"There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So, he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father's house and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
Luke 15: 11-20
There was a Christian couple who had four daughters. When the youngest turned 18, she announced that she was heading off to a faraway place. Although they thought it was foolhardy, the parents gave her their battered suitcases along with their worried blessing, and let her go.
Once there, she married the wrong guy at a young age and soon began to be in need. She found herself with child, bill collectors hounding her and down to her last box of rice. When she swallowed her pride, she asked per parents for passage to come home. After a long journey with a newborn daughter in her lap, she rounded the corner near her childhood home, wondering what would await her? Behold, a banner across the garage said, "Welcome home, Rachel and Lauren!" She was both humbled and exhilarated as her family gathered around, showering her weary soul with love. She'd come home!
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.'" (Luke 15: 22-24)
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling, "O sinner, come home." You won't receive a lecture enumerating all your inadequacies. You will be cloked with the robe of righteousness and the crowned with salvation as your compassionate Father throws his arms around you and showers you with kisses.
Come home.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Picture the Devil
"On another day, the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the Lord said to him, 'Where have you come from?' Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.'"
Job 2: 1 & 2
What picture do you have in your mind of the Devil? A red imp with horns and rotten teeth? Or perhaps a well-heeled gangster with gold teeth and a pinstriped suit? Whatever image you conjure up, the common denominator must be a creature who's up to no good, who incites evil by whispering heinous suggestions in one's ear.
What would you do if you looked out your window and saw him canvassing your neighborhood like a Kirby Vacuum guy, cutting across lawns and going door-to-door? Would you open the door? Would you think he's paying a visit just to share a few off-color jokes and pop a top?
Do not be fooled. The Bible warns that Satan prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Do not think Hell is like a smoky tavern that plays heavy metal music while people swear and throw darts. It is a place of utter darkness, foul smells and non-existant mercy. No one cares if you are thirsty. No one lends a friendly word or helping hand. Those are all Godly traits; they do not exist in such a place.
Present yourself before the Lord while you have time. Satan has to do that, too.
Job 2: 1 & 2
What picture do you have in your mind of the Devil? A red imp with horns and rotten teeth? Or perhaps a well-heeled gangster with gold teeth and a pinstriped suit? Whatever image you conjure up, the common denominator must be a creature who's up to no good, who incites evil by whispering heinous suggestions in one's ear.
What would you do if you looked out your window and saw him canvassing your neighborhood like a Kirby Vacuum guy, cutting across lawns and going door-to-door? Would you open the door? Would you think he's paying a visit just to share a few off-color jokes and pop a top?
Do not be fooled. The Bible warns that Satan prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Do not think Hell is like a smoky tavern that plays heavy metal music while people swear and throw darts. It is a place of utter darkness, foul smells and non-existant mercy. No one cares if you are thirsty. No one lends a friendly word or helping hand. Those are all Godly traits; they do not exist in such a place.
Present yourself before the Lord while you have time. Satan has to do that, too.
The Power of Being a Christian Parent
"His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had runs its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning, he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, 'Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' This was Job's regular custom."
Job 1: 4 & 5
Job was described as being a blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil. A wealthy man, he had ten children, many servants and animals and was "the greatest man among all the people of the East." (Job 1:3)
It would be tempting, in Job's position, to become cocky and complacent, but he is so vigilant that he continues to plead to God on behalf of his kids, even after they have moved into their own homes.
A lesson for me, as a parent, is evident here. I do pray for my daughters, but I need to specifically ask God to purify them, forgive them if they have wronged him in their hearts. I could get up early each morning, remembering the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for all people, thereby demonstrating to Him how much their righteousness means to me, their mother.
Job 1: 4 & 5
Job was described as being a blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil. A wealthy man, he had ten children, many servants and animals and was "the greatest man among all the people of the East." (Job 1:3)
It would be tempting, in Job's position, to become cocky and complacent, but he is so vigilant that he continues to plead to God on behalf of his kids, even after they have moved into their own homes.
A lesson for me, as a parent, is evident here. I do pray for my daughters, but I need to specifically ask God to purify them, forgive them if they have wronged him in their hearts. I could get up early each morning, remembering the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for all people, thereby demonstrating to Him how much their righteousness means to me, their mother.
Plugged in to the Source
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5
My home in Painesville was affected by the power outage today. I was quickly reminded how dependant I am on my power source as the house grew colder and colder. The electric blanket no longer kept me warm as I slept. Since we have a gas stove, we were able to make instant coffee which helped but, even with long underwear, a woolen hat and scarf, three blankets and two cats on me, I was becoming miserably cold. Sixteen hours without heat was a real challenge.
