Simple hand-drawn nativity scene with stable, wise men, shepherds and star.
This time of year is a good time of reflection. All during the year we get caught up in our daily activities and we sometimes fail to pay attention to what is in fact worth paying attention to. We spend our time shuffling with appointments for the kids, appointments for our work, appointments for ourselves. We exhaust ourselves with work of one kind or another.
Whether you work for yourself, work at home, or go to a building; work takes our time away from spending time with Jesus. Before Jesus came to the earth there was no way for people to spend time with the Lord. There was no access to the Throne Room for the everyday person. Only the High Priest could access the Presence of the Lord, and then only on certain days. Before Jesus came we were on the outside of the veil and not allowed in.
Now of course most of us know that we have access because Jesus Christ Died and rose again so that we might have access. So that we could be called children of God. So that we could have a personal relationship with the Lord. This ladies and gentleman, is the greatest gift ever.
Though we were flawed, though we are a stiff-necked people, though we gave Jesus no thought, He paid the price for us. He gave us the opportunity to have access to the Throne Room. He gave us the opportunity to have communication with Him.
Before Jesus came to the earth, we had no hope of spending eternity with the Lord. We were doomed to spending eternity absent from the presence of the Lord. There is no hope in absence of the Lord. The gift Jesus gave us is the gift of a life eternally in the presence of the Lord.
Besides an eternal life with the Lord, we can spend time with Him here and now. Anytime we say a prayer, anytime we whisper a need for help, anytime we are feeling lost or alone, anytime we need the Lord to intervene in our lives. We can run straight to the Lord because Jesus made a way.
The bible says in Matthew 27:51 that the veil was torn from the top to the bottom. This tells us that we can all have access to the presence of God not just the High Priests. What a great gift! The gift of access to the Father! This is what Christmas is all about. Once we have asked Jesus into our hearts, He gives us the gift of access. This is the greatest gift ever.
Biblical phrase from matthew gospel, no one can serve two masters. typography design for use as printing poster, flyer or t shirt
I have been thinking about how divided our nation has become. Seems to me that lines have been drawn. Where once we used to be “One Nation Under God”, we have become a divided nation with many gods.
I am reminded about Soloman in 1 Kings 3:13, where God grants Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, along with riches and honor. He was the wisest and most prosperous King for a while. Slowly Solomon began to compromise and let his guard down. Instead of following the ways of his father, David; Solomon began to give way to false gods and idols. He began to allow his nation to be influenced by outside ungodly forces.
America in the past was a nation fully blessed by the Lord. There is a reason we were named the superpower of the world. There is a reason we lived in peace and prosperity for a long time. We had one God! Most of the nation believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. At one time we had a reputation for sending missionaries around the world to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. A few years ago, we held the record for having the most missionaries sent to us to speak to us about the good news of Jesus Christ.
Now, as I said, we seem to have become the divided states of America. Lines have been drawn, and we dare not cross them. We no longer hold the same values we once did. The good news though is that our leadership, our government has publicly spoken about the Lord Jesus Christ. Our government has declared that we are a Christian nation. Different groups have repented and prayed for our nation over the course of a few years.
There is a scripture in Joshua 24 that says, “But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
My prayer today is that we as a nation would choose to serve the Lord! But not only our nation in general, but that each of us would choose to serve the Lord in our homes! That we would speak and teach others about the Lord Jesus Christ!
When I was a child, I could not wait for my birthday, even though I had to share it with my sister. We were born 2 years and one month apart. So, each year we had a day where we celebrated our birthdays together. There was usually a party, we always had at least one present each, there were usually two cakes (one for each of us) and always our friends were invited to celebrate with us.
As I grew older my excitement grew less and less. Eventually I did not see the necessity of celebrating at all. It was another year, not so big of a deal when you are older.
But I have a birthday coming up of when I was saved! That birthday is a big deal to me! It is the day I was welcomed into the family of God. It was the first day I was called a child of God and God’s daughter. It was the day I felt so clean and so alive. It was the day when the colors of the trees and the sky were so much more vivid. It was the day when it seemed the gray I had been living in was washed away.
It was the first day I realized there is more to life than what I could see and touch. The day Jesus came into my heart and filled me with joy and with love. It was the day I started to walk the way God wanted me to live.
