Reconciled By His Suffering

 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6 KJV)

We are sinners, that is true. We do not deserve God's grace. But, He loves us so much that He was willing to give His only begotten Son to be wounded and killed as a sacrifice for our sins.

We are sinners. We have all gone astray. We think that we are following Jesus and there we go following in our own way. But, thanks be to God that His Son, bore the penalty for our sins. By the blood of Christ we have been healed; we have been made whole. We have been reconciled to God our Father; by the suffering and death of His Son, Jesus; and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Best To Leave God's People Alone

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."                                                                                       (Isaiah 54:14-17 KJV)

What a heritage! Our God is a Mighty God. I have relied on these passages, quite a few times, to keep me from seeking vengeance. I trust the Lord to provide justice when justice is due. This justice may not come about in the way that we expect it to; but, it will come in God's time and in His way. 

This does not mean that we should not stand up and defend ourselves or others; but, that we should not seek revenge just for the sake of revenge. We should not stoop down to the level of those who would attack others for personal agendas.

It is not a good idea to attempt to oppress the children of God. So, the next time anyone would consider plotting against a child of God or against the church  for their own personal welfare or prosperity, it would be a very good idea if they would first consider both the possible short-term and the eternal consequences.

"The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence." (2 Sam 22:3)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Too Much Laughter

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

                                (Luke 6:25 KJV)

I am not all that comfortable being around people who laugh all of the time. I am not saying that we should never be joyful. But, it makes me very uncomfortable to be around people who think unless the outcome of a conversation is something that makes everyone laugh it has been an unfruitful conversation.

I simply do not view laughter or even happiness as the reason for being. If it were the reason for living then it would stand that those who grieve; those who are depressed would have no reason for being. That is a false narrative. In fact, I cannot help but wonder if the fact, that society wants us to believe that in order for our lives to be validated we must be happy, is the reason for so much depression today. We end up depressed because we are not as happy as the world seems to promise us we should be. 

Life is tough. Not everyone should be expected to be filled with laughter all of the time. We must give others (and ourselves) the time and opportunity to grieve; to be sad; to be contemplative. 

There is a difference (at least for me) between being happy, happy, happy, laughing all of the time and being joyful. Each and everyone of us have a purpose; a reason for being. Joy can be found in having a purpose and reaching toward fulfillment of that purpose. Joy can be found as we face challenges of the day knowing that God is with us and that in Him, His will will be accomplished. He is with us and so we can face another day and yet another challenge with peace and with joy.

Whatever we deem the purpose of life to be; I simply cannot accept that it is to make everyone laugh unless your profession is as a comedian. We cannot laugh away the troubles of the world. Troubles must be dealt with not hidden under laughter. If your neighbor needs help; help him or her as they face their trials. It does no long-term good to sit down and tell them jokes. There are times when you may have to sit beside them quietly and grieve with them. You just might have to actively do something. If your neighbor is in trouble; maybe, you just may need to assist them in some way to face the challenges of the day. 

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.." (Eccl 3:4) There is a time for all of these things according to the author of Ecclesiastes. We should know the difference. Laughter is not the answer to all of life's experiences. There is a time for laughter; but, it is not what we should expect of every outcome. 

I am very uncomfortable with people who think that laughter has to be the outcome of every visit; every meeting. Experience has (unfortunately) taught me not to trust those who laugh too much. And, yes, I do laugh and even smile quite a bit. But, tears also are a part of my experience. They are a part of the human experience. Grieving is a part of life's experience, as well. There is both a time to weep and a time to laugh. Let us do both as the situations we find ourselves lead us to.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Sorry for the rambling today. I am not against laughter. I am leery of those who think that we must laugh all of the time or that we are less than.

Shout It Out!

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." (Psalms 32:8-11 KJV)

The microphone was turned a little high last night. I am usually speaking from the pulpit; but, last night I was at the lectern and the mic has been set for people who speak much softer than I do. Following the service, I was told that I don't really need a mic. For most people I don't. However, the average age of my congregation is about 80 and a few would not hear even me if I did not use one.

My grand-children often thought I was hollering at them even when I was not. I just talk that way. I usually speak pretty confidently; although, some may describe it as speaking a little too assertively. I speak loud for many reasons. The primary one is that so many people that I speak with have hearing impairments. It makes no sense to speak to them if they cannot hear me. It would be a waste of my breath and a waste of time on everyone's part.

But, there are others reasons to speak loudly and confidently. I believe what I say; otherwise, I would not say it and so I speak confidently (or assertively depending on one's point of view). I believe that God is our Father and Creator; that God is also the Son who died for our salvation; that God the Holy Spirit guides and empowers me to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God. I believe this and so I speak confidently. 

