Baptist’s don’t Celebrate Either!

9-10When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!” The Message – John 2:1-12

This story always tickles me because there’s a group of people who have found a reason to celebrate doing so and there is wine included in the celebration. I know it couldn’t be a group of Baptists. (Since I am one, I can talk) Or at least they aren’t telling anyone that they are. (I am not making a statement about the “do’s and don’t’s of drinking wine”. I don’t drink and don’t intend to do so. However, let’s not get lost in that argument. I just think that most “good Baptists” don’t know how to celebrate. There are some things one ought to get excited about.) At any rate, they are having a great celebration. It is a wedding. People are supposed to be happy. People are supposed to celebrate at weddings. It is a happy time. It is something worth looking forward to. The expectation level is wonderful.

This is Jesus’ first visible recorded miracle. Mom goes by and sees a crisis developing. The wedding celebration is not over and the wine ran out. She calls for Jesus and as she goes by the servants of the house she tells them, “whatever he says, do it.” Jesus tells them to take six water pots and fill them with water to the brim. He changes water into wine. It wasn’t just any old kind of wine but the best. Heaven doesn’t give you cheap stuff.

One of these days the Bride Groom is coming to get the Bride. Furthermore, we are going to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. I am learning to wait, but there are days when I really would like for Him to “come on and get His Bride”. The expectation of that event is so powerful in how we live life victoriously now. Jesus has saved the very best to last. He always has done that.

On a personal note:

Here of late I think of my Aunt Jane who is having some more serious surgery today as they replace a valve in her heart. She glorifies God in all she does and her testimony of the power of God is marvelous. She, too, is ready to celebrate the goodness of God now and in heaven as well. I lift her up today in prayer. My friends, Ken and Ken and Randy have had to conduct some big funerals lately. One of them was an influential coach in Wauchula Florida. He had faced so many tough things in his life, and now he celebrates with the King of Kings. He gets to see the Bride Groom. Oh, praise His name. This whole story of leaving the best to last gives me so much hope and peace. Dying is no challenge to Aunt Jane because there is really something to celebrate. She faces the surgery today with calm assurance.

Heaven is a wonderful place
It’s filled with glory and grace
And I’m gonna see my Savior’s face
Heaven is a wonderful place.

Celebrate!

Joni Erickson Tada opens this YOUTUBE video that David Phelps sings “NO More Nights”

This is something to celebrate…can’t wait…

The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away.
It’s not a dream, God will make all things new that day.
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell.
Evil is banished to eternal hell.

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great “I AM.”
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

See all around, now the nations bow down to sing.
The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King.
Slowly the names from the book are read.
I know the King, so there’s no need to dread.

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great “I AM.”
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

See over there, there’s a mansion, oh, that’s prepared just for me,
Where I will live with my savior eternally.

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great “I AM.”
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

All praises to the great “I AM.”
We’re gonna live in the light of the risen Lamb.

You Haven’t Seen Anything Yet!

50-51Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”

There are times when I am silenced by what I am seeing. Sitting on Ram’s Head looking over the New River Gorge is a sight that took my breath away. I regret not being able to sit there for a long while and capture more of God’s beauty. It was a beautiful sight to see how God’s hand carved out a gorge for us to enjoy and to learn of his majesty.

I put myself in Nathaniel’s sandals this morning. It would have been enough to see Jesus. Even so, to get near him and carry on a conversation with him would be more invigorating. However, to hear him tell me that he saw me under a fig tree when I knew good and well he couldn’t have seen him like you and I see things would have been an unbelievable moment. Nathaniel experienced something supernatural. His heart would have been beating a thousand miles per hour. It would have been like the woman at the well when Jesus told her she had five men. How in the world did he know.

However, the phrase that blew me away this morning was, “you haven’t seen anything yet”. Jesus tells Nathaniel that he would see angles ascending and descending to Him. One minute Nathaniel could only see what his flesh could see and now he was promised to see things that only God can do. I can’t imagine what was going on inside. There would be excitement. There must have been awe. What would his eyes see?

God loves to surprise. You haven’t seen anything yet! Moreover, I don’t want to miss any of it. Open my eyes Lord!

