Halloween; All Hallows' Eve; All Saints' Eve; Reformation Day?

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Gal 2:19-21 NIV)

This 31st day of October seems to always present me a slight dilemma. Actually, it frustrates me a little. Who and what is it that we celebrate this day? 

It appears to me that the devil has managed to get many of us to switch our focus from Jesus and the grace of God to something quite different on this day. Way too many Christians no longer recognize the significance of this holy day and even the pagan holiday has lost its punch.

Today, it seems that most of the country is celebrating the pagan holiday of Halloween. But, are they really? The celebration of this secular holiday has changed by leaps and bounds just in my lifetime. Today it seems that it's more about who can find the most elaborate costumes or how many parties one can attend. The celebration of Halloween seems to stretch across days, even weeks, rather than just on the Eve of All Saint's Day. Halloween is much different than what it once was.

There are still many Christians who do celebrate All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve on this day. They remember all of the saints who have given their lives to service of God. They remember all the saints of times past, present, and even the future.

There are those of us who also remember that today is the day that is considered to be the birthday of  the Great Reformation of the church. Today, this day in 2017, is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. This is not just a day for Lutherans to celebrate; but for all who believe in Jesus to celebrate for through Martin Luther and many other men and women the truth that we are righteous in the eyes of God; the truth that has set us free from bondage to sin, death, and the devil; not by anything that we do; not by any of our good works; but, by the grace of God through faith alone in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and through us, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

Let us on this day and every day give thanks to God for His abundant mercy and grace!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Your Decrees Are My Delight

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your decrees are my delight,
    they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:23-24 NRSV

I suppose that it is within the sinful nature of humankind to plot against one another; to delight in the fall of others, especially if they have played a hand in the fall. We see and experience it all the time; all around us. It may be a natural inclination; yet, it is still sin.

When we feel that we are being plotted against, it is not the time to retaliate; but, to keep our peace by meditating on the decrees of the Lord. We are to meditate not just on the law; but, on his promises so that we might truly know the peace of heart and mind that surpasses all understanding.

When we are wronged; when we are plotted against, we are to pray for our enemy, that they and we might be reconciled to God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ; that we might live in peace.

May God help us to stay in His Word, in His truth, and the truth shall set us free.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Consider the Cost of Following Jesus

Billboard of Former Parish

"Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?" Luke 14:27-28

We can either follow Jesus or we can follow someone or something else. But, know this: following Jesus is not always going to be a walk in the park. Following Jesus requires taking up the cross, an instrument of torture and death. Being a follower, a disciple, of Jesus requires a bit of self-discipline. It is not easy going against the grain of society. It is not easy putting aside our own desires to follow in Jesus' footsteps doing the will of our Father in heaven; but, that is exactly what Jesus tells those who are considering following him must do. 

God does not force anyone. But, he does want everyone to follow his only begotten Son into His Kingdom. The way is not easy. It was certainly not easy for Jesus to blaze that path before us. It will not be easy for us to follow him on that path. There will be trials and temptations. There will be persecution. The way is not always easy and many will try to entice us to go in another, easier and less costly, way. There is no other way if our desire is to be reconciled with our Father in His Kingdom.  

"Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

God's Peace - Pr. J

Are We Prepared?

  “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

  At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

  Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

  ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

  But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

  Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

  But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

                                                                                                           (Matt 25:1-13 NIV)

I am often reminded that I should take more time for myself. I am not always clear on what that actually means. I do have a couple of hobbies:  kayaking and photography. There is a certain amount of preparation needed to actually "do" these hobbies and I really don't have a lot of time to spare for them. Any free time I have is usually spent on the dock watching the fish jump, the alligators swim and watching the birds watch me while I talk with God.

I have often been told that if I really wanted to I would make time for theses hobbies. It is a matter of setting priorities. Indeed, it is! Spending alone time with God is more necessary to me for my well-being than any hobby or other diversion. I love spending time with Jesus way more than any worldly diversion that might please me. Jesus is the priority in my life and so in my spare hours, which are not really spare; but, necessary for my own well-being, I spend alone time with God. I spend my  time alone with Him praying and studying the word found in the scriptures so that I am more prepared to do His will.  But, I do wonder, sometimes, if I am really prepared for him to return in full glory. Just as the ten bridesmaids did not put oil in their lamps preparation for the groom to come and get them for the wedding, I wonder if we are prepared for the day he returns to take us to himself.

