Tag Archive: Jesus


PRIDE vs GLORY-Holding the Flag High

Filed under: Creation, The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
July 4, 2021

One loosely connected synonym for pride might be glory. To say I have pride in someone or something, generally speaking, means I have elevated that person or action to a higher place in my heart and mind. We could make a case that glory, in this sense, is similar. From there, however, these two words pretty much part ways.


Although, we don’t use the word “glory” as much in today’s vernacular, it’s still a very important word, especially in light of Jesus and His wonderful Word, the Bible. Since God is the One who created all things perfectly in six short days, it is He who deserves all the glory and fame. Since it is Jesus who also chose to come to earth as a man, never stopped being God, and laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice for our sins against Him, it is He and He alone who deserves all the glory. In Revelation 4:11, the declaration is made, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created.” And yet, as prideful humans, we have foolishly attempted to steal all the glory for ourselves.


Of course, true glory, unlike pride, doesn’t insecurely celebrate self. So it’s not accurate to say that God has pride. But we can most assuredly declare that God is glorious and deserves to be glorified, again, not because He’s insecure, in need of some sort of self-bolstering, but because He’s simply the greatest of all! Glory might also be likened to fame. But it’s so much more. God’s glory never depends on what others think of Him. His glory is rooted in His very character, and truly, He has and deserves it all. And His glory never fades!


Biblically speaking, pride is abhorrent to God and completely destructive to mankind. A simple Bible word search of pride makes that clear. The Bible has nothing good to say about pride. To say that we need to think more highly of ourselves is not only foolish in light of history, it’s clearly unbiblical and satanic, to say it mildly.


It is clear, no one has ever had more pride than Satan. His desire is to be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-14). He came to God’s perfect planet earth; to the Garden of Eden, plotting to plant his prideful lie in the mind of the woman. And sadly, both she and Adam fell for it. Literally and figuratively eating it up, they both allowed Satan’s self-satisfying lie into their hearts and minds, which then overrode all other desires. They were immediately separated from (dead to) God, and their eyes were opened to self, sin, and Satan. One might say, mankind had become asleep to God’s truth, and awoken to the lies of Lucifer. Truly, a whole new ungodly world was unveiled before their very eyes.


“You shall be like gods” became their new “enlightened” foundation, inspiration, and battlecry which has been tragically passed down to every generation. Even the smallest echo of this mantra causes a deep nostalgic embrace, resonating almost instinctively in the souls of mankind. It was at the entrance of Satan’s lie in which mankind was no longer focused on glorifying God. Seeking solace in self is now man’s prideful pursuit, growing ever more arrogant from generation to generation.


In 2 Timothy 3, the Lord led Paul to write, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves…

…covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.


Yet mankind was not designed for this sort of self-exaltation. We were originally created to give glory to God and Him alone. The Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, wrote, “Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD” Jeremiah 9:23-24.


Interestingly, one of the nicknames of the American Flag is “Old Glory”. Clearly, our country has never been perfect, but the foundations that were built on God’s Word brought a spiritual freedom like never before. Prior to even becoming a country, the American colonies went through a real awakening which is known as the first Great Awakening. The Lord inspired men from England to simply begin preaching God’s Word, which almost always led to their rejection by and ejection from the established “church”. This rejection only fueled the flames, allowing them to preach and reach even more hungry souls. This excitement and boldness for God’s Word and His glory were then taken to America. And although many institutional churches kicked these preachers out, they continued to preach from the Word, reaching both colonists and Indians alike for the Gospel. This Great Awakening first took place from the 1730s to the 1740s and may arguably be one of the main reasons America sought it’s independence from England.


The life and light of God’s Word that poured into early America certainly paved a road which ushered in a time of freedom to preach and teach from God’s Word like the world had never known before. So many amazing colleges, sciences, churches, and missionary organizations can be directly or indirectly linked to this time in our history, and yet, little of this is taught in our schools, let alone, our churches.


No, our country is not perfect, but God is, and He truly does deserve all the glory. We have allowed the wisdom of this world to cloud our thinking. The argument today isn’t really about “race’, gender equality, the American Flag, etc. When we shine the light of God’s Word into the fog, the foolishness fades, and the truth is all that remains. The battle today is the same as the battle of the ages. It is still the same battle mankind had with God in the Garden. We are still fighting for the crown. Mankind’s passionate pursuit to rob God of His crown, stealing His glory, is what the Bible simply and clearly calls pride. And yet, we soldier on, unwavering from the serpent’s original lie.


