Kingdoms

As bro Taylor gave us a message this morning…

I thought about certain moments in my favorite movies where the master, king, teacher, leader, lord confides in those he considers a true friend, brother, son.

Jesus says in John 8:35 “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.”

When we give our lives to Jesus we become a son/daughter to God.  We became family members to an everlasting kingdom.

Jesus also uttered these words, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

Our Lord and Savior Jesus confides in us does He not?  He shares with us the mysteries of God to encourage and elevate our thinking/understanding beyond the pretenses of this world’s ideologies-walls that surround us.

We become ambassadors of Christ.  Our authority, rights, desires, needs come from God who is the source of all good things- His good, pleasing and perfect will.  We desire joy, peace, God’s gracious and merciful love, wisdom and we receive without limit as we yield everything - soul, heart, mind over to Him.

We are God’s domain after all… for He has translated us by His Spirit and blood.

The kingdom of God (not always ushered in with visible signs) comes in the knowing He has changed us supernaturally inwardly.   And with our continual hope and trust in Him we will be continually established in what God has intended in Himself.

Think about that last phrase for a second… “And with our continual hope and trust in Him we will be continually established in what God has intended in Himself”.

We “are” because of Him. 

For in us Jesus Christ’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit that reveals the deep things of God) lives in us…. We get to everyday by our choice to participate in the everlasting, renewing, strengthening things of God or not.

Robin Longstride, in the 2010 Robin Hood movie, speaks….

“If you're building for the future, you need to keep your foundations strong, laws of the land enslave the people to a king who demands loyalty but offers nothing in return, I've been to the South of France, Palestine and back, you build a kingdom the same way you build a cathedral from the ground up!”      

We used to serve the kingdom of darkness.  We used to serve the prince of darkness- Satan.   We willing participated in darkness and even let the tormentors of fear, hatred, lust and depression come sit at our table.  That kingdom never offered us peace. That kingdom never offered us peace.   That kingdom never offered us grace, mercy and undeserved love and privilege.  It was weak and faulty and always making us thirsty and hungry.  And we know that dark kingdom will be destroyed with time itself when the everlasting kingdom comes and takes its place.  A kingdom without time. 

A kingdom whose foundations are strong because they are set on God himself- Jesus Christ.

“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” 1 Peter 2:5

God is saying,  “Come…. mediate, confide and trust in Me.  Trust in my Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior.  The one who opens our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and sets us free from those things that want offer us nothing but enslavement.   And as we yield, trust, confide in God and His word- He gives us thought provoking, encouraging and elevating things of Himself…

Things that enrich, revive, liberate and last forever for the child, friend, priest of God.

Things that we can pass on and share with others- others who are endangered of an eternal doom because they are serve a kingdom of darkness instead of Jesus Christ who is the truth, the way and the life.  John 14:6

          

Time of Perfection

What has captured my attention this week is this verse written by the Apostle Paul.  “For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face.  Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 1 Corinthians 13:12

In college we would sculpt pieces of clay into an art piece… we would then encase it in sections of plaster. 

When the plaster dried we would open the plaster pieces and take out the clay. 

We would then put a sealer on the inside impression left in the plaster by the clay sculpture. 

Afterward we would put the plaster pieces together again where we could pour a “liquefied medium” such as clay slip, plaster, wax, cement, rubber latex and so on into the plaster mold.

When the medium hardened/cured inside the mold- we would open the plaster pieces to reveal the art piece in its new material.

In a way we are like clay works of art encased in plaster.   God sculpts our clay vessel. He seals it … and one day the clay vessel that will return to the earth where soul will enter the everlasting body! 

With the everlasting body God gives us, we will never know what it means to be tired or out of breathe or sore.  We will be able to run all day long and have more energy then even a wild stallion could muster.  We won’t have to deal with getting sick, ill, old, hot or cold.  There will be no need for spectacles, medicines, special diets, genetic disorders in heaven.  There will be no disabilities and no handicap signs in heaven.   All will be new… and kept anew!

Our bodies of clay will be swallowed up by death but the new bodies we receive in Jesus Christ will be swallowed up and clothed in life! (2 Corinthians 5:2, 5:4)

What we knew… what we matured in… what we spoke of… what yielded to in Spirit…  will no longer have to share room with the earthly flesh but will be fully transformed- as God has known.

Lift Up You Gates!

Photo by Jeff Johnson

Is it true that when we close off God we close off “Life”?

We often get confused with the “fleshly” term life, what we see and perceive in our own understanding as being “life” when “LIFE” is really about living in the spiritual mindset of God which allows God to manifest and shape His perfect, pleasing and good will in our life.

Someone might say, “Look at the house and car that guy has, he must be living the life!” In fact the very opposite might true... He may be the most miserable guy on the planet.

Jesus said, “The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart.” Luke 6:45

Everyone agrees that the thoughts and contents of our heart shape our actions. But what is shaping your thoughts to stir your heart? Is it God or is it your own understanding? And WHO or who are you opening the gates for? Who was shaping the thoughts of that man who killed those police officers? Definitely not God. We know examples of people who opened the gate to all the wrong influences and others have paid dearly.

Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

I have found we can accept God’s words to different degrees in our life. Some just become head knowledge but not heart knowledge. And then there are those same words that actually “live” in the heart such as hope and joy and love and peace. They live in the heart because the Spirit of God is allowed to live in them. He brings them to life, points them out, highlights and uses them to empower His children.