St. Peter encouraged us to "... prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance."  (1 Peter 1:13-14 NIV)

Are we prepared?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Give Generously and Joyfully

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

                                                                                                     2 Corinthians 8:1-7 NIV

Churches around the world are dying; particularly in North America and in Europe even while Christianity is spreading by leaps and bounds in many other countries. The question is why. During this month when we focus on stewardship, I cannot help but consider that it is because congregations that are growing may be growing because they are busy generously and joyfully reaching out to others with both the richness of the Gospel as well as helping to meet the physical needs of others in their communities. 

The early church grew by leaps and bounds and if we take a good look at that church they were not focused on themselves. They were focused on doing the mission that Jesus had left us with; going into all the world. A church that has turned inward and is only concerned about it's own needs is no longer a church of God. 

Imagine for a moment that the first followers of Jesus decided to worry only about their own well being; play it safe and stay within their little spaces or upper rooms. There would be no church today. Christianity would have died with the Apostles. Not a one of us would be saved. Not a one of us would be children of the Most High God!

St. Paul encourages the church to not only share the riches of the Good News of the Kingdom; but, to give generously out of love to advance that Kingdom. It is for the sake of the gospel that we give - that all people might know the love of God through Jesus Christ. Our mission is; after all, to proclaim the gospel to all people and that is not a small job. There have been times over the years when I've heard excuses for withholding offerings like "The church needs  a new (you name it) or we just don't have enough to give or until the council or the pastor gets their priorities straight, I'm not giving any more." The truth of the matter is that congregations do not exist to serve themselves. They exist to serve Jesus. They exist to reach out with the good news of his love for all people whether that is in word or deed. If they are hungry; whether it be, for spiritual or physical food; feed them. Just as Christ fed the multitudes with the word and with loaves and fish; he continues to feed them through the church; through you. Do not withhold your offerings because of self-serving thoughts that we ought to serve ourselves before our neighbor. Nothing that Jesus did was for love of Himself. All that He did was for the love of all people. His first followers selflessly gave of their time, what finances they had, the various gifts that God had given to them. They did not withhold anything; except for maybe Ananias and Sapphira who met with a very unhappy ending for withholding their offerings and lying about it (Acts 5:1-11)  If we expect the church to grow as it did in those first years maybe it would not hurt us to try to follow in The Way that they went.  

If Jesus was willing to give his all for us; if those first followers were willing to share all that they had so that the Kingdom of God could be advanced; why wouldn't we? May God help us to give joyfully and generously so that all might see the love of God in Christ Jesus through us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Tell That Devil To Leave; For You Have Been Saved By God's Grace

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast." (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)

Often we cling to sins that we may have committed years ago. That's not to say we keep repeating them. But, sometimes, no matter how hard we try to forget them, we do not. The devil seems to enjoy showing up when we least expect it to remind us of our past acts against God and against humanity. And... we continue to live in our guilt.

There is nothing we can do to undo those sins of our past. We cannot "fix" them by the works of our hands. Hopefully, we will strive to keep from repeating them. But, no matter how hard we might try; our sins cannot be cancelled out by anything good we might think we do. Just about when we think we might be balancing the scales the devil will rear his ugly head and remind us of yet another sin that we need to atone for. It's a never ending cycle. Do not fall for the devil's tricks. You have been saved by God's grace alone through faith alone.

It is time to quit living in the past; carrying the sins of your past. Your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus (and so have your neighbors so quit dwelling on theirs). There is only one way that you can be saved from your past or your present sins. By the grace of God you are saved through faith. Salvation is not something that you earn. Salvation is a gift from God. Have faith that this gift is for you. Receive it! Live in this truth and tell the devil to depart in the name of Jesus Christ for your sins are forgiven.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Stay Awake and Pray

  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

  When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

                                                                                                              (Luke 22:39-46 NIV)

I remember a prayer vigil years ago that began following Worship on Maundy Thursday and ended on Good Friday at Worship. At least one person was signed up to be in the sanctuary every hour praying. No one signed up for the hours from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. so I took those hours. I probably didn't last an hour. I woke up a little after 6 a.m., on my knees, leaning against the baptismal font. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were Ken and Anita L., on their knees, praying, at the altar rail. They had not disturbed me. When they saw me sleeping, they just walked around me to pray. Now, Jesus, on the other hand had something to say to his disciples about sleeping while they should have been praying. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

What a lesson for me! I could not stay awake for those three hours. Sleep was too great of a temptation. Pray that we may not fall into temptation and may God help us sleepers to rise and wake up from the dead. (Eph 5:14).

