I asked my children a couple of days ago a question that made them really think. The question is, "IF, you were taken up to heaven, and were standing before the throne of God, and He was there arms wide beckoning you to come closer; what would you say?" My children told me they would thank him for things and ask for blessings. They also said they wanted guidance in their lives. What would you say?
Every time we stop to pray, that is exactly what happens. We are communicating with the all knowing, everlasting, creator God of all things. Um.....WOW!!! When I stop to think about that it leaves me speechless and awestruck. For starters, the fact that we even have access like we do, is amazing. But the bible does say, that those that have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, become children of God. That all makes a little more sense to me now. Even the most powerful King would not deny His children an audience whenever they wanted. We have the access because of what Christ did for us, in becoming our sacrifice for sin. When we believe that Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day, and accept that, we become children of God. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your savior, you are missing out on so much.
Now, back to the Christian, what would you say? I believe that if we really understood the privilege that we have, in the ability to communicate anytime we want, with God; maybe we would not say repetitive empty prayers. How many times in our life have we ran through a prayer at the diner table without thinking just to fulfill some duty so we could eat? How many times have we prayed because we wanted to say "well I've finished that duty for the day", now let me go do what I really want to do? If we really believed that we were in the throne room of God and talking to Him, I think we would have a hard time getting up from praying rather than quick repetitive empty chants we call prayers. I challenge you to think about were you are and what you are doing next time you talk to God. Lets not abuse this awesome privilege we have.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
He is Risen!
John 20
The Empty Tomb
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may[a] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Empty Tomb
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may[a] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Friday, March 26, 2010
How do we get to a one world currency and government?
Revelation 13:16-17 (New King James Version)
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[a] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
I have often wondered how we as a world get to the point where nobody in the entire world can buy or sell without having the mark of the beast. How do we get to this point in our society that seems so radical? Well, in the past few weeks I can finally see the road that will take us there.
Our world is tied together by our economies. Its easy to see this one daily basis just by looking at the effect that our rising and falling currency has on the rest of the world and ourselves. This is important to understand, in order to grasp the danger that lies ahead. The economy of Greece is on the verge of collapse, and other economies of the world are heavily invested in Greece. When the economy of Greece finally collapses it will have a domino effect hitting other world economies. The next to fail after Greece will be Spain, England, and Germany since they are so closely tied to Greece. When these three fail then the entire EU will fail. The EU failing will cause the United States to fail if we have not already. When the US fails the world fails.
I said that the US would fail if we had not already. Our economy is in deep trouble because of the massive spending over the past couple of years. Economist say that by 2020 just 10 years from now, and maybe sooner, Medicare, Medicaid, and Interest on our debt, will consume every tax dollar collected. Think about that. That does not include any other spending just those three. We cannot afford to keep spending like we are. Look for our dollar to be inflated in order to attempt to pay for all of our debt. other economies of the world are spending just like we are and that is why Greece and the EU are in trouble as well.
No the question is, what happens when the economies of the world collapse? Well look at the EU. They started out as the EC, a European Commonwealth, that just had a shared currency and now they are unified under a government. When the economies of the world collapse, its a perfect time for a group like the United Nations, though I'm not saying this is the group, to step in with a common world currency to try to stabilize the world wide crisis. The problem with a single world currency is the governing that follows.
We are on the edge of disaster and it seems that none of our leaders have a clue. Friends, get out of debt, turn to Christ, and pray. A time of great tribulation is coming and Christ is the only thing we can cling onto that will not fail us. Repent from your sin, get on your knees in prayer, turn back to Christ and fear no more. I know this seems radical and weird, but its how I see it through my eyes. Until next week.....pray.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[a] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
I have often wondered how we as a world get to the point where nobody in the entire world can buy or sell without having the mark of the beast. How do we get to this point in our society that seems so radical? Well, in the past few weeks I can finally see the road that will take us there.
Our world is tied together by our economies. Its easy to see this one daily basis just by looking at the effect that our rising and falling currency has on the rest of the world and ourselves. This is important to understand, in order to grasp the danger that lies ahead. The economy of Greece is on the verge of collapse, and other economies of the world are heavily invested in Greece. When the economy of Greece finally collapses it will have a domino effect hitting other world economies. The next to fail after Greece will be Spain, England, and Germany since they are so closely tied to Greece. When these three fail then the entire EU will fail. The EU failing will cause the United States to fail if we have not already. When the US fails the world fails.
I said that the US would fail if we had not already. Our economy is in deep trouble because of the massive spending over the past couple of years. Economist say that by 2020 just 10 years from now, and maybe sooner, Medicare, Medicaid, and Interest on our debt, will consume every tax dollar collected. Think about that. That does not include any other spending just those three. We cannot afford to keep spending like we are. Look for our dollar to be inflated in order to attempt to pay for all of our debt. other economies of the world are spending just like we are and that is why Greece and the EU are in trouble as well.
No the question is, what happens when the economies of the world collapse? Well look at the EU. They started out as the EC, a European Commonwealth, that just had a shared currency and now they are unified under a government. When the economies of the world collapse, its a perfect time for a group like the United Nations, though I'm not saying this is the group, to step in with a common world currency to try to stabilize the world wide crisis. The problem with a single world currency is the governing that follows.
