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Let’s Talk About Grace

Let’s Talk About Grace

Grace is a beautiful word. It is one of the best words you can name your child with. The meaning is profound. The Hebrew word for it is “chen”(pronounced khane) which signifies a stooping down in kindness like that of a superior to the inferior. The Greek word for it is “charis” (pronounced khar’-ece) and denotes graciousness in manner and action.

God and Grace

In learning these, we can better understand God and His grace. God’s attitude and action of grace (unmerited favour) is God stooping down to us, reaching us in our need, and conveying upon us a benefit we never earned nor deserved.   To name the benefit, there are actually so many.

Salvation

Ephesians 2:8,9 explains that salvation is ever only by grace. We can never make a way to save ourselves. We can never assist God in making a way for us to be saved. We are dependent upon Him for life. It is God who graces us with the power to be quickened and live free from the penalty of sin and from the power of sin. Through the atoning work of Christ, we can spend eternity with God in His presence. Through Christ at work in our lives by the Holy Spirit, we can spend an overcoming and abundant life on earth now. The only thing we can ever do is respond to Him in gratefulness and demonstrative love.

Blessedness

Merriam-Webster defines blessedness as “a feeling or state of well-being and contentment.” Psalm 68:19 assures that the redeemed will be blessed. It is God who loads us with benefits. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that it is God who has given us the very abilities we have in order to gain wealth, to earn a living. Philippians 4:13 says that it is Christ in us “Who” causes us to be someone who accomplishes anything. There can be no room for pride. There can be no cause for self-exaltation and no cause for self-reliance.

It is foolish for a Christian to forget God in times of success and to wander away in times of prosperity for he cannot sustain anything for long apart from God. In John 15:5 Christ tells us that without Him, we can do nothing. This means that the only way to a satisfying marriage is to abide in Christ. The only way to right parenting is to depend on Christ. The only way to keep working on what you love and to keep loving your work is to be focused on Christ. In God is blessedness. You can never find it anywhere else.

In 1 Corinthians 15:10 the apostle Paul’s realization hits home. He says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”

Indeed, by the grace of God, we are what we are, saved and blessed. And as we keep leaning into His grace, it will never be without effect.

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What Should Be Different about a Christian Marriage?

What should be different about a Christian marriage?

You get a lot of advice before you get married.

“Never go to bed angry.”

“Keep dating.”

“Make your partner your first priority.”

“Don’t walk out during an argument.”

“It’s all about communication.”

So why on earth do so many marriages fail?

Reasons Why Couples Break Up

Marriage has gotten quite a bad reputation over the years. The butt of a seemingly infinite number of jokes, matrimony is a source of endless social commentary, gender politics, and governmental debate.  

According to recent University of Maryland divorce research, you’ve got about a 50/50 chance of growing old with your spouse. If the statistic did not shock you, the reasons many couples decide to separate will not either.

 “The relationship was built more on lust than a true partnership.”

“I wasn’t present.”

“We were together 15 years, I was unhappy for 11 of them.”

“We were co-parents, not lovers.”

“We didn’t choose to work on the marriage, day in and day out.”

“It was like we were on opposite teams.”

“Married too fast”

“Bedroom boredom”

I was a full-time manager in the marriage.  

“There was no respect.”

“There was no real intimacy.”

Many people mistakenly believe that most marriages end almost exclusively because of infidelity, however, while this certainly is a major factor, the decision to terminate a marriage is much more complicated.

“Conventional wisdom tells us that those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

A marriage is a lot like buying a new car. Driving it out of the showroom is bliss. As you cruise off you can hardly believe your luck. Everything feels,  sounds, smells and looks perfect. You coast through many months—sometimes even years— of happy driving before the car needs an MOT or service. But like a car, when a relationship eventually breaks down, it’s flabbergasting; you’re left stuck on the side of the road trying to figure out what on earth went wrong and realise that no car or relationship comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Christ-centred Marriage

“Our culture still shapes our thinking and conduct regarding marriage to an incredible degree.”

It’s easy to think that only “other people” get divorced. That your own marriage is somehow immune to heartache, infidelity and fights over who gets the house, car and dog. After all, how many of us would walk down the aisle if we knew for sure that our relationships would end up in divorce court.

Viewing Marriage Realistically

Christian or not, marriage is difficult for any couple to sustain over a lifetime. Life’s trials—the pressure of making a living, of parenting, of resisting temptations to unfaithfulness or selfishness.  But Christian marriage offers hope.  

“We have to stop asking of marriage what God never designed it to give — perfect happiness, conflict-free living, and idolatrous obsession.”

Christians marriages should be shaped by the cross of Christ, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God.

“Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’ ” (1 Peter 4:8).

“Her husband ”¦ praises her” (Proverbs 31:28).

“She who is married cares ”¦ how she may please her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:34).

“Be kindly affectionate to one another ”¦ in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).

“Pray for one another” (James 5:16).

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Successful marriages don’t just happen; they must be developed.

Serving Our Spouse

Another key component in a Christian marriage is selflessness, as described in Philippians 2:3-4. The principle of humility outlined in these verses is crucial to a strong Christian marriage. If happiness is our primary goal, we’ll get a divorce as soon as happiness seems to wane.  With greater awareness of the principle of thought, many marriages can be saved and even strengthened.

Becoming “one” is about more than sex. It requires a level of vulnerability that opens the door for deep hurt. Both husband and wife must consider their partner’s needs before their own, which requires a selflessness that is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells them.

“Focus on your spouse’s strengths rather than their weaknesses.”

“Encourage rather than criticize.”

“Pray for your spouse instead of gossiping about them.”

“Learn and live what Christ teaches about relating to and loving others.”

