Take It To The Lord In Prayer

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 4:6-7 KJV)

The line "Take it to the Lord in Prayer" from the favorite hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" reminds us that no matter what we are going through, the Lord cares; he hears; and he helps us in our time of need. We may still have to go through the struggle but with the Lord's help we will not be discouraged. We can face all things with a peaceful heart and mind because we know that the Lord is with us and for us.

Life is not always easy. We all have times of trouble. But, we can find peace by the knowledge that he works all things for the good of those who love him. (Rom 8:28)

God's peace be with you always - Pr. J.

Do What Is Right

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

                                                                                       (Titus 2:11-15 KJV)

We do indeed have freedom of will. We can choose to do whatever pleases us. We must also understand as we make those choices that there will be consequences one way or another.

I confess I get very uncomfortable when I hear people talking about breaking laws or doing something that will in the long run make their lives miserable rather than enhance their lives. I get so uncomfortable that I often let others know why I am uncomfortable. I am free in this country to speak what is on my mind. I am also commanded by God to exhort and rebuke and speak the truth.

No, this does not always endear me to others. But, it does help to keep my conscience a bit clearer.  Years ago, I worked on a military installation overseas. One of my duties was to deliver speeding tickets to people who had been caught on a camera. One morning, I delivered a speeding ticket to a Petty Officer who was caught on camera speeding on his bicycle. I joked about it. It seemed kind of petty to fine someone for speeding on a bicycle. That afternoon as he was speeding in that very same spot he was hit by a car and killed. He left behind a wife and children. The guilt I felt for making light of his speeding hit me hard and for quite some time. 

Being godly includes at least attempting to obey the laws of this world. As Christians we hope to be good examples to the world around us. None of us are perfect. We are all sinners and we will break laws now and then simply because we may view those laws as petty ordinances that get in our way. 

But, we do know the difference between right and wrong. The grace of God has been delivered to us through Jesus. The law of God has been written on our hearts. 

"Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"

                                                                                        (Heb 10:15:17)

We know in our hearts the difference between right and wrong. Let us do what is right as much as a sinful person can do right even as we look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Speak The Truth!

"I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—" (Rom 9:1 NIV)

"I am speaking the truth in Christ - I am not lying..." These words of St. Paul never fail to bring a smile to my face. I do believe that St. Paul was actually telling the truth. However, it reminds me of a young child swearing that they are telling the truth when they are not actually tell the whole truth. They are telling their own version of the truth which is not truth.

It is good when we can say with Paul I am speaking the truth, my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit. But, sadly that is not always the case. It is difficult to know when someone is actually speaking the truth and so we must depend upon the Holy Spirit within to help us to discern the truth. Not long ago someone who often chooses to make up their own version of the truth told me. "There are two sides two every story and then there is the truth." That probably is pretty true. But, in that particular case her side of the story was actually a third side and still not the truth.

Paul's truth in Christ, sometimes hurt people's feeling. The truth is not always pleasing to hear. It may make us many enemies; but, we must still speak the truth in love. Hurt feelings are nothing compared to a lost soul. May God help us to always speak with integrity for the good of those whom God loves.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

What Is Truth?

"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work."
                                     (2 John 1:9-11 NIV)

Live in the truth! What is truth?

There are many ways to distort the truth so that it becomes a lie. Today, the "truth," who is Jesus the Christ, is often co-mingled with fables and fairy tales so that the "truth" becomes a lie. Philosophy and spiritism and all sorts of other fabrications of the mind add or subtract from the word that we have read and heard in the scriptures in order to justify our own sinful lifestyles. Stay away from these stories. Continue living in the truth. Continue living in his love.

In this second of St. John's epistles, he commends a woman chosen by God and her children for knowing and living in the truth even while he warns her to stay away from those who deny the truth. We are warned to stay away from those who do not acknowledge that Jesus the Christ has come in the flesh. Stay away. Do not let their deceitful teachings infiltrate your thoughts; your life.

May the grace, mercy and peace of God the Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, be with you in truth and love, now and forevermore.

God's Peace - Pr. J