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with watchful eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”

Reflection

“…since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace.”  2 Peter 3:14

We look forward to the Lord’s return. He will come in majesty and power. The first time he came as a child in a stable in Bethlehem. Only a few saw this coming. The next time He comes, and he will, all will see him.

In light of all that I should focus on two things of importance out of this text. One, I should strive to live at peace with God, myself, and others. Furthermore, secondly, it should be my goal that I live a pure life following after holiness. As I look into the mirror of God’s Word, the Lord will reveal to me what needs to change. Somehow the Presence of God within and the work that God does on the inside should somehow be seen on the outside. What is outside is a reflection of what is on the inside.

It is remarkable how we can hide things from each other. We are to live a pure life (blameless in the sight of men). I live my life to fool men who cannot see my heart or know my motives. However, I live before God who sees the very minute details of my life.

What is more outstanding is that God journeys through this life with me. He lives in me and longs to bring me to the place of being at peace with God, myself, and with others. He is also working in me to clean me up as I stand before Him and other people. He did not command me to do something that He is not willing and able to take responsibility for and make provisions for. He is both my guide and the one that supplies all that I need for a life of holiness and purity before Him.

I am getting ready to see Him. There are days when I wish he would come and take His family home. Until then, I am excited about the work he will be doing in my life.

I want God and others to see His reflection in me.

Word of God Speak!

8-11“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

Isaiah 55:8-11

God operates. He does not ask me. He doesn’t need my input. I read. I listen. I repeatedly watch His handiwork. It is awe inspiring. Sometimes it is unbelievably frustrating. You look at his creation, and you are in awe. You watch people and you begin to understand the complexities of how God is at work in all things. Being open to what you are doing is vital to our daily success. God is the only one with the right position and perspective on all that is going on around us. You are at work. I must trust you in all things. Your words diligently carry out what you certainly want.

Word of God, speak! I am listening.

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay

Day Star Shine Down On Me!

You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:20

If there is light, then there must be darkness a squalid place. I know it’s dark because I have seen the light. Is the light that makes the darkness define itself. The darkness is dispelled when you shine Light on it. Christ is the light of the world. The light of Scripture has shone in our hearts, and we can now see.

Oh Holy Spirit of God, I am longing to see the Day Star coming to take us out of this world’s darkness. You are my Redeemer and you will save us…

The Darkness never wins…

Lily of the Valley, let your sweet aroma fill my life

Rose of Sharon show me how to grow in beauty in God’s sight
Fairest of ten thousand make me a reflection of your light
Daystar shine down on me let your love shine through me in the night

Lead me Lord, I’ll follow. Anywhere you open up the door
Let your word speak to me, show me what I’ve never seen before
Lord I want to be your witness, you can take what’s wrong and make it right
Daystar shine down on me, let your love shine through me in the night

Lord I’ve seen a world that’s dying wounded by the master of deceit
Groping in the darkness, haunted by the years of past defeat
But when I see you standing near me shining with compassion in your eyes
I pray Jesus shine down on me let your love shine through me in the night

Lead me Lord, I’ll follow anywhere you open up the door
Let your word speak to me, show me what I’ve never seen before
Lord I want to be your witness, you can take what’s wrong and make it right
Daystar shine down on me, let your love shine through me in the night

Can a Mother Forget?

“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast,
walk away from the baby she bore?
But even if mothers forget,
I’d never forget you—never.
Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands. Isaiah 49:15+

There is something amazing about a mother’s love for her children.  They have a tender heart.  Even the most hardhearted or rebellious mother has a hard time getting their children off their heart.  Seeing a mother with the very life she bore resting in her arms as she caresses them is an unbelievable picture.

There might be some reason she would forget.  She may be sick and dying.  She may be facing something like postpartum depression dealing with some dark unhappiness.  I have been in the ministry now for 35 years and find it hard to remember a mother who simply forgot her children.

God’s love is greater than any parent’s love.  His love for me is constant.  He has tied a string around his finger to remind himself of his love for me.  He will never forget.  Like the man who puts a ring on his finger to remind himself of his deep love for his wife, our Heavenly Father has written our names on the back of his hand.  He remembers.