It is a partnership of love, made richer and deeper through sex.  Continue—or revive—your courtship into your married life.

Marriage isn’t always easy and the sad reality is that not all “I dos” end with a happily ever after. However, the primary difference between a Christian marriage and a non-Christian marriage should be that Christ is the centre of the marriage. With a Christ-centered relationship, an other-centered attitude and an unwavering commitment to making it work, your marriage can flourish — just as God designed.

Which of these reasons is most true in your marriage? Please share with me below.

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Let’s Talk about Salt: What Does It Mean to Be the Salt of the Earth?

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?" (Matthew 5:13)

The Lord Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:13 that Christians are the salt of the earth. Now, salt is a fascinating substance. It can be put to a lot of use. If applied rightly, it can be helpful and the results can be wonderful. If applied wrongly, it can be repulsive and the results can be damaging. Who on earth can stomach an extremely salty dish?

Salt adds flavour.

Salt is a basic ingredient in the kitchen because it adds flavour. Even in baking sweet goodies, salt is a primary component. The right amount of salt brings the best out of any dish. Omit or apply it insufficiently and those at the dining table can’t help but feel that something is missing.

Think about it. God uses His children to bring out the goodness in the different family and work environments each of us are placed in. Because of us, family and work life should enjoy a better atmosphere.

It is sad when you hear of Christians willfully committing a wrong against other people. We Christians are to be the very agents of good and righteousness, making our own side of the world a better place.

Salt potentiates flavour.

Salt not only adds flavour, it potentiates what is already there. To potentiate is to increase the power and effect of something.

Think about it. God is good and the earth is filled with His goodness. The world is blinded; people only see the wrong things that are happening around them. They are unable to look past the hardships and tragedies. They cannot see the grace of God in situations. It is for this reason that God uses His children to help others perceive all that is blessed and beneficial.

It is sad when it is the very Christian who exudes a negative spirit on situations. It is sad when you are around believers who are unhelpfully pessimistic, who are complainers, and who are never satisfied. We Christians are to be the very agents of optimism who see the bright side to things, who see the possibilities, who see all the good that is in the moment and the moment to come.

Salt is vital to our health.

The body cannot live without sodium (salt). Sodium is needed to transmit nerve impulses and to contract or relax muscles (that includes the heart). It is important for maintaining fluid balance. Lack of salt causes fatigue, headache, and confusion. When sodium is depleted, the heart gets overworked and the blood vessels are pressured. If left untreated, lack of sodium can cause blood vessels to stiffen and may even lead to heart failure and stroke.

Think about it. God deems our presence vital on this earth. You and I are here for a reason. Your existence is essential to a healthy functioning of another person. Our life is a blessing to someone. God has a set purpose for us to accomplish.

It is sad to think that one can choose to exist just for his self. It is a pity for one’s life to revolve around the pursuit of personal pleasure and interests. The Bible says that none of us lives and dies for himself. (Romans 14:7) Life is bigger than our own private world. We are made for so much more. When we step outside of our comfort zones, we will experience how much better it feels to be a helpful part of somebody else’s world.

Salt cleanses.

Salt is a cleansing agent. Salt solutions clear the oral cavities of infection and bad odour. Doctors recommended a saltwater rinse on the onset to kill bacteria that cause sore, itchy throats and bad breath. Saline solutions also help wounds heal faster after tooth extractions and keeps the wound clean after meals. It is interesting to learn from the journal “Cell Metabolism” that salt stores bar microbes from invading our bodies and boosts our immune defences.

Think about it. God uses His children as cleansing agents of this world. That means in our relationships we are to bring guidance for rightness. We are not to be peer-pressured into wrong acts. Rather, we are to be the influence and testimony of right living. Our presence should help our family, friends, and business associates sort the messiness of their lives out. We are to help lead them to discerning and deciding on the right action. We are never to encourage nor pressure them to make wrong decisions and use wrong means to accomplish goals.

We are God’s salt on earth. Let’s make our world a “salted” place.

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Married to Their Smartphones (Oh, and to Each Other, Too)

Married to Their Smartphones (Oh, and to Each Other, Too)

Neither Joe or Willy are having an affair. But one of them has found a new object of affection, which has become a new companion and inspires a surprising amount of jealousy among her spouse – its the new relationship buster: the smartphone.  “It helps me wake up,” she said.

“Experts say that smartphone use is meddling in our marriages in ways that are sometimes benign, and often forcing couples to address an ever more important question: At what point are we choosing to spend more time with our smartphones than with our spouses? (Christian Marriages, Too)”

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the warmth and intimacy of marriages are ebbing away  with a culture of dings, beeps and buzzes as most people manage everything from bank accounts to fantasy football teams on mobile phone devices.

It’s almost at pandemic levels now. Married or not, most of us sleep with our phones right next to us, pocket them as we go from place to place and think nothing of using them whether our partners are talking or not.

“Therapists say that when a marriage hits a rocky patch, they’ve seen one or both partners hide behind their phones.”

If you’re still reading this article  then we can safely assume you know what we’re talking about. The US divorce rate hovers at 40 per cent, but that’s not the whole story. Many sound relationships are on life support. According to a survey by the National Opinion Research Centre.

You’d think this problem would exist only outside the church, wrong.

Pope Francis says most marriages today are ‘invalid’ because couples don’t go into them with the right intentions. This is a disaster for the Church much less society as a whole.

“When a Christian marriage unravels, many questions rise to the surface.”

It’s a shame that most of our relationships are in shambles.  However, its time to put down the Smartphone and save your marriage.  But how?

1. The first year of marriage is hard”¦really hard.

In an increasingly individualistic, “me” culture, weddings create a potentially dangerous situation for a newlywed Christian couple. If you are empty, broken, or insecure, and you believe a spouse is the silver bullet to your a problems”¦buckle up. The marriage will be bumpy-ride.