So here’s the question, “Are we accepting the words of Life in the Spirit so we may have Life more abundantly? (Note John 10:10)

It all sounds good but are we allowing the Spirit of God to put them into practice in our day-to-day lives? I mean... there actually is a difference between “existing” and actually living what is truly LIFE isn’t there?

What would the benefit of being a Christian if you didn’t allow the Spirit of God to be living and active in your life? There would be NONE! That is religion not faith.

Psalm 24:7 says, “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.”

Jesus is the King of glory. It’s by His Spirit being allowed to work in us that we are lifted up and encouraged and empowered.

Isaiah 58:11 says "And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

Notice the LORD is the source.

Jesus says, “But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14

God wants us to live and drink deeply from His water. He wants us to live in that understanding that is beyond us. That understanding that gives us peace, joy, hope, love, grace, etc…

This is why the Apostle Paul wrote: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Ephesians 3:17-20

For Jesus to dwell/live in our hearts we all must open up the gates of our thinking “daily” for a gated soul to the Lord is like a putrid, foul dark dungeon with no air flow and no so-called life but all the attributes of death such as hopeless, fear, dread, the mundane, and so on.

God says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher then the earth, so are my ways higher then your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

God’s words are LIFE… BUT there is no LIFE in wisdom unless the Spirit is making that wisdom come alive. Solomon one of the wisest people who ever lived missed this point. He started living by his own understanding and living became meaningless because He started living without the counsel
of God. (Note: Ecclesiastes 1)  Alters were built to the so-call gods of his wives who followed the practices of human sacrifice and the sacrifice of babies to appease their gods.  How did this ever happen?  It happened because Solomon ignored God.  

Life is living in the Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, and Strengthener who is the Spirit of God. (Note: John 14:16)

And without opening the gates to Him we would not experience the things we now know or imagined.

It is just as the word of God says, “Things which eye has not seen or ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 2:9-16

I was reminded of a vision I had sometime ago. Though I was physically sitting in a chair at the time, in the experience I was actually hunched over in this kneeling position on the floor when a figure walked before me wearing this long golden glimmering gown. Ever time the figure took a step this kind of smoke or fog came out from under the gown until it filled the entire floor. When I looked up at the figure, I saw a man with long shoulder length white hair and white hair on his chin. I looked into his eyes and when I did I was drawn into them. I was seeing the complexity and depths of the endless universe. I then looked at his face and in an involuntary way I uttered, “Father” and like a super beam of light His presence shot upward and disappeared into the depths of space above. And I was back sitting in my chair. (Now I think: Perhaps He didn’t shoot into space at all- but it was I coming back here.)

Experiences like these would not happen to us if we did lift up our gates. This should EXCITE YOU… for the bible says “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…” Note 2 Chronicles 16:9

God is actively looking for those who are fully committed to Him- that they have their gates lifted up and are seeking Him. I can’t even imagine or think what God can accomplish in us if we surrender, stay “grounded” and rooted to Him in faith, and allow Him to “live” in and build us up.

So lift up your gates and let the glory of the King come in. Amen!

Desires We know As LIFE

My thoughts…

I was thinking about us… humanity… God’s chosen creation… And how He created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27).  How that image is to reflect God… I then thought of what we all desire as humanity.

We all desire hope… joy… peace… grace… what is faithful… righteousness… morality… justice… love… acceptance… courage… humility… self-control… purpose… security… and eternal life in Heaven. 

And it is clear when we read God’s word… these desires have not only been put in us by God our Creator but can only be had, satisfied and answered and given by God our Creator.

But by denying God in our daily life, we deny and deprive ourselves of what we desire most (what we somehow know as “Life”).  And nowhere else to turn we turn to the substitutes of the world that fail, never satisfy and destroy our soul.

When we deny God we reflect the fallen and hungry world BUT when we take hold of God’s hand like a little child- LIFE comes…  For we were made by Jesus Christ.  

“He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made and without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men…” John 1:3

(Take your hands and lock your fingers together.  One of your hands illustrates your soul and the other illustrates God who is Life.)  God created our soul to yoke “perfectly” with His Spirit just like our hands fit together perfectly. Note: Matthew 11:30

Several verses in the bible say, “Clothe yourself with Jesus Christ.” This would also illustrate how the Spirit of God perfectly fits our soul.   

Allowing our soul to be yoked, calibrated, receptive, obedient, abided in the Spirit of God manifests His good, perfect satisfying will in our life (Romans‬ ‭12:2‬)‬‬ and produce what is says below. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no Law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

The Spirit alone gives eternal life.  Human effort accomplishes nothing.  And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63   Note: Galatians 3:3

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life... (John 14:6) It makes perfect sense then if He created us then He is the source of what we desire to fulfill and define as LIFE.  But in order to experience and have what our soul desires, we have to come to Jesus the source of LIFE.  We have to surrender our life to Him and make Him Lord and Savior over our soul. He is the only way we will ever experience LIFE and LIGHT for our soul on a daily basis. 

“For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled it with what is good.” Psalm 107:9

Come and experience the way, the truth and the life in your soul!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus I know by the way I have been living I have not only failed to experience LIFE in you but have looked to other things to try to satisfy my soul and in doing so have sinned against you - for I have looked upon them as if they were gods.  Forgive me.

In my faulty human understanding I have also sinned against you and others as well.  In this I ask humbly for your forgiveness.  I have heard that you created me and my rightful place is with you.  You are the LIFE and LIGHT in which I have sought for so long.  Jesus I surrender my life to you.  Be my LORD and Savior and fill me with your glorious Spirit that I may not strive in the ways and understandings of men but in your perfect will for my life. 

