To Know Christ More Fully

19th Sunday after Pentecost Philippians 3:4-14 KJV; Paul's desire for a greater knowledge of Jesus was so great that he was willing to put his old life, even his status in society, for that relationship with him.

He Bids Us Come And Die

Matthew 16:21-28 KJV;14th Sun after Pentecost; Jesus tells us in order to live we must die to ourselves.

We First Suffer

Psalm 2:6-12 KJV; Transfiguration Sunday. Our egos our self-serving desires must first suffer and die before we can truly live life.

Why Jesus?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Rom 8:35 KJV)

I was blessed in being able to take some time away this week to attend the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) Pastor's Conference in Orlando.  The theme was "always be ready."  Be ready for what?  How about always be ready to share what you believe?  Always be ready to share the good news with others.

One of the speakers, Rev. Dr. Dennis DiMauro, wondered if we were prepared to respond to someone wanting to know what is so different about Christianity, what is so great about Jesus.  Rev. DiMauro summed it up in one word: love!

Nothing, as Paul wrote to the Romans, can separate us from the love of Christ! It does not matter what we have done or even what we do today or will ever do. Jesus will always love us. He loves us so much that even knowing how we would reject him and deny him over and over again he was willing to be persecuted, suffer, and die so that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven.  It is not something that we can earn for ourselves. But, he could. He did it out of his great and unconditional love for all human-kind.

Other religions tend to have some kind of works based system whereby we can earn our way to heaven by our works. Some believe that we can change ourselves. No... It does not work that way. We are sinners through and through. There is nothing we can do to pay for our sins. Ours sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ painfully; yet lovingly, shed on the cross for us. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

What is so different about Jesus! Jesus loves us enough to die for us and nothing can separate us from his love! While we were dead in our sins he gave his us his all. He gave us his life. He gives us life. He gives us love.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

One In Christ

Valaam Transfiguration Monastery

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

                                                                        (1 Cor 12:12-26 KJV)

Let all the people applaud the choir!  I have not been able to find anything in scripture that remotely tells us that we should clap our hands for anyone other than God during a worship service.  I have never understood lifting up gifts of specific individuals within a worship service for in lifting up one we neglect the others. I have never understood putting plaques on the wall in thanksgiving to the biggest givers. There is no one and there are no gifts within the Body of Christ that are more important than another.

Within the congregation the janitor is just as important as the council member. That should apply not only just within the congregation but for the world around us.  Worship is indeed enhanced by the choir - at least in most cases. What would it be like if we walked into the sanctuary and had to walk on old bulletins and candy papers; with empty coffee cups leaning up against the back of the pews? 

The pastor is not more important than the council nor the council more important than the pastor. All, every member of the Body of Christ, are needed to function properly and in unity, for the Word of God to be declared and glorified. 

We are many members. Yet, we are all one in Christ. Let us worship and serve as one that God may be glorified and not any one or group of human beings. To God alone belongs all glory!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

In God We Trust

Psalm 118 KJV

I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

+++

There is one whom you can trust 100% to be on your side. That one is the Lord God; the creator of heaven and earth. No matter what the world may throw at you he is there for his children. You may suffer for a bit of time; but, be assured that God has a plan for you. He is merciful  and will not have you suffer eternally. Trust him above all other for he has a great plan for you. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:29)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

My Inheritance

Psalm 16 KJV

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

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

+++

The Lord is my inheritance! All the other things that go along with our salvation by faith in Jesus the Christ there are none more precious than our reconciliation with God. Even though we have turned our backs on God we have been saved by God's good grace and mercy. We shall love and honor only one God. False gods have no place in our lives for we are in relationship with the only God and Father of all.

Thanks be to God that He has opened the door to eternal life in His presence because of His great love for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Christ DId Not DIe For Nothing

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

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

                             (Gal 2:20-21 KJV)

This past week I have been thinking a lot about these verses written by St. Paul to the Galatians.  

There seems to be a lot of confusion about who saves whom; who it is that makes us righteous. Again, I remind everyone that we, you and I, cannot save ourselves. We also cannot save anyone else. Only Jesus saves. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved.

Do not frustrate the grace of God because there are no good works that will make us righteous. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. No, not anything! Our righteousness; our salvation are purely gifts from God purchased for us by the blood of his only begotten Son. If it were actually possible for us to do so much good that it outweighed the evil that we have done then Jesus would have suffered and died on the cross for nothing.

That does not mean that good fruit is not produced by the Christian. More aptly it is produced through the believer.  For when we are baptized into Christ, Christ abides in us and we in him. When we are baptized into Christ, we are crucified with Christ. We die to ourselves and he; his abiding presence, works through us.

