Rise! Walk In The Light!

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Eph 5:8-17 KJV)

The days can be both evil and very short. There really is no time to throw away. Every single minute is of value. Once it is gone it is gone for good. You cannot get that moment back. You do not get a retake so make the best of every moment. Live life and live it in Christ where the light shines on all things. 

Rise dear sleeper from the dead! Walk as a child of the light understanding the will of the Lord and then do the best you can to keep from turning away from his good will. Turn to him. Turn to the light and you will see the way out of the darkness that sinful desires would trap us in. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Care For Your Children!

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

For at least a couple of generations now, I have witnessed children being neglected and some abused. 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 and abuse is allowed to occur. Parents will cover for each other to save face. Some children are even left to, in effect, 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 there are many children raising children. Sadly, in many cases it has gone beyond that. The children are raising their parents and they 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. It is not up to the child to take the fall for a parent who cares only about their own future.

"Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (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. Do what is right by your children and love them even as they love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Christians: Participants or Observers

Live Life! Live as an active member
of the Body of Christ.

This is why it is said:

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

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

There is a huge difference between a member of a team and an observer. A team member takes some risks; now unless you are betting on your favorite team (which is really poor stewardship of what the Lord has provided you with!) fans or observers really don't take any risks. They sit in the stands or on their couches and watch. They watch as others are busy running the race or carrying the ball. Observers do not participate in life. They prefer to stay in lala land; half or fast asleep. In reality, that is what often happens to the person who lies on the couch for hours watching television; they fall asleep. They are dead to the real world around them. They are safe from having to participate; from having to live life.

And, so it is with way too many Christians. They are observers. They may be fans of Jesus. But, they are not members of the team. They are not players. They do not actually participate in the game. They are not members of the team. They are merely bystanders. In reality they are mere observers or fans of Jesus and not members of the team. They are not members of the Body of Christ.  Members work together as a team. They don't sit back and watch the team. They do not sleep when the light is shining upon them. They do not hide in the darkness of their own dreams.

In Christ, we become one Body. But, it seems that some of the parts of the Body are missing in action. Your local congregation misses you. Jesus calls you to worship and serve the Lord as a member of the community of saints.

Members of the Body work and play as a team, with one purpose, because they are one. If you would be a follower of Jesus then get off of the couch, take up your cross, and follow him, participating in a life of worship and service to God and in service to one another. Wake up sleeper, rise from the dead and live life in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Stay Awake and Pray

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

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

                                                                                                              (Luke 22:39-46 NIV)

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

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

God's Peace - Pr. J

You Snooze; You Lose

This is why it is said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Word Is The Light To Guide Our Way

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105  NIV

I often hear that the Bible doesn't answer all of our questions. Well, maybe it doesn't tell us how to dress for the next party. Then again, maybe again it does. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." (1 Pet 3:3-4)

God's word, as found in the Holy Scriptures, doesn't tell us when to go to sleep or when to wake up. But, then again, maybe it does. "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?" (Prov 6:9) Scripture warns us that nothing good will come to those who spend their lives resting. At times, depression will come over most people and they will find themselves hiding out under the covers in even more darkness. This does not help depression. It does not help our lot in life to retreat even further into the darkness. Scripture reminds us: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (Isa 60:1) 

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians (5:13-15)

"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

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

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise

The word found in the Holy Scriptures can indeed be a guide for us on how we are to live. The word points us to the Living Word, who is Jesus the Christ. In him we have real life. In him is the one true light.

Read and hear and study the word so that your life might be illuminated by the Word, the true light that in came into the world as John the Baptist foretold. He will guide you through this dark world in The Way that you should go.

Send us your light, dear Lord, and your faithful care, let them lead us; let them bring us to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  (Psalm 43:3)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bored Much?

Tortoise at the Jacksonville, FL Zoo

This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Eph 5:14

This tortoise was born the same year as my husband and that is more than a few years. I cannot help but wonder how any living creature could deal with just lying around in the mud for that many years. 

God gave us life here on earth for a purpose. In spite of Solomon's lament that everything is meaningless; life has a purpose. God has a reason for all things. We are not tortoises or turtles. Let us rise up and live making the most of the gift of life that He has given us!

Have a blessed and fruitful day!

God's Peace - Pr. J