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.

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)

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!

Saturday, February 15, 2014

I Love a Good Mystery

     In his letter to the Colossians, Paul spoke about the mystery of Christ, the indwelling of Jesus in our bodies as believers. In chapter one, he explained the supremacy of Christ:

  • He is the image of the invisible God
  • He is the firstborn of all creation
  • He is the creator of all things visible and invisible
  • He is head of the church
  • He is firstborn among the dead
  • Thrones, powers, rulers and authorities were created by him and for him
  • Through him, all things are reconciled to God by making peace through his blood shed on the cross
     The true mystery is Christ living in me! The hope of glory resides in me, a Gentile, a sinner, a woman!  Jesus Christ is a treasure trove of all the wisdom and knowledge from before the beginning of the world. He created invisible things. He has risen from the dead. He is the founder of the most complex equations in calculus or science. He has seen what lies beyond the galaxy. He fashioned man from the dust. He chose the intricate patterns found on an insect wing or in the depths of a cat's eye. He breathed life into a brontosaurus and watched it thunder across the plains. He knew about satellites and cell phones while men of old were sitting around the campfire.

     Christ is timeless, eternal, omniscient and he lives in me!

     The apostle Paul said in Colossians 1:29: "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy which so powerfully works in me." Paul, who had approved of the stoning of Stephen, struck blind by the side of the road to Damascus, was then energized by the power of Christ to preach the Gospel. Imprisoned, beaten and persecuted, he was still a veritable display of God's power.

     Lord, remind me that this same energy is available to me. Remove my inhibitions so that your light shines from my eyes.

     Wisdom and knowledge from the Ancient of Days, dwelling in me, an everyday woman in Painesville, Ohio. What a mystery!

Blinded by Faith

"We live by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7

     Recently, two men with opposing views had a debate online. One believed in evolution and the other, creationism. I stand with the second man in my beliefs.

     Living by faith means believing that every word from God is the truth. A true believer cannot pick and choose only the Bible verses they like best and then go their own way. There is a saying, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." If He says he created the world in six days, then He did. If God says a worldwide deluge wiped out all save the contents of Noah's ark, then it happened. If He claims Christ rose from the dead, then He is risen indeed.

    If it seems to others that I walk blindly, then so be it. I would rather follow the Way, the Truth and the Life for all eternity than to fumble around in manmade ideals on this earth.

The Storms of Life

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Hebrews 13:8

     I never know what a day will bring. Any number of disasters could befall me at any time. A phone call may herald bad news. A tree could fall on my house while I sleep. A drunk driver could target one of my children. A cancer could be forming in my body as I speak. I could lose my job or all my investments.

     Is there a sure foundation anywhere? Thank God I have found it in Jesus Christ.

     When I was a kid in Sunday School, we'd sing about the man who built his house upon the sand. When the floods came, his house fell flat. Verse two spoke of the wise man who built his house upon the Rock. When the rains came and the torrents threatened, his house remained.

     It rained on both men. We all know bad things happen to everyone, but the one who lives by faith will know that God'll take care of us.

     There was a man named Job who was very wealthy and possessed great integrity. When calamity visited him, he was able to hold on to that integrity because he had faith in God. I can picture him, rising above the ashes of his losses, looking to heaven and proclaiming with gusto:

     "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25

     Thank you, Jesus, for being my ever-present, unchanging anchor that holds fast during the storms of life.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Label Me Intolerant

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work."
2 John 10, 11

     These are pretty steep words for our politically correct world. We are continuously reminded to be tolerant of others, and, as long as they are not hurting anyone, we are to accept them.

     What teaching is John refering to in the above verses? The teaching of Christ. Notice the verses do not say NOT to love others, for the greatest command of Christianity is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love others as we love ourselves. Rather, we need to be in the world but not of the world.

     When examining the creeds of the various religions, an important question to ask is: Who do they say Jesus is? If they do not say he is God, then they do not bring the teaching of Christ and we are not to welcome them.

     Yes, these are steep words, but they do not originate from me. They are directly from God and so, since I am a follower of His, then label me intolerant.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Sin Sweeps Us Away

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the Potter. We are all the work of your hand.  Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord; do not remember our sins forever."
Isaiah 64: 6, 8-9

     In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God gave the people many detailed instructions about diseases. Chapter 13, verse 45 says, "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp."

     Sin is like an infectious disease. It gets ahold of you, makes you feel as lifeless as a dry leaf and sweeps you away. Even the most righteous act you try to do is not enough to redeem you or restore you. It's like a torn, filthy rag.

     Perhaps you are mired in an addition to drugs, gambling or pornography or you are engaged in an illicit affair. You've gone too far in too many areas, your family and friends are tired and few. Your life has become very lonely as if you are living outside of the camp. All of us have "become like one who is unclean".