It is Christ in us who does good things through us. We ought to humble ourselves and remember that without Christ we can do nothing good. But with Christ all things are possible.

Jesus likened himself to the vine. We are the branches of the vine. As in all plant growth the branch cannot bear fruit except it be attached to the vine. 

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (Matt 15:4-5)

So be careful about showing off your piety. The Pharisees did that and they did not love Jesus. They loved the law. Do not exalt yourself because you consider yourself so good because you chose Jesus. Remember that long before you were even born he chose you. He chose to die for you. That is the good news. He died for you because you and I were not good enough to enter into the presence of God. But, now we are because of his good work on the cross; not because of anything that we do.

Jesus did not die in vain. He loves us so much that he was willing to humble himself and die on that cross for us sinners that we might live life in the presence of God; in the heavenly kingdom, where peace, love, and hope know no bounds.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Put Not Your Trust In Princes

Psalm 146 KJV

Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

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.

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.

+++

Put not your trust in princes! What a reminder these last few weeks have been of that! Our rulers too often do what they think will get them elected or reelected or keep their prestigious appointments with no mind paid toward those who will suffer because of their decisions.

May God be with and have mercy on all who have been left behind because of the decisions of our leaders! May God have mercy on all of us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

His Mercy Is Great

PSALM 136:1-9 KJV

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

+++

We give thanks to the one and only almighty God who loves us so much that he has shown us mercy by giving his only begotten Son to suffer and die for us.

We do not deserve his mercy. We have turned our backs on him time after time; day after day. Yet, he still continues to love us and shower us with his mercy. Thanks be to God for his mercy is great!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

My Help Comes From The Eternal One

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.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

                              (Psalm 121:1-3 KJV)

There are very few hills here in Florida to look up to. But, there is the sky. My  morning prayers usually takes place while out walking as the sun begins to rise. I often look up towards the heavens and am reminded of how eternal God is. He is everywhere and He is in every time. He has no beginning either in time or space. He does not sleep; but, watches over us at all times and in all places. We may make missteps and fall; but, He is there to pick us back up and put us on the right path again if we will let Him. He does not force Himself upon us. We can reject His help. But, who does that!? Who would reject the hand of one who would pick us up out of the dirt? Sadly, many do.

As for me, I trust the Lord, who created the heaven and the earth to pick me up and keep me on the right path whenever I trip up and fall.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Waiting For Justice

"How long, Lord, must I call for help,

but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!”

but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted." 

(Hab 1:1-4 NIV)

How long, LORD, must the people suffer at the hands of one another? There are times when we would really like immediate help from the LORD; times when we need a major miracle or two. But, the truth is that God has given us free-will in many areas of our lives and we choose to hurt one another. We choose to put our own wills before the will of God. We choose to put what we want before the good of the whole.

God will answer our prayers. But, beware; the answer may not be what we're hoping for. May God help us to lead gentler lives; lives that do not inflict violence or injustice upon others. May He lead us in His way so that we are not the wicked that others are praying for deliverance from.

May God grant us mercy and give us His peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Home Based Christian Education

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 

                         (Luke 18:15-16 KJV)

And, exactly how would we expect them to go to Jesus unless someone teaches them who he is and that they can go to him? For generations now, teaching children about Jesus has been left to the church basically on Sunday mornings for nine months of the year. Now that most of the public schools in the country are closed, parents and other guardians have figured out that they can actually  supervise the education of their own children in their homes. 

So now that you know you can; maybe, it would be wise to expand their at home education to include a Christian education as well. There is no reason that you cannot teach your children the stories from the Bible at home. There is no reason that you cannot teach them the basics of our faith. There is no reason that you cannot tell them who Jesus is and what he has done for them. There is no reason  that you cannot pray with them. 

Since so many of us are from a generation where we also did not get a steady home based Christian education, then adults that teach their children at home might receive a good refresher course at the same time. And, when Sunday School and Worship begin again this summer or fall in your local congregation; please, don't neglect to take your children so that they might worship God with the community of saints; that they might get to know Jesus more intimately.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Thankful For Your Charity

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth..." (2 Thess 1:3 KJV)

This morning as I begin my day, I am thankful to God for the multitude of faithful men and women around the world. We do not live and serve the Lord in a vacuum. We are not alone. We have a crowd of witnesses with us who are always willing to witness to the love of the Lord by loving and serving those who are in need.

Charity, it is said, begins at home. Charity, indeed, must be exercised at home. But, it cannot stop there. Charity is inspired by our faith in the one who loves the whole world enough to die for all people. Because Jesus was willing to give even his life for us; those who love him are willing to give to others.

