2018

"Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Today is the eve of the new year. It is a time when we typically take stock of the previous year and plan for a new and better year ahead. It can be a good thing to remember where we have been and what we have done. We can give thanks for the good things and resolve not to repeat the bad things.

Remembering the past can help us with the future. We may not want to repeat the same old things. We may want to make some new friends or get a new job. Looking at the past can help us to make wise decisions for our futures. But, it is not always such a wise thing to cling to the past. Forget it. Forgive yourself and others. It is time to move forward and that just might mean some things in your life will change. The Lord has a new life in store for all who may have lost their way this past year. Trust him and follow him. Live life!

May God help us to follow in His way in this new year that we might celebrate life in Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Sabbath Rest

"And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done." Genesis 2:2

God ordered things so that we would have time to rest from our labors. The Sabbath was given to us for this day of rest. Today is the Sabbath. Tomorrow, Sunday, is a very busy day for me. Today, I hope that I can spend at least most of the day resting in the presence of God. We all need to rest at times. Our Father in heaven loves us enough to command it.

I normally need only a few hours a day or to be able to actually rest on the Sabbath to be rejuvenated. I don't need long vacations to rest. Vacations are nice; but, don't be misled. Vacations can be very busy times. In fact, mine are usually so busy that there is rarely time to even write my morning blog, which I find to be very restful for me as it is actually a part of my morning devotionals. And, then... what happens when you get back to work? Overload! Lots of work to catch up on.

I don't mind vacations all that much. But, I have to be honest. I prefer to spend my time off in the backyard of my home. I spend an awful lot of time running around during any given normal day. When I have time to rest, I want to rest. I want to relax. I don't want to fight the traffic or the crowds. I want to spend quiet, less hectic time with family and friends. I want to spend time with Jesus. I can never get enough quiet time with him. I him we can find real rest, rest that will refresh both your body and soul.

"Come to me,⁾ all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28).

 God's Peace - Pr. J

Troubled Hearts

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3 NRSV

Sometimes not allowing your heart to be troubled is a whole lot easier said than done. I spend a whole lot of time in prayer so that I can be reassured by God's presence that He is actually with me and with those whom I love. I spend a lot of time in the word so that I might be reassured of God's promise of eternal reconciliation with the One who loves me and the whole world enough to die for us.

As I consider what most troubles my heart, I find that it is concern for those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. My heart is most often troubled with concern for those who do not follow in "The Way." My concern is that their hearts will be indefinitely troubled. My concern is that they might never know Jesus and I know that there can be no healing for their broken hearts except in Jesus the Christ.

I can do nothing except to pray and continue to encourage, with the word, those who do not follow Jesus to turn around and follow him.

Our hearts may be troubled for others. It is perfectly right that we should have hope that our loved ones would come to know Jesus. Yet, even while we are concerned for others we can know peace in the promise that Jesus has prepared a place in his Father's house for us; for all who believe. We can be confident that he will take us safely home.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Filled With The Spirit Not spirits

"Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph 5:15-20

Another way that I can say it is this, "Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15) Will you serve the spirits of alcohol and other drugs or will you serve the Lord? Has your addiction so taken over your life so that you can no longer even work or play unless you are at least a little high or drunk just to take the edge off? Do you need the aid of one of these false gods to even get you moving in the morning? Can't wait for your day off so you can really get toasted? I am not saying that alcohol and even the legitimate use of marijuana don't have their place. But; sadly, alcohol and marijuana, as well as a multitude of other illegal drugs, have become the gods that way too many people live for. These false gods are succeeding at destroying families; destroying communities; and are even pretty successful at causing problems within the visible church on earth.  Choose ye this day whom you will serve! 

Addiction is a serious ailment. It cannot be cured by the use of other or more drugs. In fact, there are those who say it cannot be cured at all. But, there is relief for those who suffer this sickness. The Lord can make you whole. Turn to Him; for He is your helper. Be filled with the Spirit and sing songs of joy to the Lord, for He alone can save you from the false gods that hold you captive.

Be filled with the Spirit not spirits and rejoice for this too shall pass. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Not Safe To Travel

If you must travel; stay close to home!

In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil." 2 Chronicles 15:5 NIV

Okay; so I've taken the unsafe travel scripture way out of context! But, If I ever decide I must travel on the day after Christmas again; someone, please remind me to not do it!

My husband and I went to visit our youngest son and his family in South Carolina Christmas day and came home yesterday. That is the second time in recent years that I have traveled a distance on the day after Christmas. Yesterday was not as bad as the last time; but, it was not good. I did a lot of gritting my teeth and my lower back is sore this morning from all the tensing up. Over an hour before we reached Jacksonville the traffic was quite heavy and the GPS was warning us about an accident on US 95 south of Jacksonville. By the time we reached the accident it had still not been cleared out. The GPS rerouted us along a slightly faster route; but, of course everyone's GPS was trying to reroute them and many changed their course as we did. Traffic was not light, to say the least!

I thoroughly enjoyed the visit; but, not the drive. The holiday travel season is not over, yet. So, beware and be careful as we come upon the celebration of the secular new year. Drive with caution as roads will be crowded and not everyone driving will be sober. I personally make it a habit to stay at home on New Year's Eve to help ensure that I will live to see the new year. Of course, even that is in God's hands. And, may He be with you to keep you safe whether you are traveling or not. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

With Wings Like Eagles

Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31 NRSV

We all get weary from time to time. Physical weariness can sometimes actually be quite satisfying when it comes from a long, hard day of work. However, I have not found emotional, mental, or spiritual weariness to ever be satisfying. It is a struggle for many to overcome this type of weariness that often brings depression. It is not overcome alone. We must wait on the Lord and trust Him to renew our strength. He will send His Spirit upon you so that you might once again soar like the eagle through the trials of the day.  

