Pass the butter please!

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Is.43.18-19

There should always be freshness in our relationship with the Lord--new answers to prayer, new provisions from His hand, new words from His mouth. Are we living on the stale bread of His past dealings with us, or is there fresh bread, piping hot, right out of His oven, ready to be buttered with our prayers and eaten with our faith. Pass the butter please!
12/31/2007 ts

Pass the butter please!

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Is.43.18-19

There should always be freshness in our relationship with the Lord--new answers to prayer, new provisions from His hand, new words from His mouth. Are we living on the stale bread of His past dealings with us, or is there fresh bread, piping hot, right out of His oven, ready to be buttered with our prayers and eaten with our faith. Pass the butter please!
12/31/2007 ts

Of all Things

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1Cor2.4-5 NKJV

When I look back on my conversion to Christ I am amazed at the simple way I was confronted by the Holy Spirit. I had read a cartoon depiction of the gospel and just like that, I not only knew I needed Christ; I began to earnestly seek Him. I am sure I had heard the same message in church and in Sunday school probably hundreds of times. I am also sure many people explained Jesus to me. But it was only after the Holy Spirit worked His power, using a gospel track of all things that I responded in repentance and faith.
When we consider that a condemned, Jewish carpenter, nailed to a cross between two thieves has changed the course of millions of people in almost every nation, this fact alone, attests, that it is the power of God working in the hearts of men. And, of all things, God is working this power, using some pretty ridiculous sounding preachers. Amazing Grace! 12/28/2007 ts

Of all Things

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1Cor2.4-5 NKJV

When I look back on my conversion to Christ I am amazed at the simple way I was confronted by the Holy Spirit. I had read a cartoon depiction of the gospel and just like that, I not only knew I needed Christ; I began to earnestly seek Him. I am sure I had heard the same message in church and in Sunday school probably hundreds of times. I am also sure many people explained Jesus to me. But it was only after the Holy Spirit worked His power, using a gospel track of all things that I responded in repentance and faith.
When we consider that a condemned, Jewish carpenter, nailed to a cross between two thieves has changed the course of millions of people in almost every nation, this fact alone, attests, that it is the power of God working in the hearts of men. And, of all things, God is working this power, using some pretty ridiculous sounding preachers. Amazing Grace! 12/28/2007 ts

The Test

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.” Ps103.2 NIV

We are told not to forget all His benefits because there are times when this is easy to do. Most of us call out to God in times of need or distress. It is in the good times, the seasons of abundance, when we take His blessings for granted. It has been said that wealth will test the quality of our heart more than poverty.

For those of us who live in the land of abundance, we have little choice but to take the test. And, one way to measure how well we are doing is simply by listening to the attitude of our heart and the echo of our words. How often do the words, “Bless the LORD,” flow from our heart, and "Thank you," echo from our lips? 12/27/2007 ts

The Test

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.” Ps103.2 NIV

We are told not to forget all His benefits because there are times when this is easy to do. Most of us call out to God in times of need or distress. It is in the good times, the seasons of abundance, when we take His blessings for granted. It has been said that wealth will test the quality of our heart more than poverty.

For those of us who live in the land of abundance, we have little choice but to take the test. And, one way to measure how well we are doing is simply by listening to the attitude of our heart and the echo of our words. How often do the words, “Bless the LORD,” flow from our heart, and "Thank you," echo from our lips? 12/27/2007 ts

The Value of the Moon

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Lk2.32

How do we measure the value of our lives to others? We may calculate it in a number of ways but one measure, which we should not overlook, is the presence of Christ in us. The Christian is the corporal presence of Jesus in the world. Our hands become His, hands, our feet, our mouth, may all express His goodness. The degree to which this is true of course is to be measured by the degree to which live out the words of the Baptizer, “He must increase but I must decrease.”
Our real life begins only after we have died to living only for ourselves. Our glory, is a reflected glory. Our glory, as the moon, is found in reflecting His glory, our value His value. Without the sun, the moon gives no light, without the Son, we too, would have no light to give. 12/26/2007 ts

