Category: gratefulness

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Climate Change?

Gen 6 6o 9 climate change2a Gen 6 to 9 The story of Noah presents some serious challenges to the thinking of today that our planet is doomed and will self-destruct in six years. Enter into our story righteous and blameless Noah. God chose to save him and his family from the destruction he had planned because the wickedness of man was very great on the earth. In fact, every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was evil—ALL THE TIME! While Noah was blameless, God was patient. He delayed the destruction for some time and in that time righteous Noah built an Ark for the preservation of animal life along with himself and family.

God did indeed flood the earth and when Noah emerged the earth had been restored. God established a covenant with Noah that promised that He would never again curse and destroy the earth because of man’s sin—even though men are evil from childhood on. We are the recipients of that promise.

“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.” [Gen. 8:22]

Why does God remain so patient?  “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” [2Pet 3]

So while God has promised to do His part what about us? God has left the earth in our care. Are we taking care of the earth? Are we repentant when we sin? Are we blameless as Noah? These are questions we need to be asking.

 

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Imagine Looking into Heaven!

REv 4 to 8 heaven2aLooking into Heaven: Rev 4 to 8

A special friend just passed away and although we mourn her loss we can’t but think that she is now able to see. Her blindness has been removed and before her she sees what she had only heard each day as she listened to scripture.  Just as John was called up to heaven so our dear friend was “called up” as well. What did John see and hear and what does our precious friend now see and hear?

Enter the throne room and seeing the God the Lord Almighty surrounded by 24 elders dressed in white robes and their heads adorned with golden crowns. And now listen: “Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, who was and who is and who is still to come!” And further: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created! And “You are worthy to take the scroll and open it seals because you were killed and at the cost of your own blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people and nation.”

Just imagine hearing those words and although her loved ones still inhabit this earthly realm they have been appointed as king and priests to serve God and one day they will reign on the earth with the Savior. “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory and ruling power forever and ever.”

Beloved, if you have recently experienced the loss of a loved one think on these words. One day you too will face this heavenly throne room and the Lord God Almighty.

 

 

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Are you like Scrooge or like God?

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Advent Series: 1Tim 6 BecCareful you are not a Scrooge; Instead be generous like God

Many the world over are familiar with Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” with the main character of Scrooge who thinks only about gathering and keeping money. Three ghosts appear to show him his faulty logic. Paul’s counsel to Timothy is much like the wisdom of the ghost of Christmas present, Christmas past and Christmas future and the lesson of Scrooge is straight from the words in 1Timothy 6 that we all need to learn:

For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. But if we have food and shelter, be satisfied with that. Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap. For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

Just like Scrooge, we too must be wary of gaining and storing up riches for self. Jesus taught that same principle; no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Again he taught a parable about a rich landowner who boasted that he could eat, drink, and celebrate because he chose to store his riches in many barns. God called him a fool and said that that very night his life would come to an end.

Jesus asked: then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 

In this Christmas season may we learn from Jesus:

To whom much is given much is required.

What gift will you share from your abundance this season?

 

 

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Peace & Perspective

Romans 12 peace

Romans 12:18 It’s All About Perspective

Paul reminds the Romans reading his letter: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. What if you are finding the situation in which you are nearly impossible? What do you do then? First, you return to his words at the beginning of this chapter: I exhort you or I urge you or I beseech you. Paul is not arguing for them to obey because of him but because of God. It has to start there realizing the price paid and the sorrow of our Lord’s heart to forgive us when we were unworthy of such love and peace. We have to return to the words of our Lord:  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God,” [Matt 5] This is the “when the rubber hits the road” section.

Putting life into that perspective we can move from the outward and inward expressions of no peace to peace. We can look at the problem through God’s eyes and see His love pouring through us to the person or circumstance. It’s all about perspective. I hear you saying but you don’t know my situation or the persons involved. But, even though, reader, I don’t know, God does. He wants you to stop and employ prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants to use you as His conduit to bring peace.

It is just that simple.

 

 

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God and You

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Amos 7 to 9  In chapter 3 God asks Amos a question: Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? In reading scripture we find some personalities who walked with God such as Enoch, Moses and others. All had one thing in common: they understood God’s ways. Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. Moses walked with God as friend to friend. Then there was Abraham. God asked to himself: should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Amos “saw” or beheld God making locusts to devour the crops and then a fire to consume the fields in the northern kingdom of Israel. As Amos watched, he pleaded with God: Sovereign Lord, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? And so as the conversation continued, the Sovereign Lord said: It will not happen.

What does this mean to us today? Just as these spoke to God on personal terms so can we. Jesus said: I no longer call you servants, instead I call you friends. A servant is told what to do and how but has no understanding of the why and does not question. In contrast, a friend converses and seeks to understand the motives and actions. Also, like the others who walked with God, Amos appealed to God for His mercy. God heard and relented of His decision.

Do you have that personal relationship with Him? Does he walk and talk with you? Are you His friend?

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Ezekiel’s Four Parables

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Ezekiel  15 to 18 In the NT Jesus told three parables about things or people that were lost and found. One is about a family with two lost boys who were lost both physically and spiritually. Ezekiel’s four parables mirror this story in many ways because it is true, parables are earthly stories with a heavenly purpose.