Praise God, there are some who realize the futility of this struggle. Once we acknowledge that God created all things, then we are left with the reality that it is He who deserves all the glory, not us. We are nothing more than thieves and robbers, doing the deeds of the Devil, our original spiritual father. Jesus declared, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” John 8:44.


Praise God, He didn’t leave us separated from Him eternally. Instead, because He is true, selfless love, God the Father sent Jesus, God the Son and the Son of God, to earth to pay the eternal punishment mankind deserves for stealing God’s glory. Jesus willingly became a man, yet He never stopped being God. He walked on this sin-soaked planet for 33 years, never rebelling, giving all the glory to God, not Himself. Jesus lived the life God intended for Adam and Eve in the Garden. Jesus willingly and lovingly obeyed the Heavenly Father perfectly, laying down His life upon the cross. He became the willing and perfect sacrifice. God was pleased with His love offering, pouring upon Him the wrath we all deserved. Jesus laid down the crown so mankind could finally be eternally freed to stop pursuing it. Jesus laid down His life, rising three days later, victorious over sin and death.


Praise God, He not only paid in full the price of mankind’s sin. He also invites all who are tired of chasing the crown to turn to Him. He invites us to confess our sinfulness against Him, to trust that Jesus is our perfect payment for sin, and to receive in our hearts and minds His full and free forgiveness found in Christ alone. We must lay down our pride, holding high the heavenly flag that glorifies the King of Glory, the Lamb of God, the Almighty God, Creator, Savior, and soon returning King.

The Bible promises those who have chosen to believe and receive God’s full and free forgiveness have, by God’s power, passed from death to life, being born again by the Spirit of God. They’ve been adopted into His family, no longer enemies of God, but now and forever His children. We, like the Pilgrims of old, are excited for a better country, one of freedom and life abundant.


Praise God, those who have received the forgiveness of God not only have the hope of Heaven one day, but also the liberty (freedom), beauty, and joy of Jesus now and forever. We happily lay down our fading and prideful crowns, casting them at the foot of the cross, knowing that Jesus alone deserves all the glory!


“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:4

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever” Revelation 5:12-13.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then comes the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He has put all things under [Jesus’] feet… And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

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Love the Truth

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment
May 29, 2021

The born again believer’s time spent humbly studying God’s Word combined with his earnest desire to know Jesus more will directly relate to his fruitfulness, faithfulness, eternal perspective and satisfaction, peace, heavenly wisdom, discernment, grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, victory, rest, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

If we’re lacking in anything, may we cease from sitting at the feet of so many of today’s worldly, so-called Christian leaders and instead, simply enjoy the beauty of God unadulterated Word!

The message of today’s post modern Christianity is nothing more than the world’s wisdom shabbily layered with a very thin veneer of Christianity. Listen, despite what so many are telling us today, we don’t have to “breathe” Jesus in. This is a mystical concept never taught in the Bible. We don’t have to quietly wait to hear Jesus calling. We don’t have to sit outside, trying to feel God in the wind and hear Him in the bird! Again, these are mystical, not biblical Christianity. Contrary to popular opinion, this is walking by sight, not by faith.

We don’t have to build one another up by telling ourselves we’re so wonderful . This is at best psychological, but most certainly not biblical. We don’t have to try Yoga or eastern meditation in hopes of “experiencing” God. These are Hinduistic and ungodly methods not once found in the Bible.

We don’t have to dumb down God’s Word. We don’t have to rewrite it, calling it God’s modern “message”. Instead of seeking the newest watered down “version” of the Bible, why not just take the time to understand and know the truth already clearly given to us in His Word and revealed by His Holy Spirit?

We don’t have to try uniting with everyone. Instead, let us simply stand firm, lovingly teaching others the veracity of His Holy Word.

We don’t have to join arms with those who foolishly and arrogantly think they’re making the world ready for Jesus to come back. We don’t have to be “moved” by every so-called Christian singer featured on the radio or internet. We don’t have to clamor after every new book written by some post-modern, self-proclaimed Christian, many of whom are deeply entrenched and influenced by godless philosophy and psychology.

We don’t have to turn a blind eye to the myriad of false teaching found in Roman Catholism (and other so-called Christian religions) just to appear tolerant and “loving”.

May we stop clamoring after this world’s methods and message! Sadly, many are unwittingly playing right into the hands of the enemy of our souls, all the while believing they are becoming more enlightened, faithfully doing God’s “new” work.

We live in a time when not only the world is calling good evil, but so is much of today’s church.  Sadly, much of the purpose of today’s church growth will only serve to grow and adorn the woman exposed in Revelation 17.

