Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

Shion king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.

He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

Internal Error

This "Internal Error" message appeared on my computer this evening. Although I was a bit aggravated and confused, it occurs to me that it is also quite a convenience. 

What if my computer were to continue on without such a message? Chances are the "error" would continue on internally until in infected and affected many of the other programs on my computer and eventually ruined the hard drive and the entire computer.  

All of this made me think; what if we each had a message, such as this, that appeared when we had an "internal error" in our lives? 

When an internal error was made known to us we would then have the option to continue on and, perhaps, behave in unexpected ways or restart to avoid these side effects. Or, we we would have the chance to fix the error for the future. 

If  not addressed, the errors that occur internally in our lives will infect and affect many of the other areas of our lives. And, over time, these internal errors become eternal errors that are irreversible. 

What "Internal Errors" are you facing at the moment that need to be addressed?

What steps do you need to take immediately to restart and fix the error for the future?

Leaving and Cleaving

There are two principles in marriage that I talk about to couples before their wedding day and before they are married; “leaving” and “cleaving”

In the book of Genesis, God tells Adam and Eve – the first husband and wife – God says; “a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife.” A husband is called to leave his old life – all of the things in which he used to find comfort and security in – to leave them behind.  A husband is called to be united with his wife – to cleave to her in the highs and lows of life, in richer and in poorer, in sickness and in health. Out of pure love and devotion, in faithfulness and commitment

In your relationship with Jesus Christ, which do you struggle with more – leaving or cleaving?

LEAVING: Do you struggle to leave behind the sin of your past? To leave behind the things in which you used to find comfort and security in? To leave behind the things that you have grown to love?

Some have really worked at leaving their sins and their sinful life behind. They have focused on these sins and said – never again! They have waged a war on these sins in your life. And, then they find that it hasn’t worked, and somehow this sin has grown even larger.

The only way to combat sin is to fall in love with something else!

Many struggle to leave behind the sin of your past because they also struggle to cleave to Jesus.

CLEAVING: Do you struggle to stay united with Jesus? To stick with Him through the highs and lows of life? To trust Him in richer and in poorer? To depend upon Him sickness and in health?

Some believers they know about Jesus but they don’t know Jesus. Some “followers” have no idea what they are following. Some Christians don’t even enjoy being with Christ.

There is so much more to a life in Jesus Christ than salvation. We are invited to follow Jesus out of pure love and devotion. We are urged to live in Jesus, being faithful and committed.

God's Universe

I heard this quote from J. Vernon McGee the other day and I love it.

"This is God’s universe and he does things his way. Now, you may have a better way of doing things, but you don’t have a universe."

Live In Jesus Christ

My wife and I will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary in May. Never, in the course of these 10 years have I thought of cheating on her or being unfaithful to her. Never have I even been tempted to break that commitment that I have made to her in the presence of God and our families. 

And although this is something that I recognize as a wonderful thing, it is not something that I speak of often or that I boast about with great pride. Why? Because being faithful to my wife is an expectation of me as her husband. 

And, strikes me that many Christians consider unfaithfulness to our spouse as an unthinkable act. But, so often, we live as though our commitment to Jesus Christ isn’t as important as our commitment to our spouse.

In Colossians 2:6-7, the Apostle Paul writes this;

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

To be saved means that we have received salvation - that we have been rescued from harm, danger or loss and that we have been redeemed from the consequences of sin. To be saved means that we have received Jesus Christ - Jesus is the only one that has the power to redeem us from the consequences of sin.

We claim our salvation in Jesus Christ with great pride – and we should. But, you see, salvation is only the beginning.

A lot of people have received salvation and they have received Jesus Christ. But for so many this seems to be the stopping point. A lot of people are redeemed from the consequences of sin and then they continue to live a life of sin.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

A great example of living a life in Jesus Christ - being rooted and grounded in Him - is marriage. Marriage is more than wearing a wedding ring – it is a relationship. It takes on its meaning by the daily choices we make and the ways we respond to the pressures around us.

The Apostle Paul is urging The Church to stay grounded in our relationship with Jesus; established in faith. He is writing to people who have already received Jesus and are striving to live a life in Him. He is writing to people are struggling with the challenge of living out this relationship, in a world where Satan is attacking. Many of us, as Christians, we struggle in the same way - and we’re not always faithful to Jesus. 