Thank you Jesus for laying down your life for mine that I may have life and life more abundantly in you.   Help me to know you and grow in you according to your word.  Help me find a spirit filled bible believing church that I can grow and be part of.  Help me as I read your word to understand it and have it enrich my soul as you guide me in reading it.  Enrich the soil of my soul that the roots of my faith will grow deep in your love.  In the measure of faith you have given me- I pray this in your wonderful name- In Jesus name Amen.

*May the Spirit of God be poured out upon you according to your honest words of faith in Jesus Name, Amen.

Jesus Rising from the Dead (Easter)

Here are some things I was reminded of by the Spirit when it comes to Easter.

·      Jesus saying he had the power to lay down his life and the power to pick it up again.  John 10:18

·      Jesus telling Martha, Lazarus’s sister, “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25

·      And he/she that believes in him and dies in him (they trust in Jesus) shall live- have eternal life in heaven.  John 11:25

·      When Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." And they were deeply grieved.  Matthew 17:23 

·      From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  Matthew 16:21 

·      When Jesus said tear down this temple (meaning Himself) and I will rebuild it in three days.  John 2:19

·      When Jesus appeared to the Mary and Mary in the Garden after they went to the empty tomb and saw the two angels who told them to tell the disciples what they saw and to remind them to meet Jesus in Galilee.  John 20, Luke 24, Mark 16, Matthew 28

·      There would be no Christianity today if Jesus did not rise from the dead.  Jesus would had just been another good godly man who died on the cross. My life and countless other lives would had not changed and the Holy Spirit would not be ministering to me and to you right now.  God's amazing transforming love would not have been manifested in our life. Because of Christ's resurrection, we have God's Spirit- The Holy Spirit.  We have been given spiritual gifts from the victor over death- Jesus Christ.  We have been given a seal of redemption because of Jesus' death and resurrection. (Who is shouting now!)      

·      AND the disciples... They and others saw Jesus resurrected and spoke to him and touched him, and this propelled them and encouraged them greatly to share and do what Jesus asked them to do which changed their life and other peoples life with the life changing and saving news of Jesus. God's Spirit guided them and they had power to heal, cast out demons, minister in power beyond their understanding, and even suffer and die for this good news. Death was not the end of life but a door to eternity in heaven.  And Jesus now propels us to be salt and light to the world and share what JESUS has personally done in our life.         

JESUS and the Cross

What does Good Friday mean to someone who doesn’t go to church? What does the cross mean to
someone who has never gone to church?

Just recently a sister in Christ shared a story of a friend of hers who didn’t know who Jesus was and she lives right here in America.  Is this shocking to you?  It is somewhat surprising but I understand - considering the state of the America and some of it's churches.

How many you believe sin can be corrected and a person, a family, a nation can be saved if they know Jesus Christ?

Knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior changes your life.

SIN and US 

Everyone has sinned or done wrong.   Do you know sin cuts us off from God?  Our sin not only causes trouble in our lives but the lives of others.  Sin has long lasting effects, and death but without Jesus Christ it leads to hell.   I know the world and Oprah have said there are many ways to heaven but the world and Oprah are not God.  Sounds offensive?  Yes sometimes the truth can sound offensive but it doesn’t mean it isn’t the truth.  I rather be confronted with the truth then live life heading towards destruction.

Jesus is THE ONLY WAY into heaven and if you have read these posts you know I have seen Jesus.  And since I have seen and know Jesus is alive and well and very real, I am honored to tell you about HIM who saves us from our sin.  

GOD and US

So let’s start with God, the GOD who saves our soul and liberates our heart and mind.     

God doesn’t fit into our typical human definition of a god.  God is both single and plural.  He is Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.  Together they are ONE and they work as ONE.   They are like a band making an idea a reality.   We were once an idea and then He made us a reality with an individual purpose in mind.  Sad it to think that people can wander through life not knowing God and not knowing the purpose they were created for.
         

“Genesis 1:26 says “Then God said, ‘Let us make people in our own image, to be like ourselves.  They will be masters over all life- the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and the livestock and wild animals, and small animals.’”

“He (Jesus Christ) was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” John 1:2-4

“Philip (one of Jesus’ disciples) said to Him (Jesus), ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.’” John 14:8-10

GOD who created everything we can see and not see said there is only ONE WAY to heaven and that is through HIS Son, Jesus Christ.   

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

There is NOT a five lane highway into heaven.  Jesus Christ is the narrow opening in which we ALL have to enter Heaven.  There is no way over or around or under the immense barrier from here to heaven but through Jesus Christ.

As Peter said, “ And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 

Before I gave my life to God, I would go to church from time to time but I had this “mental fog” that would block me from the reality of Jesus Christ.  And the bible… well it might as well been a bunch of mumbo jumbo on some white pages stuck in between a piece of black leather bound.  So since I couldn’t really read, see or hear what was being shared, I couldn’t appreciate, taste, be encouraged or feed my restless soul.  But that all changed when God’s Holy Spirit came into my soul when I accepted Jesus Christ as my God, Lord and Savior. 

As the bible says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I could not only read the bible and understand it but I experienced the life changing and life saving reality of Jesus in my life, something I thought wasn’t even possible.

THE CROSS and US

That is when I began to understand in a deeper personal sense -the cross Jesus took for all our sins or wrongs. 

Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.  There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him.  But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.”  John 3:14-18 
    

God so loved you and I that he sent HIS SON to die on the Cross.  Jesus, the Son of God was nailed through his hands and feet to a wooden cross and died like a criminal to die for all of humanity's sins.
  
