shield us from all ungodly wind that attempts to sway us away. Help us to stand firmly in Your truth and in our fellowship with You as we pray in the name of our Redeemer Jesus, A-men!

Coming Home

Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2).

This weekend, my church has its annual fall Fiesta. It’s a 3-day affair that always includes carnival rides, games and lots of food. I’ve always enjoyed watching people getting together and having fun. Working the various booths gives me an opportunity to chat with folks that I don’t often get to talk to on Sundays. My 19-year-old son and his elementary school buddies use the event as a way of reuniting, something that has become harder to do as they’ve gone off to various colleges. Many former parishioners attend just to see old friends. Our pastor always stresses that the main purpose of the Fiesta is not financial; rather, the primary goal is fellowship.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Basics these days with regard to my spiritual life. Life gets so busy at times and before I know it, time gets away from me, and I have more tasks to cram into the same amount of time. It makes discernment all but impossible when there are so many voices vying for my attention. The day after the election, I found myself in an emotional and spiritual "funk," for lack of a better term. I felt something was out of kilter, but I couldn't shake it.

I decided to spend my lunch period that day in the quiet of a church near the office. During that hour, I felt myself being called back to the basics - prayer, fasting, worship, fellowship – a a much deeper level than I’d experienced before. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 tells us that if we humble ourselves and pray, and seek God’s presence and turn back to Him, He will hear us from heaven and pardon our sins and revive our land. The early Church took up this same theme. The Book of Acts tells us that the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4), while others were summoned to serve the practical needs of the community.

Sometimes I need to be reminded that those Basics, and especially prayer, need to be the underpinning of everything I do. It's so important to not let worship and fellowship become mere social events. All must be rooted completely in Him. Every day when we go to that special place that we’ve set aside for ourselves, it is a homecoming with the Lord until we arrive at the ultimate and eternal homecoming in heaven. He is waiting for us whenever we want to be with Him, to recalibrate us and set us on the right path. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, know my concerns. See if my way is crooked, then lead me in the ancient paths (Ps. 139:23-24).

What's Your Motivation

Scripture:
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1)

The motive behind our gift is more important than the gift itself. Paul said if he gave all of his goods to feed the poor, or if he made the ultimate sacrifice of giving his own life for someone else, and wasn't motivated by love, his gift would profit him nothing (1 Cor. 13:3).

Many Christians give faithfully but never see the hundredfold return that the Lord promised because of wrong motives (Mk. 10:29-30). Paul said God loves a cheerful giver - not one who gives grudgingly or out of debt (2 Cor. 9:7).

Jesus gave us the key to purifying our motives in this same teaching. He said, "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" (Mt. 6:3). Giving in a manner in which you will not receive recognition for your gifts will guarantee that your motives are right and grant you the true joy that comes through selfless giving (Acts 20:24).

Ask the Lord to show you an opportunity today to give a kind word or a helping hand to someone who will not be able to repay you and others will never know about it. This could be a motorist in a traffic jam, a co-worker, a spouse, a child who won't even notice your kind deed, or any number of other people. Opportunities are all around us.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you give to us everyday and many times we forget to even thank you. Your Spirit will lead us to those in need if we let him. Thank you Lord for your life that you gave of us and for our lives as we live them by your Spirit. We surrender all and listen to your voice so we can be lead to love others by giving to them.

(http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/mar_02)

Hold fast

Scripture: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

By the time you read this, the election will be over and the President of the United States will be decided. Whoever has been elected, whether you voted for him or not, just remember: God is in control. He knew the outcome long before we did. There is a powerful prayer that David prayed in I Chronicles that I memorized once. In part, it goes: “…for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things.” (I Chronicles 29:11-12) Never forget the power of prayer, and what our Lord is capable of!
Though we fret over how our nation is turning further and further away from God, and how much our nation continues to plummet into darkness, what we mustn’t lose sight of is the fact that God hears our cries and our pleas. He knows what is happening and what will happen. But prophecies must be fulfilled, and I believe it is going to get much darker as time goes on. It is my own, personal opinion, that God is pulling his hand away from America as we, as a society in general; choose our own personal idols and pleasures before Him. We are suffering from the consequences of a sinful nation, and as believers, we’re stuck here, as in a ship in a fierce storm.

You would think we would have learned from the experiences of the Israelites in the Old Testament. They were rescued out of Egypt and at first, praised God. But after walking in the desert for so long, they began turning from God and began whining about wanting to return to Egypt! “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:2-3)

Over and over again, they stop looking at the blessings and provisions given by God, and instead, begin to concentrate on their wants unfulfilled. Nothing is new under the sun. We can hardly blame the Israelites, because we do the exact same thing now; both individually, and as a nation. We tend to focus less on our provisions and start to concentrate more on what we don't have.

My encouragement to you, is this: Don’t lose sight of the blessings, even though the world seems to be getting darker. Do you have a job? Are you able to pay your bills? Are you and your family in general good health? Do you have a vehicle to drive to work? Do you go home to a roof over your head? Nothing is perfect, but don’t lose sight of all God IS doing for you.