I believe what I say. I rejoice that Jesus is my Lord and so I would shout it not just from the pulpit; but, from every mountain so that all would hear and by hearing come to faith in Jesus; that all would trust in him for their life and salvation.

"Be Glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." Shout for joy so all may hear that Jesus is the Lord of Lord's and rejoice with you!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trust In Him For Real Life

 

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:7-8 KJV)

I get a bit frustrated when I hear people complain that their lives are so miserable while it is plain to see that they are trusting in gods other than the one true God; the only One who can save them. I do not comprehend this running to "things" that might bring temporary relief from depression or anxiety or any other trouble when the peace of God is given freely. Why not trust in Him to be there for us? 

In Christ, God has given us real life. It is not a life of running after things that will not satisfy. It is an opportunity to live life in the joy and peace of his presence. Of course, even the most Christians will experience turmoil in their lives. It may even be because they are Christians that they experience trials and temptations. However, the Christian will know that the one True God is the rock, strength and refuge that they can truly turn to.

Turn away from false gods and live life in Christ! Turn to Jesus that you might live!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Homeless?

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness

   is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
   and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
   and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
   his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
   “therefore I will hope in him.”
                       Lamentations 3:19-24 NRSV

I realized last night that my husband and I are about to become homeless. But, not like the truly homeless. We have an offer on our home in Florida and plan to be living most of the year in an RV. According to state standards, that would make us homeless. Truth be told, this does not make me in the least bit unhappy. It is a planned way of life that many people have chosen. I find it to be a kind of unshackling; to do with less stuff to care for. Managing less stuff will hopefully give us time to enjoy more life and to spend more time in service of God. That, to me, is not homelessness. It is not wormwood and gall. That is freedom. 

Unfortunately, state and local standards often cause many to be truly homeless. They live on the streets or in parks without benefit of any shelter. Some are able to cover themselves with blue plastic tarps. The more fortunate ones may find an abandoned building to sleep in. They wash up in public restrooms and beg in order to eat. After all, who will hire them when they have no clean clothes; no means to bathe; and no way to get to work? Where is the hope for those who find themselves without a home to lay their head at night? It is the same as for all of us. Genuine hope can only be found in God. Many people are generous and will help a bit. But, is a bit enough? There are so many things to overcome.  

Building codes, zoning laws, taxes, high rents and interest rates, and the list goes on all can contribute to the difficulty, if not impossibility of finding adequate shelter for those who may suddenly find themselves homeless. I read an article not long ago that gave me hope for the homeless in Jacksonville, FL. A Tiny House Village was being built for homeless Veterans there. At the same time, I could not help but wonder how many zoning laws around this country would prohibit this. 

Recently, a local city was preparing to move all of its homeless population to a very remote state park. How does that help? Out of sight; out of mind? I have often lamented that Christians from the United States send missionaries to third world countries not so much to share with them the Good News of the Kingdom of God or to give them what they need to thrive; but, what we think they need according to our standards of living. Our standards of living may be what we think is best and it may be for people here in this country. But, is that necessarily so for people of other cultures in other lands? It may not even be the standards that everyone in this country considers necessary. Yet, we've made law upon law so that instead of helping people up we push them down in attempts to exile them to places where we do not have to see that there are truly people in need. 

The state park idea did not work out as a place to exile the homeless in this county. Thanks be to God! When people are suffering we do not exile them so that we do not have to be reminded of the pain and poverty they are enduring. When people are suffering, Christians are called to give them a hand up, not out. Jesus tells us that if we truly love him then we are to "feed his sheep."  

Lamentations says:  "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end." In the caring for his sheep; that steadfast love is shared with others, his people will have hope, and God will be glorified. It is not up to the Christian to depend on the government to care for their neighbors. It is up to the Christian who would follow Jesus to love and care for all in need. 

I am looking forward to living in an RV even if it is considered by many, including the state, as being a state of homelessness. I am grateful to God that I will not be truly homeless. May God open our ears, eyes, and our hearts to a greater understanding of his love for all people so that all people might come to hope in Him. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Confess The Truth?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9 NRSV)

Let us not miss the word confess in the verses from 1 John. All too often, I have heard apologies without the person who is apologizing even being able to recognize what they are apologizing for. They might apologize for hurting you or someone else; for disappointing you. They might apologize for not doing what they were responsible for doing. But, do they really acknowledge that they did something they ought not have done or neglected to do something that they promised to do? 