The bride of Christ has no interest in this world, rather she is longing to be called home to be with her Husband, the true Jesus Christ. Until then, may His real bride seek to faithful and humbly serve her Husband by lovingly clinging to His Word and faithfully sharing His glorious, life-giving Gospel with everyone she meets.

We don’t have to apologize for God’s truth or bow our knees to the idols of the world. We don’t have to dance to the world’s beat, no matter how good it sounds. We don’t have to feast on it’s food nor build God an earthly home.

Let us rather rejoice by remembering and loving our true Husband, making ourselves ready by taking off the filthy garments of the flesh and instead, adorning ourselves with Jesus Christ and His wonderful Word!

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:14

“For the mystery of iniquity already works: only He who now lets will let, until He be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-11

Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from here.” John 18:36

“And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.”  Revelation 19:7

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Food for Thought- O Taste and See

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December 21, 2020

“O taste and see that the LORD is good” Psalm 34:8.

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LROD for His goodness, and for wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness” Psalm 107:8-9  

“I was so foolish and ignorant, I was like a beast before You” Psalm 73:22

“My flesh and heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Psalm 73:6.  

God promises to be our food and our portion. He desires to feed us every day with the bread of His Word. Jesus lost many who followed when He said, in John 6:51-57, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed…”

God tremendously desires that we humbly come to His Word, letting His Living Word, the Holy Spirit, teach and lead us; comfort and reprove us, filling us with all that we need; all that spiritually satisfies. Is it not His Holy Word that we ought to daily feast upon? God made this marvelous point like an exclamation mark (!) when He came to earth. The Word became flesh and was born in a manger. “And [shepherds] came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in the manger” Luke 2:16.

A Manger- A feeding trough for beasts. Of course, we are all born into this world like bests, men without Godly understanding, willingly ignorant of God’s glory and majesty, yet He came, born in a feeding trough willing to feed any that would come to Him.

Taste and see that the LORD is good!!!

 

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Halloween-Shining with Consistency

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October 29, 2018

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“Consistency is Key”— This phrase may be short, but it’s tremendously important and one we’ve all probably heard and maybe even said. As a parent and a teacher, I’ve seen first hand just how true it is; and as a born again believer, even more so. Consistency truly is a crucial key.

When considering the challenges of being a parent, it’s often not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of consistency that causes the most long-term issues. As parents, we tend to say one thing to our children but then do another. Or we see an area that needs improvement in their lives and then introduce a new pattern to help hold them accountable, only to find ourselves not sticking with it for very long.

Although there is an endless depth to our Creator and Savior, and although He works in ways that are far above our own, one thing can be said with certainty. The Lord’s consistency is just that, consistent. He is consistently faithful. He is consistently loving. He is consistently just. He is consistently full of mercy and grace. He is consistently true. And praise God for that! How difficult would it be to try to understand and know, let alone serve and follow, an inconsistent King?

Fellowship with the Lord— One of our major roles as Christian parents is to carefully, correctly, and consistently point our children to the true and living God and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. To do this well, we need to be consistently in the Word, continuously praying on our heart’s knees, keeping fellowship with other believers, and consistently keeping our eyes on Jesus as He daily directs our steps. We also desperately need a love for the truth of God’s Word and Godly discernment to help our children see both the truth of God and the lies of the devil. God’s Word is crystal clear. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” 2 Corinthians 2:11. Lest we forget, an important part of holding to the truth of God’s Word is not being ignorant of the enemy’s lies.

Shining the Truth— We cannot change the hearts and minds of our children, at least not in relation to the eternal and permanent sanctification spoken of by the Lord in the Scriptures. Jesus’ prayer to His Heavenly Father, “Sanctify them by Your Word. Your word is truth” John 17:17. And we should be elated that we can’t! We can, however, set up consistent patterns that will help direct the next generation to the only One who can.

It is true that we will all make mistakes and struggle maintaining steadfast, Godly patterns of obedience. That is why we must first take seriously our own responsibility to personally and daily abide in Christ. (John 15:1-5) From there we must seek to demonstrate clear and consistent devotion to the only One who could justly redeem us from our sin. If we are to shine the light of Christ to help illumine our children’s steps, we must seek to shine with consistency.

No fellowship with the works of darkness— As a child, growing up in an unbelieving home, I can remember always looking forward to Halloween. I never turned down the chance to dress in ghoulish garb, embracing all things macobre. One year I even won a community award for wearing the most gross costume. Even at a very young age, I knew quite well what Halloween represented. While some may not understand the depth of occultism involved, the world readily recognizes the generalized celebration of death and darkness we call Halloween. During the month of October, millions of homes, stores, restaurants, and schools all across the world morph into a cauldron of darkness, fear, and death.