In the book of Mark, it is written that Jesus said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34. 

You know why the Father turned His back when Jesus was on the cross? Because the Father could not look upon the sin Jesus was taking upon Himself for us.  Jesus, innocent of all sin, was being judged for our sin.

   

Jesus took that cross that we may trust in Him and be saved, that we may taste and see God is merciful and good.  That we may experience God’s perfect will in our life and have a relationship with HIM/GOD. 
     

1 Peter says “He (Jesus) personally carried away our sins in his body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  You have been healed by his wounds!  Once you were wandering like lost sheep.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25

Jesus going to the cross for us was like Jesus creating a bridge over an abyss that separated us from God.   By giving our life to Jesus we not only get to go to heaven but we can have a relationship with God, which liberates our soul from the daily tolls.

When I think of Jesus going to the cross I think of the garbage man picking up the trash.  Jesus going to the cross for us... and we giving our life to Him is like Jesus stuffing all our sins into an enormous garbage truck and Jesus driving our sin to a dump of forgetfulness never to be remembered by God again. 
 

Jesus paid for our sins but we must give our life to Jesus to receive this life saving and changing forgiveness.  

So are you going to believe in Jesus?  Are you going to trust in Jesus? Are going to accept his gift of going to cross for you and I? 
 

If so ask Jesus to come into your life now.  Jesus come.  

Let me pray with you:

Jesus I choose to believe and trust in you as my God.  I choose to surrender my life to you that you may liberate my life by having a daily relationship with you.  Jesus forgive me!  Forgive me for my sins.  I accept your free gift of forgiveness.  Pour out your Spirit upon my life that I may experience your wondrous light and transforming goodness in my life.  Thank you Jesus.  THANK You JESUS!

May God bless you my friend.  May God lead you to a bible believing church with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that will help and encourage you.   That God make you like a sponge to His wondrous marvelous word- The Bible.  And may God continue bless you with is presence and love as you continually seek Him in all of life’s experiences and challenges.

Thank you for letting me share with you.     

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

From our house to yours,

We wish you a wonderful Merry Christmas as we all celebrate the season of the Savior’s birth.

Christmas is about loving God and loving others.

When I think about Christmas I can’t help but see the two commandments Jesus told us to live by.  These commandments seem to sparkle especially bright during Christmas time.

Think about it....  As we celebrate Christmas we celebrate the love we have for Jesus Christ.   And as we celebrate the remembrance of the greatest gift to mankind, we give gifts to others.

We in the Spirit of the season, love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and that overflows to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

This giving of cards and gifts some say come from the magi (wise men/kings) who followed the great star to Bethlehem to bestow gifts to Jesus but I am pointed in another direction when it comes to gift giving.

This custom,  I believe was, influenced by Jewish festivals such as the festivals of Purim where there was deliverance from death.  During these festivals, even to this day, food and presents are given to one another and to the poor.

We too celebrate the deliverance from death (eternal death) through our Savior Jesus Christ who came as a baby, born of a virgin.

  Jesus speaking of himself said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Not long after this, the LORD sent this message to King Ahaz:  “Ask me for a sign, Ahaz, to prove that I will crush your enemies as I have promised.  Ask for anything you like; and make it as difficult as you want.”  But the king refused, “No,” he said, “I wouldn’t test the LORD like that.”  Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! You aren’t satisfied to exhaust my patience.  You exhaust the patience of God as well!  All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign.  Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel- ‘God is with us.’”  Isaiah 7:10-14

Christmas.  It is a season where we celebrate our deliverance through Jesus Christ. 

  Celebrate the joy of deliverance! Merry Christmas!

"That I May Know Him" Philippians 3:10

 Know Him
Paul is saying not that I may know “of” Jesus Christ but know Jesus as who he is as Lord and Savior.

This type of “know” is to know and understanding someone on a very personal level like a spouse or a best friend.

The Amplified bible reads: [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death….”

When people are around someone with good or bad habits, people tend to pick up and be influenced by those same habits do they not?   Paul is saying the same thing, the more I get to “know” Christ more deeply and intimately the more I can let go of who I am (feelings, perceptions, understandings, etc) and become like Christ. This is a good thing!

Paul writes: “ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Paul also writes:  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

If Paul is allowed to live, Christ will continue to be Paul’s source of strength and encouragement and if Paul dies or is put to death for his faith, he will finally be off this world and with Christ in heaven.

Paul’s relationship with the Lord has helped him know nothing can separate him from God’s love.  This has given him a lighter burden to carry.  He isn’t concerned for himself as much as those he might leave behind.

The words of Jesus come to mind, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest of your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28

Death… we all will face it.  To those who know Christ it isn’t something to be afraid of but to those who don’t know Christ it should be something to be very afraid and be anxious about.

So without doing a lot of shadow boxing, ask yourself this question, “Are you prepared for death right now?

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

You like myself have seen the very young to the very old die.  Death doesn’t care what your age might be- it isn’t bias.

I have learned from sorrow and suffering –that which I could not learn had I not witnessed and experienced sorrow and suffering.  Sometimes "what" we consider "not good" is actually "good" because of what comes from it.
  
In fact Jesus says, "But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it." Note: Matthew 11:19.

For man learns nothing from the empty foolishness of life.  Think about it.   For a man sees his need for God -in all his weakness and seeing the foolishness of life can never satisfy him.
 