When the power was restored, I was so glad to return to my normal life: take off my Carhartt coat, watch a little television and work on writing this blog. I felt protected, cared for, embraced.
During some down times in my life, I have allowed my sinful life to disconnect me from the Power Source. Outside of right living with God, I felt cold and miserable. Once I finally came to my senses, the Good Father embraced me like the Prodigal Son who made his way home. A ring was placed on my finger, a robe replaced my tattered clothes and the fatted calf was served up with dessert! Why would I ever want to leave again?
Stay connected to God, our omnipotent source, and you will never be cold and miserable.
John 15:5
My home in Painesville was affected by the power outage today. I was quickly reminded how dependant I am on my power source as the house grew colder and colder. The electric blanket no longer kept me warm as I slept. Since we have a gas stove, we were able to make instant coffee which helped but, even with long underwear, a woolen hat and scarf, three blankets and two cats on me, I was becoming miserably cold. Sixteen hours without heat was a real challenge.
When the power was restored, I was so glad to return to my normal life: take off my Carhartt coat, watch a little television and work on writing this blog. I felt protected, cared for, embraced.
During some down times in my life, I have allowed my sinful life to disconnect me from the Power Source. Outside of right living with God, I felt cold and miserable. Once I finally came to my senses, the Good Father embraced me like the Prodigal Son who made his way home. A ring was placed on my finger, a robe replaced my tattered clothes and the fatted calf was served up with dessert! Why would I ever want to leave again?
Stay connected to God, our omnipotent source, and you will never be cold and miserable.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
The Silent Listener
"For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.'"
2 Corinthians 6:16
"I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me."
Jeremiah 32:40
I am a temple, a holy dwelling place, for God. Everytime I walk among the people, God goes with me. When I go to lunch with a friend, watch a movie or go to work, he goes too. He's a silent listener to every conversation. When I pass another person whom I know to be a believer, there goes God!
Why do people want to have God living in them? What did he do to inspire us to fear him and never turn away from him?
It all points to the love of Christ poured out for us on the cross. By becoming sin for me, by loving me and dying for me while I was an ugly sinner, by his stripes healing me...this is my foundation of love for God. And this is only the beginning! He has promised to come again and take me back with him to a mansion he has prepared just for me. He seals his bargain with his Spirit who richly provided all the faith, power and peace I need to sustain me.
2 Corinthians 6:16
"I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me."
Jeremiah 32:40
I am a temple, a holy dwelling place, for God. Everytime I walk among the people, God goes with me. When I go to lunch with a friend, watch a movie or go to work, he goes too. He's a silent listener to every conversation. When I pass another person whom I know to be a believer, there goes God!
Why do people want to have God living in them? What did he do to inspire us to fear him and never turn away from him?
It all points to the love of Christ poured out for us on the cross. By becoming sin for me, by loving me and dying for me while I was an ugly sinner, by his stripes healing me...this is my foundation of love for God. And this is only the beginning! He has promised to come again and take me back with him to a mansion he has prepared just for me. He seals his bargain with his Spirit who richly provided all the faith, power and peace I need to sustain me.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
My Heart Bleeds for Hailey
"Jesus said to his disciples, 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.'"
Luke 17: 1-3
Hailey was a "vivacious spirit, a trusting little girl with a cheery disposition." This ten year old child of a loving mother was viciously killed this week, then stuffed into bags like so much trash. I can barely write these painful allegations as I cry for this little one, and my heart burns with indignation against this evil suspect, Craig Wood. Who does he think he is, snatching her up as she walked home from her best friend's house, using her for his own twisted perversions?
Oh, how deep the darkness of sin can be!
The Bible says we all have sinned, no one is righteous and that only God is truly good. We are born under the curse of sin; a broken world surrounds us.
How could this Craig Wood be capable of such a heinous crime? When was this seed planted in his heart? Was he abused as a child? Was he hooked on pornography? Would any one of us be capable of the same?
Jesus warns us to "watch ourselves." He said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matthew 5:30) Like the apostle Paul, I ask, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) Praise God, Jesus's sacrifice at Calvary paid my debt and set me free from the bondage of sin. If any inkling of an evil thought should take root in my heart, I can hit my knees and pray to Jesus to forgive me, cleanse me, "lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil."