The Value of the Moon

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Lk2.32

How do we measure the value of our lives to others? We may calculate it in a number of ways but one measure, which we should not overlook, is the presence of Christ in us. The Christian is the corporal presence of Jesus in the world. Our hands become His, hands, our feet, our mouth, may all express His goodness. The degree to which this is true of course is to be measured by the degree to which live out the words of the Baptizer, “He must increase but I must decrease.”
Our real life begins only after we have died to living only for ourselves. Our glory, is a reflected glory. Our glory, as the moon, is found in reflecting His glory, our value His value. Without the sun, the moon gives no light, without the Son, we too, would have no light to give. 12/26/2007 ts

Take to Heart

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Lk2.19-19 NIV

We may believe with intellectual sincerity that Christ is the Son of the living God, just as we believe that men have walked the lunar landscape. But to believe something in the mind is a different sort of faith than trusting it with ones heart. Now I am not saying that we should trust something simply because it “feels” right. It is true that much of what we take to heart begins first in the mind and probably should. We use the expression “take to heart,” when we want to convey our deepest interaction with something and in this case, with someone. Believing in the historical Jesus may very well be the first step in coming to Him but certainly not the last. Conversely, it would be silly to ask people to take Jesus to heart if they do not believe that He lived in history. Faith in Christ is not to be compared to faith in Santa. He lived in history; He asks now to live in our hearts. Take Him to heart. 12/24/2007 ts

Take to Heart

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Lk2.19-19 NIV

We may believe with intellectual sincerity that Christ is the Son of the living God, just as we believe that men have walked the lunar landscape. But to believe something in the mind is a different sort of faith than trusting it with ones heart. Now I am not saying that we should trust something simply because it “feels” right. It is true that much of what we take to heart begins first in the mind and probably should. We use the expression “take to heart,” when we want to convey our deepest interaction with something and in this case, with someone. Believing in the historical Jesus may very well be the first step in coming to Him but certainly not the last. Conversely, it would be silly to ask people to take Jesus to heart if they do not believe that He lived in history. Faith in Christ is not to be compared to faith in Santa. He lived in history; He asks now to live in our hearts. Take Him to heart. 12/24/2007 ts

Wow, This Guys good!

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” Lk2.8-11 NIV

Imagine a storyteller whose words immediately become the reality around you. He says, “It was a cold star filled night,” and just like that, you are sitting under a star filled sky, watching your smoky breath drift into the night’s air. You think, Wow, this guys good! God is such a storyteller. No one tells a story quite like God. He writes with the pen of providence. His thoughts are expressed in every movement of creation and every delicate detail in time and space becomes His literary device.

God undoubtedly loves to weave subtle nuances into the narrative He is writing with, about and for His Son. Christ is born at night, and so He comes to those who live in darkness. He is revealed to those living in the fields, which, like Him have no place of residence-- no place to lay their head. Shepherds are chosen to hear of His birth and He is the great Shepherd of the sheep. They are shepherd’s keeping watch and so he rewards those who “watch and pray.” They watch over flocks and so His principle message reminds us that we are our brother’s keeper. 12/22/2007 ts

Wow, This Guys good!

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” Lk2.8-11 NIV

Imagine a storyteller whose words immediately become the reality around you. He says, “It was a cold star filled night,” and just like that, you are sitting under a star filled sky, watching your smoky breath drift into the night’s air. You think, Wow, this guys good! God is such a storyteller. No one tells a story quite like God. He writes with the pen of providence. His thoughts are expressed in every movement of creation and every delicate detail in time and space becomes His literary device.

God undoubtedly loves to weave subtle nuances into the narrative He is writing with, about and for His Son. Christ is born at night, and so He comes to those who live in darkness. He is revealed to those living in the fields, which, like Him have no place of residence-- no place to lay their head. Shepherds are chosen to hear of His birth and He is the great Shepherd of the sheep. They are shepherd’s keeping watch and so he rewards those who “watch and pray.” They watch over flocks and so His principle message reminds us that we are our brother’s keeper. 12/22/2007 ts

The First

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” Lk2.6-7 NIV

Mary’s firstborn is also called the firstborn of creation and the firstborn from the dead. These distinctions are not so much to pinpoint the origin of Christ. The Scriptures may it very clear that Jesus has always existed with His Father. No, these distinctions simply convey to us the uniqueness of Christ as God’s only begotten Son, “that in all things He may have the preeminence" He is the first, the fountainhead of all blessing and He is to be first in our lives. How do I reflect that He is first in my life? 12/21/2007 ts