Confusion or Consistency— As mentioned before, born again believers should desire to be clear and consistent in all we say and do, both for our own growth and the spiritual growth of our children. Being consistent in our daily walk with Jesus not only involves the things we do, but also the things we choose not to do. Arguably, one such activity that continues to cause tremendous confusion is Halloween. How utterly confusing it must be for children to be told on Sundays and Wednesdays that sin brought death, Satan is a liar and a murderer, and that we should avoid corruption, deception, and witchcraft, only to then be turned around to celebrate the most dark and deceptive night of the year! Even if we dress our children as angels, they are annually being led from scary house to scarier house and for what purpose? An overflowing bucket of candy? Let’s celebrate all thing wicked for a bucket of candy. What a confusing and deceptive message indeed!

Unlike the deceptive inconsistency found in the human heart, God’s Word is clear, shining bright on the issue of embracing/fellowshipping with the darkness. During the Halloween season, and throughout each year, may we choose to carefully and humbly examine our own hearts and minds, desiring to shine God’s truth and love with complete consistency, both for the sake of our own walk and the footsteps of our children!

“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8

“Of old have You laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They shall perish, but You shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt You change them, and they shall be changed: but You are the same, and Your years shall have no end. The children of Your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before You.” Psalm 102:25-28

“For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:8-11

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EASTER… WHY OR WHY NOT?

Filed under: Emergent, The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
March 30, 2018

“You shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.” Leviticus 20:23

Biblically speaking, Jesus’ resurrection occurred on the first Sunday after the Jewish Passover meal. So why is it that some years “Easter” occurs before the Passover?

In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea voted to hold “Easter” on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal (Spring) equinox (the day when sunlight is equal on both hemispheres of the earth; aka the first day of spring. After this point, days get longer and nights shorter.)

Choosing this pattern for dating Jesus’ resurrection is curious at best. Why did those overseen by Constantine (the Roman Emperor) ignore the actual pattern (the Sunday after the Passover meal) established by the Lord? Why did they adopt a pattern practiced by paganism for centuries? And does it even matter?

It only matters if we first understand what paganism, witchcraft, occultism, etc. has wholeheartedly embraced for centuries prior to Jesus’ resurrection regarding Easter. A simple search online will reveal the many deceptive pagan connections between rabbits, eggs, the word and timing of Easter and false, fertility goddess worship.

One brief example-

“Dating Easter in conjunction with the vernal equinox and full moon had nothing to do with the biblical account of Christ’s resurrection or the Passover. It was pagan practices, such as the spring fertility goddess rituals that the Catholic Church “absorbed” and attempted to Christianize, that resulted in Easter’s being linked to the vernal equinox and the full moon. The only thing that is biblical regarding when Easter is now observed is the fact that Easter is always on a Sunday. However, this is not the case. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 21 in 2008, the first day of spring). (Got Questions)

Does it matter whether or not Christians embrace the world’s rituals? I believe the answer is yes. Jesus didn’t lay eggs (nor do rabbits for that matter). He did, however, tragically suffer His Heavenly Father’s spiritual and eternal wrath while He was upon the cross. He chose to obey His Father wholeheartedly, taking the penalty we deserve. “You [LORD] shall make His soul an offering for sin…” Isaiah 53:10. Jesus paid the price in full and then willingly laid down His life only to triumphantly raise to life again three days later just like He said He would. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophesies all to prove that He is the very Christ. He made the truth absolutely and abundantly clear so not to add to all the confusion surrounding Him. 

Am I saying we should boycott church on “Easter” Sunday?  That would be ridiculous! But should we “dress” and “dance” like the world just because it’s popular and pleasing to the eyes?  God forbid!

Resurrection Sunday is the exclamation point, the heart of God’s Gospel, yet too often the waters are muddied and lines blurred within the Church. We tell others to believe God’s Word, but then behave like world when practicing its high days. Sadly, adults are many times motivated to follow the world’s lead simply because it makes our children happy. But Jesus didn’t say do whatever makes our children temporarily excited. He said, “Let the children come to Me, and forbid them not” Matthew 19:14. This generation is confused enough as it is. They are literally inundated with the world’s Antichrist messages carefully, creatively, and intentionally force fed to them through videos, games, toys, TV, movies, music, books, school, friends… and more and more, even today’s Christianity.