But once we confess Christ we become part of His Church and we are bound to Him as a bride is to her groom. And Jesus wants more than the wedding day, He wants what every groom wants. Jesus wants to have a relationship with us, a relationship that is exclusive, a relationship that grows and flourishes.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Live For Now

That is stupid!

We have been offered an eternal future  in Jesus Christ. We have provided an eternal home in heaven. We have been promised an eternal hope. Jesus Christ came and lived a perfect life on earth to show us how we are to live. Jesus Christ died a gruesome death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus Christ has risen from the grave to bring us a new and everlasting life. Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to preparing a place for us.

"Live for Now"  

That is stupid!

I don’t want to live for now.   I want to live for eternity.

Know Jesus

In Philippians 3:10 the Apostle Paul writes his personal mission statement - the purpose of his life; "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"

Paul wants to know Jesus and become like Jesus. He wants to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and suffer like Jesus.

Knowing Jesus is much different than knowing about Jesus. Many people know about Jesus but choose not to know Jesus. Knowing Jesus involves a cost - sometimes a big cost!

The Apostle Paul states that he wants to know Jesus. What about you, do you want to know Jesus or do you simply want to know about Jesus?

Consider The Cost

I started reading the book “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman. He writes about John Oros, a church leader in Romania during the communist era who vividly lived the cost of being a Christian.

When John spoke at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, he’d talk to individuals who had decided to become Christians.

He would say things like, “It is so good that you want to become a Christian but there is a price to be paid… why don’t you reconsider what you want to do, because many things could happen to you-you can lose, and lose big.”

He would go on to say to those who followed through and got baptized, “When you give your testimony, there will be informers who will jot down your name.

Tomorrow the problems will start. Count the cost. Christianity is not easy. It’s not cheap. You can be demoted. You can lose your job. You can lose your friends. You can lose your neighbors. You can lose your kids. You can lose even your own life.”

John wanted to get everyone to a place where following Jesus was so important to them, that if they lost everything it would still be worth it.

So, if following Jesus would cost YOU everything, would it still be worth it?

Psalm 121 - God Is

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121)

Let us remember that when we are facing the dark days that this world brings our way, that God is still on the throne; He is our help in times of hardship, He is our comfort in times of doubt, He is security in times of uncertainty, He is our power in times of exhaustion, He is our refuge in times of trouble, He is our light in times of darkness, He is our strength in times of weakness. 

Let us remember to lift our eyes to The Lord, on His mighty and powerful throne, that He and He alone is our help.  

We Ask "Why?"

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8)

This past Sunday evening I taught on the book of Job. Several thought come to mind as a person begins to read the book of Job. One question that I have been struck by time and time again; "What would come from a conversation between God and Satan concerning me?" Of Job God called him a servant, a blameless man, an upright man, a man who fears God and shuns evil, and said that there is no one like him in all the earth. 

If you have read the account of Job you know that this blameless, upright, God-fearing man was tested and tried - he lost his wealth, his home, his family, and his health. Yet, through all of this - even when his friends and his wife encouraged him to - Job did not lose his faith in God. 

There is an important thing to remember as we read the account of Job, we are privy to a conversation between God and Satan that Job never was. We see the details and hear the reasoning behind the suffering that perhaps Job never did. Perhaps Job felt as though God was cursing him and surely he felt as though the lot that life was giving him and the lot that God was allowing him to handle was not fair. Yet, he did not curse God and he did not lose his faith in Him. 

Looking at Job, watching him suffer and wrestle with the reality of his situation we find that it was because Job was "blameless and upright" and because he was "a man that fears God and shuns evil", this is why God chose Job to be the one to suffer - the one to face these cruel tests and unfair trials. 

Weekly I sit and hear of cruel tests that people are undergoing, horrible suffering that is going on, unfair trials that are being faced, burdens that seem almost unbearable. Daily we cry out to God, humbly bowing before His Almighty throne and boldly asking the question; "WHY?" And as we ask the question we are confronted with the truth; God is God and we are not. 

I know that you can do all things no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand. things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. (Job 42:2-5)

Everyday We Face The Choice

"then CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

Everyday we face a choice. 

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that has created the heavens and the earth.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that sustains life and provides for His creation. 

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that loves us and desires a relationship with us.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that has a purpose and a plan for your life. 

