Welcome The Children

Jesus welcomes the children so should we.

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.                                                                                          (Mark 10:13-16 KJV)

How blessed are the multi-generational congregations!  How blessed are they who welcome children into worship services with them instead of relegating them to the cry room! How blessed are they who invite the little children to not only attend worship; but, also assist with the worship services in whatever ways they are capable of assisting.

Over the years, I have invited children to receive the offerings and to place them on the altar. Our children have been readers and musicians. They have led the prayers of the church and have at times even presented monologues and dialogues as sermons.  They have even sponsored lunches after worship and special dinners to include Seder meals. During the years that the children were invited to participate more fully in the whole life of the congregations, the congregations grew and not just in numbers. They grew closer to one another and to Jesus.

Welcome the children into the whole life of the family of God. They may be young but they are your brothers and sisters in Christ and love Jesus as much as anyone. Blessed are they who bless the children by receiving them with open arms.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Live In The Light Of Christ

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:20-21 KJV)

As I age it seems that I need more light in order to see clearly. I need really bright light in order to read. The light of a very bright lamp is needed in order for the words on a page to be revealed to me. 

Likewise, the light of Christ reveals what is right in front of us. It reveals the truth about those things that are often obscured from our vision. Our egos can overshadow the truth and reveal only what we wish to see. Our egos demand that we go not into the light so that we can be comfortable doing exactly what we want when we want regardless of how damaging that might be to ourselves and to others.

Live life in the light of Christ so that you might see the way to living in peace with God our Father; our Lord Jesus the Christ, and with one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Many Become One In Christ

Valaam Monastery, Russian Karelia

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

                                                                                (Gen 2:18, 21-24 KJV)

And the Lord God said "they shall be one flesh." 

God decided that the man he created needed a help meet; a partner, so he created woman from the man. The one man became two people. And the Lord God said that the man shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.  

Thankfully most (but, not all) people in this country realize that man is not more equal than woman. Each has their gifts and abilities that they bring to the union. One is not more important than the other because they are partners and each uses their own gifts to make the union a fruitful one and not just fruitful for themselves; but, for others around them as well.

It is a great mystery how God created man and then woman making two out of one and then then brings them together to make one again. But, once one realizes the wisdom of this act of God living life becomes much easier.

On the sixth day of creation God said that "it is not good for the man to be alone." It is not good for any human being to live in isolation from the rest of the world. But for many reasons there are those who do not have a help meet in life. There are many challenges to living without a help meet. Especially for those who have no individual to live life wholly with them we hope and pray that the community of God is there to help and support them; to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

St. Paul compares the union between a man and a woman to the union of Christ and the church. It is a great mystery. But, we know that when we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ we are united with Christ. We become one with the whole church. As members of the body of Christ; as partners in the church, we support one another. We support the couples, the families, the single persons for we are all united in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Walk In His Way; Do His Will

Psalm 128:1-6 KJV

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

+++

It is a good thing to walk in the ways of the Lord; to do His will.  God did not make rules just to punish us. The law reminds us what can and cannot do if we would live peaceably with God and with one another. After all the essence of the commandments can be summed up in one word: love. We are to love God and our neighbors.

When the Israelites listened to God things went pretty smoothly. But, the Israelites, like us, had a tendency to do their own will; make their own rules, rather than listen to God. They often fell away as we do.

Blessed is the one that walks in the ways of the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Love Fulfills The Law

"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord.

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord." 

                                                                                 (Lev 19:15-18 KJV)

What has scripture to say about treating some people in your community; in your congregation, better or worse than others?    

The law reminds us that we are not to base the way that we treat others on their status in this world; whether they have money or if they have none. Do not gossip about them to bring about their demise.  Rebuke your brother or sister in Christ out of love for them not wishing them harm and definitely not causing them harm.

"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

                                                                                       (Matt 22:35-40)

The law reminds us that we are to love God and to love one another. Jesus fulfilled the law in that he loved us so much that he was willing to die for a world full of sinners that we might be reconciled to one another.  His loving sacrifice was given that we might live in peace in the presence of God our Father for all of eternity. 

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rom 13:10)

Let us love one another that we might be reconciled to God and to one another; that we might live in peace. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Hated For Christ's Sake

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (Luke 6:22 KJV)

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)

It is sad but true that those who proclaim the truth will have enemies. They will be declared false prophets. Their names will cast out as evil from even the assembly of God's children. 