Satan’s strategy hasn’t changed. Water down, confuse, and corrupt from the inside out. Why should we, the body of Christ, muddy the waters? Why blur the lines? Why add confusion to an already overly confused generation?

Why not present a different message? Why not lovingly speak the truth? Why not simply preach Christ and Him crucified? Why not be separate? Why not shine forth the pure light of Jesus? Why not offer the world the pure water of the Word?

Why not?

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Above It All

Filed under: The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
May 8, 2016

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This Mother’s Day…

As believers, let us never forget we can rejoice and praise the Lord in both the good times and in the bad.

We all have so many hopes and dreams, especially for our lives and our children’s lives, yet often this world sends storms beyond our control and we can do nothing but simply watch as our course and the courses of those we deeply love are altered. Sometimes these changes are, in part, due to decisions we have made. Other times, they are just the result of living in a broken and fallen world.

Special days like Mother’s Day can be so exciting, a time to thank our mothers and be thanked as mothers, yet it’s also a time when sorrow can quickly invade. There are many circumstances, some of which I understand first hand, that have affected families, ones that cause days like today to be quite difficult. Regardless of time, wounds are often still present. But dare we never forget that even in the worst of storms, the sun still shines above it all.

Praise Jesus, because for the born again believer, there’s eternal hope beyond the temporal storms and successes, above the peaks and valleys of this world. Regardless of the tragedies, trials, broken hearts and even beyond the earthly successes, there’s a wonderful kingdom above it all. This heavenly kingdom is eternal and available for any and all who choose to receive the full and free forgiveness of Jesus Christ. “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46.

Despite what we’ve been told, true life is not the sum total of all our expectations, experiences, hopes, and desires. Life is so much more than us. True life is Jesus Christ and no matter what storms come across our course, as Christians, we can still know victory because our God is outside and above it all. Jesus endured it all and laid down it all. He became sin for us, so we could finally be brought above it all to know what life’s really all about.

He became the lowest of all and then raised up to highest of all to provide the only way for mankind to receive Him as our All in All! Only because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection can we have true life, ETERNAL life! In John 17, Jesus reminds us, “And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”  John 17:3. The Christian life is not easy. In fact, it’s frankly impossible. Only Jesus lived it perfectly and only Jesus can live His life in us. True life is only discovered when we once and for all give Jesus the reins, letting Him lead us Home to our Heavenly Father.

But the old life I chose to mortify still knocks on the door of my heart and mind. It still wants to be appreciated, noticed, and coddled. It becomes jealous when anyone else gets the attention, most of all Jesus.The world, the flesh, and the devil will often remind us of the tragedies and fleshly triumphs, desiring nothing less than for us to lose sight of the Son above, all together forgetting about our risen Lord and Savior.  And days like today can sometimes become grand opportunities for the flesh to come knocking.

Instead of opening the door, may I embrace the true Comforter, the Savior and sanctifier of my soul. May I take my eyes off myself and instead look intently at the only One I truly cannot live without. May I learn to embrace the difficulties this planet offers as opportunities to steadfastly grow closer to my Rock and Refuge.

The Lord has called us to so much more than we can ever comprehend this side of Heaven. May we take time to love Jesus today, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. And then let us simply continue serving Him, letting Him take care of every outcome. There are perhaps many tragedies filling your heart today. May the Lord bring us above them all, empowering us to continue running the heavenly race He has set before us with joy and grace in our hearts!

May we simply abide in Christ, continually feasting on His wonderful Word. Then let us continue faithfully planting and watering His Word in all those He puts in our path. We cannot truly change the course of anyone, but we can point them to the only One who can. His light will shine, even piercing through the darkest of storms, and with it comes true life. What an absolute privilege and blessing to wholeheartedly love and follow Jesus, knowing He truly is above it all!

“Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

“Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

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Childlike or Childish: A World Apart

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April 22, 2016

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It’s often been said, but definitely bares repeating…

As born again believers, may we always embrace our faith in Christ as a child. Lest there be any confusion, being childlike is never to be mistaken for being childish. They are most assuredly a world apart.

Childlike faith recognizes and embraced complete and utter dependence upon the Heavenly Father. Childish faith continues to ignore this fact, instead attempting to accomplish the unattainable in his own power. Childlike faith is care free. Childish faith is careless. Childlike faith is trusting, yet testing all things according to God’s Word. Childish faith is ignorant and foolish, often trusting in feelings, not in the Lord who bought him. Childlike faith is always attentive to the Father. Childish faith is directed by his flesh, often tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

Childlike faith is selfless. Childish faith is consumed with self. Childlike faith is innocent regarding evil, yet not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. Childish faith is ignorant to Satan’s devices which often leads into areas loaded with spiritual and doctrinal landminds. Childlike faith happily receives from the Lord to then gladly give away. Childish faith is content to consume, rarely offering anything to anyone.