The First

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” Lk2.6-7 NIV

Mary’s firstborn is also called the firstborn of creation and the firstborn from the dead. These distinctions are not so much to pinpoint the origin of Christ. The Scriptures may it very clear that Jesus has always existed with His Father. No, these distinctions simply convey to us the uniqueness of Christ as God’s only begotten Son, “that in all things He may have the preeminence" He is the first, the fountainhead of all blessing and He is to be first in our lives. How do I reflect that He is first in my life? 12/21/2007 ts

Separation of Church and State

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Lk1.1 NKJV

The world was busily going about its business when Christ was born into it. The moment Christ was born into our world, He became a registered taxpayer. He was not a registered voter and had no say over those who would rule over Him, at lease not on His first visit. No, He was just expected to pay taxes. And, Jesus not only did, He instructed His followers to do the same.
This very same government would eventually crucify Him but it mattered not, for dying in our stead was His business. He told us to, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” We can be sure that the business of the world is not the business of God though God often uses it to accomplish His purposes. There is, and necessarily so, a separation of Church and State--what is Caesar’s and what is God’s. We need to remind ourselves that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, and though we must live in it, we can never be of it. Let the world do its business and let us do the business of Christ. 12/20/2007 ts

Separation of Church and State

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Lk1.1 NKJV

The world was busily going about its business when Christ was born into it. The moment Christ was born into our world, He became a registered taxpayer. He was not a registered voter and had no say over those who would rule over Him, at lease not on His first visit. No, He was just expected to pay taxes. And, Jesus not only did, He instructed His followers to do the same.
This very same government would eventually crucify Him but it mattered not, for dying in our stead was His business. He told us to, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” We can be sure that the business of the world is not the business of God though God often uses it to accomplish His purposes. There is, and necessarily so, a separation of Church and State--what is Caesar’s and what is God’s. We need to remind ourselves that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, and though we must live in it, we can never be of it. Let the world do its business and let us do the business of Christ. 12/20/2007 ts

Why Cemeteries face East

“…the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” Lk1.78 NKJV

I have been told that cemeteries are designed so that they face the east. This is certainly the case in most of the cemeteries that I have visited. It was explained to me that the reason for this, is based on the Christian belief that when Christ returns He will come, as least for those of us in this part of the world, in the eastern sky. In another sense, we might say that all who are in the grave await the rising dawn of the eternal state.

At His first coming Christ is called the “Dayspring from on high.” This word is also translated the dawn or the east. I think this title is given to the baby of Bethlehem because His entrance into the world is said “to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” As the sun rises in the east Christ calls himself the light of the world. I can truthfully say that the entrance of Christ into my life was very much like the rising of the dawn. The light of His presence is waking me to all that is life indeed. He is showing me the truth about myself, and my purpose and lighting my path into greater and greater joys. He is the Dayspring of endless days in whose light we shall romp and stomp and play forever. 12/19/2007

Why Cemeteries face East

“…the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” Lk1.78 NKJV

I have been told that cemeteries are designed so that they face the east. This is certainly the case in most of the cemeteries that I have visited. It was explained to me that the reason for this, is based on the Christian belief that when Christ returns He will come, as least for those of us in this part of the world, in the eastern sky. In another sense, we might say that all who are in the grave await the rising dawn of the eternal state.

At His first coming Christ is called the “Dayspring from on high.” This word is also translated the dawn or the east. I think this title is given to the baby of Bethlehem because His entrance into the world is said “to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” As the sun rises in the east Christ calls himself the light of the world. I can truthfully say that the entrance of Christ into my life was very much like the rising of the dawn. The light of His presence is waking me to all that is life indeed. He is showing me the truth about myself, and my purpose and lighting my path into greater and greater joys. He is the Dayspring of endless days in whose light we shall romp and stomp and play forever. 12/19/2007

Deist or Daddy

“ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people…” Lk1.68 NKJV

There are some who believe in a God and see Him as impersonal and distant, one who never interferes in the affairs of men. Now I say they believe in a God but not the God, or at least not the God of the Scriptures. The God who has revealed Himself in Scripture is anything but impersonal. Jesus told us to call Him “Father” and even went so far as to use the very personal word “Abba,” or “Daddy.”
Christ came to show us what God is truly like. The story of Christmas reveals to us a very personal God who desires a very personal relationship with us. The creator came to visit and redeem His estranged children. He took to Himself human flesh and walked under our sun and experienced our sufferings. God is most proactive in His love for us. We may all have gone astray but He comes looking for us as any good parent would their lost child. He waits patiently for those who regard Him as the Deist, impersonal cold and distant and all the while He joyfully lives in the hearts of those who call Him Daddy. 12/18/2007 ts