I am now coming up on my twenty third birthday of being born again. I have lived twenty-three years as a child of God. During these past twenty-three years, God has never failed me. He has never abandoned me, has always provided what I needed. Sometimes that need was physical, sometimes the need was financial, somethings the need was spiritual. He picked me up when I felt down, he comforted me when I cried. He has walked me through life’s ups and downs.
My prayer for you today, is that you call on Jesus Christ. That you ask Him into your heart to be your Lord and your Savior. That you would develop a relationship with Him. If you do ask Him into your heart today. With sincerity of your heart, invite Him in. You will be surprised how many reasons you have to celebrate your first birthday as a Child of God next year.
We will be continuing our thought of being deceived. In a time when so many are deceived and God tells us to not be deceived. He is warning us to pay attention! To keep our eyes open! To not follow the way of those who do not know Jesus the Messiah.
Sometimes there is confusion as many Christians are focusing their attention on heaven. While that is a good thing, we should focus more of our attention on where we will be spending eternity. God also wants us to focus on living here on earth. The Word of God, The Holy Bible, gives us many principles for living a happy, healthy, productive live.
Galatians 6:7-9 says Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
The principle of sowing and reaping is illustrated throughout the Bible. This concept teaches that the actions we take and the attitudes we display will ultimately return to us. For example, when we choose to sow generosity into the lives of those around us, we can expect to receive an abundance of generosity in return from others. This reflects a spiritual law established by God, emphasizing that our behavior and the seeds we plant—whether good or bad—have lasting consequences.
If we sow an unforgiving spirit, we can expect to receive unforgiveness, If we sow an unfriendly attitude we can expect to have few friends, if we are unhelpful to others we can expect little help from others in our time of need, if we sow a critical or judgmental attitude we can expect the same in return.
The same is true if we so kindness we will receive kindness, if we so unforgiveness we can expect others will show forgiveness to us, if we sow generosity, we know people will be generous toward us in return.
God established this principle, of sowing and reaping and it cannot be changed. If you believe in and follow Christ or if you do not, this principle will still follow your life. God is not mocked. What he established will be consistent for all.
We can have the ability to choose what our future will look like by the actions we take here today.
Last week I asked you to watch that you are not deceived. I want to speak to you this week on a very important area where many are deceived.
Please hear me when I tell you there is only one way to Heaven. There is only one way to access The Heavenly Father. That is through Jesus Christ.
Jesus made a way for us to have access to the Throne Room of God. Jesus made a way for us to bring our petitions before the Lord. Jesus is the only way in!
I have heard more than one person over the course of the past few years say that there are many ways to heaven. This is just not a true statement. This is an area where deception has creeped in and will lead many a stray.
In John chapter 14 verse 6, says “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by me”. Nobody has access to the Father except through Jesus.
Jesus did what he did, so that you and I could have a way to access heaven. He laid down his royalty. He came in the form of a man. He suffered. He was beaten beyond comprehension. He was hung on a cross and He died. But that is not the end of the story, because He rose again! He is even now seated at the right hand of the Father and He makes intersession for us. That means that he is praying for us!
Because He suffered, we have access.
John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ask yourself this question. If there are many ways to heaven, why did God give his only begotten Son? If there are many ways to heaven, why did Jesus have to endure all that he endured?
Remember it is the truth that will set you free. My heart’s desire is that you all have a relationship with the Lord. That each one of us would partake of the opportunity to access heaven. That each of us would ask Jesus into our hearts. That each one of us could be assured of where we will spend eternity.
We do not have to guess or hope we are going to make it. Jesus provided a way to know for sure. Will you take him up on his offer. Even now he is standing at the door of your heart and knocking. Will you let him in?
Deception is a very serious thing. It can cause you to take actions that might lead you astray and into harm. Deception can cause you to believe things about people that just are not true. Deception may cause you to believe your friends are not your friends or your enemies are not your enemies. Deception can lead you away from security and into danger. Deception is such a dangerous thing that when the disciples asked Jesus a set of questions about future events in Matthew 24, the first thing He tells them is to not be deceived.
I find that interesting. Do not be deceived.