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live In The Light Of Day

The forests come alive at night as various animals seek their prey and the prey wandering in the wilderness are busy dodging the predators. This seems to be the way of the whole animal kingdom.

But, for humankind, most of us are fortunate enough to be able to go about the  business of living during the light of the day. Most of us are fortunate enough to do this; but, not everyone. There are many whose circumstances require them to work to feed themselves and their families by working midnight shifts.

However, the lions are not the only ones who choose the cover of darkness to stalk their prey. There are also those among humankind who, rather than work in fruitful employment, choose to prey upon others for their livelihoods. They often come out at night. Fortunately the children of light prefer not to be out at night and are not as easy targets as the night-stalking predators might like. The children of light rest during the hours of darkness in preparedness and anticipation of the coming day.

Moral of this story: rest when the night comes; live life in the light of the day; live life in Jesus Christ who is the light of the world.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Growing Up In Christ

"We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love." Eph 4:14-16

To truly grow up takes a lifetime. Society, today, gives us about eighteen years to help our children grow up and then we turn them loose on society.  As Christians, we do our best to teach our children who Jesus is and what he has done for us and why. We pray that they will follow him. But, the devil prowls and not everyone would have our children go in The Way that they should go for their own and for the benefit of society. With the help of God, we do what we can and then continue to pray for them until the day we die.

It would be most helpful for our children and for society if we could all work together to help all of our children grow in the Body of Christ. May God help us to follow in "His Way."

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

The Lord Renews Our Strength

On Eagle's Wings

Life brings us a lot of challenges. There are days when I wonder how we will meet all of these challenges. There are so many people in need; so many who suffer; so many who are alone and lonely. How can we help them all? I make a lot of lists. If I don't, by the time my day is ending, I realize that I have not gotten to someone or accomplished something that I had intended to.

It can seem overwhelming at times. Lists help to keep me on focus. But, more importantly rising early to study God's word and to spend time in prayer is essential if I want to be prepared to meet the day and any challenges the day might bring. I find strength in God's word and in his presence. I need to be able to talk to him and listen to Him and trust Him.

Isaiah reminds us that we are to wait and to trust in the Lord. He will give us the strength to meet the challenges.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
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 40:28-31 NRS 

We all grow weary at times. Trust in and lean on the One who does not for His strength never fails Him or us.

God's Peace - Judy 

Be Careful; Vengeance Is God's

He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me.
                                          (Psalm109:17-20 NIV)

Vengeance is the LORD's.  I have learned over the years that it is not my place to take vengeance on those who accuse me.  God will take care of me. He will take care of those who are falsely accused or accosted. He will take care of those who falsely accuse or unjustly attack others. No, I am not a pacifist. I definitely will defend others when they are attacked. There are times when we need to defend ourselves. There are times when we need to seek assistance from the law. However, there are also times, I think, that we should step back when it is we who are being attacked and let go and let God, as the saying goes.

Years ago when I was very young, I was selling insurance door to door.  At one home, a man, arrogant and full of deceit attempted to assault me.  I was pretty shaken, but I got away unharmed.  I wanted to press charges.  A co-worker, an older Christian man, talked me into not doing that. The man who had attempted to harm me was pretty wealthy and well known in the community.  I was a stranger.  He was a local politician. I was an insurance salesman. "Do nothing, he said. Who are the authorities going to believe? Let us pray together and leave the vengeance to God.  Let us pray that the evil he intended upon you return to him." So we did.

Did God answer our prayers?  You tell me.  The following week, while the man was at work, his  wife left him. With his new convertible filled with his precious electronics in the trunk, she and her boyfriend sped away from the house and wrecked his vehicle. It hit the newspapers. The car and the contents were totaled. His wife and her boyfriend were unharmed, but his ego was definitely done in. He was no longer the prideful man he had been the week before.

Sure, there are still days when I would like to take vengeance.  But, I learned that day, almost forty years ago, to leave vengeance to God. He will take care of me. He always has. Why would He not continue?

Remember, your curses against others are prayers. Prayers that just might return and turn upon you. Watch what comes out of your lips - prefer blessings to curses - as what you do to others may be done to you.

"He loved to pronounce a curse—may it come back on him." (vs 17)

God's blessings and peace - Pr. J

Persecution and Evangelism

 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of

righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

  When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 

  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

  At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

  While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60 NIV) 

God uses even the worst things that happen for the good. Stephen's death should definitely not come under the category as a good thing. He was stoned for sharing the Good News of the Kingdom. Yet, even as he was being stoned for it, he testified to the goodness and mercy of God.