Is just saying "I'm sorry" enough to be reconciled to others if we cannot acknowledge the sin that we have been committing and change? Sooner or later others will recognize that we have not been speaking the truth when we apologized. Failure to recognize the sin in us is a failure to recognize Jesus the Christ who is the truth. Do we think that he is so limited in nature that he cannot see beyond the walls we, ourselves, have attempted to hide behind?

Jesus tells us: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) There is no sense in trying to hide the truth of our sins from ourselves or anyone else. The truth is that Jesus knows what goes on in our lives that others may not be able to see. He knows the real motivation for what we do or do not do. He knows our inmost thoughts. We cannot hide our sins from God; so may as well get it over with; confess our sins; and live life reconciled to God and one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Dead to Sin; Live Life!

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 

                                                                            (Rom 6:11-14 NRSV)

Just cut it out! 

The reality is that we are all sinners. We will continue to sin in many ways and way too much of the time. But, our sinful natures are not excuses for us to purposely live in sin. There are times when we have way more than enough time to say no to sin. We do not have to follow in every which way the world would have us go.

Know this, the One True God is not a far away god. He is with you now. He is with you no matter where you go. He knows exactly what you do minute by minute. Imagine that God is standing or sitting there next to you because He is. No matter what you are doing; He is all seeing, all knowing and He knows when you are ignoring or disrespecting Him. He also knows when He is being worshipped and praised. 

We do not have to live according to the hate filled chaos of the world around us. That is not living. That is death. But, by the blood of Christ you have been brought from death to life. By the grace of God, we can live knowing His loving presence every minute of every day even now. Walk with Him. Live with Him, now! Live life!  

God's grace and peace be with you all!
Pr. J

Get Up and Do Something!

"Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."                                                     (James 1:12 NRSV)

Temptations occur on a daily basis. The first thing that came to mind when I woke up this morning was: "Do I have to do anything today?" The temptation to do nothing, absolutely nothing, loomed large. 

The truth is that my body has been hurting all over for a couple of days and I would just like to give in to the temptation to do absolutely nothing today. The other truth is that I know, from experience, that if I do absolutely nothing today, I will hurt even worse tomorrow. 

God has called each of us to live life, according to his will. His will does not include doing nothing ever. Those who love him know that He calls us to love and serve Him and we do that by loving and serving the people around us and even beyond our personal borders. 

There are challenges in life. There are also many temptations to not accept those challenges. Time to get up, get out there, and produce the fruit that God has empowered us to produce. Be productive, live in, and share the light of Jesus the Christ in all that you say and think and do!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Light of the World

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:14-16 NRSV)

Can you tell if someone is a Christian or not when you first meet them? Do you see the light shine in and through them? My guess is that it probably doesn't happen all that often. 

I have met more than a few people that I have been able to recognize almost immediately as people who truly love Jesus. There have been a few; but, not near as many as the number of those who claim to be Christians.

Jesus tell us that we are the light to the world. If that light is not shining, is it not natural to suspect that there is no light in us?

Let your light shine so that our Father in heaven might be glorified!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Salty

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. (Matt 5:13 NRSV)

I am a salt eater. I like seasoning in my food. My husband tries to avoid salt for health reasons. But, I do not. Often, when cooking, I will sneak a pinch in. I would rather have it absorbed into the food and not tossed on top of it. Tossed on top, the food becomes way too salty and the flavor of the food itself is lost.

I, like the food I eat, can be a bit "salty" at times. Sometimes, I have to apologize for seasoning my attitude just a little too much. But, I do not intentionally add salty language or attitude for the sake of effect. When I exhibit "saltiness" it is a part of who I am. It is mixed in with the rest of my personality or being.

My saltiness is particularly exhibited when I encounter Christians who claim to be Christians; yet, their lack of saltiness for the Lord and their false gods are clearly visible. Yes, I get a bit defensive and a little offensive when false gods rear their ugly heads in the world and "Christians" around me.

Long ago, I figured out that God did not intend for his people to be door-mats to be stepped upon like the salt that has been thrown out in Jesus' parable. He expects us to stand up and do the right thing. He expects us to worship Him and to follow in the footsteps of the one who died that we might live with Him.

I do not anticipate losing my saltiness. Sometimes, we have to be a bit salty so that the Word and will of God is known by others. We're not of much use if we sit around and let the Word of God be ignored or disrespected. If anything should be trampled under foot, it should be the false gods that we have a tendency to gravitate towards.

May your life be filled with the salt of life. May the Lord, the One God, fill you with His Word, with His truth, and with His life.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Blessed

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

                                                                     (Matthew 5:1-12 NRSV)

The Sermon on the Mountain begins with what we know as the Beatitudes. These words of Jesus are a comfort to many in need of emotional or spiritual support. They are genuinely good news and for many reason to rejoice! But, what about those who are not poor in spirit; rejoice rather than mourn when disasters assault other around them? What about those who would do harm to others for their own profit or to lift themselves up rather than hunger after righteousness?  What about those who show no empathy or mercy? What about those who are without remorse as they persecute others so that they might have their own way? 