Seeing this need can only be satisfied and answered by God, he seeks God from the depths of his heart and God approaches.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

“A good name is better then fine perfume, and the day of death is better then the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning then go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”  Ecclesiastes 7:2

We see life has no guarantees and without notice we can find ourselves on the doorstep of our eternal destination.   And depending on if we know or don’t know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will determine our eternal destination.

Most of us have read or heard of this verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

So knowing Jesus is the Son of God who He sent to save us…

“I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me.” John 6:57

 “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

….. Have you made a choice to “know” Jesus Christ?

Where is your heart and mind when it comes to your eternal destination?  Have you given it any thought at all?

Have you put your soul in the words of mere men and what they have rationalized in their own minds?  If so, you are in a very dangerous and precarious position… We can’t take the words of man as fact- we must know if they are true.  Most often that comes with the trials and fires of life.  With the trials and fires of life, God's love bleeds more visible as we earnestly seek him.

You can’t put your soul in the hands of man’s theories and ideas.   The words of man mean nothing when it comes to the threshold of eternity.   Would you step out of an airplane onto a cloud of vapor thinking it would support you?  Of course not!  Words are just words until they are proven true.

So while you still have the grace of God put some time and investment into your soul not in things of this world- for you can’t take them with you.

“For we brought nothing into this world and is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:7.

Don’t leave your soul’s destination up to chance and take the cop-out/excuse that you don’t know what you really believe.

No one should have to plead with someone to search for truth in God and Jesus Christ for someone else's soul’s sake.  A person should want to do that for themselves but I understand sometimes it takes someone to bring it mind because we are lost and blinded by the busyness and cares of this life -but this life is only temporary my friend and eternity is forever.

So if you don’t know what you really believe.... you are going to do nothing?  Don’t be fooled by thoughts that stop you in your tracks.  Earnestly seek God and he will reveal himself to you. 

God says in the book of Jeremiah 29:13. " If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."  

Most people don't even try and because they don't try they never find him.

What is your soul’s destination worth?

I have found in this short (oops) it's been more then 12 years now journey -God is more real then I even imagined and my revelation of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior has deepened.   I hold to this truth dearly for my soul’s sake and sanity.   For it is clear this place is not my home.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Remember what we read in Philippians 3:10...... (might want to go back up and read it again.)

* (Here is a little star if you forget your place)

The ways of human security (money, possessions, our degrees, our achievements, human rational/reasoning, other people we know, etc.) are no security at all -when all those human securities are taken away, what then?

Where will their hope be then?  Human security can only take you so fair.  They definitely do not carry into eternity.

When the world crumbles and storms on the seas and in the skies come like increasing birth pains and people are only out to save themselves- where will their hope be then?

When Jesus comes to get his own- how will the unbelieving world explain what has happened to us?  There are approximately 6.9 billion Christians in the world, can you imagine them all disappearing at once?

But those left behind will have this passage to refer to:

“For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond a doubt.  It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.  But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.  When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day.  In those days before the flood, people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all.  And the world be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business- eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building- until the morning Lot left Sodom.  Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  Yes, it will be business as usual right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.  On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack.  A person in the field must not return to town. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife!  Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.  That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
“Lord, where will this happen?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate the end is near.” Luke 17: 24-37

Just think where people’s understandings carry them now, where will their understandings take them then?

Who’s Understanding?
God word says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.   Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8

We as Christians are not to let our own wisdom and understanding master over our sails of our soul.  God himself is to be the wind that encourages our sails.

Just as one might turn their boat or let the boom of the mast catch the wind, we too must let go and turn our attention on to God not our circumstances.  There, our interior sails will straighten out from their sag and find the right mind and heart set in God instead of our own strength and understanding.  The Christian soul no longer runs efficiently on the things of this world but on the things of God.  Mind, heart, Spirit (Note Ezekiel 36:26)

“…. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:18-19

That place we can only find and come in through by Jesus Christ who is the narrow gate.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” Matthew 7:13

 “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” John 10:9

In God’s good pastures we will find good things to help our soul endure and thrive.

Who’s understanding we use matters greatly.  Who we trust matters greatly. Who we know matters greatly.  Read Matthew 6:19-34

From the Beginning Even to the End

 The Journey, the Road, the Path, We Were Not Created to Go It Alone.

“He has made everything appropriate in it’s time.  He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

 J.R.R. Tolkien wrote for one of his characters these words…

“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say”

This life is a mystery… but ever think why it’s such a mystery?

Wouldn’t it be great to know someone who knew all the mysteries of life? Who knew which path we were to take and what we were suppose to do?

Oh but WAIT… GOD DOES!

I don’t know about you but if I saw all what God wanted to do in my life from beginning to end, I would probably become overwhelmed and want to give up.
 
For those who like to be controlling over their life…  (Does anyone have any real control over his or her life?)  We find the more we try to control the more messy life gets.

Others only considering the mortal sense of life become a killjoy or a cynic, thinking they know all there is to life.
  

“’Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher.
‘Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.’
 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 

Solomon was only looking at things horizontally- in his human understanding.

  
The truth is LIFE is MEANINGLESS without God in it.  Life is pretty stale without God in it.

Every once in a while I get a good dose of what that feels like.   They are usually days, that in my haste to get things done, I don’t seek God’s guidance.  Not only do the tasks take LONGER but also there is no pleasure in the tasks of life.  It is just lonely work.  The challenges that arise only make the work more burdensome and the energy level within me weakens.