Rejoice then all who are hated for Christ's sake! For Jesus declares you blessed if you are hated for his sake. Continue in the truth because although there are many who reject the truth there are also those who will receive it.

May the Lord bless and keep you! (Num 6:24)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Adulting

Psalm 143:7-8

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

+++

My second granddaughter is working on the transition from teen to adult. She is working on adulting.  She is doing quite well in spite of society's rules and regulations making it much harder than when I or her parents made the transition. I first heard this term "adulting" when her older sister was making that transition into adulthood. I laughed as I thought that she had made it up. But, I checked the Urban Dictionary and it appears to be a word that is being used today. Adulting is when a young person begins to take on things that would be considered adult-like. These might be things as simple as getting out of bed on time to go to school or work without anyone having to wake them up or filling out a job application without assistance or trying to apply for a credit card so they can actually work on a credit score which in this day and age is required to do a whole lot of things including renting a place to live. 

Of course, this transition is a process; and, the training of a young person to make this transition should actually begin at birth. But, that jump from teen to adult is not always easy even for those who have been adulting (bearing the responsibilities of an adult) for many years.

The psalmist prayed that the Lord would teach him the way that he should go. This is my prayer for all of our young people. That the Lord would be with them; guiding them in His Way as they learn how to be mature and fruitful adults. It is not easy to make that transition from teen to adult. Aging is a process that cannot be stopped. Prayerfully, as we all age, we will also all grow and mature in Christ. May God be with our young people as they learn to follow in the way that He would have them go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Love Them And Show The Children The Way

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.." (Psalm 127:3 KJV)

For a few of generations now, I have witnessed children being neglected. Sure, most, but not all, have adequate food, shelter, clothing, etc.. Most of the children are physically provided for. But, not all of them. 

This morning, the neglect that I'm thinking of isn't due to lack of caring for physical needs. The neglect that I'm thinking of is when love is withheld. This neglect happens when these precious gifts from God are ignored by their parents. Some are even left to raise their parents because their parents put themselves before all others. They put themselves before God. They put themselves before their children. Sometimes, they have a lot of fun with their children. They horse around and play with them because that makes the parents feel good for the moment and then they are off to do their own thing.

There are some who say that many children raising children. Sadly, in many cases it has gone beyond that. The children are raising their parents and the children are not equipped. I am not saying that the whole world or all parents are being raised by their children. But, way too many are. It really is up to the parent to raise up a child in the way that they should go. It is not up to the child to take care of the parents' needs and desires.

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Eph 5:14)

Wake up, as they say, and smell the roses. Your children are a gift from God. Care for them, guide them, teach them, love them as God loves you. Love your children even as they love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Answers Prayers

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

                                                                              (James 5:13-20 KJV)

Pray and praise the Lord for in His he hears or prayers and answers.

What ails you? Pray to the Lord for healing and wholeness. Then thank him with songs of praise for answering your prayers.

It is difficult for one who refuses to acknowledge their own sins; yet, complains about the sins of others to have a deep faith. How can we say that we have faith in God when our faith lies in our own actions or inactions? How can we say that we have faith in God when we insist that we are not guilty of any wrong-doing?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

If we have no part in the injustice and ills of the world; if we are not guilty of committing sins against God and our neighbors then why did Christ die for us?

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Gal 2:21)

Let us not frustrate the grace of God! Christ did not die in vain. He died so that we might be forgiven our sins and reconciled to God our Father in heaven. Confess your sins; pray for healing and God in Christ Jesus will make you whole.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Freed From Bondage To Love And Serve Others

"And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

                                        (Num 11:4-6 KJV)

God's chosen ones whining! He has just delivered them from bondage and they are complaining because all they have to eat in the desert is manna. They seem to prefer the fish and vegetables they were able to eat as  slaves rather than their freedom from slavery.

Freedom does have its costs. To break free from bondage often requires some sort of sacrifice. In the case of God's chosen in order to receive their own land from God they will travel through the wilderness depending totally on God to protect them and feed them. But, they don't like the food that he feeds them with. They prefer what slavery had to over them.

In any huge change to our lifestyles we need to be prepared to experience more changes than just the change that we want. The Israelites apparently weren't expecting the hardships they endured to get to the promised land.