What about that? How blessed are they? Will they receive empathy? Will they receive mercy when the hour has come to give accountability to God? The hour will come for all of us. No one can know when that day will be. 

The best news is that God our Father has indeed blessed the world by sending His only begotten Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins. That sacrifice has been made so that all who believe in him will be blessed with eternal life in the Kingdom of God now and for all of eternity. 

May God open our ears and our eyes and our hearts to a greater understanding of His Word and His Will for all people so that we might do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Fruit Of The Spirit

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (Gal 5:22-23 NRSV)

There is no law against being nice. There is no law against being good. Wouldn't it be great if we got to truly enjoy the fruits of the spirit instead of being so focused on the works of the flesh which are according to St. Paul: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these? St. Paul warns us that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21)

Life can be pretty rough. But, it doesn't have to be. We cause a lot of strife and damage to our own lives by not living according to the fruit of the Spirit which is a gift from God. Do we not consider that once we set aside our petty (and many are truly petty) differences and personal preferences the fruits of the Spirit would be much more evident in our lives and in the world around us? Once our ego dies and we become more concerned about the welfare of our neighbors we will rise with wings like an eagle and truly live life!

We are free, in Christ, to live fruitful, Spirit filled lives. There is no law against that. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Needing Some Peace?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13 NRSV)

He is the God of hope. There is no true eternal hope found outside of him. There is no real joy or peace outside of Him. You may feel them for awhile. But, they will not last as you walk on path that is not the path that He prepared for you.

There is so much turmoil in the world. There is so much turmoil within individuals. There is way too much turmoil even within the church on earth. 

Wanting for peace? Wanting for joy? Need hope? Live life in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Leads Me

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff—
  they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
 my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
 my whole life long.

Psalm 23 NRSV

 

May your day be richly blessed with God's peace.  Pr. J

 

Be Kind

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Col 3:12 NRSV) 

As the saying goes, "if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem." There is enough natural trouble in the world without adding to it. There is much suffering due to incurable diseases. Multitudes are homeless. Natural disasters are common and when they happen people often find that they have lost everything that they own.

Most of us feel empathy towards those who are suffering. What do we do about it? Do we look away? Do we continue to cause more suffering with divisions and strife over trifling things? Do we insist on our own way even when that way is damaging to others as well as the world around us?

If we can't get along well enough to be part of the solution; then we are a part of the problem. 

Be compassionate and kind, serving one another with humility. That might be a good start to having less suffering in the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Meaningless Love of Money

The older I get the more death becomes a reality, I lapse into more moments of thinking that life is as meaningless as Solomon would imply. Why all the years of toil, if it is to be gone in a second?

This toiling after riches is meaningless.

"The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.

When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.

There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands. As they came from their mother’s womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands."
                                                               (Eccl 5:10-15 NRSV)

That is not to say that work is evil. We must work if we expect to eat. But, it becomes very bothersome, even a burden, when one works only to amass riches. Jesus told this story to a crowd who followed to listen to Him:

“And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
                                                               (Luke 12:17-21)

Our work should bring joy to us as well as to others. Live life! Enjoy the life that God has given you! Whether it is in the hours you spend laboring or during the hours you are relaxing with your friends and family, life here on earth is to be lived and enjoyed. Life, abundant life, is a gift from God.

"This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot. Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God."
                                                                (Eccl 1:18-19)

While you are yet making your journey through this world focus not on amassing wealth or power to the exploitation of others, but on living life so that God may be glorified.

And... may the peace and joy that is found in being in relationship with God, our Father and with one another, through His Son, Jesus the Christ, be with you always. Pr. J

Build Upon A Rock

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”  (Matt 7:24-27 NRSV)

The house that will stand; the congregation that will stand, must be build upon the rock, who is Jesus the Christ. (1 Cor 10:4) A congregation built on any other foundation other than faith in Jesus, will not stand as a church of God. The building may survive. The people may even gather often. But, without Jesus as the foundation of all that is done in that building, as a church it will fail.

Let faith in Christ be the rock of our foundation that we might stand tall and give all glory to God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

According To His Purpose

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.. (Rom 8:28 NRSV)

Let's just remember that it says for those who are called according to his purpose. God does call each and everyone of us. However, we must remember that he will gifts us individually gifts to serve according to his purpose. To take on a call that we have not been called to is not in the least bit fruitful. To say no to a call that He has called us to is also not fruitful.