That is same for all the aspects and facets of life when we don’t walk with Jesus.  For us as Christians, we must not just have a horizontal perspective on life but a vertical perspective as well. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

God wants us to seek him.  He is the only one who knows what we are going to face each day and how to handle each situation.  Being receptive to God’s direction improves our life even with challenges.   Life is not always rosy but with a bit perspective and insight from above, we can appreciate this temporary life a bit more.

We can find the joy of what it means to walk with God and grow in that life changing perspective and be light to others - without that perspective we are just as hopeless as everyone else in this world.

The Good work of God…
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

I am reminded of a mountain river with stones and how the stones have all been rounded by the life of the river.  In a symbolic way we are stones in a river of life.   We all experience stormy days, difficult days and days of bliss but don’t think God doesn’t know where each of those stones are in the river of life.

 “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5

 As I thought about the verse from Ecclesiastes…
”…  yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end,”

 I was reminded of another verse.  “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”  David wasn't looking horizontally but vertically.  

Let’s look at this verse in Psalm 139:1-6. David says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.   You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.   You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 139:1-6

The mystery of life and how God uses that mystery to transform our life - is too great for us to understand.

How God knows exactly where we are and what we are thinking, does that sound like a God that doesn’t want anything to do with his creation? Does that sound like a God that doesn’t want to work in our lives?

David says God places a hand of blessing on his head, is the same true for us?

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

Ephesians 1:3-5 says,  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—“
 
I know I need to consider more that its God’s will to take pleasure in us and our lives - just as we find hope, peace and encouragement in Him.   

David continues with, “You watch me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Everyday of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can’t count them: They outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me.”  Psalm 139:15-18

God’s precious thoughts for us outnumber the grains of sand.  Ever go to the beach and pick up a hand full of sand? Just in my hand there are more grains of sand than I can count.   Ever pick up a bag of sand from the hardware store?  If you were to transfer God’s love into sand bags, the weight and size would be more then enormous.

The Spirit said, “Longsuffering”.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

We will never love God more then he loves us but God wants us to have a relationship with Him.  A relationship, that grows into a deep love, trust and unyielding acceptance of his guidance for our life.   A relationship, with Him knowing he has planned the best pathway for our life. 

We can’t have this unless we ask God to forgive us for all our wrongs (sins) and ask Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our life and fill us with His Spirit. 

This goes for professing Christians as well… we can’t have the best path or have a maturing relationship with Christ unless we humble ourselves and let God guide us each and everyday.  We must look upward instead of just horizontally.
 
 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
    I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8

David ends the Psalm with: “Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24

Are you asking him to search you? Are you looking for his daily fellowship?

Only God knows the path from beginning to end and he made it so both you could walk this life together into eternity.   Again, there is no way to make it into eternity in heaven without Him- Jesus Christ.

The question is do we see that?  Do we realize our daily need to take hold of his hand as his children and have him lead us to what is a mystery- from the beginning to the end?

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2
 
May God help us to look vertically to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.  

Is There A God?

Is There A God By Jeff Johnson

I was watching a movie last night (Sunday) on Netflix.  It was a movie of some college students who make a film called "Beware of the Christians http://youtu.be/IMIydiF69mA"  These young Christian men go to Europe to find out what people think about God and what people think about certain topics such as sex, drinking, heaven, hell, and so on.
 
The movie's journey is part evangelistic and part searching and part discovery.   From the information given by the young men, they had all grown up in the Christian church but really didn't have a God "encounter" or if they did they didn't share it in the movie.  What was the spring board to this journey was a question.  "Do I believe what I believe because I was told it or because I experienced and continue to experience the truth and reality of God?"

I have found in teaching young adults that I can teach them the word of God and how to apply it or put it into practice but what makes the word of God come alive is God working in their lives.  He is the one who makes the truth of the word come alive.     

Our testimonies/ God "encounters" are what God has done in our life which speaks volumes of the reality of God to not just others but ourselves.   I can give the word of God to other people but if there is no personal experience to go with that word it is difficult for them or anyone else to understand, except, seek it and walk it out.

Why do you think God says to fellowship with one another and build one another up?

I can't tell you all the times God has used people to touch my life.   They have encouraged me and I have encouraged them.   Now if I were to slip away into my comfort hobbit hole of a life I would find it very difficult, after a while, to be encouraged because I would just have my thoughts to contend with.  Not saying God wouldn't continue to speak to me and touch my life but life isn't just about us and ourselves and our little bubble of a world.  God made other people, uniquely different from ourselves but just as special, to touch our lives and we to touch their lives.

These real life experiences bring spiritual nourishment to our soul and we never know what kind of mustard seed of a tree will vigorously grow or Godly yeast that will knead into the bread dough of humanity.   When we have God's word weaved into the God given purposes, directives and experiences in our life we KNOW that God isn't a religion but real unquestionable truth.

You and I as Christians are the living testimony of God's truth.  People don't just hear the words but see the difference God has and is continuing to make in our lives.   With no real living testimony and no Holy Spirit guided action/direction, all people see most times is religious words or you and I  belonging to some "religious" group.  It's not until people come to Christ that they can see back at all  the Christians in their life.  Strange but true.  When I became a Christian those lights in my school days became abundantly transparent.  They were Nancy, Kurt, Kerry, Pat (Patricia), Kim, Bill, Joe, ..... (list goes on and on.)  

In "Beware of the Christians" God is loving knocking on these young men's door with questions. God is pushing and prodding, and encouraging Christians to take a step of faith and many times it starts with a question.   Questions like: What is my purpose?  What is the value of my faith in God? How does it show up in my life?

The more God brings these questions for us to consider, the more we reflected and questioned how to put those truths to real practice.