Parables: #1 In the branch parable we see a branch full of life thrown into the fire. Life without God is like the fires of hell.  #2 In the unfaithful bride parable we see a rags to riches story. God takes us from the gutter and bestows his blessings yet the lure of the world is always at the doorstep of our heart.  Be on guard!  #3 A beautiful and prized eagle, God, raised up a people yet a false eagle, Satan, offered promises that were false. Beware false “eagles” come dressed as sheep in wolves clothing.  #4 In the parable of the two sons we see a family whose lives mirrored the NT story. The younger was restless and disrespectful of his father. Seeking his inheritance he left and walked the world.  The older son served his father but with an ungrateful heart. The younger returned and sought reconciliation but the older remained unforgiving. Confession of sin is the first step back to God.

Israel had been blessed by God but was unfaithful and ungrateful. Yet, like the prodigal’s father, God was always waiting to restore the relationship. She would need to return to the Father in confession and repentance. What would she do?

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The Riches of God!

Isaiah 40 – 42  Job and Isaiah offer the same questions from God: Can anyone compare to Me? Does any idol resemble me in form or attributes? The answer should be a resounding NO! In fact, Paul wrote to the Romans: For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

Isaiah 40 to 42 majesty2a

Therefore the obvious question laid at the feet of men is this: Why do you say that the Lord is unaware of what is happening to you, to the world? In fact, the psalmist wrote that when men question His authority He just laughs in disgust. Truly there is no idol or person that can equal or rival Him. One tried and was tossed from heaven!

That is why Isaiah’s words from the Holy One are so comforting: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you –yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!  And again in ch 42: I am the Lord! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.

God is the Holy One; for that give Him praise! He is due each and every word we can offer in praise and thanksgiving.

 

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Check-Mate

isaiah 36 37 ckmate2ajpgIsaiah 36-37 In the 30’s Al Capone ruled Chicago. He taunted those who did not want to pay him for protection and if they didn’t, he took note and sent his thugs to “take care of the problem.” Sennacherib was the Capone Hezekiah faced.  His thugs were Rabshakeh and his contingent. They mocked God and repeated “Capone/Sennacherib’s” words: “what is your source of confidence….in whom are you trusting.”  They surmised that Hezekiah would then be shaking in his boots and succumb to their threats. Hezekiah’s advisors Eliakim and Hilkiah indeed returned to Hezekiah with their clothes torn as a sign they were demoralized just as Rabshekah had hoped.  But, instead of compromising and yielding to their demands, as he had done before, Hezekiah took the letter with its demands to the Lord in the Temple. Isaiah the prophet told him because this time he sought God’s help,  He would bless him. God would put hooks in the jaws of this “Capone” and send him packing back to his home country but not before God would provide evidence that He alone was God.

God gave Hezekiah three principles that teach us truths about how to live in a “Capone” world. Vs 31: remain steadfast—Paul said much the same in 1Cor 15: 58. Secondly, take root where you are; Col 2:7 firm in your faith and thirdly bear fruit; Matt 3:8 that proves your repentance.

Checkmate: God will have the last move.

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Suppose there was no tomorrow???

Do you realize that there may be no tomorrow…EVER!

How does that grab you?

2Chron 33 God's grace2a

2Chron 33 King Manasseh was evil to the max. God sent his prophets to speak to him but as this chapter reveals, he paid no attention to them. Fast forward; God decided enough is enough so he sent the Assyrians to take him to Babylon. There is nothing like hooks in your nose, bronze chains and extradition to a foreign land where you are faced with a prison cell, cold gruel, day-old bread, and water to awaken your senses and that is what happened to King Manasseh. He then “realized that the Lord is the true God” and repented. Not all prison sentences end the way it did for Manasseh but God in his mercy allowed his release and return. Not only was he released and returned but he was given his kingdom back!

There are some powerful lessons to learn here and it begins with how you pay attention to the Lord and His Word. Not only that but your sin, like his, affects your family and your children as it did with his son Amon who was as evil as Manasseh was in his earlier life.

The Chronicler records these words: the annals record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols BEFORE he humbled himself. Grab that last phrase: before he humbled himself.

Lesson: You can listen and repent now or you can do it later—but beware because

 God doesn’t guarantee there will be a tomorrow.

 

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From Beauty to Ashes

1Chron 9  Yesterday, the world watched as Notre Dame Cathedral, an international treasure burned. The pictures were sent around the world and we watched with tears. Centuries before another international treasure burned, God’s holy Temple. However, in God’s graciousness, the Judahites taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar never saw the Temple burned.  The loss of both is/was great; never to be replicated again.

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The Chronicler tells us simply the people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. This took place to fulfill the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah and lasted until the land experienced its sabbatical years.  All the time of its desolation the land rested in order to fulfill the seventy years. [2Ch 36:21] This is another point of His grace; the land lay resting and no enemies conquered it. Under Cyrus, the Judahites returned and rebuilt. Ezra, the priest, records that many of those who returned wept at their memory of the former temple as they stood to honor the new temple because it was only a shadow of Solomon’s former temple.

In the 16th century some Huguenots damaged Notre Dame’s statues they considered idolatrous and in 1793 removed and decapitated statues. Yesterday’s fire by far is the worst the grand lady has experienced. So too God’s holy Temple was desecrated by King Nebuchadnezzar and later the new Temple by the Romans.

Buildings may be desecrated and lost but the church is not a building. The church is the people of God who have been born again because of one day long ago: Easter or Resurrection Morning. Satan’s plans were thwarted because of that day and no power or natural events can destroy it. Victory came because of the death of our Savior. Believers are the Temple of God.

 

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