Right now, we are living in a nation where society is fighting for things abominable to God, and we must hold out and hold on to each other. Don’t lose faith. Don’t stop praying. God is in control. He hears our cries. He fills our provisions. So even if we plummet more into darkness, never lose sight that He is standing beside you the whole time. “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after your have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist …” (Ephesians 6:13-14)

We are Christian Soldiers, each one of us. There is no such thing as an army of one. We must stand together until the end of the battle. Stand fast, keep praying, and know that no matter what happens God is with you.

“Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!"
(Onward Christian Soldiers, Arthur S. Sullivan)

Prayer request: That our faith increase in spite of adversity.

Prayer: Lord, we ask You to help us to hold fast to You no matter what the world throws at us. You are our Protector, Salvation, our High Tower. We rely on you for our very breath of life. As the world grows darker, increase our faith, and help us each to reach those that don't know You. Amen

Chosen Before Creation

Scripture:
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)

God the Father had the plan of salvation worked out before He even created the world. Most of us would not have created the world and man if we knew the heartache and terrible sacrifice it would cost. But God is not man. In His judgment (which is the correct judgment) the prize was worth the cost.

We were chosen in Christ before the world began. The Lord did not choose us by our merit, but solely by our acceptance of Christ which His foreknowledge allowed Him to do before the foundation of the world. In the strictest sense, we were not personally chosen, but Christ was chosen and all those who are "in Christ" partake of His being chosen by His Father. Just as we are the beneficiaries of the covenant between God the Father and His Son Jesus, so we are chosen because we chose God's chosen, i.e. Christ. The Father would no more reject us than He would reject Jesus because we are accepted by the Father through Christ.

None of us can claim that we are without blame in the sight of men because man looks on the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7) and all of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23). But the Lord looks on our born-again spirit which has been regenerated in Christ and He sees us holy and without blame.

If you look at any color through a red glass, that color becomes red. The same thing would happen if you looked through a green glass. Everything would become green. In a similar way, God looks at us through Christ and everything in our life becomes covered by the blood of Jesus. We are holy and without blame before Him because of His love expressed through His Son.

Prayer:
Thank you Father for chosing us before the foundations of the world were created, for loving so much and planning for us an eternal salvation by sending your one and only Son to die on the Cross to pay for the sins of the entire world. We love you Lord and we surrender our lives to you because we were bought with this price. In Jesus Name.

(http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/nov_05)

Who am I?

Scriptures: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1)

Many years ago, when I was still a student, I used to work in a restaurant. One day, an old couple came to eat in our restaurant. They were our old customers because they came often and, because of that, they had come to know many of us working there.

That particular evening, however, they came a little later than usual. They ordered their favorite dishes. Then, after they finished eating, they chatted with us. In our conversation, the husband all of a sudden said, “You know what? We’ve got a new business card.” Then he took out of his pocket a business card. When we all took a look at the card, we all burst into laughter. The business card, first of all, had his name and his wife’s name printed in the center. Then, there were four things printed on the four corners: No Money, No Job, No Friends, and No Estates.

It was a very unusual way of introducing themselves who they were. I think they printed that business card just for fun. Over the years, in many different occasions, I have heard different people introducing themselves. Some people would go in great length to talk about themselves and others would simply state their names. I suppose that all depend on what they want others to know about them.

Paul, the great apostle to gentiles, in the beginning of his letter to the churches in Rome, introduced himself as, first of all, “a servant of Christ Jesus.” (Romans 1:1) He had a name, Paul. But, he seemed to think that the name by itself could not explain who he was. He seemed to define who he was by the relationship he had with our Lord Jesus. Then he introduced himself by the work entrusted to him, “an apostle … set apart for the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1)

Throughout his epistles, Paul kept his relationship with Lord Jesus and the commission given him in the center of all his ministries. It was his relationship with Christ Jesus that humbled and energized him. In a different epistle, he said, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) Christ was everything to him, including defining who he was. He saw in Christ, more than a Savior, the meaning of his very existence. When there’s meaning, there’s hope and there’s joy. The longer the meaning last, the longer the hope and joy last. Paul anchored his life in Christ, the everlasting cornerstone, and this made it possible for him to rejoice time and again in the darkest hours of his life.

Out of this relationship he had with Christ, it’s only natural that he considered the commission given him by God the top priority in life which empowered and guided him toward the goal set forth before him. In the same epistle to the church in Philippi, he said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) The goal of his life was not set by him or any other human being, but by God in Christ Jesus. So was the value and significance of his efforts toward his goal. His zeal in sharing with unbelievers the good news of God’s salvation and with people of God the truth of God’s heart is evident in every epistle he wrote, including the personal letter to Philemon. It’s like a blazing torch that ignites every heart that comes close to it.

When we marvel at what Paul was able to accomplish in life, I wonder if that all started from his view of who he was. If this is the way Apostle Paul viewed and presented himself, I wonder how we would view and present ourselves? Should I introduce myself as “Peter, the IT guy”? Or, should I introduce myself as “Peter, a Christian making a living in the IT business?” Is Christ the defining point of who I am? Of what I do?

Prayer Request:
For restaurant workers

Prayers:
The Creator of life, our Lord Almighty, as the winds of this world blow at us from all directions, we ask that You help us to, first of all, remember who we are in relation to You. We are Your children called to bear Your image in our lives. We are Your subjects ordained to do the work of Your Kingdom. Help us to be steadfast in Your teaching and guidance so we may be living examples of meaningful life in Christ Jesus. Hear our pray as we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus, A-men!