The more God brought these questions for the young men in "Beware of the Christians" to consider, the more they saw how important it was to live their lives for Christ.   This was not just for their own well being and fulfillment but the importance to be a living testimony to other people.  But again that living testimony can not be lived out without our collaboration, trust, submission, obedience, in God.

They, like every Christian, is looking to how to apply God's living truths to their life in the midst of a world that practices and preaches and teaches and advertises things like prosperity and denies, ignores, fights and even rages against God's truths. 

Every Christian, I hope, is looking for what Jesus wants them to do, not what seems okay or passable or negotiable in some kind of religious standard.

The world doesn't care about God's truths because they only see God and God's people as part of organized religion, judgmental, hypocritical, and a system of do's and don'ts.  The world doesn't care about God or his truths because they believe life is all about them and a means to to get things, make themselves happy, and experience all there is to experience of the world which in total reality leads them no where and unfulfilled.  Chasing after things that never satisfy.

People believe in false ideas made of man, the understandings of man and the corrupt thinking of man.  They don't even consider going to the source- GOD!   Instead they only look to the ways of themselves instead of God.  God is the one who brings about new understanding in life, contentment, peace, grace, and confidence (not within ourselves or the things of this world) but in HIM (God). The meaning of life can not be found unless God is active in our life!

These college students, who made this film had to ask themselves what is "religion" verses how does God want me to live?  What have I made into a religion... instead of really walking the path of faith that is trusting in God? They seem like really blanketed questions but when applied to all areas of life they bring about the desire to change from and mature as a Christian trusting in Christ.

I read this the other day: "I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way.  I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them.  Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

The path of faith is not our plans but God determining our footsteps.  The path maybe planned and smoothed out ahead of us but we are blind to everything except what God is putting a light on at the moment and in order to continue along that unfamiliar way or path we have to trust God.  

The good solid questions these young men faced (and if not disregarded down the road) will lead them to a fulfilling confident purposeful life in God.  They will find that God is not a "god" of religion but a God who can be found, trusted and collaborated with.  They will find their purpose in what God designed and created them to do and be and find peace and contentment in doing what God planned for them long ago.   Instead of religion they will find a relationship with God.

The one thing that disturbed me and I took away with this film was a lot of people in Europe don't seem to care about knowing God.   They seem to think their salvation to heaven is based on good and bad deeds.  And what they measure as good and bad deeds on are based on the understandings within themselves.   They say, "I haven't murdered anyone, I pay my taxes, I don't steal, and I volunteer at the local elementary school so I must be going to heaven."  But the truth is no one can get to heaven by their "good" deeds.  A person may be able to show their faith in Jesus Christ through good deeds but it is only through faith in Jesus Christ does one have the righteousness to enter heaven.  It is not our righteousness but in Jesus Christ's righteousness can we enter heaven.   That righteousness is faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  

Jesus, the Son of God, paid the way so we could go to heaven.   Jesus, the Son of God, gave us the gift of salvation in heaven, but we have to accept that gift in order to receive salvation in heaven.

This gift of salvation genuinely received should give us a change of heart, where we don't want do sin or do the things we know are wrong.  We don't make a practice of practicing sin or doing wrong.   Where... when we do wrong we ask God to forgive us for our sin, knowing the high price Jesus Christ paid for our sins on the cross -so we could go to heaven instead of hell.

How do I know this? Because Jesus Christ has changed me and is continuing to transform me as I trust in him.  He is constantly showing me things and encouraging me in my faith in HIM.  He is teaching and helping me to not be caught up in myself but caught up in him. 

People don't seem to value their souls.  They put value on themselves based on what they own or have or not own or not have.  They put value on themselves based on their abilities or capabilities or inabilities or incapability.   They put value on themselves based on what other human beings think of them.   They regard their soul after death like leaves that fall to the ground in the autumn to be swept away by whatever - not realizing that if they had just turned to God, God would reveal himself to them.   They don't realize the soul after death is either dragged into hell or carried into heaven based on if they haven’t or have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

They don't realize the "things" they have acquired in this life don't matter to God.   No matter degrees, titles, money, possessions, achievements matter to God but living in relationship with him.

They don't realize it not about appearances but the heart that matter to God.   They don't realize that if they turned and sought God, God would have a relationship with them, give them a fulfilling purpose and they would see their need for Jesus Christ in their life and to be saved in Jesus Christ.

They would ask God questions and God would reveal those answers to them just as he has to me.   God is no respecter of persons,  He has no favorites. I am not anymore special then anyone else.  Check it out book of Acts in the bible Chapter 10 verse 34 

This is no good that so many people don't know God.   They have their own ideals of who God is - that is if they believe in God at all.   I said to myself, "You got to be kidding?  There are a lot of people in Europe that don't know God- probably just as many in America.   This amazed me considering the roots of my Christian heritage that were passed down from relatives who came from Europe so many years ago. 

Some may think I was brainwashed by my family members and friends to accept Jesus Christ but I know first hand that isn't even true or the case.  I may have been surrounded by Christians, did Christian activities, but I wasn't living a Christian life.  I was stubborn and prideful.  Did this sin and that sin.  I had many many misconceptions about God.   God however still loved me.   When I got in a pinch I would pray and He would answer but I never thought much about thanking him afterward.  But it wasn't until I found myself stuck in a deep hole, that I prayed to God seeing my life as worthless.   I asked God to take my life and seeing what I could not, He picked me up out of the hole.   He told me how much He loved me and then gave me a new life I did not deserve.