Learn to recognize sin before it grows and blossoms into a full blown death sentence! Trust in God for deliverance and pray for those who wallow in depravity. Do not be one of those through whom sin comes, but strive to be the salt of the earth, like those neighbors who were trying to save Hailey Owens. We have to do our part to stop the madness!
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)
Luke 17: 1-3
Hailey was a "vivacious spirit, a trusting little girl with a cheery disposition." This ten year old child of a loving mother was viciously killed this week, then stuffed into bags like so much trash. I can barely write these painful allegations as I cry for this little one, and my heart burns with indignation against this evil suspect, Craig Wood. Who does he think he is, snatching her up as she walked home from her best friend's house, using her for his own twisted perversions?
Oh, how deep the darkness of sin can be!
The Bible says we all have sinned, no one is righteous and that only God is truly good. We are born under the curse of sin; a broken world surrounds us.
How could this Craig Wood be capable of such a heinous crime? When was this seed planted in his heart? Was he abused as a child? Was he hooked on pornography? Would any one of us be capable of the same?
Jesus warns us to "watch ourselves." He said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matthew 5:30) Like the apostle Paul, I ask, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) Praise God, Jesus's sacrifice at Calvary paid my debt and set me free from the bondage of sin. If any inkling of an evil thought should take root in my heart, I can hit my knees and pray to Jesus to forgive me, cleanse me, "lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil."
Learn to recognize sin before it grows and blossoms into a full blown death sentence! Trust in God for deliverance and pray for those who wallow in depravity. Do not be one of those through whom sin comes, but strive to be the salt of the earth, like those neighbors who were trying to save Hailey Owens. We have to do our part to stop the madness!
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)
Thursday, February 20, 2014
God's Handkerchief
"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb...Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7: 14, 16, 17
"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Raise your hand if you have ever experienced tribulation! The definition of tribulation is "great sorrow or distress, as from oppression." The deserts of misery that exist on earth quickly sap a person's strength, making them feel hungry and thirsty, as though the sun is beating down relentlessly; no shade can be found.
Currently, I am reading two books. Although their settings are two different eras, both represent oppression of the Jews. The first sets the stage of what life was like before Jesus was born, during the time of Julius Caesar. Seems like the powermongers were barbarians who oppressed anyone who got in the way of their empiracal plans. Natural life spans were short enough for these hardscrabble people, but then they could be wiped out mercilessly by an envious king. Little regard was given to human life.
Fastforward to the days of the Third Reich (the setting of my second book) and things have not changed much in Nazi Germany. When left to themselves, mankind has an evil, selfish core that knows no bounds. Without the influence of the love of God, this world is hopeless.
The cross was a Roman tool for grisly execution, yet, for me and for all the Christians, it is a blessed symbol of hope! The blood that was shed at Calvary washes away the sins that stain us all. Jesus plainly tells us that we WILL have trouble (tribulation) in this world, but he is the Victor! God himself will whip out his handkerchief and wipe away your tears of sorrow.
Any newspaper will confirm that the tribulation is growing worse. It's not going to get any better here. But if we have faith in God to pull us through, we will live in the new heaven and the new earth where the old order of things have passed away. Bring it on!
Revelation 7: 14, 16, 17
"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Raise your hand if you have ever experienced tribulation! The definition of tribulation is "great sorrow or distress, as from oppression." The deserts of misery that exist on earth quickly sap a person's strength, making them feel hungry and thirsty, as though the sun is beating down relentlessly; no shade can be found.
Currently, I am reading two books. Although their settings are two different eras, both represent oppression of the Jews. The first sets the stage of what life was like before Jesus was born, during the time of Julius Caesar. Seems like the powermongers were barbarians who oppressed anyone who got in the way of their empiracal plans. Natural life spans were short enough for these hardscrabble people, but then they could be wiped out mercilessly by an envious king. Little regard was given to human life.
Fastforward to the days of the Third Reich (the setting of my second book) and things have not changed much in Nazi Germany. When left to themselves, mankind has an evil, selfish core that knows no bounds. Without the influence of the love of God, this world is hopeless.
The cross was a Roman tool for grisly execution, yet, for me and for all the Christians, it is a blessed symbol of hope! The blood that was shed at Calvary washes away the sins that stain us all. Jesus plainly tells us that we WILL have trouble (tribulation) in this world, but he is the Victor! God himself will whip out his handkerchief and wipe away your tears of sorrow.
Any newspaper will confirm that the tribulation is growing worse. It's not going to get any better here. But if we have faith in God to pull us through, we will live in the new heaven and the new earth where the old order of things have passed away. Bring it on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)