Don’t buy the wedding day lie. Marriage is not about you. Take this as a warning”¦the first year of marriage is difficult and you will never be able to enjoy the beauty of marriage if your spouse’s job is to complete you.

In Saudi Arabia, a newlywed husband filied for divorce after his wife stopped his attempts at consummation to reply to wedding messages. Whiles this is simply over the top.  Yes, it can be partially about not texting on your wedding night!

We know marriage is hard, but walking away from it will have a lasting impact. Marry a  Christian, yes. But maybe go even further and marry somebody with similar passions and dreams.

2. Prioritize Your Partner Over Your Phone

“Marital bliss is fictional, but marital happiness can be a reality.”

This is an obvious point, but it’s still one that most people tend to disregard.  Sex is a gift from God. So explore It.  Make no mistake”¦God created sex. But through the years, God’s people allowed Satan to steal this gift. Without a fight.

God created sex. If your married, here’s a challenge. Explore sex. Explore the fullness of it and pray for  sexual intimacy with your spouse.

3. There is more than one person out there for you.

Marriage is a huge choice, and so is divorce. Soul mates are made”¦not born. We are not sure where this idea of a soul mate originated, but it is false. Maintaining a healthy relationship is more about commitment than perfection.  Marriages are complex –  they’re filled with compromise, balancing expectations and maintaining a foundation built on trust.  A successful marriage is one where you serve your spouse and both of you serve God. You see the closer you get to God the closer you will be to each other.

“The success of marriage comes not in finding the “right” person, but in the ability of both partners to adjust to the real person they inevitably realize they married ” – (John Fischer).

To God be the glory forever. Amen!
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Born Again Through the Living and Abiding Word

Born Again Through the Living and Abiding Word

We are born to make manifest the glory of God.  In a moment of grace, a man is changed.

“A transformed life is the greatest of all miracles. Every time a person is “born again” by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ, the miracle of regeneration is performed.” ’- Billy Graham  

Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.  The change of heart by which we become children of God is compared to the germination of a good seed sown on good ground. God draws illustrations from nature to help us better to understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life.  With all Man’s wit and ingenious, we still can not give life.  It is only through the life which God Himself has imparted, that either plant or animal can live. So it is only through life from God that spiritual life is created in the hearts of men.

How Are We Born Again?

“Regeneration denotes a new birth. This new birth has two elements; it includes being born of water and of the Spirit.”

When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life, the soul is “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and reigns forever and ever.” This new birth is the result of receiving Christ the word of God which became life. Then by the Holy Spirit, divine truths are impressed upon the heart, new conceptions are awakened, and the energies that lay dormant are aroused to cooperate with the creator of heaven and earth. Christ was the revealer of truth to the world. By Him the incorruptible seed—the Word of God—was sown in the hearts of men.

God’s Part in the New Birth—And Ours

When God speaks, His words are binding—they’re like an unbreakable contract. He always says exactly what He means, He never lies, and He never says, “Whoops, I’ve changed My mind.” The Word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the person becomes like Jesus.  Henceforth you are not your own; you are bought with a price.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has created a new life in your heart. You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son Jesus Christ

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God Gave Me Power and Authority

God Gave Me Power and Authority

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog on, “How to battle fear.”   I used the scripture, “For God has not given us a Spirit of Fear”¦” 2 Timothy 1:7. In that writing, I said, “Fear is the opposite of faith.”  

With every problem or crisis that we acquire, there are two choices; fear or faith, and we must choose one each time we face a crisis. We make the choice, fear or faith, almost immediately and most of the time we aren’t even aware that we are making a choice.

God also gives us amazing supernatural power because he wants us to be able to overcome anything that is thrown our way.    In 2 Timothy 1:7 you can find that we have already been equipped with tools to help us succeed in life, we just have to know what the tools are and how they apply to us.  

The first tool God gives us is power. God has given us the power to make a choice.  Knowing that we have a choice and we don’t have to choose fear is powerful. Even if we choose fear first, knowing that we can change our mind and choose to put all of our faith in God, is powerful.    

For me personally, God gave me the power to rise above a lifetime of suffering and torture. What should have made me a classic statistic, didn’t because God gave me the power to overcome.

I grew up in a negative and suppressive home as a child that set me up to fail.  I withdrew and felt  defeated.  I suffer from a number of illnesses. I had abusive parents, I went through the foster care system, but did not end up in a good foster home.

I then spent the last three years of my teen working two jobs to help support my mother and my three siblings and  as a result could not attend high school.

I got married at age 18 as I was looking for stability in my life.  My heart was broken, my body was weak, I carried a lot of emotional pain, but hid my pain from others. I felt like I was dying inside. I felt hopeless.  

When I was first diagnosed with Lupus it devastated my family’s financial stability because my income was a large part of our budget, however, God made a way.  God gave me the power to come out of a lifetime of built up hate, resentment, bitterness, and fear.  

Over the last four years, God has provided everything we needed.

I didn’t say it was easy, but all that we need is provided. God made a way for us to buy a house right after losing my job. He made a way when there seemed to be no way. He never ceases to amaze me.      

God gave me the power to trust Him even when I didn’t trust myself. He loved me before I loved him.  There is power in asking, power in believing and power in trusting.

God gave me the power to allow myself to take chances.  

I have power to cast down thoughts of the past, fears of the future and imaginations that do not line up with God.

There is power in knowing that I have control over my own thoughts.

I have power in knowing that when I call on Jesus nothing is impossible. From climbing mountains, losing weight, beating anxiety, facing illnesses.  I gain strength and solitude just knowing that he can and will work all things out for my good.  