I had been in his heart until the day that my mother conceived me.  He, God, developed in her a young man named Jim Crooks and has been working in my life to fulfill his best purposes in my life ever since.  He has never forgotten me and never will.

I stand amazed at the love of One who loves me and he never forgets.

You’re Mine!

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:

Isaiah 43:1-4

Two Songs Instantly Come to Mind!

1. O Love that wilt not let me go,
   I rest my weary soul in thee;
   I give thee back the life I owe,
   That in thine ocean depths its flow
   May richer, fuller be.
2. O light that foll’west all my way,
   I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
   My heart restores its borrowed ray,
   That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
   May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
   I cannot close my heart to thee;
   I trace the rainbow through the rain,
   And feel the promise is not vain,
   That morn shall tearless be.
4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
   I dare not ask to fly from thee;
   I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
   And from the ground there blossoms red
   Life that shall endless be.

1. The love of God is greater far
   Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
   It goes beyond the highest star,
   And reaches to the lowest hell;
   The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
   God gave His Son to win;
   His erring child He reconciled,
   And pardoned from his sin.
   • Refrain:
     Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
     How measureless and strong!
     It shall forevermore endure—
     The saints’ and angels’ song.
2. When hoary time shall pass away,
   And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
   When men who here refuse to pray,
   On rocks and hills and mountains call,
   God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
   All measureless and strong;
   Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
   The saints’ and angels’ song.
3. Could we with ink the ocean fill,
   And were the skies of parchment made,
   Were every stalk on earth a quill,
   And every man a scribe by trade;
   To write the love of God above
   Would drain the ocean dry;
   Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
   Though stretched from sky to sky.

Summing it Up!

8-12Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.

I sit here this morning trying to do these things in the flesh. Major W. Ian Thompson (The Saving Life of Christ) reminds me again this morning “there is nothing quite so nauseating or pathetic as the flesh trying to be holy! The flesh has a perverted bent for righteousness – but such righteousness as it may achieve is always self-righteousness and self-righteousness is always full of self praise. This produces the extrovert who must always be noticed, recognized, consulted and applauded. On the other hand, when the pursuit of self-righteousness fails, instead of being self praise, it is filled with self pity and this produces the introvert – a professional case for professional counselors.

The devil doesn’t mind whether you are an extrovert or introvert, whether you succeed, or whether you fail in the energy of the flesh, whether you are filled with self-pity or self-praise, for he knows that in both cases you will be preoccupied with SELF not Christ – EGO-centric not DEO-centric!”

The Holy Spirit must be allowed to perform this IN me. I must surrender to him today. I must allow him to make the decisions in my life, and I must live my life in a conscious awareness that the God of the heaven has a plan for my life and wants to get me there. I am also confident this morning that all I need on the trip comes with his might and power and ability to supply all things according to his riches in Christ Jesus.

I cannot do these things…but HE WILL. What a testimony that would be.  People around us are hurting.  They are needing people who will live a compassionate caring life toward them.

I Always Knew I was Peculiar

9-10But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.  1 Peter 2:9-10 The Message

This morning I am captured again by the fact that He Chose ME.

I have always been peculiar.  Some of my friends would agree with me about that or simply call me just plain weird.  I know I am now.  I do walk by the beat of a different Drummer.  I live by a different standard.  The only way it can happen is for Christ to choose me.  He by the working of the Holy Spirit is setting me apart to a different walk.  He wants me to be -

Royal – in a living relationship to Christ, to live in special power with God over myself and the enemy, to be consecrated to God alone.

Nation – I am not alone in this process.  My life is a part of a bigger deal.  I am, along with many other Christian people part of a group that has Christ as its head.  He guides the whole process. I cannot live apart from the rest of my “nation”.

Peculiar – I am different from the rest of the world.  Christ is my Lord.  I am dying to self.  He chose me.  He purchased that right at the cross where He died in my place.

I am reminded this morning that this is not the “natural” truth.  I am only this because God chose me to be this way.  I am reminded again of the story of they young girl in an orphanage who was excited that she was going to get a daddy today.  She had been chosen out of all the other people.  She, on that day and for the rest of her life, was chosen.  Her life will never be the same again.

YOU CHOSE ME!