Following the stoning of Stephen the followers of Jesus were persecuted mercilessly. They scattered across the countryside. But, as they went they shared the Good News with others. The stoning of Stephen initiated a wide-spread persecution of the Christians; yet, it also initiated a wide spread evangelism movement.

Jesus promised that persecutions will come to those who follow him. But, with persecution; much blessing not just for the one; but for those who witness the persecution and those who hear about it. Persecutions do come; but, blessings comes with it. For, "blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:10) 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Speaking The Truth

  The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”  Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 
  “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
  As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
  When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”                    (Acts 11:1-4,11-18 NIV)

Peter was called on the carpet by the other believers for visiting the gentile, Cornelius, and the three other men who were also visiting Cornelius. He explained to the circumcised believers that it was God who had brought them together so that they might hear the message through which they would be saved. Peter's answer was enough. They understood that God intended that the message of salvation was for even the Gentiles.

The message of salvation is indeed for all people. Christians often get called on the carpet for sharing this message. People do not always want to hear the truth. There are those who assume we should think in one way; their way. Usually, those accusers have only read "choice" parts of the Bible, if any at all. Sometimes, the only place that they've received any teachings about Christ has been from television and I think we all probably recognize that what we hear and see on the television is not always the truth.

We are sometimes questioned as Peter and many others before us have been. Unlike Peter's answer to the other believers; sometimes, our answers aren't good enough for others. Sometimes, they have other agendas that do not agree with God's agenda; God's will, and they close their ears to hearing the truth. They will not accept what you have to say because if they accept the truth they will also have to accept that what they, themselves, have been presenting as the truth was not the truth. They have been lying and leading others astray. If they accept the truth; they know that they will have to change the way in which things are being done. They way in which they teach and live themselves.

Those who genuinely seeks to please God, will listen to the truth and they will change so that one who loves them so much that he willingly died for them did not die in vain.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

You Snooze; You Lose

This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:14-20 NIV)

I am a morning person. I prefer to get up early, spend some alone time with God and begin my work day before anyone else is up to interrupt it. If I don't get enough time for devotions my day doesn't usually turn out as fruitful as it could. But, lately it seems like I am getting up later and later each day. Don't get me wrong. I am still up and about by 6:30 a.m.; but, my alarm is set for 5 a.m.. The truth is that it is also set for 6:30 a.m. just in case I am tempted to hit the snooze alarm so many times that it quits going off. The 5 a.m. snoozed alarm and the second alarm at 6:30 a.m. give me second and third and even more chances to wake up and to rise and shine.

We are often tempted to pass by opportunities to be fruitful in the Lord: to spend time with Him and with His people. God provides us with many chances or opportunities to wake up and to rise and shine. He provides us with many opportunities to love, to worship, and to serve Him; as well as, to love and serve our neighbors. There comes a time; though, in each of our loves that the opportunities will come to an end. We do not know the day or hour when we will breath our last breath. .

When our children and grandchildren were young and didn't want to get up and moving so that they could participate in some activity, my husband would often tell them: "You snooze; you lose."

Wake up, sleeper. Don't be snoozing your life away. God gives us many opportunities to live life in Christ. We are told that He delays His coming so that we all have the opportunity to turn to Him. But, don't delay. The time is now, not tomorrow to turn to Him. Who knows if there will be a tomorrow, here on earth, for any one of us?

May God help us to grab hold of the opportunities to love and serve the Lord with all our hearts, and souls, and minds; even now. “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

God's Peace - Pr. J

That Prophet Jezebel

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. (Rev 2:19-22 NIV)

Before I go to sleep at night, I usually listen to scripture or a sermon on YouTube. Some of the sermons are good. Others are not so good. I just pick them at random and get what I get. Last night I listened to one about tolerating sexual immorality based on the letter that St. John was told to write to the church at Thyatira. On occasion someone will point out to me that we are not to judge others. I usually point out to them that we are to be discerning and when someone is sinning and in danger of losing their way, as Christians, we are to help them back on the right path and sometimes that means reminding them that what they are purposely doing is definitely a sin.

As I listened to the sermon on the letter to the church of Thyatira I was reminded that we are not to tolerate the woman Jezebel and her teachings. She will lead us on the wrong path as she teaches that what is a sin is not a sin. She encourages sexual immorality. She encourages eating of food sacrificed to idols. That is, she encourages worship and rituals to false gods. 