We are on the edge of disaster and it seems that none of our leaders have a clue. Friends, get out of debt, turn to Christ, and pray. A time of great tribulation is coming and Christ is the only thing we can cling onto that will not fail us. Repent from your sin, get on your knees in prayer, turn back to Christ and fear no more. I know this seems radical and weird, but its how I see it through my eyes. Until next week.....pray.
The Middle East on Fire
This morning I heard a news report that President Obama snubbed visiting president Benjamin Netanyahu not once but twice. Obama is demanding that Netanyahu stop the building in Jerusalem and come to the table to accept a two state peace between Israel and Palestine. This will never happen, and tensions are rising. Our president as of this morning has only a 9% approval rating among Israelis. I've spoken before about the war of Gog and Magog. We see that all the players are aligned in this present time, like never before in History. Iran is allied with Russia and are on the fast track to getting an operational nuclear weapon to use on Israel, or try at least. Turkey has abandoned their alliance with Israel, while Iraq and Egypt are at peace. This is the picture of Gog and Magog. Friends, the time is close, and the world is being positioned for biblical prophecies to come true.
Matthew 3:2 (New International Version)
2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
The time to repent and come to Christ is now. You do not want to be on the losing side when Christ returns. Come to Jesus, and live.
Matthew 3:2 (New International Version)
2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
The time to repent and come to Christ is now. You do not want to be on the losing side when Christ returns. Come to Jesus, and live.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Do we still Love our Neighbor?
Jesus gave us the two greatest commandments in Mark chapter 12 verses 28-34, but I want to focus on the second one. To love your neighbor as yourself. This comes to mind for me because I was reading about the last days in Matthew 24 and a verse stood out to me. Verse 12 listed below is what hit me so hard.
Matthew 24:12 (New King James Version)
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
While examining my own heart, I wonder if I truly love my neighbor or has it grown cold? I end up asking myself some questions. Have you watched what is going on in this world? Are you frustrated with the school systems? Are you frustrated with the Government? Are the laws in this country backwards, when a person drives drunk and kills someone gets 6 months in jail, but someone who kills a dog gets 2 years in jail? Do you get tired of the bias toward Christianity? Does it bother you that Christ is being erased from all facets of life for the sake of separation of church and state? Is common sense dead? It feels like lawlessness is more acceptable now-days, rather than the biblical world view of living life.
After all of this examining of ourselves, do we still pray for our political leaders faithfully or do we just yell at the TV about how crazy all of this mess sounds? Do we pray for our teachers and school boards everyday, or complain about what our children are being taught and wish someone would do something about it? For me I fear that my love for my neighbor is at least getting chilly and I need to spend more time on my knees. I challenge everyone to examine yourself, so we do not fail at one of the greatest commandments. Lets love our neighbor.
Matthew 24:12 (New King James Version)
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
While examining my own heart, I wonder if I truly love my neighbor or has it grown cold? I end up asking myself some questions. Have you watched what is going on in this world? Are you frustrated with the school systems? Are you frustrated with the Government? Are the laws in this country backwards, when a person drives drunk and kills someone gets 6 months in jail, but someone who kills a dog gets 2 years in jail? Do you get tired of the bias toward Christianity? Does it bother you that Christ is being erased from all facets of life for the sake of separation of church and state? Is common sense dead? It feels like lawlessness is more acceptable now-days, rather than the biblical world view of living life.
After all of this examining of ourselves, do we still pray for our political leaders faithfully or do we just yell at the TV about how crazy all of this mess sounds? Do we pray for our teachers and school boards everyday, or complain about what our children are being taught and wish someone would do something about it? For me I fear that my love for my neighbor is at least getting chilly and I need to spend more time on my knees. I challenge everyone to examine yourself, so we do not fail at one of the greatest commandments. Lets love our neighbor.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
How much do you love the Lord?
This post is meant to open our eyes to what is really important in our life. Do you love the Lord with all your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength? This is the greatest commandment according to Jesus when asked by scribes in Mark 12:28-31. Also, He says to Love your neighbor as yourself, and that there are no greater commandments than these two, since all the law is wrapped up in them. Again I ask you and myself, How much do I love the Lord? I would like to think that I can answer in the affirmative to both of these statements, but I need to ask myself some questions first. Am I willing to give up anything for Christ, or rather live without stuff for Christ so that He alone is Chief in my life? In the following passage a rich young man comes to Christ to ask him about eternal life.
Matthew 19:16-22 (New King James Version)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?[b] No one is good but One, that is, God.[c] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[d] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”[e]
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.[f] What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Are we willing to sell our computers and give the money away so that we can follow Christ? Are we willing to sell our cars, house, clothes, electronics, our way of life? Are we willing to sell all we have and give the money away to follow Jesus? What is it in our life that we are putting before our relationship with Christ? We are so blessed here in America and even our poor have more than most other countries. I feel we are a country of rich young rulers that would go away sad if we had to sell our comforts to follow Jesus.