Childlike faith joyfully receives daily food from Heaven. Childish faith cares little for heavenly manna and is often ruled by foolish and fleshly appetites. Childlike faith is always inquiring of the Lord, always thinking, always desiring to grow in the knowledge and understanding of His Savior. Childish faith is always arguing with the Lord, questioning and complaining every step of the way. Childlike faith is humble, slow to speak and quick to listen. Childish faith abundant in pride, ever willing to cloak his ignorance in the abundance of words.

There’s a very good reason Jesus brought a little child in the midst of the disciples and said, “Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

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The Only Way

Filed under: Creation, The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
April 17, 2016

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I wonder if perhaps one reason the Lord created the earth to orbit in such a way that it never gets anywhere new is to help us remember to stop trusting in the same old, man-centred habits we’ve repeatedly embraced and performed for so many years.

There is a tree firmly rooted in this sin-soaked soil, one that every prideful heart pledges to protect at all cost. This tree is watered and fertilized with every vain philosophy and false religious system formed and followed by the first Adam’s fallen race. Sadly, the fallen nature in each of us delights in its temporary beauty, food, and shelter.

Ever since sin came in, the mantra of man has been onward and upward by whatever earthly means possible. No matter how many times mankind’s failures reveal his own futility, he stubbornly refuses to switch directions. Our persistent pride is truly deplorable! We have repeatedly fulfilled Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

There’s only way to get off this earthly orbit. If we desire to truly be free, to truly live, our heart must move, not only off this planet, but out of the universe. Creation is fallen so it can do nothing but cause us to fall back to this world. We must move past all of creation and instead wholeheartedly fix our full and undivided attention upon the Creator. Only by turning to the One True God, the Creator and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will we pass from death to life.

“Jesus said… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

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The King’s Garden

Filed under: Parables — Leave a comment
February 18, 2016

God-Write-the-BibleEven those of us who might boldly declare our status (by God’s grace) as born again believers have a tendency to forget that we have been literally and spiritually transported out of the old kingdom and into the new one (Colossians 1:13), one where often the old worldly economy, tools, and techniques simply won’t suffice.  Although we might readily understand and openly acknowledge the forgiveness of our sins, we still need to be regularly reminded of our utter dependence upon the power of God and His glorious Word and the absolute necessity of rejecting the impotent inventions and dangerous devices of this world!

In Colossians 3, the Lord reminds us of the vital importance of not only knowing where we now live, but also of mortifying all that accompanied us from the old kingdom. We are instructed to take off (mortify) the old man and instead put on the new man who is being renewed in Christ. (Colossians 3:9-11) This is our daily duty and joy as believers, one we must perform with diligence and one that can only be accomplished by the power of the Lord Himself.

We must cease from returning to the flesh if we truly desire a victorious walk and abundant race in the strength of our Heavenly Father. I pray this simple story encourages and reminds us all to truly turn to Jesus Christ, our King, walking in the Spirit rather than the flesh.

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

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THE KING’S GARDEN

Once there was a very talented and creative gardener who lived in a beautiful kingdom. All sorts of wonderful plants thrived throughout his property. He even grew plants on his roof. The gardener had flowers, and vegetables, fruit trees and even several species no one had ever heard of before. The plants were bigger and more lush than many had ever seen. And the fruits and vegetables were more delicious than almost anything anyone had ever tasted, other than the king’s, of course. People from all around the kingdom purposely planned to journey past the gardener’s house just to gaze upon all the amazing florae. He received an abundance of praise from the people and over time grew quite fond of it. Day and night, the gardener could always be seen outside trimming, planting, and planning with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.

One day there was position open at the palace garden. Over the years, many had attempted to care for the king’s plants and unfortunately most had failed. The gardener only lived a few miles down the hill from the palace and was quite confident he would make a superb gardener for the King. He immediately applied and was quickly hired. Upon starting, he was handed a letter written by the king himself, but the gardener was so excited he forgot to even open it. Instead he gathered up all the equipment from his house, loaded it onto a cart and pushed it all the way up to the palace.