We live in a time where Deception is running away with itself. The line between real and make believe is blurred more and more each day. There are people who make a living purposely causing us to question what is true. We watch documentaries with “experts” peddling half-truths. We have financial analysts who twist numbers to suit their own needs. News stations peddle half-truths, and the internet is full of lies.
The most vulnerable in our society are told lies that are doing great harm to our young and our elderly, each in a different way. The elderly are defrauded of their life long savings and the young are scammed of their happiness and contentment with who they are.
It is easy to get caught up in the trap of deception and once you are deceived it is hard to break free of its grip. What we believe has powerful implications on our lives. I guess that is why it is so important to pay attention to what we believe. Jesus tells us “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
In this time of deception, I am glad I can run to the one person who will never lie to me and always has my best interest at heart. My Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ. My prayer for you is that you would know him to.
Today I want to talk about having child like faith. If you have been a believer for any length of time, you have heard the saying to have the faith of a child. If you are not a believer or have never heard that saying you will not understand what I am talking about. There is a scripture in the bible that tells us to be like children.
Matthew 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (2) And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. (3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whosoever, therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I have been a follower of Jesus for twenty years. During those years I have heard many messages preached on this scripture or on this thought. I have heard many explain what it means to be like a little child. I myself have preached on the thought of how God wants us to be like little children. In fact if we have been born again, if we are a believer in Jesus the Messiah; we have been born of the Spirit and have the right to be called a child of God.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Even though the scriptures say sons of God in this passage, God is telling us that if we believe on His Son Jesus Christ, if we have a relationship with His Son, we are born into the family of God! Have you ever stopped to think about what that means? If you call on Jesus Christ, ask Him into your heart, you are a child of God. A child of God!
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
The Father! Our Father!
I did not grow up with a father so I did not really have any basis for beginning to understand how to relate to God as my father. I did not have any example of what a father was supposed to look like. I have seen a lot of fathers. I have seen them behave badly to their children and I have seen them behave great to their children. But I did not have that type of relationship with my father. He left when I was two years old. So when I became a believer in Jesus, God had to show me what a good father looks like. I can tell you from my own experiences God truly is a good, good father.
So, we have a heavenly Father! He loves us very much! He wants to protect us! He wants us to be like children. What does that look like?
I have friends that have school age children. Their children go to public school. If you have been following the news at all you know that our public schools are going to hell in a handbasket. What they are teaching our children is sick, twisted, and perverted. I actually thought because I live in a small town, that type of teaching would not touch us. But I was wrong.
My friends son was in English class the other day and the teacher started reading from a book out loud to the class. It was describing the fantasy a boy was having about bathing a girl and it was describing how the boy felt while looking at the girl. I will not go into details, but I am sure you can follow what I am saying. This was being read in a seventh grade classroom!
My friends son took a picture of the page and sent it to his mom. Attached to the picture was as text that simply said “Help”. This boy has a relationship with God that is strong. Even though he is young, he wants to stay clean and pure for God. He did not want to go to the dark place that book was bringing him. He quickly called for HELP!
His parents sprung into action! His dad went into the school and demanded his son not be in that class anymore. His parents went to the school superintendent to see if they knew what was being taught in that class. His parents went to the police station to see what could be done to protect their son from a teacher acting as a pedophile.
While I was praying for their son and really all the children in our public schools God showed me a couple of things I want to share with you.
God is our father! He wants to protect us from the darkness of this world. He does not want us drawn into a life of darkness and sin. He wants to protect us from the darkness that wants to corrupt us. My friends jumped to action. As the boys dad, he quickly ran to his child! He quickly pulled him out of the classroom. He sprung to the defense of his child and removed him from the presence of evil and darkness.
The boy was defenseless as a child. He did not have the necessary means to protect himself from the temptations the enemy was trying to put in his mind. As a child he needed the help of his father to intervene in the situation. The son needed his father to pull him out of danger and protect him. And I must say kudos to my friend for being such a good father! I commend him for springing into action to protect his child. That is how God wants to be with us! He wants to protect us! He wants to pull us out of danger! We wants to keep us safe!