Deist or Daddy

“ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people…” Lk1.68 NKJV

There are some who believe in a God and see Him as impersonal and distant, one who never interferes in the affairs of men. Now I say they believe in a God but not the God, or at least not the God of the Scriptures. The God who has revealed Himself in Scripture is anything but impersonal. Jesus told us to call Him “Father” and even went so far as to use the very personal word “Abba,” or “Daddy.”
Christ came to show us what God is truly like. The story of Christmas reveals to us a very personal God who desires a very personal relationship with us. The creator came to visit and redeem His estranged children. He took to Himself human flesh and walked under our sun and experienced our sufferings. God is most proactive in His love for us. We may all have gone astray but He comes looking for us as any good parent would their lost child. He waits patiently for those who regard Him as the Deist, impersonal cold and distant and all the while He joyfully lives in the hearts of those who call Him Daddy. 12/18/2007 ts

The dickens you say!

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Mat1.20 NIV

Not knowing what to do can worry the “dickens” out of you. Now I must confess that when I wrote this, I had to stop and look up the origins of the word “dickens.” It was worrying the dickens out of me that I didn’t know. As it turns out, “dickens” is an expression used to intensify or strengthen the experience of something and interestingly enough, comes from the word “devil.” Now that’s appropriate. Devils can worry the dickens out of you. The dickens you say!

I am sure Joseph what plagued by devils as he considered divorcing his newly pregnant fiancée. What to do? What to do, indeed! God tells us that if we lack wisdom we need only to ask Him for it. He promises to give it generously. Strange, but I have actually worried about not knowing God’s will for a particular something. A good friend once told me that if I really want God’s will, I should not worry whether He will supply it. The question is, do I really want His will? Once we truly desire God’s will, no matter what it might be, we should not worry, He will not only make it plain, He will give us His grace to do it. Faith in the face of our fears may certainly remove the dickens from us. 12/17/2007 ts

The dickens you say!

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Mat1.20 NIV

Not knowing what to do can worry the “dickens” out of you. Now I must confess that when I wrote this, I had to stop and look up the origins of the word “dickens.” It was worrying the dickens out of me that I didn’t know. As it turns out, “dickens” is an expression used to intensify or strengthen the experience of something and interestingly enough, comes from the word “devil.” Now that’s appropriate. Devils can worry the dickens out of you. The dickens you say!

I am sure Joseph what plagued by devils as he considered divorcing his newly pregnant fiancée. What to do? What to do, indeed! God tells us that if we lack wisdom we need only to ask Him for it. He promises to give it generously. Strange, but I have actually worried about not knowing God’s will for a particular something. A good friend once told me that if I really want God’s will, I should not worry whether He will supply it. The question is, do I really want His will? Once we truly desire God’s will, no matter what it might be, we should not worry, He will not only make it plain, He will give us His grace to do it. Faith in the face of our fears may certainly remove the dickens from us. 12/17/2007 ts

When the Lord is with us

“…the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you…” Lk1.28 NKJV

Because the Lord was with Mary, He can be with anyone of us. Christ’s coming has removed all the barriers that keep a Holy God from blessing sinful people. Could there be any greater blessing than to hear the words, “The Lord is with you.”
When the Lord is with us, every good thing surrounds us, for God works all things for the good of those who love Him. When the Lord is with us we smell the aroma of His presence and find His joy in the simplest of things. His company transforms the mundane into magic and the ordinary into opulent opportunity. When the Lord is with us, fruit abounds in us and around us. Love, joy, peace patience; all the fruit of the Spirit is ours. When the Lord is with us, even little is much and the winds of adversity can only carry us to greater delights. When the Lord is with us, what could possibly be against us?
“Rejoice, highly favored one, because of Jesus, the Lord is with us.” 12/14/2007 ts

