The Day Of Darkness

Amos 5:18-24 KJV; 24th Sunday after Pentecost; Pray for justice and righteousness not for the day of darkness; for the day of darkness will bring about destruction; not peace.

We Rejoice Because He Loves Us

1 Peter 1L3-9 KJV; We cannot see Jesus as we see the world; yet, we rejoice because by faith we know that he loves us.

A Tree Planted by Water

PSALM 1

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Shepherd Of Our Souls

John 10:22-30 KJV

In Word And Deed

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

                                                                        (2 Peter 3:9-12 KJV)

As I was reading Gustaf Wingren's "Gospel and Church" last night it made me consider what kind of holy conversation and godliness we actually carry with us when we leave the church building after worship. Are our hearts and minds so filled with the Good News that we cannot help but carry the message (in words and in deeds) out into the community? Or maybe we've been waiting for the service to get over so we can get on our couches and watch a football game? Maybe you were in such a hurry for worship to be over so that you go and sit alone in your hunting blind so you did not hear the message the pastor was bringing to you. Leisure time is not a bad thing and it can even be a better thing if you are enjoying them with others. But, do not let them become the most important thing. Do not let them become more important than caring for and sharing the love of God with your neighbor.

For indeed, the more important thing is sharing the love of God with those who are in need of either physical assistance or spiritual food which is the word and love of God. That can happen with something as simple as being present for them.

In St. Peter's second letter we are reminded that the Lord is long-suffering and wishes that all people should repent and be saved. He is not willing that any should perish. How will that take if we are not sharing his love by caring for our neighbors and being in community with them?  How will that happen if we don't relieve the heavy burdens that they carry within themselves by reminding them that in Christ their sins are all washed away. They (and we) are forgiven. It definitely won't happen sitting on a couch alone watching very rich false idols. (Yes, I have been warning about these false idols for a few decades and have been asked by parishioners not to do that. LOL I will keep reminding them to beware of false gods.)

In this season of Advent let us not only prepare for the coming of our Lord; but, help others to prepare for it as well and to rejoice in the promised Kingdom of God for all who believe in him. 

May God help us to reveal to others the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Who Is Righteous?

PSALM 1 KJV

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I remember as a very young person learning that we are not saved by our good works; rather, that because we are saved we do good works. Also, our good works are not counted toward our righteousness for no man is righteous according to the law. We all sin. We are found righteous only by faith in the only one who is righteous, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Those who have been forgiven much love much. They love enough to serve the Lord and one another to the utmost of their ability which will also fall short of perfection. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ who died that through faith in him and his sacrifice we might be found righteous.

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Phil 3:8-11)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Life In These Old Tents

 

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

                                                                            (2 Cor 4:14-18, 5:1 KJV)

Day be day these fleshly tents we live in grow sick. They grow weary as we advance toward the day when we will shed these earthly tabernacles to live in the eternal heavens; the kingdom of God. Even as the bodies advances toward destruction; the spirit does not. The spirit continues to hope for the kingdom which is not seen while in the body; while in these old tents. 

No matter what troubles we may face in our daily lives we know that they are temporary. The trials of this world are temporary; but, in Christ we have eternal life! We have eternal peace. For now we endure the light afflictions even as we look to the day when "...God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Rev 21:4)

Life in these old tents can be trying for sure; but, there is also a lot of joy in the life that we live today. While we wait for that day when the things we do not see become completely realized in our lives may God help us to live life with the abundance he has given us for life in these earthly tabernacles he has provided us with.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

We Have A King!

Psalm 2 KJV

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

+++

One of my beliefs that has been reinforced this year is that we should:  "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." (Psalm 146:3-4)

There is only one leader, one Lord, that is faithful to the people and he is the King of Creation; the same king that so many of our earthly leaders would abolish. His name is Jesus!

Be strong in the Lord! 

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

                                           

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." 