The other side of the story is the son. He did not sit there while temptation was pulling on him. He did not sit quietly while the enemy tried to plant images in his mind that would stay with him the rest of his life. He quickly called out for HELP! That is all we need to say to God. HELP!
So many times we get involved in things we should not have been messing with. Maybe we dabbled in things that now have us hooked. Maybe we are dealing with something that isn’t sin, but is consuming our thoughts. Maybe we need financial help. Maybe we need encouragement. Maybe we need rest. Whatever it is we need, we have a Heavenly Father who is ready to spring into action! We are His children! We have the privilege of calling on our Heavenly Father to help us.
Why not be like a child and ask God to help you today? How about we stop sitting quietly by while the enemy hooks us and pulls us away from God? How about we simply say HELP! I assure you, your Heavenly Father will come running to help you, to protect you. I pray we will all learn to be like my friends son! I pray we will all learn to call on our Heavenly Father to help us.
Have you ever felt a need to share something with someone? I have been feeling this need for a while now. I do not know if my days on earth are short because of sickness or if the church about to meet Jesus in the air. Maybe it is just because I have turned 61 and I do not have the excitement of life in front of me. In my spirit I feel God would have me say some things to you before I go.
I am writing this in January 2024. I was born in 1962. I can tell you there have been many changes in my lifetime. I can remember when we only had 3 channels to choose from on the television. The television in my home as a child was only black and white, no color. The television stations only stayed on part of the night. When they went off the air there would only be static on the screen. Cartoons only came on television on Saturday mornings. I can remember when they invented the handheld hair blow dryer. I wanted one so bad, but we were poor and purchasing a hair dryer was not an option for my family. I can also remember it was a simpler time. People had respect for each other. There was a belief in God. Even if you didn’t follow him, you didn’t mock him or provoke him. I remember when men were men, women were women, boys were boys, and girls were girls.
When I look around at America today, I do not recognize her. Everything that used to be called good has changed into something bad. It seems like common sense has flown out the window. Seems like the mindset of foolishness has taken hold of our nation. But I guess that is to be expected when we kick God out of our nation and out of our life.
Sometimes I want so badly to turn back the clock and go back to a simpler time. Go back to a time when right was right and wrong was wrong. Go back to a time when morals were something of value. Go back to a time when the innocence of our children was in full force. Go back to a time when life was an excited journey that we were all willing to take.
I so desperately want to tell you that we cannot look back, nor should we want to. Take a moment to survey the horizon and see what you see. Life as we knew it is not coming back. The times have shifted and the innocence that once was is gone. The darkness is all around us and if we do not fight it will choke the very life out of us. Yet, it is all in God’s control.
He told us repeatedly what the times of the end were going to look like. He gave us markers to look for. He gave us signs to point the way. But above all else He gave us a way to keep hope alive.
Luke 21:7-28 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” (8) And He said: Take heed that you not be deceived, For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. (9) “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” (10) Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (11) “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sight and great sings from heaven. (12) “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. (13) “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. (14) “Therefore settle it in you hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. (16) “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. (17) “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (18) “But not a hair of your head shall be lost. (19) “By your patience posses your souls. (20) “But when you see Jerusalem surround by armies, then know that it desolation is near. (21) “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. (22) “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. (24) ”And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (25) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring: (26) “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (28) “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
A couple of things I want to point out. First this is not the only description of what we will face living in the time we are living in. I will write more about that in later posts. Second the times we are living in are not as bad as what is described above, yet.
The point I really want to focus on is in verse 28. It tells us to look for these things to being to happen. To watch how events around the world and here at home are unfolding. Pay attention to what is happening. Learn to be sensitize to the Spirit. Learn to have discernment. And then look up!
When all this mess is happening, we can wallow in our darkness allowing ourselves to become depressed. Or. We can look up. Look up! Look up! Your redemption draws near. Your savior is coming! Your Savior Is Coming!
The best hope I can give you when things begin to look dark and hopeless is that Jesus tells us we will be caught away to be with him. We will miss the worse part of this. No matter how bad it gets, we will be spared from the worst part. We will all be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, the Bible says. Oh how much wonderful hope is that?
Look up children of God! Look up! Get yourselves ready! Take a lesson from the parable of the ten virgins. Get yourself ready! Spend time with your Lord. You do not want him to say depart from me I never knew you! Lift up your head! Tell yourself to not be downtrodden. You have hope! You have Jesus!