Now for the hard part. A day is coming, though I do not know when, as believers we can see the signs of our sinful world moving towards the return of Christ. We may be asked in our lifetime to choose between our faith in Christ or the comforts of our life. As we read in the following passage in revelation,
Revelation 13:16-17 (New King James Version)
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[a] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
To take the mark of the beast is to reject Christ and doom our soul to eternal Hell. We as believers need to make sure we have our life's priorities in order with Christ at the top. Now is the time to repent and cling to the Lord. Now is the time to get right and put away our selfish desires. Pray hard, study your bible, reach out to your friends and share Christ. Do not be afraid now when the persecution is little. Be bold and brave knowing that Christ is with you and will not forsake you.
Now I'm not saying lets all go out and sell all we have, but I am saying lets evaluate our life. Lets all make sure we have Christ first in our life, and that we can see that in our own life by examining our own actions. Lets act now before we are forced to make that decision. I pray we all, including myself, strive to Love Christ with all of our Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength.
Matthew 19:16-22 (New King James Version)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?[b] No one is good but One, that is, God.[c] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[d] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”[e]
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.[f] What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Are we willing to sell our computers and give the money away so that we can follow Christ? Are we willing to sell our cars, house, clothes, electronics, our way of life? Are we willing to sell all we have and give the money away to follow Jesus? What is it in our life that we are putting before our relationship with Christ? We are so blessed here in America and even our poor have more than most other countries. I feel we are a country of rich young rulers that would go away sad if we had to sell our comforts to follow Jesus.
Now for the hard part. A day is coming, though I do not know when, as believers we can see the signs of our sinful world moving towards the return of Christ. We may be asked in our lifetime to choose between our faith in Christ or the comforts of our life. As we read in the following passage in revelation,
Revelation 13:16-17 (New King James Version)
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[a] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
To take the mark of the beast is to reject Christ and doom our soul to eternal Hell. We as believers need to make sure we have our life's priorities in order with Christ at the top. Now is the time to repent and cling to the Lord. Now is the time to get right and put away our selfish desires. Pray hard, study your bible, reach out to your friends and share Christ. Do not be afraid now when the persecution is little. Be bold and brave knowing that Christ is with you and will not forsake you.
Now I'm not saying lets all go out and sell all we have, but I am saying lets evaluate our life. Lets all make sure we have Christ first in our life, and that we can see that in our own life by examining our own actions. Lets act now before we are forced to make that decision. I pray we all, including myself, strive to Love Christ with all of our Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Trust in the Lord
I am sorry it has been a while since my last entry. I have no excuse other than I have been lazy and complacent. Please pray for me that, I will not be so distracted by the world that I forget to give God time in my daily life.
This passage jumped out at me the other day while I was browsing through my bible waiting for Sunday School to start.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
It is such a simple truth but how often we abandon this clear path that God has prepared for us. The first part is Trust. The definition of the word Trust is as follows: "Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, of a person or thing; confidence." -Websters Dictionary. Can we honestly look at ourselves each day and say we are Relying on the Strength and Surety of the Lord? Or do we fall into what the second part of the verse says. "...lean not on your own understanding". So many days I get up in the morning and choose not to pray and dedicate my day to Christ. So many days I go through and forget that Christ is there to help me and guide me through out the day. Instead of relying on Christ, I jump into the day with the understanding that I am making the choices of the day alone. Now the day may not have turned out bad, BUT, how many opportunities have I missed today that the Lord had prepared for me? Could I have been a witness to someone today if I was in-tune with Christ? He tells us in the following verse that if I acknowledge Him in all I do he will guide my path. Wow! Just think about this for a second. The Creator of the universe wants to have the type of relationship with me that will guide me through each day in his perfect will. I imagine holding the Hand of Christ as I walk through a busy life knowing that I have His protection and guidance. So, to sum it all up, lets start our day off right by trusting the Lord, acknowledging Him, and following His guidance. True joy comes from a right relationship with Christ.
This passage jumped out at me the other day while I was browsing through my bible waiting for Sunday School to start.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
It is such a simple truth but how often we abandon this clear path that God has prepared for us. The first part is Trust. The definition of the word Trust is as follows: "Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, of a person or thing; confidence." -Websters Dictionary. Can we honestly look at ourselves each day and say we are Relying on the Strength and Surety of the Lord? Or do we fall into what the second part of the verse says. "...lean not on your own understanding". So many days I get up in the morning and choose not to pray and dedicate my day to Christ. So many days I go through and forget that Christ is there to help me and guide me through out the day. Instead of relying on Christ, I jump into the day with the understanding that I am making the choices of the day alone. Now the day may not have turned out bad, BUT, how many opportunities have I missed today that the Lord had prepared for me? Could I have been a witness to someone today if I was in-tune with Christ? He tells us in the following verse that if I acknowledge Him in all I do he will guide my path. Wow! Just think about this for a second. The Creator of the universe wants to have the type of relationship with me that will guide me through each day in his perfect will. I imagine holding the Hand of Christ as I walk through a busy life knowing that I have His protection and guidance. So, to sum it all up, lets start our day off right by trusting the Lord, acknowledging Him, and following His guidance. True joy comes from a right relationship with Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)