Stopped in my tracks…

“Levites, listen! Consecrate yourselves and consecrate The Temple of God—give this much-defiled place a good housecleaning. Our ancestors went wrong and lived badly before God—they discarded him, turned away from this house where we meet with God, and walked off. 2 Chronicles 29:3-4

Hezekiah was a good king. He had enough Godly guts to clean up the mess of his predecessors. He saw the idolatry and the profane way they led the country. His heart was broke. He would look at the temple of God and the disrepair and the weak worship and hurt. You can hear it in the story how his heart broke because the Temple was not functioning as it should.

He did what was right.

He went to church and the fire still flickered and you could see the smoke trickling up. The flame was out. Just coals. No where in the chapter do we hear that the fire was out. It simply wasn’t burning. Someone had failed to pay attention to the things of God.

He told the Levites to do two things. First Clean up yourself. Second, clean up the temple. I think he non-negotiably to repent of their neglects, reform their hearts and lives, and to renew the covenant that they had with God. Then he told them to make the temple clean from top to bottom. Clean what needed to be cleaned and repair what needed to be repaired.

It was as if he is saying to this preacher, “Beware, Crooks! You do not get away with what you do. You have been given a place of honor. You have been allowed to stand before me. I give you the responsibility to minister to Me. Your temple is dirty and I have to live in it. Get busy and clean the place up. “Be not deceived God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap”.

God start with me.

May God who is all good, pardon and forgive everyone who sincerely desires God, the God of our ancestors. Even – especially – these who do not meet the literal conditions stated for access to the temple.

The words “Create in me a clean heart” own me this morning…

White Water Rafting

That’s right sports fans, the youth at Southside have invited me to obviously get wet. I climb on board a mini van with the group in the morning. We will be traveling 5 hours (ish) into West Virginia. We will be staying at Appalachian Bible College. Jason Allen attended this institution. The women get to stay in an air conditioned dorm. The men folk get to stay in – well let’s say you have to leave the windows open at night to get the air to condition. We get up on Monday morning, eat breakfast, get our instructions on how to do this little stroll down this peaceful river, and off, we go. We will see. I am excited to say the least.

We will be having a devotional time tomorrow evening at the overlook near this bridge. I am excited to be with the youth, excited to spend time with them and watch God do a special work in our lives this week. Pray for us as we travel on the road and on the river.

Just for the curious, here is a promotional video from Appalachian Bible College.

Be Still and Know that You are God

Psalm 46:10-11

Be Still and know that I am God
I will be exalted among the nations
I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord Almighty is with us
The God of Jacob is our fortress, AMEN!

Sometimes life gets to me. I have to learn to be still. That is usually great preaching but hard living. It is not too difficult if I simply realize that You are God. You will be exalted. You will be exalted in my situations. You will be exalted in my life.

I trust you today, Father. The Jacob-wrestling God is with us. The “God of Angel Armies” is here to protect me.

If God be for me, who can be against me?

Be still and Know that HE is God.

Sitting by the Fire!

You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.  James 2:18-19  The Message

HE WASN’T MUCH FOR STIRRING ABOUT IT WASN’T HIS DESIRE,

NO MATTER WHAT THE OTHERS DID HE WAS SITTING BY THE FIRE.

SAME OLE STORY DAY BY DAY HE NEVER SEEMED TO TIRE,

WHILE OTHERS WORKED TO BUILD THEIR CHURCH

HE WAS SITTING BY THE FIRE.

AT LAST HE DIED AS ALL MUST DO SOME SAY HE WENT UP HIGHER,,

BUT IF HE’S DOING WHAT HE USE TO DO

HE’S SITTING BY THE FIRE.

You can tell what a man or woman puts their faith in by watching the outworking of their lives. What we do reflects what we believe in. Faith is belief. I am so grateful that we have people who are solid in their beliefs but beliefs have legs on them. Belief work evidences itself in behavior. I here James saying here, “Show Me.” I am tired of hearing about it.

I am reminded again this morning that the Devil is more orthodox than some preachers I know. He has his belief system down pat. He knows what he believes. Then it says that the Devil and demons at least are in full awe of God and fully persuaded that God is power-filled and they have enough sense to tremble.