As he entered the enormous garden gateway, the guard held out his hand, stopping the gardener dead in Hagi_Castle_Garden,_Western_Honshu,_+Japanhis tracks. The guard explained that there could be no outside tools brought into the king’s garden. The gardener could only use what was supplied to him by the king. For the first time in a very long time, he felt a flood of worry and bewilderment pour over. The king’s garden required tools and techniques that were entirely foreign to the gardener and this was something he was definitely not ready for.

The gardener and his family had not always lived in the beautiful kingdom. He was actually born in a kingdom on the other side of mountains, one that was much different than where he lived now. While still in on the other side, the gardener’s dad handed down to his young son all the tools and techniques he would need in order to grow amazing plants, at least until now. The gardener really thought he had all the knowledge and skills he’d ever need. Unfortunately, none of the ways he had learned from his dad would work properly in the king’s garden and soon the king’s plants began to wither and die. This was also something the gardener had not experienced in a very long time. Those walking by began to murmur and some even laughed at him. Others just looked away, feeling both sad for the plants and for the gardener. He had lost all the praise he was so accustomed to receiving.

Many palace gardeners had come and gone and many had failed. The gardener knew he didn’t want to be numbered among those who had been defeated, but also knew he would need to do something he hadn’t done in a very, very long time. He knew he’d have to ask for help. “Why is the king being so difficult anyway,” he often mumbled to himself? One day he finally humbled himself enough to ask the guard if there were any books in the palace library on tending the king’s plants. The guard explained that the only way to know how to properly care for the king’s garden was to talk with the king himself. The gardener’s heart sank. “Oh, no! Not the king,” he answered with a tone of discouragement in his voice. “How can I possibly ask the king?”

He definitely did not want that. After all, he was supposed to be the best gardener in the whole kingdom. He didn’t want to appear like he didn’t actually know what he was doing, especially to the king. He reasoned within himself that this would only make it seem as though he wasn’t really a good gardener. He strove for weeks attempting to figure out the right way of caring for each of the plants in the king’s garden. He got up early every morning and went home late every night. It wasn’t long before he grew extremely frustrated and terribly exhausted.

Soon many of the plants were dying and inside he felt the same starvation, but he just couldn’t put aside his pride to ask the king for help. So instead, he chose to return to his old house where at least he felt like he belonged. At least he could tend to the familiar plants and begin seeing success again. After a couple weeks, he was back to his old routine, but deep down he knew there was more. There was something missing in it all, but he just couldn’t quite put his finger on it. One thing was for sure, tending to his familiar garden just wasn’t satisfying like it once was.

One day, while trimming back a few bushes, something popped into his mind. “The king’s letter,” he thought to himself. “In all the excitement, I never read his letter.” He wasn’t sure if he should even bother, but curiosity and frankly, the lack of satisfaction got the best of him. After searching a while, he found it. Sitting down in front of his fireplace, he carefully opened the envelope and began reading the king’s message aloud. It simply said,

            Dear Gardener,

            If you are weak; if you are weary, then come to Me. Learn of Me and I will give you rest.

           Love,

                    ~The King

The gardener read the letter several times. Each time it was like a tiny seed was being planted deeper and deeper within his own heart. At first, it was difficult to believe, but after thinking long and hard, he realized it wasn’t the king who was being so difficult. The gardener finally understood that he was the one being so stubborn and prideful.  “How could I have been so foolish,” he wondered to himself. “After all, who could possibly have better tools and knowledge than the king?”  He immediately stood and raced to the king, never looking back, never returning to his old garden again.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

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Abounding… with Thanksgiving

Filed under: Emergent, The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
November 21, 2015

Open Bible

If there ever was an attribute which remains reprehensible regardless of its modern day adornment, it would be that of ungratefulness. There is something quite disheartening in watching someone receive a gift with a heart absent of genuine gratitude. Although many areas of selfishness/self-centeredness, mostly due to marketing and manipulation, have successfully won over the hearts and minds of the culture, there is nothing that can cover up the egregious attitude of being unthankful.

I cannot think of one redeeming book, TV, or movie character that has stood the test of time which has displayed such a self-centered heart, yet ungratefulness plagues us in real life perhaps now more than ever. This is much in part thanks to what many have deemed the self-esteem movement.

Over the last several decades the pro high self-esteem movement has literally plowed and paved its way into the very fiber of our postmodern thinking and behavior. But there are more than a few ironies facing the self-esteem philosophy and sadly, even more casualties. One such casualty standing at the forefront would arguably be that of genuine thankfulness.

Certain characteristics in life have quite natural outcomes. When someone is spoon fed (from the high chair) the necessity of having a high/good self-worth, self-esteem, self-image, etc. we should not be surprised when that child grows up to be a very confused and disillusioned young adult. Despite a high self-esteem being touted as the wonder drug of the 20th century, nothing could be further from the truth.