I have Power in being able to share my life’s testimony.

I used to be ashamed of my life, it’s nothing to brag about for sure. God has taken my mess of a life and made a way for me to share my story with others in confidence.   Now, I am not ashamed of my life because I overcame, Satan didn’t win, God has received the victory.  

God is the only one that gives me peace. He gives the power to stand tall with confidence. I am not ashamed of who I am because I am the daughter of the Creator. God is the only one that gives me hope, even in the middle of what Satan hopes is going to bring me down. I stand tall in name of Jesus and rebuke Satan. I am not afraid because God has given me the power to overcome. In the name of Jesus Christ AMEN

 

 

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What Mother’s Day Is About?

What Mother’s Day Is About?

Sunday, March 11, Mother’s Day — called Mothering Day in the U.K. — can be traced back to ancient pagan practices, but it has gone through a lot of changes to get to what we know today.

The Bible does not command us to dedicate a special day to honour our mothers, nor is there anything in the Bible to condemn it.

Today, people celebrate the day by giving gifts to their mothers, including flowers, chocolates, spa breaks, days out, afternoon teas and thoughtful cards.

Mothers Day Is Not Primarily about Being a Mother and Receiving the Honour, but Thanking God for the Mother He Gave You.

Mothers are a gift from God, and every last person has at least one. So Mother’s Day is really a holiday for everyone, a day for thanking God for his goodness in giving us mothers, and an occasion for letting that gratitude play itself out in tangible expressions of love.

As with all issues not specifically addressed in Scripture, we have the freedom to celebrate or not celebrate Mother’s Day, according to personal preference.

We hope you’ll take some time this weekend to pay respects to your mother—or if that isn’t possible, to somebody in your life who embodies the grace and wisdom we associate with godly mothers.

Here are 26 great Christian quotes about mothers.

  1. “Mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” – Marion C. Garretty
  2. “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” – Author Unknown
  3. “If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.” – Stevie Wonder
  4. “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother – Author Unknown
  5. “Do Not Forsake Your Mother’s Teaching.” – Proverbs 1:7-9
  6. “A mother – when you’re a child she walks before you to set an example. When you’re a teenager she walks behind you to be there should you need her. When you’re an adult she walks beside you so that as two friends you can enjoy life together.” – Author Unknown
  7. “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” – Robert Browning
  8. “Everything I am you helped me to be.” – Author Unknown
  9. “Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.” – Erich Fromm
  10. “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.” – Author Unknown
  11. “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” – Henry Ward Beecher, US Congressional clergyman
  12. “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” – Author Unknown
  13. “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” – Oprah Winfrey
  14. “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill
  15. “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.” – Victor Hugo
  16. “A mother is clothed with strength and dignity, laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness.” – Proverbs
  17. “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” – Lin Yutang, Chinese writer
  18. “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.” – Maya Angelouother’s Day 2017
  19. “To the world, you are a mother, but to your family, you are the world.” – Author Unknown
  20. “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
  21. “The sweetest sounds to mortals given are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.” – William Goldsmith Brown
  22. “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Proverbs 31:30
  23. “She’s on duty 364 days a year, so when that special Sunday in May rolls around, give Mom her due respect.” – Author Unknown
  24. “My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and a passion that I wish could be bottled.” – Carly Fiorina
  25. “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” – Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President
  26. “She was of the stuff of which great men’s mothers are made. She was indispensable to high generation, hated at tea parties, feared in shops, and loved at crises.” – Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
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God’s Heart-Fires Set His People Free

God's Heart-Fires Set His People Free

The body of Christ is like a campfire. We blaze with the flames of God’s glory when we come together in heart-to-heart ONEness around the risen Jesus. History calls those times of spiritual fire freely burning in God’s people, “revival.”

That kind of revival is not a religious meeting with a special preacher, held in a church building. True revival cannot be contained in one building or one location or even in one denomination. And it can’t be created by a program, an agenda, or a course of study.

Genuine revival (spiritual awakening) breaks out and spreads in and through human hearts. However, when people’s hearts are separated from one another, they begin to lose their fire for God and eventually get cold, just like campfire coals do when you spread them apart.

No amount of preaching, singing, plays, concerts, sermons, studies, techniques, rituals, gimmicks, special lighting, fog machines, etc. will ignite God’s fire in people until their hearts are open to God and to one another.

So what can open human hearts?

The answer is simple and it is spread throughout the New Testament. It is “a One Anothering environment” – an atmosphere where people are free to be real and honest with one another. The Bible calls this walking “in the light” and “speaking the truth in love.” More than 50 times, the New Testament instructs Christ-followers to minister to “one another” in various ways.

When people are allowed to be vulnerable and honest with one another, the Holy Spirit begins to work in their hearts and in their midst. The book ONE: Unfolding God’s Eternal Purpose From House To House puts it this way: “People’s hearts are opened when they speak freely.”

Allowing Christians to open up to one another opens their hearts. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. Someone begins to humbly share from the heart and the place is filled with a sense of awe, humility, and love; as Christ’s presence saturates the gathering. That is the spark of revival. However, like any spark, it won’t start an ongoing fire unless it is given the right environment of kindling and oxygen.

Revival’s kindling is open in humble hearts. We must not “harden” (shut down and protect) our hearts. Revival’s oxygen is the Holy Spirit. We must not turn off the flow of the Spirit. (“Quench not the Spirit.”) By keeping the kindling and oxygen going, open sharing and “One Anothering” creates an environment where revival can break out, grow, and eventually spread far and wide.

Genuine revival unites believers as sisters and brothers in Christ. It sets “the solitary in families” and overrides the walls that separate Christians.