When the Lord is with us

“…the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you…” Lk1.28 NKJV

Because the Lord was with Mary, He can be with anyone of us. Christ’s coming has removed all the barriers that keep a Holy God from blessing sinful people. Could there be any greater blessing than to hear the words, “The Lord is with you.”
When the Lord is with us, every good thing surrounds us, for God works all things for the good of those who love Him. When the Lord is with us we smell the aroma of His presence and find His joy in the simplest of things. His company transforms the mundane into magic and the ordinary into opulent opportunity. When the Lord is with us, fruit abounds in us and around us. Love, joy, peace patience; all the fruit of the Spirit is ours. When the Lord is with us, even little is much and the winds of adversity can only carry us to greater delights. When the Lord is with us, what could possibly be against us?
“Rejoice, highly favored one, because of Jesus, the Lord is with us.” 12/14/2007 ts

O Little Town

“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea.’” Mt2.4 NKJV

O little town,
How little did we understand,
How great your gift would be to man,
How God delights in the small thing,
How a shepherd boy can be made a King.
O little town,
How little did we know,
How His birth a seed would sow, then grow and grow.
How the kingdom of God would come to earth,
How conquering love was expressed in His birth.
O little town!
How great is your might
How precious and bright is your light, in our night.
How peace is sown into our world of war,
How hearts are transforming on every shore.

O little town!
12/13/2007 ts

O Little Town

“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea.’” Mt2.4 NKJV

O little town,
How little did we understand,
How great your gift would be to man,
How God delights in the small thing,
How a shepherd boy can be made a King.
O little town,
How little did we know,
How His birth a seed would sow, then grow and grow.
How the kingdom of God would come to earth,
How conquering love was expressed in His birth.
O little town!
How great is your might
How precious and bright is your light, in our night.
How peace is sown into our world of war,
How hearts are transforming on every shore.

O little town!
12/13/2007 ts

Redeem the ground on which we have walked

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law,” Ga4.4

One prayer that I have prayed a number of times is, “Lord, redeem the ground on which I have walked.” I am not sure where I got such a prayer but I am essentially asking God to somehow work good out of all the bad that I have done. I am asking God to buy back all that I lost in my foolishness. The word, “redeem” means just that, “to buy back” and, I would have God buy back for His purposes all that was done under mine.
Christ was “born under the law to redeem those who were under the law.” In a sense God is redeeming the ground on which we have walked. The Law has condemned us all to Hell but Christ was born under the Law, borne our condemnation and has worked grace where there was once only judgment. Jesus was born of a woman, and this promised to Eve long ago in the garden, to buy back all that was lost under Adam. Here is the story of Christmas; Christ comes to walk where we have walked. Christ brings back under the rule of God all that was lost under the rule of man. Lord, redeem the ground on which we have walked. 12/12/2007 ts

Redeem the ground on which we have walked

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law,” Ga4.4

One prayer that I have prayed a number of times is, “Lord, redeem the ground on which I have walked.” I am not sure where I got such a prayer but I am essentially asking God to somehow work good out of all the bad that I have done. I am asking God to buy back all that I lost in my foolishness. The word, “redeem” means just that, “to buy back” and, I would have God buy back for His purposes all that was done under mine.
Christ was “born under the law to redeem those who were under the law.” In a sense God is redeeming the ground on which we have walked. The Law has condemned us all to Hell but Christ was born under the Law, borne our condemnation and has worked grace where there was once only judgment. Jesus was born of a woman, and this promised to Eve long ago in the garden, to buy back all that was lost under Adam. Here is the story of Christmas; Christ comes to walk where we have walked. Christ brings back under the rule of God all that was lost under the rule of man. Lord, redeem the ground on which we have walked. 12/12/2007 ts

Supernatural

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).” Is7.14 NKJV

We trust God for the impossible. That is, we trust Him to work without, above and against natural means. God of course works through natural means everyday. He is processing oxygen in our lungs and food in our bellies to sustain life. He has fixed the boundaries of the oceans via gravity. Yet, God sustained Moses without food, gave Abraham and Sarah a child when they were well past the age of childbirth and kept fire from burning Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. God uses means, but He is free to work without, above, even against them, at His good pleasure.
Such is the virgin birth, the story of Christmas, the resurrection of Christ and our own resurrection to come. Miracles are not fabricated amendments to the stories in the Bible. They are the story. They are the story because Jesus is the story of the whole of Scripture and God coming to dwell with us is nothing less than miraculous. Our hope of eternal life goes against all natural means but is made certain by a supernatural God. If God is with us, who or what can be against us? 12/11/07 ts