                                                                                         (Eph 6:10-13)

Let the heathens rage. In the end it will do them no good for a bit over 2000 years our king was born into this world. In him we trust for our salvation!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

                                                                                          (Isa 9:6-7)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Patiently Waiting

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

                                                                                       (2 Peter 3:8-9 KJV)

I consider myself to have a lot of patience. I have been waiting for answers to a few of my prayers pretty much my whole life. There are days when I think well... that's enough. It is time to quit praying for...... But, then I consider how many years from the beginning of creation that it took God to send Jesus to save us from our own sinful selves.  Quite a lengthy time that took!

Here in this season of Advent we wait and watch as we do every Advent and every year. We wait and watch for the Lord to return in full glory. We wait with patience and at times most impatiently. It may seem like the wait goes on forever; but, a thousand years to humankind is as one day to the Lord. 

We wait knowing that the Lord does not desire that for any to perish, but that all should come to repentance. God continues to wait for the lost to believe. May God help us to have the patience and the compassion to wait with love for our fellowman to hear and believe in our salvation through our Lord, Jesus the Christ. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Came For The Lost

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

Jesus was confronted about going to that tax collector Zacchaeus' house for dinner. How could he associate with such a sinner! 

The reality is that Jesus came to save all sinners; all who were lost in sin. Tax collectors and prostitutes,  were not outside of God's plan for salvation. No one is outside of God's plan for salvation. Everyone is welcome to be in a relationship with Jesus. 

How often do we look past or through those who we deem to be greater sinners than ourselves? Do we stop to talk to them or do we pretend that they are not there and keep on going? Are the only people that we count as worthy those who think like us; act like us; live like us? Are we there for the disenfranchised of the world as Jesus was and is there for the disenfranchised?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Eternal Life Is A Gift

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23 KJV)

No, not a one of us is without sin. We have sinned against God and one another over and over again. Each and everyone of us have earned the penalty of death. But, thanks be to God for the sacrifice made on our behalf by our Lord, Jesus the Christ! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

That everlasting or eternal life is not just life after physical death. All who have been raised up by faith into the family of God live in that everlasting kingdom even now. That kingdom is a life of joy and peace no matter what obstacles we might face. 

St. Paul wrote to the Romans: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Rom 14:17)

We live in this world; yet, the kingdom of God is here, as well. When Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God would come, he replied: "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

Live life and live it abundantly in the presence of God; in His Kingdom even now!

God's Peace - Pr. J

We Have Eternal Life

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

                                                                                     (John 3:14-17 KJV)

A friend and one of my internship mentors died yesterday. Glenda was a faithful woman. She served her community with much love even as she knew that she was loved by God and by so many people around her.

It is a very sad day for all who love her. Yet, we are not without hope because we know of Glenda's great love for God and for all of us. She will be missed. Our hope is that we will join her in the eternal presence of God on our last day for we know that God loves each of us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son that we might inherit eternal life.  

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

God So Loved The World

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

The good news for today and every day is found in John 3:16. This news is so good that we should be shouting it from the rooftops. We should at the least be sharing it with those around us. There is no need to fear death. There is no need to fear life in this world, either. In Christ we have eternal life!

In Christ we have a love beyond comparison. Live life in the one who loves you so much that he was willing to die that you might live. Live life in Christ! 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

God So Loved The World

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

The good news for today and every day is found in John 3:16. This news is so good that we should be shouting it from the rooftops. We should at the least be sharing it with those around us. There is no need to fear death. There is no need to fear life in this world, either. In Christ we have eternal life!

In Christ we have a love beyond comparison. Live life in the one who loves you so much that he was willing to die that you might live. Live life in Christ! 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Preaching of the Cross

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18 KJV)

We preach the cross, a symbol of death so that we might live. Those who love their lives in this world though, steer clear of the cross. They are unable to understand that it is only by the sacrifice our dear lord Jesus made for us on that cross that we have been freed from the power of death. We have been freed from the power that the world, that evil, that sin had over us. 