If you seek the promised land, the Kingdom of God; if you seek to be freed from the bondage you have to a materialistic and self-centered world, you must be prepared to have your lives changed. You must be prepared to do without those things that have kept you in bondage.  Life will not be the same. You will need to trust God completely to lead you through the wilderness. You will need to have faith that He will provide for your daily needs. It was not easy for the Israelites and it will not be easy for anyone today.

In Christ we have been made free. But, our freedom is not so that we might indulge ourselves. We have been freed by the blood of Christ to love and serve  God and to love and serve our neighbor.   

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  (Gal 5:13-14)

Even as God chose the Israelites to be His chosen ones, He has called us to be His children as well. He has freed us from the bondage to sin by the blood of his only begotten Son, Jesus, so that we might go forth loving and caring for one another. Jesus loved us enough to die for us. Likewise let us love our neighbors even as he loves you and them.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Living With God

Psalm 104:28-35 (KJV)

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.

+++

Praise the Lord for all things!  I cannot imagine living without having a relationship the God and Creator of all things. I cannot imagine living without having a relationship with Jesus the Christ who has saved me from my own sinful self. And... I cannot imagine living life; without the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.

I cannot imagine living without having a relationship with God. I can't imagine it and I pray that I never will live life without him. I pray that you never will have to endure a life not knowing God either.

Praise the Lord for he has done and continues to do marvelous things! Live life with him!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Loves Us

Galatians 2:20

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.                                              (Psalm 144:3-4 KJV)

We are most blessed! Why, indeed, would the Lord care for us? We strut about like we are the center of the universe and nothing and no one else matters.

Yet, we matter to the Lord. His love and concern for us is so great that he was willing to die for us.

We fail to recognize that our lives are like fleeting shadows upon the earth. We are here one day and gone the next. Only the most prominent of men will be remembered centuries from now. In the end; by ourselves, we are of little consequence to the world. But, in Christ and with Christ we have hope for ourselves and for others.

Our lives in this world might be like fleeting shadows; but, all who abide in Christ receive eternal life with him. We are most blessed! The Lord, indeed, cares for us. He loves us enough to die that we might live.

God's Peace - Pr. J

God's Peace

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

                                  (Isaiah 48:17-18 KJV)

Indeed! The Lord does know what is best for us. But, we often think we know better than God. We often choose the wrong paths and find ourselves in chaotic messes trying to figure out what went wrong and how in the world we're going to find some semblance of peace. What went wrong sometimes happens to be is that we rejected the Word of the Lord; we have rejected those things that our Father in heaven has sought to teach us. We have rejected the good gifts that He desires us to have and have chosen to follow in the ways of the world and we ultimately find ourselves wallowing in the depths of despair.

The world is a mess. We've helped to make it that way. But, no matter what kind of mess we find ourselves in we can know peace. It is the peace that only God can give to us. In the midst of the storms, we can know peace that flows forever like a river. We can know peace as refreshing as the cool waters of a gently flowing river.

Do not fear! Do not despair! God is with you. Listen to Him and know the peace that only He can give.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Love As Christ Loves

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

                                  (Eph 5:1-2 KJV)

Love others as Christ loves you. What does that mean? 

Jesus gave his very life for our sakes. He gave it because he loves us. So what exactly does it mean to love like he does?  At the very least it means that we put the well-being of others before our own selfish desires. At the very least it means that we respect others without calling them names because we disagree with them. We can disagree without being ugly to one another. It is not love that calls us to  persistently judge or persecute others because we do not agree with them.

That does not means that we should say nothing when someone sins by harming others. Saying nothing can be construed as approving of something that is most harmful. Jesus did call out people in their sins. He called out the Pharisees and Scribes. He called out the moneychangers in the temple. He called out those men who were getting ready to stone an accused adulteress. But, he did not call for their deaths. He did not plan their downfall behind their backs. What he did was sacrificed himself by dying for them just as he died for all people that whosoever would believe in him would receive forgiveness of sins and life in the eternal presence of God in the heavenly kingdom.

Real love means caring for others even if you don't like or agree with everything they think, say, or do.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Welcome The Children

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

                                                (Mark 9:36-37 KJV)

Make no mistake. The person, man or woman, who would reject a child for any reason rejects Jesus and the one who rejects our Savior also rejects the Creator; the God and Father of all.