    There is hope! Just as Jesus healed the ten lepers (Luke 17:14), he heals us, freeing us from the curse of sin. When he voluntarily shed his blood on the cross, he was pouring himself out as an offering for us, to cleanse us and renew us. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The Shroud Could Not Extinguish the Light of the World

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
John 8:12

     Can you think of a darker place than a tomb? Eyelids close over beautiful eyes that once danced with life. Busy hands forever at rest, now as cold as alabaster. No rise and fall of the chest; the beating heart has been stilled.

     After Jesus died on the cross, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took his body and lovingly prepared it for burial with spices and strips of linen. I imagine they grieved over the finality and futility of it all. Jesus, who healed the lame and loved the sinners, who taught with authority and walked on water, who calmed a raging storm and fed thousands with a little boy's lunch - this vibrant, original Jesus was now still, stiff, silent. As they wrapped his tortured body in the shroud and placed the burial cloth on his bearded face, they had to wonder: Is this all there is?

     Three days passed. The men have left, the tomb's been sealed. All is quiet...until the Light of the World radiated from inside the battered body. The chest rose with a new breath, the heart pumped blood throughout as the eyelids fluttered open against the cloth. The resurrected Victor over death rose through the shroud, folded the burial cloth that had been around his head and walked out.

     In his book "Unexplained Mysteries of Heaven and Earth", Pastor Ron Phillips asked this question: "How did the body get out of the shroud?" He researched a paper coauthored by attorney and historian Mark Antonacci and physicist Arthur Lind entitled "Particle Radiation from the Body." They say that the Shroud of Turin may represent a kind of photograph taken at the instant Jesus's body transformed as He rose from the dead. The image visible today on the shroud could not have been preserved in the way it was if human hands had unwrapped the body. Only radiation, or light, coming from within the body would explain it.

     Pastor Phillips concluded, "I believe that God knew there would be skeptics. There are those among us who are always analytical, always asking questions. They demand proof. They want something they can actually touch. The shroud is yet another evidence of the superiority of Christianity over Islam, Buddhism and Judaism...because the God we serve is alive today, and we have physical proof!"

     Any believer in Christ does not have to fear the darkness of the tomb. Jesus has shed light into that area to show us the way out. Follow Him and you will never walk in darkness.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

The Search for the Perfect Love

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13: 13

     What defines love? Have you found the perfect example? Do you think of the great lovers like Romeo and Juliet, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn or Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and wish to emulate them? Or is your heart a broken place where the litter of lost loves prevails?

     While browsing for answers in my concordance recently, I was amazed by the number of verses under the title "love". It was like looking up "Smith" in the phone book - column after column! I tried to count them, but lost track after 230. What do you think God is trying to tell us?

     Valentine's Day brings a warmth during the cold months of winter. The flower shop across the street from my house is a red ribbon of hearts and lights, like a beacon that beckons through the snowy haze, but where can I find unconditional love?

     Listen to these verses from God's love letter:

"God is love." 1 John 4:16

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." 1 John 3:16

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

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

     The biggest, boldest red-heart declaration of unconditional love that you can find is in the shape of a cross. A perfect God-man sacrificed his life for you, while you were steeped in selfishness and sin. He loves you so much that, even if you were the only person on earth, he would still follow through. Even the most beloved people in your life can let you down, they can anger you or betray you, they are not perfect, but Jesus is. He loves you! Love him right back, then love others as much as you love yourself and have a Happy Valentine's Day.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

I Am Fed Up

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." Revelation 1:7

"At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30

"The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day, there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." Zechariah 11:9

     I get fed up hearing the Lord's name used as a curse. It saddens me when the ACLU goes on a hunt for any sign of God, then sets about stripping it down. No prayer in school. Army chaplains are not to have a Bible. A man on a television show is suspended for stating his Christian beliefs. I am labeled as "intolerant" when others don't agree with my creed.

     Do you ever get sick and tired of all these things? Well, look up! Your salvation is near! The first time Jesus came, it was a picture of humility - a helpless infant born in a manger. He turned the other cheek when soldiers spat upon him and pulled at his beard. He was silent as a sheep before the shearers. 

     However, the second time he comes will be with all power and glory. Every eye will see him and those who have pierced him with their words or actions will mourn! His name will be the only name, not Mohammed, not Buddha."The Lord will be King over the whole earth!"

     I can hardly wait!

A Trip to Olan Mills

"For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Romans 8:29

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8: 35

     Romans chapter eight paints the perfect family portrait. It tells us we are not condemned, we have received a spirit of Sonship, we address God as Father and become co-heirs of the kingdom with Christ. Jesus, the firstborn, is our big brother. Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us before the Father who graciously "prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies." (Psalm 23) Nothing, no hell or high water, can ever separate us from his love!

     No family on earth is ever perfect, although some may appear to be. I revel in the fact that I am a part of the family of God. What a wonderful place to be!

     Can we go to Olan Mills? I want a picture of that.