Are you ready for revival? If so, find a few brothers and sisters, gather regularly with them, listen to Jesus together, and then let everyone present say and/or do what the living Jesus tells them to. One Anothering will break out, hearts will open, and the Spirit will move mightily. That’s revival!

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I Will Watch for You, God

I will watch for you, God

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.  Because of  his strength, I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold.  My God in His lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes. (v. 1, 9-10 NASB)

I love that the Bible includes descriptions before a lot of the Psalms, letting us know the context in which the Psalm was penned. David was surrounded by enemies, pinned down.  It was a real threat, not an imagined malice.  He was in actual bodily danger.  Most of us won’t experience that kind of danger in our lives.  But, I was stalked several times while walking, and know that God delivered me from true bodily danger. Like Jesus slipped through the crowd and escaped the clutches of his enemies, so I was provided with a way of escape on these occasions by God.  I no longer walk alone, but do my workouts at home, and walk only with someone else.What I find so fascinating about the above Scripture is the wording of one particular phrase. “Because of his strength, I will watch for You.”

Have you ever been singled out by someone who wishes to do you harm?

Sometimes it happens because of a jealous co-worker. Perhaps an ex-boyfriend, husband, or friend is seeking to hurt you. Or like myself, you just find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, out walking alone, or the potential victim of a greedy thief.  Perhaps it’s a horrible disease, like cancer.

In any case, we have enemies that are stronger than us at times, and we feel out-matched.  But no one can out-match God.  When someone chooses to mess with a Chosen of God, Beloved Child of the King; they will find themselves messing with God.  Whatever you are facing at this moment, remember David’s words:

Because of His Strength, I Will Watch for You, God.

God is greater than anything we may face in life.  He is more powerful than all our enemies. We can watch for Him, wait on Him, trust Him. He is our sail, to guide us away from an enemy.  He is our anchor, to keep us firmly set in the midst of a battering storm.  He is our refuge into which we run, and hide in Him until the danger has passed. He is our Abba, Father, our Daddy, onto whose lap we can climb, as we bury ourselves in His loving arms, in the midst of all our difficulties.  He is our shield and protector against all of life’s enemies.  He is our Loving God, Our Precious Savior. Let us watch always for Him.

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Can God Be Trusted?

Can God Be Trusted?

Today, trust has become a precious commodity. With all the news reports and bad experiences of people we know, it is no longer easy or prudent to immediately trust. Trust needs to be earned. People can be deceitful. We must be cautious in our dealings and relationships lest we fall prey to people who victimize unsuspecting, untrusting individuals. Man’s wisdom can be flawed. We must be selective about the advice and opinion we heed lest we are encouraged into making wrong decisions and assumptions.

It is right to be guarded. The attitude has become a necessity in order to spare our selves from loss and heartbreak. At times though, the Christian can bring this attitude into his relationship with God. When things go wrong or get harder, we can begin to doubt God’s character and capacity. When life gets busy and so many pressing matters hound us, we may begin to rely more on our wisdom and doubt the effectiveness of consulting with God by prayer and reading of the Word. God can become unreal to us. When this happens we must stop and remind ourselves that God can be trusted. God is trustworthy. God is reliable.

God is so certain of His own goodness that He isn’t  threatened at all by our questions.

He has seen the beginning and end.

God bears the wisdom of eternity. From eternity past and eternity future, God was, God is, and God will be. God is not a novice; nothing will surprise Him. He will never panic nor will He be stressed. He won’t be pressured into doing anything drastic or impulsive. When He acts, I know He acts in wisdom. It may be hard to understand but whatever He allows or withholds, I know there is His perfect reason behind it. In the end, all things will work out for my good (Romans 8:28).

That He sees the beginning and the end is an assuring thought. Think about it. The past, present, and future are equally laid out before him. God is never blindsided. He is never shortsighted. There can be peace and calm amidst the chaos and confusion because God clearly sees my life and knows how to direct and keep me on the right path.

He knows me wholly.

No one can know you more than He does. Even we fail to understand our hearts at times. Jeremiah 17:9 says that our heart is deceitful, no one can really understand it. We get overwhelmed and our emotions get the better of us. We second-guess ourselves and we overestimate ourselves. But, not God; He understands us with a perfect understanding. He knows what you and I are made of. He is fully acquainted with our uniqueness. He knows why we are the way we are. He knows how and why we think the way we think.

Psalm 139 beautifully lays just how much God knows us. Verse 4 says before we even utter the words, God knows it completely. He knows the reason behind the words and the feelings that go with them. From the passage, we know that He created our inmost being. He saw our unformed body and has set how many years we will have to enjoy life on this earth.

That He knows us completely and accurately is a refreshing thought. Think about it. There is never a need to pretend or build walls. We can come just as we are. He will not pre-judge. There is never a need to explain our selves. He gets us completely. We can trust Him to respond to us rightly and helpfully.

Can God be trusted? For these two reasons and many more, the answer is a definite “Yes!” Yes, He can.

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3 Ways God Speaks to You

3 Ways God Speaks to You

Does God talk to you? Does God communicate with people? On its February 13, 2018, broadcast, viewers heard Joy Behar, ABC daytime talk show co-host of “The View” say, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you, that’s called mental illness if I’m not correct. Hearing voices.” During the episode, talks revolved around criticisms on U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith. Co-host Sunny Hostin said, “I don’t know that I want my vice president, um — speaking in tongues and having Jesus speak to him.”

It’s sad that communicating with God, which is a primary Christian truth, can be viewed as a mental illness. It’s sadder to think that like these well-known personalities, many think that way. They view God as inaccessible and silent. They believe that it’s not possible to hear Him speak. In refusing to accept this fact, the world loses out. They are missing a lot.