 

In Christ, we shall run and not be weary.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-4 NIV

Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Today we celebrate God incarnate. What does that mean? The Word was God. The Word who is Jesus the Christ is God and our God loved us so much that he was willing to humble himself and come down to earth for us. He came as a baby to live among us; to live like us; to suffer the same trials and temptations. He came to die for us so that we might live. This is what we celebrate to today: the birth of Jesus; God incarnate. We celebrate the living God through whom the light shines. There is no darkness that can overcome the life; the light of God.

May your Christmas be filled with joy as you  live in the light of Jesus the Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rejoice! The Promise Is Fulfilled

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordon -

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation

    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle

    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

                                Isaiah 9:1-7 NIV

This promise to the Israelites has been fulfilled. This promise to all who would believe has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Lord. As we celebrate the coming of God into the world as a baby born in a barn; let us remember that what it is we celebrate is that Jesus Christ is born and he is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Let us rejoice this Christmas Eve and tomorrow and every day for Jesus the Christ has been born for you and for me.

May God bless all of your Christmas celebrations!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Training Children

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

I am not sure about the wisdom from Proverbs 22:6. I have seen evidence to the contrary. I have seen parents who have been just awesome parents raise their children up in the church; in a loving family. I have known parents who have lovingly taught and disciplined their children and yet...? What went wrong. One child might not depart from the way they were taught to go; while another does depart. The truth be told parents are not the only influence on our children today. They are not even the main influence any longer in many cases. There are schools and peers who are not being raised up in the way the Lord would have them go to influence them. There is television and all sorts of social media that they can get their hands on to lead them down the wrong path. Even if parents monitor what they watch or listen to or read at home. Parents do not have the capability from shutting out the negative influences when they are not with them. 

But, then again I have seen children who head off in the wrong direction and when they are old; they remember what they were taught and return to the Lord.  Maybe we just have to give it more time and more patience and more love and lots of prayers that they will all return to the way that their parents and our Father in heaven would have them go.

Marriage: A Major Commitment

"A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord." (1 Corinth 7:39 NIV) 

Today, my husband and I celebrate the 46th anniversary of our marriage. For the first couple of decades it was pretty up and down. There were times that the only thing that kept us together was the verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. The only thing that kept us together was our promise "till death parts us." Marriage is not always "a piece of cake" or a "walk in the park." In fact, it can be quite difficult at times. There will be times that you will not feel "in love" or that you even love the person in any way, shape, or form. Depending on the feeling of love to keep a marriage together is not going to cut it. A genuine commitment is what will keep the marriage together and growing. A genuine commitment to love one another will help the love in a marriage grow.  

The only way to stay together is to stay together no matter what happens. I am not advocating for anyone who is in an abusive relationship to continue to be abused. There are times when two people are also so unequally yoked that they must separate or they risk destroying each other's lives. What I am advocating is that people take a serious look at who it is they are planning to marry. If you are a Christian, it would be very wise to marry a Christian. Paul reminds us in the sixth chapter of 2 Corinthians that we are not to be yoked with unbelievers. It's not a good thing for a Christian to plan to live the rest of their lives with an unbeliever. You will be tried and tested more than you can even imagine. You may even turn your back on Jesus after years of being worn down. 

And... as to this foolishness of sleeping with anyone and in some cases anything... well, that is way more than foolishness. This lifestyle will destroy your life. You will carry a piece of every person you sleep with for the rest of your days even after you finally find the person you will spend the rest of your days here on earth with. When God joined Adam and Eve they became one. When we are united with another, we become one. You may leave that person. You may move on to another. But, you will always be connected to everyone before.

It is a common misperception that we must have a piece of paper to be joined with another in the eyes of God. He sees all. He sees who you are with today and will see who you are with tomorrow. He sees who you are joining yourself to. He doesn't need the state to tell Him who is married and who is not.

Prior to the 16th century, Christian churches did not require any kind of permission from the state for a couple to be married. All that it took was the couple committing (exchanging vows) to live as man and wife and they were married in the eyes of the church. Sadly today, we have come to believe that the only commitment that is valid is the one that we agree to when we sign on the line. Marriage is way more than a written commitment. It is a commitment, for sure. It is a permanent commitment. By using the state authorization to marry, we have given ourselves an escape route. If the marriage doesn't work, we can go through the state so that our marriage is legally dissolved and we are absolved or so we think. The question we must ask ourselves is if it is really dissolved just because the state says so. When we claim that the only valid marriage is one that is authorized by the state we attempt to justify any promiscuous behavior prior to the marriage or after. We attempt to circumvent God's good plan; His will for us. 

I am also aware that there are many who would use what I have just said about not needing the state to approve our unions as an excuse to not make a commitment at all. When I hear people saying I don't believe in marriage meaning they don't believe in legal marriage, I usually also grasp that they mean that they don't want to have to go through the trouble of a legal divorce when they're done with their latest partner. Beware then of those who say they love you but are unwilling to risk making commitments.

There is a big difference between what is legal in this country and what is good and right according to scripture. If you want a good life; if you want peace in your life and you must be with someone then wait for the right person. Jumping around, trying out new partners is really only going to cause you grief. Who has time for that kind of grief? Be faithful to your spouse and be faithful to the one true God. 

May God bless your relationship with your spouse and even more importantly with Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J