This letter; although, written to a particular church regarding the teaching of one particular prophet, is a reminder to us all that we are to continue in the way that the Lord has taught and not in the way of those who would preach another gospel to please the itching ears. And, no we do not get to judge the ultimate outcome for anyone. But, we are to discern, by means of scripture, what we are to teach; what we are to believe. We ought to confront sin and not tolerate it. 

May God help us to discern how to live life more fully in Christ; according to the will of Almighty God and not our own self-serving wills.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live In The Kingdom Of Light

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:9-14 NIV)

We live in a very dark and messy world and for this reason we pray that all whom we know would be filled with the knowledge of God's will and the wisdom to strive to do that will. When His will is truly done then we will know peace on earth. When His will and not ours is done we will live in the light. When His will is done then we shall know what living in the Kingdom of the Son that He loves is like. Will this day ever come!

Thank you Lord for revealing to your children the light of the world, who is Your Son, Jesus the Christ. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Not With Silver Or Gold

"You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish." 1 Peter 1:18-19

All too often; way too many people, have this mistaken idea that just because they have brought their tithes before the altar that they have "paid their dues" and will receive their places in the heavenly home.

Know this: your debt has been paid in full; but, not by you. You cannot earn or buy your place in the kingdom of God. There is only one offering that does that. That is the offering that Jesus made for us when he hung on that cross as a ransom for all.

Thanks be to God for the offering that was given for us in Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Faith Alone!

"Look at the proud!
    Their spirit is not right in them,

    but the righteous live by their faith." 
                                           Habakkuk 2:4.

Wisdom sometimes comes with age (but, not always). It never ceases to amaze me how some of our eldest brothers and sisters in Christ are able to humble themselves and confess their sins. These sins that they confess seem to pale in comparison to some of the sins that others do not confess. They have acquired or have been gifted the ability to understand that all sin no matter whether we consider them big or small sins are an abomination before God. All sin threatens to build a wall between ourselves and God.

We understand that none of us are without sin; that we are made righteous only be faith in the Son of God who died for us. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. There is nothing that we can do or avoid doing in order to stand before God and be proclaimed innocent.

We are saved by faith alone, in Christ alone. Sometimes, it just takes years of being humbled in order to be humble enough to know that we are indeed sinners and are saved by faith alone. This is a gift of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rise and Shine!

Ephesians 5:14

Yup! It is time for those to claim to be members of a Holy Nation to actually rise from the dead and live life in Christ. 

Somehow, somewhere, a huge part of the visible church on earth has decided to live in the dark with the rest of the world. We close our eyes, as if asleep, to the fact that the church on earth is more about maintaining the visible church on earth rather than living in and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus.

It is most disheartening. There are days when I consider that I should become more like St. Paul. Once, he saw the light of Christ, he was on fire. He did not hold back. What was sin, he called a sin and he encouraged everyone to live in the light of Christ. I am quite sure though that St. Paul would not make it in the visible church on earth today. He was just a little too radical in his ways; just as Jesus was too radical in his ways. So there are many of us who are stuck wondering whether we should become more like Paul or take it a bit easier so we do not offend those who would destroy even what there is of the visible church because they are not happy.

May God open our eyes that we may see that we are not following in the way of Jesus Christ. We are following in the ways of the world; appeasing those itching ears. Help us, dear Lord, to rise from the dead and live in the pure light of Christ, serving You most fruitfully and glorifying Your holy name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Cursing The Name Of Jesus

Sunrise at Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, SC

"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit."  1 Corinth 12:1-3

I am not sure what to make of this. I have heard people profess that Jesus is their Lord; Jesus is their savior and the very next day they will be taking his name in vain, "cursing up a storm." So how is it that it might appear that they can be speaking by the Holy Spirit in one instance and definitely not the next? How quickly the tide can change!

We are all sinful human beings. We all are led astray from time to time. May God help us to stay in "His Way" so that we are not led by other spirits; by false idols, to take the name's Lord in vain; to curse the name of Jesus. May God help us to profess and glorify His Holy Name!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Words Of Our Lips

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

                                                      Psalm 19:14 NIV

Our faith; what we believe, is evidenced in the things that we say and do. Do we promote God's will even as we pray that His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven? Or, do we promote false gods of this world by what we say and do? 

Those things that we profess that we believe should agree with the things that we say and do in the various aspects of our lives. When we say that we believe one way and purposely do something else; we not only become traitors to God; but, to the words of our own lips. We cannot teach others to live in God's way that He might be glorified while we live in a way that contradicts what we say.

May God help us to live with integrity; that the words of our lips and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in His sight and glorify He who is our Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

God's Peace - Pr. J