Many congregations are on the decline. Could it be that many who attend have chosen to ignore the call to serve? Could it be that others are answering a call that they may not be gifted for?

All things work together for good when we work together according to the gifts that God has given us according to his purpose.

Just something to consider on this glorious God-given day...

God's Peace - Pr. J  

The Light Comes From God Alone

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:19-21 NRSV)

The Word of God is truly like a lamp shining in a dark place. For those who are lost or alone; for those who are suffering; for those who are nearing death, the Good News that the Word Alone can give to them brings peace of heart and mind.

As the scripture plainly tells us, no prophecy of God comes from the human will. The human does not have the knowledge to interpret any prophecy outside of their own desires or fears. The human will only speaks from it's own being. But, the interpretation of prophecy that comes by means of the Holy Spirit brings the will and knowledge of God's will for us to us. The Holy Spirit who is all in all and knows all speaks through those whom the Spirit of Christ abides. The Spirit decides whom He will speak through. God calls those whom He calls. It would be dangerous (deadly) to the one who would interpret saying "the Word of the Lord" when the word that they share is born only from their own desires or fears. If the words we speak are not Spirit led then it would be best not to speak at all.

Do not worry about those who interpret from their own desires or fears. Do not let them lead you astray. The Spirit of God will guide His people in His way. Listen to Him and you will see in all things the light at the dawn of a new day for God desires to bring us light and not darkness.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Imprisoned

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. (1 Peter 4:14-15 NRSV)

I admit it! I am a stickler for the law. I strive to do things according to the law and I like for people around me to do the same. It doesn't always happen; but, that's the way I like to see life go. Everything just seems to go so much smoother when everything is done according to what is right and lawful. Not everyone always appreciates me reminding them what is and what isn't lawful. But, that is who I am. I prefer things to go smoothly and I really prefer not to visit anyone in jail if it can be avoided. It is very saddening to have to visit someone who has lost their freedom because they chose to do the wrong and unlawful thing just because they felt they should be free to do these things.

Unfortunately, there are also innocent people who have found themselves in jail. Some because they were falsely accused. Many followers of Jesus have also found themselves in jails, in prison, even executed for his name's sake. St. Paul spent a whole lot of time in prison before he was executed. His time in prison was a fruitful time, ultimately glorifying God.

If we are going to suffer, let it be to the glory of God and not because we are murderers, thieves, any sort of criminal or even as a mischief maker.

May God help us to live in peace. Pr. J

Don't Fret About The Mockers

"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." (Prov 9:7-9 NIV)

Believe me, I have received my share of insults by those who prefer not to walk on the straight path. I have learned, over time, that there are definitely times when it makes no sense to correct someone. If they are corrected they will only argue or throw a temper tantrum. There are times when it seems that it is best just to walk away, say nothing. It is better to keep right on walking rather than ending up in a dispute that you will not win and then end up carrying the ill feelings that you gained during that discussion out into the rest of the world. The rest of the world doesn't deserve that.

There is a whole world out there that needs and desires to hear the Good News. Why allow a mocker or a wicked one, who refuses to hear, to steal the time that could be better used to help those who are wise enough not to refuse help?

I am not saying that there is never a time to correct a mocker or rebuke the wicked. Jesus certainly incurred insults. As Christians, we turn will incur insults. We should not be afraid to share the Good News because we do not like to be insulted for our faith. But, there are times when even the mocker should be corrected and the wicked rebuked. If there is danger to others, it definitely needs doing. These things must be done from time to time. Wisdom will help you know when the time is right. 

What I am trying to say is that focusing on one who mocks the LORD, trying to drag them onto the path of righteousness should never become the center of your life. Do not allow scoffers to drag you down and off the path the LORD has prepared for you. That would not be wise. If they will not hear the truth, it may be that you should simply walk away, whether it is family, friend, or foe. You can help no one, if your whole life is spent trying to help one whose whole goal is to drag you down into the muck and mire with them.

According to St. Matthew (10:14 NIV), Jesus said, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."

There is a whole world out that there that is yearning for some Good News; multitudes that need healing and actually desire it, that will listen and be made whole. Go... and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our LORD. Go and proclaim the Good News to all people. But, remember it is the Word, who is Jesus the Christ, that saves not you or me. Once the Word has been shared, there is not much you can do for the mocker, but continue to pray for them and trust the Spirit of God to do what the Spirit does. Be careful that you do not become embroiled in thinking that you are going to save them no matter what! Wisdom will guide you as your remember that it is only Jesus who saves.

God's Peace -Pr. J