Hearing God speak is one great blessing every child of God enjoys. God’s Words bring life and joy. His messages bring direction and enlightenment; they bring healing.

God speaks through nature.

Engaging with nature is always a fruitful time. We feel serenity setting in and we find ourselves at rest. Marvellous scenes and amazing creatures amaze and baffle us. We feel humbled, we feel thankful. We see an awesome Creator who is all-powerful. We see a faithful God sustaining all He has created. Every time we come out of a nature experience we are recharged, we are repurposed.

Job articulates it beautifully in Job chapter 12, reminding us that the very creatures that exist around us testify of our creator God and in His hand is the breath and life of all creation. Psalm 19 talks of the skies and heavens proclaiming the greatness and praise of our God.

The child of God must make a habit of pausing and taking in the beauty of nature. There is a great benefit in sitting back in solitude around greenery or around tranquil waters. It is there we can still our hearts, see God afresh, and hear Him say, “Be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

God speaks through the Written Word.

The Bible is God’s special blessing upon us. He selected believers of different background and experiences to put into writing His very words. Scriptures are ever alive. Its truths relate to people of any generation. The desiring heart will read it and experience its truths alive and active, insightful, cutting through the very core of one’s being. (Hebrews 4:12)

The child of God who seeks to know God and His plans will find direction for living within its pages. Through His Word God empowers us. Through His Word, God draws close to us, and makes Himself known to us.

The child of God must make a habit of opening God’s Word for one cannot begin to understand if one does not know. We can’t prove the truthfulness of God’s Word and promises if there is no knowledge to hold onto and prove. We must open the living Word and allow God’s voice to be heard. Open it and we will hear Him speak.

God speaks through music.

There is something in music that is very powerful. Research proves that it can influence behaviour and it can better one’s physical conditions. Music can change one’s mood and emotions. For instance, classical music can draw one’s mind out of chaos into calm and resoluteness.

There is something even more powerful in worship music. They can uplift your spirit and carry your mind towards greater heights and depths of learning and joy. God places in musicians the inspiration to pen biblical truths so beautifully. Through their meditations and personal journeys, we tap into the very heart of God. We get an overwhelming sense of His desire for our lives, what we need to change, what we need to surrender, and what we need to remember and be assured of.

The child of God must make a habit of listening to and singing Christian songs. It is a wonderful ingredient to private and corporate worship. From a multitude of worship songs, believers find spiritual growth. How many verses from the book of Psalms have taught you great things about God and man? How many verses from Psalms have caused you to understand yourself and others more? Those are Christian songs God uses to teach and encourage us.

Hearing God speak is a normal yet a special thing. God talks and He loves talking to you. He will speak lovingly and meaningfully if you only pose yourself to listen.

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36 Reasons Why God is So Wonderful

God

The glorious work of God is everywhere. The universe is a testimony of the wisdom, the greatness, and the power of our God and his greatness.  God always has been, and He ever shall be.

The darker the night, the brighter the stars, The deeper the grief, the closer is God!

According to most philosophers, God in making the world enslaved it. According to Christianity, in making it, He set it free. God had written, not so much a poem, but rather a play; a play he had planned as perfect, but which had been left to human actors and stage-managers, who had since made a great mess of it.

Read, study, ransack, think, speak, listen – and let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.

Here’s a look at 36 major attributes and qualities of God that the Bible teaches.

  1. “God is a Family.” (Ephesians 3:14-15).
  2. “God Is Eternal.”
  3. “God is Holy.”
  4. “God is Wise.”
  5. “God is Wonderful.”
  6. “God Is Righteous and Just.”
  7. “God is CEO of the Universe.”
  8. “God is Supreme Lawgiver.”
  9. “God Is Omnipresent (Present Everywhere).”
  10. “God was not voted in and he cannot be voted out.”
  11. “God Bestows His Blessings without Discrimination.”
  12. “God Is Self-Sufficient and Self-Existent.”
  13. “God Is Omnipotent (All Powerful).”
  14. “God Is Omniscient (All-Knowing).”
  15. “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us..”
  16. “God in His love always wills what is best for us.”
  17. “God proved His love on the Cross.”
  18. “God Is Unchanging or Immutable.”
  19. “God loves us too much to indulge our every whim.”
  20. ‘God Is Infinite.”
  21. “God is Sufficient.”
  22. “God Is Faithful.”
  23. “God Reveals Himself in His Word.”
  24. “God Is True and Truth.”
  25. “God Is Good.”
  26. “God Is Merciful and  Gracious.”
  27. “God Is Love.”
  28. “God is Devouring Fire.”
  29. “God Is Spirit.”
  30. “God Is Light.”
  31. “God Is Triune or Trinity.”
  32. “God Created the Complete Hierarchy of Angels.”
  33. “God is Alpha and Omega.”
  34. “God is God.”
  35. “God is the Great Healer  (Matthew 9:12).”
  36. “God is Wonderful.”

At God’s command, amazing things happen. And because He is wonderful everything He does is wonderful.  Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. The Word of God is an absolute necessity. (For further reflection, see Luke 24:45; Acts 16:14; 2 Kings 6:17; Matthew 16:17; 11:2-6; 11:27.)

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Not an Act of God: Phil Robertson Say’s that America is “Focusing on the Wrong Weapon”

A football coach. An athletic director. And young, eager and forward-looking students were killed in the deadly school massacre in Parkland, Florida.

Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) arrived in Parkland, Florida, within hours of Wednesday’s school shooting that killed at least 17 teens and faculty members.

In recent weeks, this act of terror has served as a catalyst for an army of activists across America to advocate for social change. This includes cries for more government intervention and increased gun laws, however, that surely can not be the answer?