If you do not know Jesus, I pray you call on Him today! Call on Him now! Please do not delay! Today can be your day to be filled with hope!
light in the clouds, sun rays Light pierces the clouds
Sometimes hope comes easy. Sometimes hope is hard. Sometimes hope appears lost.
Psalms 31:24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.
Sometimes life seems hard. There are many circumstances that come at us that can make it difficult to stay hopeful. Believe me I fully understand. I have had my share of heartache and frustration just like everybody else. Sometimes I feel like I got the short end of the stick when it comes to disappointment. It seems to me that when I look around at other people they are always smiling and everything always seems to come up roses. They do not seem to have all the problems that hit me. They do not seem to have all the disappointments that bombard me. Family members are well adjusted. Their financial problems seem to be nonexistent. So believe me when I tell you I understand it is hard to stay hopeful sometimes.
Psalms 31:24 tells us to let our heart take courage. This scripture is not talking to everybody. This scripture is talking to those who hope in the Lord!
Matthew 26:47-56 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
If we read further on or if we know our bible, we know that all the disciples fled and scattered. They forsook Jesus and ran to hide. Jesus was not surprised about this. In fact, he told Peter before hand that he would deny him. All the disciples forsook him. They all fled. These are the very people who walked with Jesus daily. They were now in the place in between.
They knew who Jesus was! They knew with all assurance that Jesus Christ was their Lord! They had walked with Him. They had talked with him. They had witnessed many miraculous signs! They were there when Jesus multiplied the fish and loaves feeding many with much left over! They were with him on the boat when he calmed the seas. They were with him when he healed the sick. They were with him when he restored the sight of the blind. They were present when he cast demons out of people. They believed he was who he said he was. They placed all their hope in him. The disciples are a lot like us.
Then suddenly all their hopes were dashed! Suddenly they looked at the situation with their own understanding, with their physical eyes and things did not seem to be going as they had planned. How many times do we do the very same thing? We think events in our life should go a certain way. How many times have you thought Jesus was going to deliver you out of a situation a certain way, but it didn’t happen the way you thought? Maybe you had to go through some things you did not want to go through.
Here all the disciples did not expect that their Lord would be taken. These events just shook their very understanding and they were in shock! What would they do now? Where would they go? Who was going to help them? Who could they turn to now? In their minds Jesus could not help them, he had just been arrested. I know I am not the only person who gets a little shaken when situations do not go as I thought they would. I am sure I am not the only person who has on occasion felt let down.
In the book of Mark we are told that in the third hour they crucified him. That is about nine am. Then Mark tells us that when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. So that is from approximately noon until three pm. So they started out shocked. Maybe they were a little confused. How could this happen? I can imagine that from nine until noon they probably expected something to happen to turn the situation around. I can imagine they felt hopeful for a few hours. Then the reality sets in around noon when the whole land gets dark, that this is really going to happen. Their hope is about to die nailed to a cross. For the next three hours they are in darkness.
When you are in darkness you are feeling hopeless. This is the in between. This is the time between hope and belief. This the time of confusion. A time of thoughts running rampant. A time of trying to figure out what to do. A time of trying to see the big picture. A time of reflection. Darkness grips you….
Then we are told that at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani. Which is interpreted as My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me? To the disciples now is the time when all hope seems lost. They are blinded by darkness and all seems lost. Remember the disciples had walked with Jesus for three years and now in a matter of hours it appeared to be over. For six hours they watched their hope nailed to a tree. Imagine their shock and disbelief! His mother watched as her son hung on the cross! Imagine what she must have been thinking about while she watched her son on the cross.
Luke 1:28-33 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. (29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. (30) And the angel said unto her, fear not, May: for thou has found favor with God. (31) and behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. (32) He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. (33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Can you imagine the thoughts that must have been going through Mary’s mind? He would reign for ever and his kingdom would have no end? How is that going to happen? Darkness and hopelessness. Things surely were not working out the way anybody would have expected. They were there in darkness watching their hope die. They were all in the in between place. That place where hope has died and the belief for something better. Darkness grips us and can incapacitate us. That place where all seems lost. Where it seems there is not a positive solution. Where it feels as if you are going to die from hopelessness and darkness.