Those who consider the cross as a symbol of foolishness will perish. It is wisdom to preach the cross and to cling to it for in the cross of Christ we have eternal life in the presence of Almighty God.

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Fear And Love

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Prov 9:10 KJV)

John wrote "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8) Indeed, God is love. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

This implies strongly that those who do not believe will not inherit eternal life. John further wrote: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18) Jesus himself said: "..., I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

God has given us life and He alone has the authority to decide whether or not we will inherit eternal life in His presence. He will know whether you believe and trust that Jesus died so that you might be reconciled to God for all of eternity. God alone, will know how much you love Him.

The knowledge of how all knowing; all powerful; how holy our creator actually is ought to cause us a little pause in the way we respect Him. The knowledge that He loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to be executed for our sins ought to be enough to stir us to love Him in return. When we live in that kind of loving relationship all fear disappears. 

May the world come to know and love Him who first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

God's Peace - Pr. J

We All Must Die

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb 9:27-28 KJV)

We all must die. These old tents that we live in deteriorate and will finally give out. But, thanks be to God who sent His Son to be a sin offering for us, all who believe in him will not perish but will live eternally in His presence.

The question that often enters my mind is why would anyone think that it will be awesome to live eternally in His presence after their bodies wear out and die, if they have no desire to live in His presence today. Eternity means for all time and all time includes today. 

Our fate is decided by the grace of God of through faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us. 

When Martha was grieving the death of her brother Lazarus, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:25-27)

Yes, our bodies will wear out. We will all die. Yet, the one who lives by faith in Jesus, will be judged sinless by the power of the blood of Jesus on the day when he returns for us and we shall live for all eternity in the presence of Almighty God.  Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Gifts From God

But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8 NRSV)

 

God showers the earth with flowers

It is St. Valentine's Day. Flowers are a cherished gift by many. People around the world will be giving flowers, chocolates, and miscellaneous gifts today to the ones whom they love. 

But, there is one who loves us more than it is possible for any human to love. Look around and you will see the marvelous gifts that he has given us, including flowers that grow wherever he would choose. 

But, the greatest gift that he could possible give us is the gift of his Son. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)

May God grant that you should live in His love and His light now and forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

From Dust Or Ashes?

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. (Genesis 2:4-8 NIV)

From the dust you were created once. From the dust God can raise you from the dead. Whenever a death occurs I usually get to hear questions about cremation. There is a fear that if we are cremated that we cannot be risen from the dead. My response (with a smile) is usually something like: "What did God do after He pulled back the waters from the land? Did he not form us from the dust of the ground? If he could create us from dirt once; He can surely do it again whether it is from ashes or from the dust of the earth. No matter what; if it is His will we will rise from the dead. And... what about the faith-filled who have died in fires or other catastrophes where their earthly bodies no longer exist in human form? Do you suppose that He would not give them the eternal life that He has promised to all who believe?"

Do not fear; but, believe. All who believe, though they die will live. Jesus told Martha when she was grieving the death of her brother, Lazarus: "... I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25)

Do not fear; but, believe. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) That is the promise to you." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Patience

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Pet 3:9 NIV) 

Everything will happen in it's own time. So often it seems like things can get delayed forever and ever. But, they don't. Yes, sometimes God says no and it simply doesn't happen. But, often things are delayed for a time; sometimes for years. We just have to be patient and wait on the Lord and trust that His timing is perfect.

There have been many days that I wondered why the Lord was not just ending it all and taking us home to be with Him. Why not now? Why delay? He already knows who will be saved in the end and who will not. But, that's not His will. Instead; in patience, he waits for us to repent and to love Him as He loves us.

Patience is lovely virtue. But, it does not come so easily to humankind as it does to God. Patience does not come without trials. Through trials we learn to be patient and to wait on the Lord and on His time. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.