Supernatural

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).” Is7.14 NKJV

We trust God for the impossible. That is, we trust Him to work without, above and against natural means. God of course works through natural means everyday. He is processing oxygen in our lungs and food in our bellies to sustain life. He has fixed the boundaries of the oceans via gravity. Yet, God sustained Moses without food, gave Abraham and Sarah a child when they were well past the age of childbirth and kept fire from burning Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. God uses means, but He is free to work without, above, even against them, at His good pleasure.
Such is the virgin birth, the story of Christmas, the resurrection of Christ and our own resurrection to come. Miracles are not fabricated amendments to the stories in the Bible. They are the story. They are the story because Jesus is the story of the whole of Scripture and God coming to dwell with us is nothing less than miraculous. Our hope of eternal life goes against all natural means but is made certain by a supernatural God. If God is with us, who or what can be against us? 12/11/07 ts

A chance at the microphone

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” Dt18.15 NKJV

It is noteworthy that prophets are raised up by God. Some people of course, will appoint themselves, as a spokes person for Him. We are warned of false prophets and false teachers who speak and seek their own agendas. Not to worry, Jesus told us we would know them by their fruit.
Truthfully God calls all of His children into ministry. Some He calls as prophets, some as pastor-teachers, but, all of us are raised up and, for some purpose. Father not only calls each of us, He equips us as well. Our gifts, talents and possessions are usually an indication of how we are to serve Him. And, our service to Him is always reflected in our service to others. How do we determine our calling? Well, if God puts a shovel in your hand, He probably wants you to dig. Some will teach, some will render help, others may encourage or counsel, each of us should serve as He has gifted us.
But, I think it is fair to say, that all of us will get a chance at the microphone to prophecy for Him. For this reason every Christian is told to, “…always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” When the mic is passed into our hand, will we be ready with an answer? 1Pt3.15 12/10/07 ts

A chance at the microphone

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” Dt18.15 NKJV

It is noteworthy that prophets are raised up by God. Some people of course, will appoint themselves, as a spokes person for Him. We are warned of false prophets and false teachers who speak and seek their own agendas. Not to worry, Jesus told us we would know them by their fruit.
Truthfully God calls all of His children into ministry. Some He calls as prophets, some as pastor-teachers, but, all of us are raised up and, for some purpose. Father not only calls each of us, He equips us as well. Our gifts, talents and possessions are usually an indication of how we are to serve Him. And, our service to Him is always reflected in our service to others. How do we determine our calling? Well, if God puts a shovel in your hand, He probably wants you to dig. Some will teach, some will render help, others may encourage or counsel, each of us should serve as He has gifted us.
But, I think it is fair to say, that all of us will get a chance at the microphone to prophecy for Him. For this reason every Christian is told to, “…always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” When the mic is passed into our hand, will we be ready with an answer? 1Pt3.15 12/10/07 ts

Levels of Faith

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” Jo11.25 NKJV

At what level does one trust Christ in order to be a Christian? Most presentations of the gospel encourage people to trust Christ by standing on His record, not their own, so they can be accepted at judgment. We may be told to put trust in His death as payment for our sin or perhaps we are told a combination of both of these. The famous words of the thief, “Lord remember me,” express faith in Christ, but at what level? Was he looking to Christ simply for life beyond death? I am sure this man didn’t understand the virgin birth, or all the dynamics of the crucifixion.
We know that believing in Christ is more than just an intellectual belief. The Testament warns us, “even the demons believe and they tremble.” But what about those who do not have a fully developed understanding of Him, who look to Him for daily bread, for forgiveness, for healing or for protection? Is a person in Christ, if they continue faith in Him at any of these levels? Perhaps a trucker seeing another broke down on the side of the road remembers the words of Jesus and stops to help. Is repentance and faith conveyed in this action? It certainly can be. I fear that too much emphasis is placed on understanding certain doctrines as the test of true faith. A person may understand the finer points of the atonement yet, not be trusting Christ. Conversely, a fireman may have little understanding of it but in simple faith makes a cross over his chest before running into a flaming building. In the end it is God who will determine the genuineness of our faith in His Son. At what level are we trusting Christ? The sure bet is to trust Him in all things. 12/7/07 ts