‘It is the gun, it’s the person behind the gun and it’s about helping people before they ever reach that point,’ said a mother whose son died at Sandy Hook elementary

While the rest of the country seems to be focusing on earthly weapons and assault rifles, Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson is redirecting attention to the only weapon he truly believes in capable of stopping murder: the Word of the living God.

Phil Alexander Robertson is an American professional hunter, businessman, and reality television star on the popular television series Duck Dynasty. He is also featured on the television show Buck Commander, a hunting program on the Outdoor Channel.

“WE CANNOT PRAISE GOD FOR DIVINE ACTS OF JUSTICE AND MERCY WITHOUT HEARING THE CALL TO IMITATE GOD THROUGH OUR OWN ACTIONS.” —RABBI JILL JACOBS

Robertson says that without Jesus, these horrific acts will continue to occur on the earth.  “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

At times of tragedy, Christian churches and ministries rally to remind survivors of a God who the Psalms tell us “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

“There are two characteristics of mass murderers: no Jesus, and the work of Satan.”  “Satan is the problem.”  “The wrath of the evil one is falling upon us,” Robertson adds.

Phil Robertson’s  one-minute message may be brief, but like the sword of the spirit, it’s sharp and powerful. Since it was posted on Wednesday, Phil’s video has been watched over 16 million times.

 

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Will Your Grace Run out, If I Let You Down?

Will Your Grace Run out, If I Let You Down?

“Brokenness Aside” is a Christian song penned and set to music by American worship band, All Sons & Daughters. This worship song begins with a wondering – “Will Your grace run out, if I let you down? It further goes on with a realization – “Cause I am a sinner, if it’s not one thing it’s another.”

It’s a question that can bother those who’ve had colourful pasts, who’ve had a lot of unpleasant things going on in their lives before they came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It’s a thought that can worry believers who are caught in persistent sins, addictions, and struggles they find hard to overcome.

Will God’s grace run out? Can our continued sinning and failures exhaust the mercies of the Father? Will God reach the “end of His rope” and turn his back on a stubborn, wayward child?

His grace is sufficient.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 God Himself utters the promise, “My grace is sufficient for you because My strength is made perfect in weakness.” In our struggles, God comes and graces us with Himself so we can find the strength to overcome. Philippians 4:13 promises that those who remain in Christ will find the strength they need to go through all things in life: the good and the bad.

His Mercy is in fresh supply.

Lamentations 3:22-23 say that “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” God never keeps count. There is no daily listing of our shortcomings. Each new day opens with a clean slate. Unless we allow so, there is no past that can ever keep us down.

Psalm 103:10,14 also say, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” God desires the best of us but He will never over-expect. He knows our limits and He will never allow struggles beyond our capacities.

His Love is everlasting.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. The root meaning of the word “everlasting” carries both “antiquity” and “futurity”. It encompasses the past and stretches out into the future. It means we can never be unloved. It means we are loved before we ever came to be and we are loved indefinitely, unendingly. Romans chapter 8 ends with an assuring declaration, that nothing in this life, not even death, no, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Going back to the song, “Brokenness Aside”; it is a song to be loved and appreciated for one overwhelming truth that answers its own question, and that brings release to any sin-laden, failure-laden soul: “You are a Savior, and You take brokenness aside and make it beautiful.” God does. He makes it beautiful. We only need to come. He will take brokenness aside. He will make it beautiful.

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Will I Live the Radical Life Jesus Called Me to Live?

I commit to living a super-ordinary life in Jesus. I will live the radical life Jesus called me to live.

It was Henry David Thoreau who wrote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

I don’t admire Thoreau as a theologian, but I think he largely got it right in this quote describing the normal human condition and maybe the condition of lots of Christians.

I believe that most of us, including myself, get bogged down in the routines of life. I have nothing against routines, except when they become my master. Much can be said about the righteousness of living a careful, responsible life before God. But, this is not an issue for me in this commitment.

My fear is that the life Jesus lived and died to give us “I came that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10 can get lost in the devotion to safety, health and routine. I’m not advocating going out today to partake in some “extreme” thrill sport. I’m simply encouraging myself to do something outside of my normal routine, to experience life outside the lines I’ve  drawn, to provide myself with the opportunity to “sing my song” and be bold in Jesus. Jesus challenges me to leave ordinary behind and live a super-ordinary life in Him. Today is the day. Now is the time.

God is ready to do amazing things. His Holy Spirit is in me and that is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. I can live an extraordinary life in Him.

How? Maybe it’s as simple as, at the prompting of God,  taking the long way home from the store or work to gain a new perspective on the world right around me that otherwise goes unnoticed. Maybe Jesus wants to perform a miracle in someone’s life I don’t normally see. Maybe He wants me to be the Good Samaritan.

God’s goal for me will be revealed by Him to me TODAY. And that is some very Good News!

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Is Russell Brand A Christian?

Russell Brand is talking about Jesus.

On the heels of a denouncement by Pope Francis that journalists are peddling fake news, I was recently reading a feature article by a popular Christian magazine, intimating that Russell Brand had become a Christian. The language was subtle but the message seemed clear. Brand believes that Christ’s teaching is “more relevant now than they’ve ever been”.

Wow, that sounds really great!

Well, the vast majority of readers who responded thought so. Comments on that article were mostly other Christians offering an “Atta boy, Russell!” or “Welcome to the family, brother in Christ!” Hundreds of people left messages just like this, likely feeling warm fuzzies at the thought that Russell Brand is now eternally safe in the arms of Jesus.

But maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s take a closer look.

If you know anything about him, you know that Russell Brand was a hard-drinking, drug-doing, prostitute-purchasing party guy who was in the spotlight and the tabloids for years. Shock comedy and foul language were his own personal brand. The dirtier, the better.