Usually (but, not always) those who would neglect or destroy children because they have other priorities will in fact admit that they do not accept Jesus as the Christ. They do no accept that it was God who created the heavens and the earth. They simply do not believe. That is the way it is. The only thing we can do about it is to pray and proclaim the Good News that Jesus died for all people no matter what we may have done. He died that we might be forgiven our sins and reconciled to God and to one another; even reconciled to the children that we have forsaken.

Children are not given to us to used as pawns. They are not given to us to be used for political purposes. They are not given to us to use and and abuse. Children are a gift from God. 

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

                                       Psalm 127 (NASB)

God help us to appreciate and love the gift of children that God has given us. Help us to protect and care for them. Help us to welcome them even as we would welcome our Lord Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Greatest Among You

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

                                                                    (Mark 9:31-35 KJV)

Wow! So much to cover in these five verses! 

Now, the disciples were a bit embarrassed to admit to Jesus that they had been busy debating who would be the greatest among them. But, Jesus knew. He knows everything that we say and think and do. He reminds them that the greatest among them would be the least among them. The greatest are those who humble themselves by serving others; by serving God. 

As we consider following in the footsteps of Jesus we remember that he is the King of Kings yet he was willing to humble himself to serve all people by suffering and dying on the cross for our sins. The disciples did not understand any of that; at least, not until after he was crucified and rose from the grave.   

God help us to love and serve others. Help our earthly rulers to also understand that they who would consider themselves above others are not above others but have debased themselves by their selfishness and greed for riches and power over others. Help us all to understand that the greatest among us are those who serve others. God grant us leaders who love you and the people they serve. 

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Humble Yourself In Order To Serve

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

                                                                                    (Phil 2:1-4 KJV)

I was listening to Jordan Peterson yesterday on YouTube. He's not everyone's favorite intellectual person. But, he makes some very good points when it comes to getting along in this world and with others in this world. Basically he says that in order to take care of others you must have your own house in order. It is not so much that you are supposed to think of yourself before you think about others. It is more like get your stuff together so that you are really able to help others. Taking care of yourself is not a selfish pursuit; but, a step in the pursuit of getting along with and helping the world around you.

None of us have our own homes in perfect order. Stuff happens and things fall apart; but, we work at putting things back into right order. But, if our lives our perpetual messes then it is really going to be difficult to serve outside of our own spaces. You cannot even begin to change the world if you cannot change yourself.

Think about others. Humble yourself so that you do not think so highly of yourself that you imagine that you can make things better for others when you are even able to make things better for yourself.

We do not live in a vacuum. Our actions do affect others around us, either positively or negatively. As you move about through your days consider how you affect others by what you do and say as well as by what you don't do. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote: "When Christ call a man he bids him come and die." When Christ calls us to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves at the very least our egos must die. in order to serve God and others we must put aside any jealousies and strifes. We must put aside our cravings for more and more worldly things and take care of what God has already given us. Then we will be able to be more helpful in the preservation of the world around us and to help our neighbors preserve what belongs to them. 

May God help us to get our own houses in order that we might be more prepared to serve others to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Lord Is Your Helper

Psalm 54 KJV

Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

+++

It doesn't matter what you face, the Lord will not leave your side. He is with you and for you. He is your helper and the helper of all who would support those who love him.

Trust him for he will deliver you out of all of your troubles. He will bring down those who unjustly persecute others.

May the Lord bless you and keep you all the days of your life.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Rejoice; Live In Peace

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

                                                                                        (Phil 4:4-7 KJV)

Trust in the Lord. Trust that he hears our prayers and answers. 

Human beings are often anxious about something; sometimes about everything! The knowledge that God hears our prayers and answers gives us both peace and joy. We have peace because we know that God is for us.  We have joy because we know that God Almighty, our Savior and Lord, is present with us to protect and to lead us, even now. 

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Rejoice in the Lord always and may the peace of God be with you keeping your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Help Us!

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2 KJV)

The reality is that there are some things that we just cannot control.  Stuff happens!

Some stuff happens that can only be fixed by the Lord. That does not mean we should sit back and say nothing or do nothing when we are able. God surely works through his children and so we must do what he calls us to do.  But, without God we can do nothing!