The Ways Christians Are Viewed

It is funny if you say you are a Christian, the world holds you to a higher standard.  That isn't a bad thing.  People expect us to never mess up or have a bad moment but is that realistic?  We aren't God but I suppose in a way it is good that we aren't perfect because in humble apologies we show another characteristic of a Christian.  Not prideful to admit wrong.

I am not sure why Christians are considered judgmental.   I know some are zealous but the reason some are zealous is because they have been changed/transformed.   They know the truth and they want to share that truth with others.   They know, it wasn't by them making themselves right with God, but by the grace of God- God made them children of God.  And they want to share that life giving truth with others.

I know many Christians are hypocrites.  They are because they forget who they are.   The get tricked into prideful thinking and they forget no one is perfect.   They start depending on themselves and not on God.   They get a little knowledge in the head and they become big headed not realizing that before they speak or act -the knowledge needs to go to the heart and meditated on with God first.

Some may have started with God but they stopped having a relationship with God so now they are stumbling and their confidence, which once came from their relationship with God, has now suffered.   These are all things to remember when a person becomes a Christian. 

Is there a God? YES!

I know God.   I can't live this life of faith without him.  He knows me better then I know myself.  My faith without God would be like a fad of fashion, here today and gone tomorrow.  Is being a Christian easy?  No! But the Christian life is to rely on God.  If the Christian life were easy why would we need to rely on God so heavily?  Everyday I look to him for words of encouragement.   He is my strength and confidence.

We could go this way and that way with why this happens and that happens but the fact is we live in a cursed world and this world pushes God away and then we expect him to come to the rescue.  If we as a nation, or a people or an individual push God away how can he protect us, how can he help us, how can he reassure us, and comfort us?

But even though this world is a cursed world we don't have to be cursed ourselves.  We can have a relationship with him and no matter what happens with us we will have the reality and confidence of knowing God and having heaven as your eternal destination because we believe in Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior.

If you want to know God and know him first hand for yourself I ask you to ask God to reveal Himself to you in a mighty way.  There are only two options after this life- heaven or hell.

Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.  Jesus told us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Book of John chapter 14 verse 6 (John 14:6)

Jesus Christ said, "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures." Book of John chapter 10 verse 9 (John 10:9)

I don't know if this sounds harsh to you or not- but Jesus paid for our salvation.  Salvation is something we do not have to work for, it was paid for when Jesus was nailed on the cross for our sins/ wrongs.

Jesus speaking about himself said "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."  John 3:16

Heaven or hell is all about what you do with Jesus.   God the Father wasn't be selective in how one gets into heaven, he just said, "My Son, Jesus is the only way into heaven."  God gave one choice (Jesus) and humanity not liking that answer has continued to try to come up other ways to fool themselves only to sadly say- fool themselves into a fiery torturous prison in hell where there is total separation from God.

All the prophets of God point to Jesus as the Messiah/ Savior.   Ask yourselves, What is more HOLY then God's own blood?  Nothing!  God's own blood (Jesus blood) wiped out our sins so we can approach God.   We can become children of God through Jesus.   Jesus is the only way to saved.   If this sounds harsh think about this: sometimes the truth is harsh. We get hard truths everyday but it doesn't make those truths untrue.

If you want to get to know God and Jesus Christ as your Savior, I can only show you, figuratively speaking, the door.  It is has to be you to make the step.  The good news is you already instinctively know there is a God.  

In the book of Romans, chapter 1, verse 21 it says you already know there is a God. (Romans 1:21)

But "just knowing there is a God" is like just knowing the appearance of your neighbor but not knowing who she or he really is or what they like or dislike.    It's like knowing there is some really good fresh food in your refrigerator and deciding to not eat any of it even though you are really hungry.  

The word of God also says, "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Since you already know God exists, "sincerely" seek him and you will be rewarded you.

Jesus says "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. "  Matthew 7:7

God is waiting for you to seek him.  He has been waiting for you to come to Him.  He isn't waiting for you to fix yourself, I didn’t fix myself I just gave him who I was and he transformed me- yep a Jesus Freak. God is waiting to unveil himself in ways that you thought were impossible and use you in ways you never thought were possible.

If God is asking you to come, don't be afraid- come.   If you want God to reveal himself to you, he will do it.  I heard a story of a family in India who had all these pictures of all these false gods and a picture of Jesus.  A missionary prayed with the family and the next time he visited all the pictures of all the false gods were taken down except the picture of Jesus.  Curious, the missionary asked what happened to the other pictures and the family said, Jesus was the only God who answered their prayers.

God is no respecter of persons.  God will reveal himself to you if you sincerely seek Him.  It will be your choice to give your life to Jesus and receive and live the life he planned for you long ago.

If you have decided to give your life to Jesus, you can simply pray what is on your heart.   Asking God to forgive you and ask Jesus to come into your life and transform your life.  In Jesus Name Amen.

People are searching for meaning in their life.  They are searching for purpose.  They are searching for fulfillment.  They are searching for peace.  They are searching for encouragement.  They are searching for assurance.   They are searching for contentment.   They are searching for some form of acknowledgment.  They are searching for confidence.   They searching for empowerment.  They are looking for a way out of the pointlessness and out of this feeling of being stuck.  They are looking for nourishment for their souls.  They are searching for someone who really understands who they are and what they feel.   They are looking for love.   They unknowingly are looking for God’s love because in his love, he provides all these things.

May God bless you with the indispensable reality of Himself and continue to bless you with the indispensable reality of Himself as you seek after Him.  In Jesus Name Amen.