Sam Jones, an evangelist from years gone by, was walking down the street when he saw a drunk in the gutter. He knelt down to say something to the old drunk and as he did the drunk recognized him. He said, “Hello, Mr. Jones. Do you remember me? I am one of your converts.” Sam Jones replied, “You must be one of MY converts because if you were one of God’s converts you would not be down in that gutter!”

The only fire I want to be sitting by is the fire of the Holy Spirit as He gives me instruction today. I want to live out my faith and follow our Savior.

NOTE: I was reminded again this morning how good God is in giving us rest. I am sitting on Jason and Jenn’s deck enjoying my quiet time and listening to the sound of the morning. Looking forward to Jason’s return from a quick time at work. We were blessed to see Jenn’s parents who live about 20 miles from here. We met at Jenn’s softball game and enjoyed seeing them again.

Jessie’s Story

I watched this and was blown away…

Let God touch your life as you listen…

Roger Bramblett

So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.  James 1:21 (The Message)

Roger and Jill have been neighbor’s of ours for years.  Not too long ago Roger started a landscaping business that is doing well.  Jeremy, my son, works for Roger this summer.  I have heard about some major projects that Roger has been trying to accomplish.  Doing lawn maintenance is part of his routine experience but he really loves taking a rough looking piece of property and landscaping it.

He has a design software that allows Him to put on paper what is developing in his mind.  What is so interesting is to see him develop a plan, sell it to the customer and then get his crew ready to go to work making that idea come alive.

The Powell’s are having a wedding this weekend and the family will be gathering at their house.  Roger has been at work turning their yard into a beautifully landscaped one.  I was out there Tuesday evening watching them dig up the remains of a stump he had ground up.  They were sweating and toiling taking out the chips and sticks and old roots and then filling up the hole with good dirt that would be used as a bed for beautiful plants.  The men were sweating and working hard.  Making a rough place smooth, or an unkept place beautiful took a lot of trouble.  He had to cut and clean before he could plant and beautify.

This morning I am reminded that our Gardner has “implanted the Word in our life”.  He has taken an old rough guy like me with a life that needs to get some “spoiled virtue and cancerous evil” out of my old rough life and throw it all “in the garbage”.  I have to submit to the Gardner as he landscapes my mind and life with the implanted Word of God.  He is making a “Salvation Garden” of my life.  He is placing me on display before the world.

This morning I am glad that God joins me on my journey in life.  He is actively at work in me.  I find that his work is hard at times as he grinds out the old dead roots of sin and its touch in my own life.  I trust Him this morning.  I am glad that he is committed to a life long process that makes me a better person.  May God be praised.

NOTE:  This morning I am sitting on the back porch of Jason and Jenn’s house in Maryland enjoying watching the beauty of a sunrise, rabbits eating in the field behind his house, seeing birds fly and listening to the constant barking of dogs just beyond the woods that border his townhouse.  We had a great trip yesterday with traffic better than I had expected.  We all slept well last evening and look forward to a restful day.  It is a good thing to have nothing to do but rest.  I am grateful to those who allow me to spend some time with my family.  Jason and Jenn have just celebrated their 3rd Wedding Anniversary on July 9.

Now Unto HIM!

²⁰ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant^b,  ²¹ Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working^c in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 All the way my savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thro’ life has been my guide?
heav’nly peace divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;

2 All the way my Savior leads me;
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for ev’ry trial,
Feeds me with the living bread;
Tho’ my weary steps may falter,
and my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see;

3 All the way, my Savior leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above:
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song thro’ endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;

The thought that God would save me blows my mind. The fact that He chooses to live inside me humbles me. Today he chooses to remind me that we are partners together in this journey. He is building into my life integrity, a clear mind, clean heart , proper affections, a will that desires to follow His plan for my life and strength to do the work. He is working in me what pleases and brings honor to HIM. He is not finished. He will never leave me nor forsake me.

He longs for me to be in a place where he can bring about holiness (where he is dealing with my character) and righteousness (where he longs to change my conduct). He longs for me to be in a living relationship with himself.

Now unto HIM, I say AMEN!

Loosing the Big Picture hurts.