And, so we pray:  Help us Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Justice Will Come On the Day Of The Lord

 

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 

                                                                                       (Hab 1:1-4 KJV)

Habbakuk wants to know of the Lord why evil persists raising up strife and contentions.  We ask this same thing today. Why do we find ourselves being grieved by the very people who have sworn to protect us? Rather than protect they subjugate the population that does not agree with them. They actually sujugate the whole population; but, many have eyes that do not see; ears that do not hear. Laws upon laws, mandates upon mandates are made and change so regularly that it is impossible to keep up with what the newest rules are. Taxes are added on top of taxes; fines on top of fines and those sometimes without the people's consent. Where is the justice? When will it come?

It will come in the day of the Lord. We can know peace even in the times of trouble today because we know that although our governments make many wrongful judgments, the Lord has a plan; a good plan, for those who love him. (Rom 8:28) His people may endure hardships for a time; but, in the end we will know peace in the presence of Almighty God. 

"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low..." 

                                                                                           (Isa 2:11-12)

We wait patiently (sometimes not so patiently) for the day of the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Be Careful What You Say

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

                                                                                      (James 3:4-8 KJV)

For good or for bad the tongue can set the course of our futures.

James compares the tongue to a ship's rudder.

Although, small in comparison to the rest of the ship the rudder steers the ship. Likewise what proceeds from our mouths can have a great effect on our futures as well as the futures of those around us.

James also compares our tongues to fire. The humongous fires out west and north of us have had some serious effects on the people around the country. The air we breathe has become difficult to breathe at times especially for those who have asthma or allergies or other like diseases. Who even know why these fires start? Some start from lightning strikes. Some are accidental. Others are started by arsonists. The fires spread out. The smoke moves through the air directly affecting people even a thousand miles away. The smoke dissipates and travel around the globe. Fires affect more than just the people who are in their immediate vicinity.

Likewise our tongues can start some major fires. The evil; the lies, that we speak can spread like wildfire harming not just the people that we intend to harm; but, can have a lasting negative effect on people all around us and sometimes world-wide depending on who is spreading the evil. If it is the national media then the wildfire can spread pretty far and fast.

The words that we speak can have a positive or negative effect on the community. May God help us to control our tongues so that we do not steer the ship in the wrong direction or purposely start any wildfires in order to harm others.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Help My Unbelief!

And... that is a gift from God
Eph 2:8-9

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

                                                                                  (Mark 9:20-24 KJV)

A father cries out:  "I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  This father has begged Jesus to heal his son even as he asks Jesus to heal him of his lack of faith. He knows that he cannot come to faith except by the grace of God. Faith is a gift from God. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

We cannot come to faith; we cannot be saved by anything that we do. Our faith is not our own work. It is a gift from God. Our salvation is not by our own works. If we could save ourselves then Christ's death would have been in vain. Salvation is a gift from God. 

As Lutherans we affirm that faith is a gift from God in the third article of the Apostle's Creed and what it means to us as can be found in the Small Catechism in the Book of Concord:

"Of Sanctification.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? — Answer.

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true."

Let us pray even as the father who brought his son to Jesus to have the evil spirit removed:  "I believe; help my unbelief!"

God's Peace - Pr. J.

In Times Of Trouble God Is With You

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 

                                                                                  (Isa 50:4-10 KJV)

When it is said that the Lord will help us it does not necessarily mean our lives will be all peaches and cream.  It means he will be with us in the times of trial. The Lord will comfort us and give us the strength to stand under the unjust scrutiny and persecution that is directed at us. Sometimes we will see relief from the trials immediately. At other times it may take some time to see our way out of darkness that surrounds and threatens us. Know this: God is with you and for you, trust in the name of the Lord and you shall see the light even as those who condemn you unjustly shall wax old like a garment.

Christians will see persecution from even family and friends. They will be some who will try to extinguish the light of Christ that shines within and through you. Have no fear. Jesus told us that even as he would despised so shall his followers be despised. 

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." 

                                                                                         (John 15:18)

Jesus was despised by many. He was persecuted and killed because he was feared; because he was even hated. Yet, he lives. He rose from the grave and because he lives all who believe in him shall also live. On the night he was betrayed and arrested he had told his disciples:

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also."

                                                                                       (John 14:18-19)

God grant everyone who is being troubled unjustly comfort and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus our Savior and Lord we pray. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.