This morning, I thank God for all whose faith in God is strong enough to give unconditionally to those who suffer without any concerns for their own self-centered needs.

May God bless us all with faith, love, and charity that the world might know our living God.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Where Is The Love?

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:6-8 KJV)

Many men and women do indeed die for the sake of their countries; to protect the freedoms and rights for the people as a whole and for the generations to come. But, as to dying for specific individuals, even for those that we claim to love, that is not so common. Self-preservation takes hold of us. Many will step forward to help others if their lives or their ways of life will not be jeopardized. But, many will also ignore the needs, the lives of others if it makes them uncomfortable or inconveniences them in the least. Where is the grace? Where is the love when we look after our own self-interests before the very lives of others?

But, not so with God. Even while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us that we might be reconciled to him now and forever. He was willing to be persecuted, suffer, and die for our sakes. Thanks be to God for the love of God.

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

A Refuge From The Storm

For God alone my soul waits in silence,

   for my hope is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

   my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

   my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
   pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.  Selah

                       Psalm 62:5-8 NRSV

Storms in the south; storms in the north, in the east, and in the west! The storms this past week or so and the storms that are impending have surely shaken many people. They have destroyed much property. They have brought fear into the hearts of many. We have yet to see if the storm in the south has taken any lives. We will see what is left; who is left, when the waters recede.

There is nothing that we can do when a storm approaches; but, to do whatever  we can to attempt to protect lives. Stationary property is at the mercy of the wind and the water. There is nothing we can do about that. One day it is ours. The next day it is gone. Even though this Psalm of David confesses that neither he nor we should be shaken; I cannot say that I am not shaken at the losses. 

I am shaken at the loss at the loss of life and property. But, I am confident that my soul is safe. I am confident that all who believe that Jesus died that we might live will indeed live in the presence of God for all eternity. In that I am not shaken. 

Sadly, we will suffer many losses in our lives here on earth. But, not one who believes will suffer from the loss of their life in the Kingdom of God. We remain confident that God is our deliverer. He is our fortress and refuge. In Him we shall trust for our deliverance; for our salvation; for our eternal life in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-4 NIV

Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Today we celebrate God incarnate. What does that mean? The Word was God. The Word who is Jesus the Christ is God and our God loved us so much that he was willing to humble himself and come down to earth for us. He came as a baby to live among us; to live like us; to suffer the same trials and temptations. He came to die for us so that we might live. This is what we celebrate to today: the birth of Jesus; God incarnate. We celebrate the living God through whom the light shines. There is no darkness that can overcome the life; the light of God.

May your Christmas be filled with joy as you  live in the light of Jesus the Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord Renews Our Strength

On Eagle's Wings

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

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

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

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 NRS 

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

God's Peace - Judy 

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

"I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."  Eph 4:1-3 NIV

I wrote no blog yesterday. The internet and cable television went down late Friday afternoon during a storm. I called it in. At first the man on the other end of the line said since I was the only one who was down in the area they probably wouldn't be able to send a tech out until Tuesday after the holiday; but, he would try to get them to call me Saturday morning (while I was at an appointment) to set up a time for them to come out and fix it. He had walked me through the usual, unplug the modem and plug it back it. I've been dealing with modems for a few years and already had done that; but, I patiently complied anyway, even as I explained that there had just been a bad storm and I was pretty sure I wasn't the only one who had lost their connections in the neighborhood. About an hour later I received a call from some one else from this company telling me that they had just declared an area outage and assured me they were sending out a tech to take care of it. She didn't say when; but, for some reason I assumed that evening. I let my son (who was previously a tech for another company) know that they were coming out. He laughed saying that I would probably have it back up and running the next morning around 10. He was right. The neighbors informed me that the tech had just left when I returned home from an appointment at about 10:15 yesterday morning.

Therefore, I wrote no blog yesterday. If I can't do it early in the morning, I rarely find time during the rest of the day and yesterday was no different. My days tend to be pretty full. There were plenty of other doors that were open; plenty of other directions to go in and to do.

I am getting better at having patience with cable and satellite companies. I have learned to wait on them without getting upset. I did not even roll my eyes; at least not more than once. I don't watch much television so that is never a problem. I have learned to wait on many things. Everything does not always go as I plan. But, life continues. There is no sense getting upset about something so minor and that we have no control over. There are so many things in this world that are so much worse than the internet not working or a television show or a computer game being disrupted. It can even be a good thing when we lose our connection with the world wide web from time to time.

Some of the things that we lose patience with are pretty trivial compared to the troubles others suffer in the world. It would be best to ignore these minor obstacles and just move on past or over them. Don't let them interfere with what God has called you to do. Take advantage of what might seem to be a hindrance; because, it just might be a door opening for you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J