Levels of Faith

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” Jo11.25 NKJV

At what level does one trust Christ in order to be a Christian? Most presentations of the gospel encourage people to trust Christ by standing on His record, not their own, so they can be accepted at judgment. We may be told to put trust in His death as payment for our sin or perhaps we are told a combination of both of these. The famous words of the thief, “Lord remember me,” express faith in Christ, but at what level? Was he looking to Christ simply for life beyond death? I am sure this man didn’t understand the virgin birth, or all the dynamics of the crucifixion.
We know that believing in Christ is more than just an intellectual belief. The Testament warns us, “even the demons believe and they tremble.” But what about those who do not have a fully developed understanding of Him, who look to Him for daily bread, for forgiveness, for healing or for protection? Is a person in Christ, if they continue faith in Him at any of these levels? Perhaps a trucker seeing another broke down on the side of the road remembers the words of Jesus and stops to help. Is repentance and faith conveyed in this action? It certainly can be. I fear that too much emphasis is placed on understanding certain doctrines as the test of true faith. A person may understand the finer points of the atonement yet, not be trusting Christ. Conversely, a fireman may have little understanding of it but in simple faith makes a cross over his chest before running into a flaming building. In the end it is God who will determine the genuineness of our faith in His Son. At what level are we trusting Christ? The sure bet is to trust Him in all things. 12/7/07 ts

The Spirit of Christmas

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. Jo10.14 NKJV

When people speak of the spirit of Christmas, they often mean some very different things. "Tis the season to be jolly," or charitable or, perhaps they refer to some childhood wonderment associated with this magical season of the year. There are probably as many descriptions of the spirit of Christmas as there are presents under a rich man’s Christmas tree.
I should think that the Spirit of Christmas is none other than the Spirit of Christ, the very same Spirit Jesus sends to live in our hearts when we trust Him. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit and He is the means God uses to set us apart as His dear children. We often tell people they need to get into the spirit of Christmas, when truthfully it is the Spirit of Christmas who needs to get into them.
When a person is possessed by the Spirit of Christ they begin to possess all the distinctions of Jesus. He is not just the Savior, He becomes my Savior, not just the Lord, He becomes my Lord, my good Shepherd. 12/6/07 ts

The Spirit of Christmas

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. Jo10.14 NKJV

When people speak of the spirit of Christmas, they often mean some very different things. "Tis the season to be jolly," or charitable or, perhaps they refer to some childhood wonderment associated with this magical season of the year. There are probably as many descriptions of the spirit of Christmas as there are presents under a rich man’s Christmas tree.
I should think that the Spirit of Christmas is none other than the Spirit of Christ, the very same Spirit Jesus sends to live in our hearts when we trust Him. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit and He is the means God uses to set us apart as His dear children. We often tell people they need to get into the spirit of Christmas, when truthfully it is the Spirit of Christmas who needs to get into them.
When a person is possessed by the Spirit of Christ they begin to possess all the distinctions of Jesus. He is not just the Savior, He becomes my Savior, not just the Lord, He becomes my Lord, my good Shepherd. 12/6/07 ts

Show people to the door

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Jo10.7-9 NKJV

However intolerant this statement sounds, Christ has made it possible for a holy God to accept any sinner who comes to Him using the blood bought path of the cross. There was one entrance into the holy of holies, one door in the side of the ark, one Passover lamb, and one promised land. God has said it thousands of time and in a thousand ways, there is only one sanctioned way to approach Him. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Such dogma is unpopular today and Christians are often referred to as intolerant and narrow minded bigots for believing that Christ is the only way to the Father.
I think that it is possible to express tolerance toward different religious views and at the same time humbly and gently express your own. Tolerance does not mean we compromise our faith but express loving patience with others who have a different view than our own. And, I do not mean condescending arrogance. I think Christians get into trouble when we start acting like judges when we are really called to be servants. Show people to the door and leave the judgment to God. 12/5/07 ts