Then what happens? We are told that Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb on the third day. She sees that the tomb is empty. Quickly she runs to spread the latest developments. She tells everyone that the tomb is empty. She tells them they took Jesus. So basically they took the last bit of hope she had. He was gone. Now everybody runs to the tomb. They all see that the body of Jesus is gone. In a panic they all run back to the city. All except Mary Magdalene. She stays. She stays in the last place she saw Jesus. She stays where she is and Jesus revealed himself to her.
In an instant all her hope is back. For those who ran back to the city they were still living in darkness. Mary had hope. Mary had seen Jesus. Her hope had been restored. What seemed impossible had happened! Christ rose from the dead and revealed himself to Mary.
We are coming into a time when we will need to hang on to all the hope we can. We all need to stay with Jesus. Do not run away. Do not allow the darkness to over take you. Christ told us what to look out for. He told us what the future would look like. He told us that all would go through things. He told us to hold on to hope. If you have walked away from Jesus because you lost your hope. I urge you to reconsider your decision. Call on Jesus. He wants to reveal himself to you in a fresh way. He wants to chase the darkness out of your circumstances and give you hope. Will you call on him today?
Jesus Christ rescuing and saving a sinner during the dark night.
Covid brought our nation to its knees! We took a sharp left and dove even deeper into a nonsense land. I read somewhere that Covid backwards is actually a Hebrew word which can be translated as “division”. I am not sure that is true, but the research I have found tells me that it is true. Division is exactly what happened. Three or four years later and we no longer look like the United States of America. In fact it does not take a long look to see that we are now the Divided States of America. There is a verse in the Bible in Matthew, 12:25: “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” When I look across the landscape of America I see a house divided! I see a fall of a Nation on the horizon. I pray that we turn this around.
Some boys are transitioning into girls and some girls are transitioning into boys. Some people are transitioning into animals. There are thirty year old men who are identifying at eight year old girls. The identity of who we are as a people both collectively and independently seems to be changing daily. In my opinion these misguided folks are trying to fill a void inside of them. They are stuffing all kinds of things into a hole that was shaped to hold the presence of the Most High God! They feel empty so they try to change their feelings by changing who they are.
Police are now bad and thugs are good. States all across our Nation have decided to let killers out of prison. They are changing laws to protect the criminal and punish the law abiding. Our Supreme Courts are changing our laws. Politicians are trying to change our constitution. Our freedoms are being taken away! The very foundation of our land is being traded for a new ideology. I new enlightened way of viewing things!
Some things have not changed:
God is still God. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. God is the same today as He was thousands of years ago. thousands of years from now, God will be the same as He is today. His message has not and will not change. He will not change His mind! He will not show favoritism and change the rules for his favorite person. He is a righteous judge and He will judge righteously. He is not changing the rules in order to pacify us humans. He remains stable and He remains the same.
The truth is still the truth. What God said about how we should live. How we should do things. How we should forgive. How we will get to heaven. Is the truth! His word does not change over time. He told us the only way to the Father is through the Son. This is still the truth today. There are people who say they do not believe it. To that I say, just because you chose to not believe something does not make it untrue. God will not give special consideration to those who chose to be ignorant to God’s law. You will be judged by God’s law.
Eternity is very long, Time is very short! How can that be you may say. Well let me tell you Eternity will go on and on….. But our time on earth is very short. We are just a blink in the eye of time. What we do on earth during our few years will determine how we spend our eternity. This is a very serious subject that we need to consider carefully.
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; God has not changed. He is a faithful God. He is a covenant God. He is a merciful God. But not for everybody. Who does He keep covenant with? Who is He merciful with? Who is He faithful with? Those who love Him and keep His commandments. John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. God tells us how to walk right with Him. He tells us to keep His commandments. He will not change what He wants at the last minute! He will not wait until just before you die and then change His mind on what He expects from you. He tells you plainly to keep His commandments and He has not, nor will He change His mind.
I urge you to get right with God! This world we are spinning around on is changing right before our eyes. Now more than every we need to hold on to our savior tightly and not let go.
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