Giving credit where it’s due, Brand has made significant changes in his life over the past decade or so. Crashing hard from his wild lifestyle, Brand accepted help through an intervention after he was found shooting heroin at a Christmas party. He credits a version of the 12-step program with assisting him on the road to recovery.

The fact that Brand has cleaned up his act and become a family man is a huge step forward. Really, he deserves kudos. There’s no question that his earthly life is now better and less destructive than it was before.

But being a person recovered from addiction doesn’t exactly equate him with being a Christian.

Now, I’m not saying that God isn’t powerful enough to save guys like Russell Brand. Of course, He is! And lest you start thinking I believe myself to be something I am not, I am fully aware that I’m not the eternal judge and only God knows a person’s heart. But I do believe (and the Bible teaches) that people show outward signs of their inward relationship with Jesus.

It’s true that in various interviews and speaking engagements, Russell Brand is a grand proponent of meditation, spirituality, and even the teachings of Jesus.

For instance, early in 2018 Brand published a YouTube video where he speaks (very graphically with much profane language) against addiction and the pleasures of this world. He promotes the idea that humans shouldn’t feel bad in life and happiness is resourced from within.

In the previous article I mentioned by the Christian magazine, Brand talks about the world being broken. He speaks of humanity desperately in need of the “message of Jesus”.

I deeply want to believe that Russell Brand has been saved by Jesus! Don’t you?

Sadly, after reading and listening to Brand speak about his “spirituality”, I think that he is probably a person who desperately needs, but has not yet found, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

But wait a minute—didn’t Brand just say he was a Christian?

Actually no, he didn’t.

What Brand did say is that the 12-step program encouraged him and his fellow recovering addicts to turn their will and their lives over to the care of God “as we understood Him.”

Although he really doesn’t like all of the religious talks, Brand now confesses to using some Christian language and practices. He attributes this to his upbringing in the Christian culture of the UK so that the “language of prayer” he uses is Christian. Specifically, he mentions the Lord’s Prayer.

Going a bit further, Brand notes that the Christian service and “values” make him feel at peace. The teachings of Jesus have helped him understand modern cultural addictions. He even seeks to find a level of “Christ-consciousness.”

So, to summarize, Brand considers spirituality to be important, sometimes uses Christian language and practices, embraces Christian values, agrees with some of the teachings of Jesus, and aims to find “Christ-consciousness.”

That should be good, right? Yes, except that he also dabbles in many other spiritual and religious realms.

Over the past couple of decades, in what seems to be an earnest search for relevance, Brand has been an avid seeker and supporter of various religious and spiritual things. He used to be a Buddhist and has previously talked of the Dalai Lama as the “living incarnation of Buddha”. His wedding ceremony to Katy Perry was of the Hindu persuasion and many of the spiritual tenants about which he still speaks follow along those lines. For years he regularly attended Hare Krishna services.

Brand now seems to consider the 12-steps as the answer to his religious needs. He recently wrote a book, Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions, explaining the steps in his own unique way.

Even so, the spiritual buzz words Brand flings about might lead us to believe that he identifies with Christ. And I think maybe he does in the sense that he sees Jesus as a good teacher and a prophet. But we need to listen more carefully.

When I put all of his spiritual verbiage together, it paints a picture of a person who is certainly a seeker of spiritual and religious things but hasn’t directly identified Jesus as the Only Way to the Father. Brand talks of the teachings and the message of Jesus, without ever identifying with Jesus as the Son of God or Savior. Brand goes on about the “kingdom of heaven on earth” but sadly he does not currently claim a faith in the only King Jesus who can usher him into the kingdom.

We don’t get to pick and choose our beliefs from a smorgasbord of options. With Jesus, it’s all or nothing. And Brand’s words do not indicate that Jesus is all, through his words or through his actions.

Sure, he seems to be committed to his wife now and they have a lovely child. He wants to be a good father. He is trying to do good things and help people. And those are all great things! But he continues to be critical, loud-mouthed, and somewhat narcissistic, speaking with profanity that could make the angels of hell blush. His current standup comedy routine does not even show a hint of a person who loves Jesus. From his actions and his words, it seems he’s still missing the mark.

But maybe he’s closer than he used to be. Russell Brand is on a journey where he seems to be aware of some sort of spiritual need. Hopefully, that journey will lead him into a right relationship with Christ as his Savior. I desperately want that to be true and I believe God does too!

However, from what I can surmise from his media presence (and, shockingly, I do not know him personally) Brand is not quite there yet.

But from what I can see, Brand is on a journey and I can respect that. I deeply appreciate how far he’s come and I wouldn’t judge him for not having “arrived”. His story still inspires me. Overcoming addiction is no small thing.

What really gets me in this scenario is the fact that a corner of the Christian publishing world is touting Brand on the cover of their magazine and making it seem like he is a converted Christian. This is confusing in a couple of ways.

It could be misleading personally for Brand as the magazine’s blatant approval of him might make him think his theology is correct and he has found the right answers. I mean, they titled the article “The Second Coming of Russell Brand” for goodness sake”¦. If a Christian magazine approves of you, it must mean you’re eternally secure, right?

Even more disappointing and destructive, this type of sensationalism is misleading to the Christian readership and general public. Was it intentional? I don’t know. But we journalists (especially Christian journalists!) have the responsibility to make sure that we are reporting the truth and not twisting it into something even marginally deceptive — no matter how popular it is and how many clicks it gets.  

And that’s what Pope Francis was talking about recently when he asked journalists to stop engaging in disinformation and other “sins of the media”. I don’t always agree with the pope but, in this case, I think he has a point.

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