Show people to the door

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Jo10.7-9 NKJV

However intolerant this statement sounds, Christ has made it possible for a holy God to accept any sinner who comes to Him using the blood bought path of the cross. There was one entrance into the holy of holies, one door in the side of the ark, one Passover lamb, and one promised land. God has said it thousands of time and in a thousand ways, there is only one sanctioned way to approach Him. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Such dogma is unpopular today and Christians are often referred to as intolerant and narrow minded bigots for believing that Christ is the only way to the Father.
I think that it is possible to express tolerance toward different religious views and at the same time humbly and gently express your own. Tolerance does not mean we compromise our faith but express loving patience with others who have a different view than our own. And, I do not mean condescending arrogance. I think Christians get into trouble when we start acting like judges when we are really called to be servants. Show people to the door and leave the judgment to God. 12/5/07 ts

When in doubt don’t.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jo8.12 NKJV

I have at times gone to bed after Brenda, only to grope around in the darkness, trying to find my way without tripping over or running into something. Doubt and uncertainty accompanies darkness or at least it should. When in doubt don’t, is a wise policy. Uncertainty should at least provide the certainty of needed caution.
Now Jesus is telling us that if we follow Him, His light will keep us from walking in darkness and certainly from walking in doubt. And, I should think that if the promise of light is true in those who follow Christ then our agreement even disagreement would shed light on many of the practices of our day. Wisdom would have us look and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit in those who follow Christ. Where there is and has always been consensual agreement, there is certainty. But even in our disagreement there is the certainty of needed caution because light also reveals the edges of darkness. When in doubt don’t. We should also well remember the powerful warning, “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” 12/4/07 ts

When in doubt don’t.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jo8.12 NKJV

I have at times gone to bed after Brenda, only to grope around in the darkness, trying to find my way without tripping over or running into something. Doubt and uncertainty accompanies darkness or at least it should. When in doubt don’t, is a wise policy. Uncertainty should at least provide the certainty of needed caution.
Now Jesus is telling us that if we follow Him, His light will keep us from walking in darkness and certainly from walking in doubt. And, I should think that if the promise of light is true in those who follow Christ then our agreement even disagreement would shed light on many of the practices of our day. Wisdom would have us look and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit in those who follow Christ. Where there is and has always been consensual agreement, there is certainty. But even in our disagreement there is the certainty of needed caution because light also reveals the edges of darkness. When in doubt don’t. We should also well remember the powerful warning, “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” 12/4/07 ts

Contentment, an Acquired taste

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. Jo6.35 NKJV

Facebook is one of the new virtual coffee shops. It creatively enables personal interaction with others. One Facebook application allows me to tell my friends the particular moods I am having and even displays an emoticon for it. Over the last several days my moods have changed a lot. I think my all time favorite mood is to be “content.” When I think of being content, I think of the times when I have been satisfied, happy, wanting for nothing. You might wonder, “Well, when was that?” And, I must confess that such times are rare. I have had but a few moments where I felt that heaven could not be any better than the way I was feeling right then.
I think contentment is what Christ is promising in the word above, and ultimately, in the world, above. But, in this place, and in this time, I believe that we must often content ourselves with all that God is, before we can actually be content with all that God is providing. What I am saying is that contentment is a faith choice in us, and not the result of circumstances around us. Contentment then is an acquired taste because we are learning to will His will, and to be satisfied with heaven's bread. This means, of course, that we are at the same time growing dissatisfied with the molding bread of earth. 12/3/07 ts

Contentment, an Acquired taste

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. Jo6.35 NKJV

Facebook is one of the new virtual coffee shops. It creatively enables personal interaction with others. One Facebook application allows me to tell my friends the particular moods I am having and even displays an emoticon for it. Over the last several days my moods have changed a lot. I think my all time favorite mood is to be “content.” When I think of being content, I think of the times when I have been satisfied, happy, wanting for nothing. You might wonder, “Well, when was that?” And, I must confess that such times are rare. I have had but a few moments where I felt that heaven could not be any better than the way I was feeling right then.
I think contentment is what Christ is promising in the word above, and ultimately, in the world, above. But, in this place, and in this time, I believe that we must often content ourselves with all that God is, before we can actually be content with all that God is providing. What I am saying is that contentment is a faith choice in us, and not the result of circumstances around us. Contentment then is an acquired taste because we are learning to will His will, and to be satisfied with heaven's bread. This means, of course, that we are at the same time growing dissatisfied with the molding bread of earth. 12/3/07 ts