Geneticists have worked tirelessly in recent decades, discovering how to modify today’s foods to appear bigger and brighter, but often other attributes are lost in the process. A similar principle can be observed in people’s attitudes and actions. In a culture literally in love with itself, there are often other, much more nutritious characteristics that are deleted, due in part to our anxious efforts of self-exaltation. One of the nutrients often missing is that of genuine and lasting thankfulness.

Consider the child that is repeatedly told he is so special and so important that he deserves everything and that “having it his way” is just the way it should be. This child feeds on books and tens of thousands of hours of TV shows and movies essentially telling him the very same thing. He’s given many fabulous and expensive gifts, only reinforcing the delusion. It doesn’t take long before his emboldened and enriched self-esteem is off the charts. This will undoubtedly lead to a reduction of other characteristics, namely thankfulness. After all, why be thankful, when you wholeheartedly believe you deserve the best and the most?

But one might argue that even a selfish child is thankful for receiving a long desired present. True, however, this is a different sort of thankfulness altogether. It is a fleeting, fleshly thankfulness, not one born out of true, selfless gratitude. It is produced only temporarily, if, in a sense, as the soul’s way of expressing pleasure for getting what it already believes it deserved in the first place. (If you don’t believe this, watch what happens when people are kept from getting what they think they deserve. It really doesn’t matter the age. Often children are just not as good at masking their true feelings.) In fact, it won’t be long before even the extravagant gifts will not be enough to satisfy that child’s insatiable appetite of self-aggrandizement. Soon even the presents will bring nothing but ungratefulness, always believing he deserves more and better things.

Sadly, this pattern is a deceptive and tragic trap, one ultimately set by the enemy of our souls, and one many corporations and psychologists have been utilized to employ, having profited greatly. Breeding discontentment will naturally lead people to spend more in hopes of satisfying their already discontented hearts and minds. Who better to benefit from this sort of philosophy than retail companies? Perhaps that is why so many of them are the leaders in self-centered advertising. Another business benefiting would of course be psychotherapy. After all, who better to seek than a therapist to “cure” the pain and emptiness that this sort of discontentment eventually produces? Sadly, much of today’s church is no different, seeking psychology and the next big sale to satisfy instead of the Word and indwelling Spirit of God. Is it any wonder we see so little vibrancy and victory in today’s Christianity?

Arguably there is a simple philosophy that our culture has bought into from birth. It says that most, if not all people begin with a low self-esteem. Whether due to circumstances or something broken within, that low self-esteem must be overcome at all cost if we are ever to succeed as successful human beings. In order to do so we must enjoy a high self-esteem diet of flesh enhancing philosophies and practices. Only then can we overcome our maladjusted beliefs and begin soaring like we were always meant to do. As tasty as this might sound, this is not how God designed us to live. We were not designed to raise ourselves up, but rather to lower ourselves down and instead raise God up.

Only in magnifying Jesus can we truly find genuine and eternal contentment and fulfillment. This is why God’s Word reminds us that godliness with contentment is great gain. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…” 1 Timothy 6:6-12a

The actual name for a high self-esteem is pride and pride is really nothing less than self-love. It is the very heart of all that hates God, seeking to exalt itself above Him, stealing the Lord’s rightful place upon the throne of every human heart. Despite what most schools, commercials, “professionals”, retail companies, and story books tell us, it is not having a high self-esteem that will ultimately fulfill us. Nor will it ever produce real thankfulness and gratitude. Only when we sincerely and desperately cling to the Great and Glorious God will we find the truth and truly be thankful to the Lord. Only when we understand that it is because of our willful rebellion against God that we deserve nothing less than Hell, only then will we truly embrace God in His forgiveness and love found in Jesus Christ alone.

Only in humility will thanksgiving not only be produced, but also bring about an abundance of the Life of Christ in us and through us. If pride is the ultimate culprit, then humility can be the cure. Like the sun, Jesus burns away the prideful fog obscuring God’s greatness, helping us to finally humble ourselves, coming to grips with the very real and freeing fact that we are really nothing. We will finally realize it is the Lord, not us, Who deserves it all! We do not “deserve a break today” and we most certainly should not seek to “have it our way”. Instead may we humbly seek His perfect and plentiful way. May we wholeheartedly desire to see the Lord in His true beauty and splendor. Then we will begin to see our discontentment and ungratefulness burn away and finally begin to understand what it truly means to “abound in Christ with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7).

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