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that hears the calls and cries of the ones He loves.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that answers our every need according to His good will.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that came down from His throne in glory and lived among us.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that has felt the same trials and temptations as you have.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that died on a Roman cross to redeem us from our sinfulness.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that rose from a grave to restore His relationship with us.

Everyday we face the choice if will serve The Almighty God; The One that has gone to heaven to prepare an eternal place for each of us.

Everyday we face a choice. 

On this choice rests your current reality.

On this choice rests your life.

On this choice rests your peace.

On this choice rests your joy.

On this choice rests your strength.

On this choice rests your hope.

On this choice rests your salvation.

On this choice rests your everything. 

Everyday we face a choice.

What will your choice be?

Jesus lived, died, and rose

Jesus lived to teach us how we are to live.

Jesus died to give us life.

Jesus rose to bring us a life with Him.

Clear the Stage

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:3-6, TNIV)

Do You Want To See Jesus?

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:1-10)

These women were given an opportunity - essentially a question. Then it was posed to the disciples –  the followers of Jesus; "Do you want to see Jesus?"

Now, two thousand years later, that same question is asked of us, each and every one of us; "Do you want to see Jesus?"

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:10)

So, Mary and Mary, they run – they sprint – I’m sure they moved faster than they had ever moved before. Busting into the upper room they see the disciples – the friends of Jesus and they tell them what has just happened

·        The earthquake

·        The stone rolling away

·        The angel of the Lord

·        The report – “He’s not here”

·        The empty tomb

·        And then…Jesus

Nonsense, these women are crazy. But who can blame them, it’s been a stressful few days, perhaps it’s simply wishful thinking. 

And then the question; "Do you want to see Jesus?"

See, this question struck these men. This was not just a person they hoped to see again, this was God’s Son, sent to the world to teach, heal, and redeem, this was a man, who had been crucified three days before, this was their friend that they had buried in a sealed tomb, this was Jesus Christ – their master and Savior.

Do we want to see Jesus? OF COURSE WE WANT TO SEE JESUS!

Do you remember when you first saw Jesus? Do you remember the moment that you first saw Him as your Savior? The One that has paid the price for your sin? Do you remember the moment that you first saw Him as your Lord? The One that will lead you to life of joy and peace?

Maybe you have never been introduced to Him. Maybe you don’t know Jesus, or maybe you have lost sight of Him as your hope, your peace, your joy, your comforter, your salvation, your everything.

See, Jesus is life – and He gives us a reason to live.  But more than this, He gives us the ability to live, to truly live a life of purpose and excitement.

Do you want to see Jesus?

This isn’t simply hearing about Jesus! This isn’t Jesus through the filter of another person! This isn’t Jesus as the world perceives Him! This isn’t Jesus as culture presents Him! Do you want to see Jesus for who He truly is?

·        Our Hope when the world seems hopeless

·        Our Peace when we are stressed and burdened

·        Our Joy when the world steals our joy

·        Our Comforter when people break our heart

·        Our Savior when we need to be rescued

Do you want to see Jesus?

Not only does Jesus want to show Himself to you. Jesus wants you to know that you can live. Because Jesus lives, you will also live. 

The Cross is an Embarrassment without...

Easter Sunday is the day when each if us have the honor of celebrating the greatest blessing given to us.

Christmas is wonderful and is to be celebrated, yet Christmas is of little meaning without the cross.

And the cross is an embarrassment without the empty tomb!

I Am Honored

It is an honor to share in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

It is an honor to preach God's Word, to know that He has called and equipped me for His service.

It is an honor to stand before God's people and to speak on His behalf.

O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but You

The following is from A Cry for Mercy by Henri J.M. Nouwen. 

O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but you? You are my Lord, Lord of my heart, mind, and soul. You know me through and through. In and through you everything that is finds its origin and goal. You embrace all that exists and care for it with divine love and compassion. Why, then, do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of you? Why do I keep relating to you as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, respect from others, success, acclaim, and sensual pleasures? Why, Lord, is it so hard for me to make you the only one? Why do I keep hesitating to surrender myself totally to you?

Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let die the thousand big and small ways in which I am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in you and see through you the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, and thought can become a hymn of praise to you.

I need your loving grace to travel on the hard road that leads to the death of my old self and to a new life in and for you. I know and trust that this is the road to freedom.

Lord, dispel my mistrust and help be become a trusting friend.