16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. Hebrews 12:16-17

He was the oldest brother and stood in line for the blessing and for the greater part of the inheritance. However, he preferred the gratification of the flesh to the blessing of God and his heavenly inheritance. Enslaved. He tied his own hands because he was a slave to his sensual desires. He was captured by his desire to have his temporal pleasures fulfilled. He lost the big picture.

If the secular humanists and evolutionist are right then living a one dimensional life would satisfy. Shelter, sex, and sustenance (food) would be more than enough. We have our base needs satisfied in America. We live comfortable lives. We are a sexually saturated society. We are fatter than ever. However, we are imploding because we have lost the big picture.

There is the temptation to follow fleshly appetites – “if it feels good do it”
There is the temptation to self – centeredness – “,I better look out for good old number one”
There is the temptation to become discontented – “,I deserve better than this”
There is the temptation to misuse power – “If you have it, you ought to flaunt it”
There is the temptation to become impatient – “Why Wait?”
There is the temptation to doubt God’s love – “I assumed that God loved you.”
(Steven J. Lawson, FAITH UNDER FIRE p. 65-72

We need more than bread, houses, clothes, cars, business success, fame, sexual relationships, jewelry, wealth, and fine dining. We need Jesus. We need the Living Loving Word of God. We need the Bread of Live.

When I forget the eternal, Big Picture part of my life, it hurts. Oh to God, I would not trade the eternal aspects of our Christian life for what is temporal. God, Keep the Big Picture right in front of my eyes…

29He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

Traveling Buddies…

Going places was part of my life as a child. We would travel with the Bells. Ed and Jesse would take the time to look at a map and figure out a plan to get to a desired location. We loved to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The home of the Old Faithful Geyser. We have been there in the summer, and we have seen the town in the dead of winter with deep snow. But arriving at Yellowstone National Park was made so much better because our family had “traveling partners” – traveling buddies…

I will decide to go somewhere, and I will ask Kimberly, my daughter, if she would like to go with me. Where I am going really doesn’t matter to her. She just wants to go with me. It is always a blast to go to the hospital and the two of us go in and I introduce her as my Associate Pastor. I enjoy having her with me. It makes the journey worthwhile.

Traveling around is a lot of fun, especially if you can find several people who will go with you. They will go where you are going. Finding folk who enjoy the speed you travel or the pace that you keep is rare. I am reminded that we are pilgrims and strangers in this world. I am reminded of the people in Hebrews 11 who had their vision of traveling with a Big Picture in mind. These travelers were not consumed with the things of this world and the here and now, but had a passion of where they were going…

13-16Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

Finding TRAVELING BUDDIES who are looking forward to the city waiting for them, who see themselves as transients in this world, whose taste for heaven is different from those who find their satisfaction in the things of this old world, would be a delight. You don’t need many, but you do need a few. Thank God for my traveling buddies.

Oh the Blood of Jesus!

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.  Hebrews 10:19-20

A new way!  An open way!  God has initiated a way where we can enter into the presence of God.  We cannot take credit for one ounce of it.  We now have access to God.  We now have light to direct our way.  We now have the liberty of Spirit.  We now have the opportunity and the privilege to enter into communion with God and to expect that kind of sweet communion back from him.

All because of the precious blood of Christ.  He opened the way for me to enter into God’s presence.

Thank you Father.

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; that HE WILL APPEAR a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring SALVATION to those who are waiting for HIM.  Heb 9:28

He came  the first time to bear sins.

He comes the second time to bring salvation

Come Lord Jesus!

Click here for “There Is A Day” Worship Video

There is a day
That all creation’s waiting for,
A day of freedom and liberation for the earth.
And on that day
The Lord will come to meet His bride,
And when we see Him
In an instant we’ll be changed

The trumpet sounds
And the dead will then be raised
By His power,
Never to perish again.
Once only flesh,
Now clothed with immortality,
Death has now been
Swallowed up in victory

We will meet Him in the air
And then we will be like Him
For we will see Him, as He is
Oh yeah!
Then all hurt and pain will cease
And we’lll be with Him forever
And in His glory we will live
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

So lift your eyes
To the things as yet unseen,
That will remain now
For all eternity.
Though trouble’s hard,
It’s only momentary
And it’s acheiving
Our future glory.